The 10 Best Comedy Series on Netflix, According to Rotten Tomatoes
We all need a little laughter, right? Whether you consider “funny” to be sharp social satire, complete absurdity, comforting old-school sitcom, or something in between, there’s a show streaming on Netflix right now that will satisfy you.
All ten of the comedy series below have a freshness rating of over 95% on Rotten Tomatoes , so you can count on smart writing, polished acting, and critically acclaimed laughs.
Detroiters (2017-2018)
Before he took off to become the best sketch show of the last decade, I Think You Should Leave ‘s Tim Robinson created and starred in The Detroiters , an absurdist sitcom about a pair of best friends who run a cheap advertising firm in Detroit. The Detroiters takes the anarchic energy of I Think You Should Leave and inserts it into the kind of stable sitcom universe in which people feel comfortable, and then constantly upends the formula. This show was criminally underrated when it originally aired on Comedy Central, so if you missed it, catch up now.
North of North (2025-present)
For a show that takes place on a literal frozen tundra, North by North is decidedly warm. Anna Lambeau plays Siaju, a young single mother who talks herself into getting a job as an assistant to the city manager of Ice Cove, Nunavut. Siaju may be an Inuit from a place too cold for you to ever visit, but her struggles and triumphs are universal, and North by North presents it all with such love that it’s impossible not to. I mean, 100% of the TV critics are raving, and they’re some cynical people.
Resident Alien (2021-present)
In this fish -like series, Alan Tudyk plays an alien who crash-lands on Earth and is forced to hide in the skin of small-town doctor Harry Vanderspeigle. The alien’s mission to kill all humans depends on assimilating with the locals of a Colorado mountain town and passing himself off as a human doctor, a task made even more difficult when he begins to fall in love with one of the locals and discovers a child who can see who he really is. The premise is innovative, the cast is stellar, and the jokes are actually funny. Don’t sleep through Resident Alien .
Documentary Now! (2015-present)
In the Documentary Now! universe, Helen Mirren hosts a PBS-style documentary series that has been running for 53 years. Mirren presents stand-alone short films that parody famous documentaries and documentary filmmaking styles. Created by Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, Seth Meyers, and Rhys Thomas, and starring too many comedy heavyweights to list, Documentary Now! is the comedy show for big DA Pennebaker fans who think it’s time someone parodied Grey Gardens . Pointyheads need comedy, right?
One Day at a Time (2017-present)
Although this comedy-drama was inspired by Norman Lear’s ’70s sitcom of the same name, it doesn’t feel dusty or dated — the universal struggle to survive is timeless. Justina Machado plays Penelope, a newly minted nurse raising two kids with the help of her old-school mom, played by Rita Moreno, and her building manager, Schneider, played by Todd Grinnell. If you like comfort comedies shot in that familiar three-camera style, and you like it when love and family conquer all (but not in a tacky way), give One Day at a Time a try. (If you like sitcoms in general, here’s Lifehacker’s list of the best sitcoms on Netflix. )
Cook on Earth (2022)
I love this very British mockumentary series. In Cunk on Earth, Diane Morgan plays Philomena Cunk, a complete idiot tasked with hosting a BBC documentary series about the history of human civilisation. Cunk visits real scientists and experts – some of the smartest people on Earth – who are not in on the joke. She then asks them incredibly stupid questions, like, “Do we know if China has a roof?” The reactions are hilarious as they try to politely explain basic concepts to an idiot.
The Man Inside (2024-present)
In this Netflix original comedy series, Ted Danson plays a retired professor who finds a new lease on life when he goes undercover to investigate a series of crimes at a nursing home. Inside Man is a gentle show, but it’s not afraid to tackle weighty topics like loneliness, aging, and death, all while maintaining the perfect balance between comedy and heart.
The end of the f***ing world (2017-2019)
In this stylish, edgy, dark series, misfit teens James and Alyssa meet and go on a road trip/crime spree while searching for Alyssa’s estranged father. But James is a serial killer, and he’s chosen Alyssa as his first victim. As you can probably guess, things quickly spiral out of control. The End of the F***ing World isn’t for the faint of heart, but it’s darkly funny, with an off-kilter sensibility and a real affection for the weirdos and outcasts it features. (Yes, I know it’s 94% new instead of 95%, but I’m a rebel like that.)
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015-2020)
In the first episode of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, the titular character escapes the apocalypse cult where she has spent most of her life and moves to New York City. Schmidt, played by Ellie Kemper, reveals her naive innocence to modern life in the Big City. This show’s sharp writing and terrific performances elevate it above most comedies. If you like funny stuff, you’ll love this.
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return (2017)
The original MST3K, a long-running bad movie marathon, was brought back from oblivion by its fans with the help of Kickstarter. The Return breathes new life into the old formula with a new cast that includes Patton Oswalt, Jonah Ray, and Felicia Day. The plot (mad scientists imprison a guy to force him to watch bad movies with wisecracking robots) is really just an excuse to make funny jokes at the expense of terrible movies. Not every joke is a winner, but there are so many that it becomes addictive. Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return is the kind of show that makes you sit back and relax.