Let’s be honest — we’ve all been there. You log into Netflix, hoping to find something genuinely funny to watch and 30 minutes later, you’re still scrolling. It makes us wonder if Netflix even produces anything funny anymore. The platform is so flooded with options now that it can be overwhelming. In fact, not all comedy Netflix shows are created equal, either- some are cringe-worthy, others try too hard, and a few are just… meh.
Best Comedy Netflix Shows
Fortunately though, there are still some very good comedies out there. Yes, humour is subjective, but sometimes a script is so good that almost everyone ends up sharing a laugh or two because of it.
1- Derry Girls
In this teen sitcom, five friends: Erin (Saoirse-Monica Jackson), Orla (Louisa Harland), Clare (Nicola Coughlan), Michelle (Jamie-Lee O’Donnell) and James (Dylan Llewellyn) experiences adolescence and navigate their teenage years during a period of political and cultural unrest in ’90s Northern Ireland known as the Troubles. The group attend a Catholic girls’ secondary school (can’t figure out why James was in it though) and find themselves in one ridiculous situation after another under the watchful side-eye of their dry-humoured headmistress, Sister Michael (Siobhán McSweeney). The show humorously sheds light on a fiercely violent conflict between Protestant Unionists and Catholic Nationalists over geographical borders and national identity.
With the satirical humour that Gen Z relates to and a banging soundtrack that nostalgic millennials will adore, Derry Girls will get anyone laughing without trying too hard.
2. Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Oh yes, we are getting into the classic ones here too. No one can discuss comedy shows without mentioning Brooklyn Nine-nine. The series is criminally hilarious (pun intended).
The show follows the detectives of Brooklyn’s 99th precinct as they solve crimes, go on wacky adventures, and somehow always end up in another office-wide shenanigan. When Captain Ray Holt takes over command of Brooklyn’s 99th precinct, the men and women of the Brooklyn Nine-Nine line up to impress him, but high-performing detective Jake Peralta isn’t about to revamp his reputation for skirting the rules.
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For anyone who’s up to their eyeballs in dark, gritty crime dramas, this comedy feels like a breath of fresh air. And what really sets Brooklyn Nine-Nine apart is that it’s smart. The show manages to blend clever writing, pop culture references, and rapid-fire one-liners without ever relying on lazy or offensive jokes. It’s inclusive, self-aware and somehow never controversial. Big respect to scripts that can be humorous without being disrespectful.
3. The Good Place
This show is what happens when philosophy meets comedy — and somehow, it works brilliantly.
Kristen Bell plays Eleanor, a woman who accidentally ends up in “The Good Place” (heaven, basically) after her death. Here she has to pretend to be a good person to stay there. During her life on earth, Eleanor was kind of a selfish jerk. Hence, her being in the “the Good Place” seems like a mistake. But now it is what it is.
In an attempt to stay put, Eleanor resolves to become a better person and turns to her new neighbour, Chidi for help. Chidi is a professor of ethics and moral philosophy and begins giving Eleanor “lessons” while the two attempt to keep her secret from fellow inhabitants Tahani and Jason as well as the Good Place creator, Michael and his programmed humanoid (“not a robot!”) assistant, Janet. But Eleanor and her friend soon discover that their little neighbourhood in the afterlife is full of surprises. Witty, quirky, and refreshingly introspective, The Good Place will leave you thinking long after you’ve stopped giggling.
4- I Think You Should Leave
For those whose humour involve grimacing at the most absurd situations, the Emmy-nominated “I Think You Should Leave” is the perfect fit.
Each episode of the sketch series sees mastermind Tim Robinson and an impressive roster of guest stars in various social and professional settings. Usually, someone does something embarrassing and then, instead of owning the mistake, they spend the remainder of the segment attempting to gaslight everyone around them and make everything even more unhinged.
The results are something you can’t look away from — and can’t stop laughing at. Who knew gaslighting can be funny too!
5- Sex Education
The name often gives an opposite impression. However, unlike the name, the show is cleverly filled with modern society’s jokes and life lessons.
As the son of sex therapist Jean Milburn, Otis Milburn finds himself uniquely equipped to help his fellow students at Moordale Secondary with their intimacy problems. He and his classmate Maeve set up a sex therapy clinic at school to do just that and not surprisingly they quickly find success. But things get complicated when Otis can’t help but develop feelings for his business partner.
From Asa Butterfield’s brilliantly awkward portrayal of Otis to Gillian Anderson’s impeccable comedic timing as his mother, Dr. Jean Milburn, there’s so much to love about Sex Education. The show wasn’t just funny; it also challenged social stigmas around sex, gender, and relationships; proving to be a turning point in helping normalise conversations that a lot of young people struggle to have.
Whether you love clever writing, absurd sketches, or character-driven chaos, there’s something on this list to make you laugh (and maybe cry, but in a good way).
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