Best Comedy Movies of the 2020s (So Far), Ranked

Audiences are in need of a good laugh now more than ever. The 2020s may just be getting started, but we’ve already been blessed with many memorable comedies during that time. What better way to distract yourself from the day-to-day grind than by watching a good comedy film, especially one that can pull some genuine laughs?

Certain filmmakers and trends tend to define eras of comedies. While the 2020s are still rather early on in their development, the decade has produced a wide array of comedies from more diverse sources than ever before. The advent of streaming and also independent films bursting into the mainstream have meant that comedies have been able to focus on sexual identity, gender, and race like never before. Even though comedies might not be the box office dominant draw they once were, there are still plenty being made that will make you laugh. Here’s our ranking of the best comedies from the last three years that connected with audiences, made them laugh, and left a lasting impression on comedy fans.

Update January 23, 2024: This article has been updated with even more great comedies from the 2020s and where each title is streaming.

15 Fire Island (2022)

Fire Island is a 2022 romantic comedy directed by Andrew Ahn and starring Joel Kim Booster, Bowen Yang, Conrad Ricamora, James Scully, and Margaret Cho. Inspired by Pride & Prejudice, the storyline follows a group of gay friends who go on an annual summer vacation to Fire Island. This year, however, the festivities are chaotic, thanks to some turbulent romances and straight-up classism.

A true queering of the classical Austen novel, viewers can definitely feel the love and respect the creators hold for the source material. The group of friends serves as a queer adaptation of the Bennett family, acting as a chosen family (a staple in queer storytelling). There should definitely be more modern adaptations of classical literature like this in the years to come. Stream on Hulu

14 Polite Society (2023)

Action comedies are always a great treat, especially if they are done as well as Polite Society. The movie tells the story of a British-Pakistani teenager named Ria Khan (Priya Kansara), who is a martial artist and wants to become a stuntperson. When her older sister Lena agrees to an arranged marriage and decides to forsake her art career, Ria and her friends try to stop the wedding, but things do not go as planned.

The film has a simple enough premise but still pokes fun at the regressive traditions without being offensive. The witty dialogue and overtly evil villains make this movie even more hilarious. Topped with a healthy amount of well-choreographed action sequences, the film is truly a treat for anyone looking for a good time. Stream on Prime Video

13 Language Lessons (2021)

Language Lessons is proof that the originality of movies knows no bounds. Natalie Morales, in her directorial debut, decided to do a movie about a character named Adam, whose husband surprises him with Spanish lessons. As the lessons progress, he develops an unexpected friendship with his teacher, Cariño. The movie premiered at the 71st Berlin International Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for its depictions of friendship and compassion.

Language Lessons showcases just how helpful and real online friendship can become, which was particularly poignant during a time of social distancing. The actors also did a great job portraying two long-distance friends connecting over a mutual interest. It also cemented Natalie Morales as a great director, whose follow-up film Plan B was both a great comedy but also an incredible commentary on the American healthcare system regarding women’s reproductive rights. Stream on Max

12 Joy Ride (2023)

Joy Ride follows Audrey Sullivan (Ashley Park), a Chinese adoptee with white parents who on a business trip to China with her childhood best friend Lolo (Sherry Cola) decides to go find her birth parents. Joining them is Audrey’s college roommate Kat (Stephanie Hsu) and Lolo’s eccentric K-pop-obsessed cousin Deadeye (Sabrina Wu). Over the course of their trip, their friendships are tested while getting into a lot of hijinks, including encountering a drug dealer, a sexual tryst with a basketball team, and posing as a K-pop band.

2023 was a great year for comedies (plenty are on this list), and Joy Ride stood out as a return to the big mainstream gross-out comedies about friends similar to Road Trip or Superbad, but not only with an emphasis on female friendships and Asian heritage. Joy Ride has some deeply moving scenes, but it also doesn’t forget to bring the laughs and features some incredibly great comedic performances by Cola and Wu. Stream on Starz.

11 Spontaneous (2020)

Spontaneous is a black comedy in all the best of ways. In his directorial debut, Brian Duffield adapted the novel of the same name. The plot follows high school students who start to explode out of nowhere literally. The main protagonists, Mara (Katherine Langford) and Dylan (Charlie Plummer), decide to seize the day, enjoying each moment as if it were their last because, in their reality, it very well could be.

The visual elements are absolutely superb. The unexpected explosions add a layer of anxiety that’s all too poignant. The love story between Mara and Dylan somehow works perfectly with this, and the soundtrack is stellar as well. It’s ending provides a fresh outlook on the questions of existentialism. Watch on Pluto TV

10 Quiz Lady (2023)

Awkwafina and Sandra Oh are no doubt two of the funniest actors in Hollywood right now, and when they team up for a movie, you know it is going to be hilarious. Such is the case with Quiz Lady, which revolves around an introverted quiz game show fanatic, Anne Yum (Awkwafina), and her carefree and estranged older sister, Jenny Yum (Sandra Oh), who reunite after their gambling-addicted mother runs away to Macau. Things start going south as someone their mother owes money to kidnaps Anne’s dog and asks them to pay back the money.

The film is all about sisterly love, self-discovery, and overcoming the hurdles of life with the people you love. But just because the movie tries to deliver a deeper message does not mean it will not make you laugh till you cry. Both Sandra Oh and Awkwafina are phenomenal as sisters with opposite personalities, and successfully show that no matter how different you are, family will always have your back. Their impeccable comedic timing also makes this heartfelt movie a worthwhile watch. Stream on Hulu

9 The Forty-Year-Old Version (2020)

The Forty-Year-Old Version is a comedy-drama released in 2020. Loosely based on director Radha Blank’s life, Blank also plays the main character Radha. The plot follows her as a struggling playwright who wants to make it big before turning 40. So, she, of course, takes up rapping. After its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, the movie was named one of the ten best films of 2020 by the National Board of Review.

Related: The Best Miniseries of the 2020s, So Far

The writing is downright hilarious. The story arc feels very real and unique. It’s a wonderful depiction of just what Black screenwriting could be when these creatives are allowed to be humanized and quirky on screen. Also making the comedy a play on words of the popular The 40 Year Old Virgin, is a stroke of comedic genius. Stream on Netflix

8 The Half Of It (2020)

Written and directed by Alice Wu, The Half Of It is a coming-of-age comedy-drama starring Leah Lewis, Daniel Diemer, and Alexxis Lemire. A loosely modern retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac, the plot follows Ellie Chu, who starts writing love letters on behalf of Paul, who goes on to become her best friend. The letters are dedicated to Aster, who just so happens to become Ellie’s crush as well.

This film beautifully portrays queer kids just being themselves without the focus being on their queerness. In this example of media that values friendships over anything else, the movie employs rom-com tropes in a more platonic sense. There are some great heartwarming moments in the movie that will put a smile on your face, just as Paul’s awkwardness will make you laugh. Stream on Netflix

7 The Mitchells vs. The Machines (2021)

One of the most underrated animated films on Netflix has to be The Mitchells vs. The Machines, which tells the story of the dysfunctional Mitchell family. Most arguments arise between the technophobic father, Rick Mitchell, and his aspiring filmmaker daughter, Katie Mitchell, but Katie’s mother, Linda, and brother, Aaron, also have their problems. Branded as a weird and dysfunctional family, the Mitchells are forced to do some introspection when they have to fight the sudden robot apocalypse as a family.

A lot of sci-fi films have been made about the impending robot uprising, but The Mitchells vs. The Machines give it a funny twist while also showing us how families tend to come together to protect each other in times of need. Much like real families, the Mitchells are not perfect and have a lot of problems they have to work through while fighting robots. But the movie still manages to have some moments of genuine hilarity while also portraying a serious topic. The relationship between Katie and her father is especially heartwarming. Stream on Netflix

6 The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is a well-crafted and downright hilarious film within a film. The movie stars Nicholas Cage as, well, himself – an aging icon looking for his next big gig. Enter Pedro Pascal, a borderline unscrupulous billionaire playboy on the CIA’s watch list. A huge fan of the Cage, he invites him over with a hefty fee.

While remembering the lengthy name of this title may not be for the faint of heart or short of memory, the acting prowess of both Cage and Pascal is top-notch. It’s also visually stunning to boot, with a poster straight out of the Archer TV series playbook. The film is not only a great follow-up to Cage’s career but also feels like one of his classic movies. Imagine the film as a mix of Con Air meets Being John Malkovich. Stream on Starz

5 Theater Camp (2023)

Theater Camp is a mockumentary comedy that follows counselors of an underfunded theater-focused summer camp in Upstate New York. They band together to keep the camp afloat as the founder’s son (Jimmy Tatro) due to his mother being in a coma. The film is a series of comedic vignettes led by an incredible comedy cast that includes Molly Gordon (who also co-directs the film), Ben Platt, Ayo Edebiri, Noah Galvin, Patti Harrison, and Caroline Aaron.

Related: The 23 Best Horror Movies of 2023, Ranked

Theater Camp is one of the funniest movies of the decade, particularly for anyone who ever was in a theater program or went to summer camp. The mockumentary style allows the actors to improve a lot of great moments, as the film mixes a great mix of cringe comedy, fish-out-of-water scenarios, and quick dark comments. Theater Camp is one of the most underrated movies of 2023 and feels like the modern successor to the mockumentary comedies of Christopher Guest, so fans of movies like Best in Show and A Mighty Wind will have plenty to love here. Stream on Hulu.

4 Bottoms (2023)

Bottoms is the latest film collaboration between director Emma Seligman and Rachel Sennott after their breakout film Shiva Baby. Sennott and Ayo Edebiri star as two high school lesbians who decide to start a woman’s self defense class aka fight club as a chance to hit on cheerleaders. The movie features an incredible cast that includes Ruby Cruz, Havana Rose Lu, Nicholas Galitizine, Kaia Jordan Gerber, Miles Fowler, and Marshawn Lynch in breakout supporting roles.

The movie is a hilarious send-up of the teen sex comedies of the 1980s and 90s with an LGBTQ+ twist, making it a unique film of its era. The movie is violent and over the top, taking place in a heightened cartoonish reality that lends itself to great physical comedy and improv. Bottoms is filled with great background and cut-away jokes, and there is something new and funny to find on numerous rewatches. It is certainly one of the best comedies of the decade but a breakout film for everyone involved. Stream on Fubo and MGM+

3 Palm Springs (2020)

Palm Springs is Groundhog Day for a modern generation. Instead of Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell, this 2020 comedy featured Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti as two wedding guests stuck in an infinite time loop. Samberg plays an offbeat nihilist who saves Milioti’s Maid of Honor character from a truly horrendous toast. Soon after, they’re forced to experience the same wedding day over and over again, while perhaps falling for each other in the process.

Anyone who’s experienced being the odd man (or woman) out at a wedding can definitely relate to this scenario. The concept meshes the best Samberg’s comedy in a, dare we say, grounded metaphor. This borderline philosophical take on an old conundrum is as irreverent as it is hilarious. The film has been cited as one of the greatest comedies of this decade. Stream on Hulu

2 Barbie (2023)

Barbie has taken the film world (and the color pink) by storm. Greta Gerwig’s masterpiece features Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as the not-so-plastic Barbie and Ken. This box office record breaker is the first-ever live-action film of the Mattel toy. The movie shows the doll at odds with, of all things, an existential crisis. Gerwig’s ode to the Barbie girl and her Barbie world, which was kept under pretty tight wraps until its release, is as surprisingly modern and introspective as audiences have come to expect from her work. Scrunching 60-plus years of history into a two-hour time frame aside, this film gets straight at the heart of what it’s like being a woman today while providing more than a laugh or two in the process.

The film landed eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. However, Margot Robbie was sadly snubbed for Best Actress, and Greta Gerwig was snubbed for Best Director. However, Ryan Gosling did land a nomination for Best Supporting Actor as Ken, a hilarious performance that easily makes this one of the funniest movies of the 2020s. Stream on Max.

1 Everything, Everywhere, All at Once (2022)

Everything Everywhere All at Once is the perfect genre blend of fantasy, action, sci-fi, and comedy. The movie focuses on a Chinese immigrant named Evelyn Quan Wang (Michelle Yeoh), running a laundromat business with her husband, Waymond Wang (Ke Huy-Quan). She has a strenuous relationship with her daughter Joy (Stephanie Hsu), who is a lesbian woman. But things come to a head one day when Evelyn meets another Waymond from a different parallel universe, who tells her that her daughter in that universe has become a multidimensional, all-powerful being who wants to destroy the universe. But if Evelyn wants to stop her, not only does she have to look into her relationship with her own daughter but also into the different lives she could have led if she had made different choices.

The film managed to nab seven Oscars at the 95th Academy Awards due to its phenomenal acting and storytelling. The comedy part of this movie is less about hilarity and more about the absurdity of some of the situations Evelyn finds herself in different universes. The parallel universe where there are rocks with googly eyes or the one where everyone has sausage fingers provides much-needed comic relief in this fast-paced film. The film was able to not only tell a beautiful story of an estranged family and the struggles of being an immigrant in the USA but was also one of the few films that could portray the theory of the multiverse in such a simple but poignant way, making it one of the best films of the decade. Stream on Prime Video