If You're in Need of a Laugh, These Are the 30 Best Comedy Specials on Netflix Right Now
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Most streaming platforms have a collection of comedy specials, but Netflix's stand-up selection is straight up prolific. It's got huge names like Wanda Sykes, Tiffany Haddish, and Pete Davidson but also a whole slew of comedians you've probably never heard of but absolutely should know.
If you've only scratched the surface of Netflix's comedic offerings, we've rounded up 30 of the best comedy specials it has to offer. From raunchy bits to tongue-in-cheek observations to quirky takes on life, there's something for everybody. Whether you're new to the world of stand-up comedy or you could recite John Mulaney's Kid Gorgeous by heart, there's a comedy special on this list that is sure to make you smile. And honestly, you might want to get out a yoga mat, because odds are pretty high you'll end up rolling on the floor laughing.
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Taylor Tomlinson: Quarter-Life Crisis
In her first hour-long special for Netflix, Taylor Tomlinson delivers some hard truths and witty commentary about the realities of being in your 20s. Long story short, they're not as great as they seem, and Tomlinson is absolutely over it.
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Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King
Fusing his brand of witty political commentary with personal storytelling, Hasan Minhaj is totally in his element in his comedy special Homecoming King. Minhaj mines his own upbringing as a child of immigrants, balancing hilarious moments with sincere ones. In one hour, Minhaj's stories about his family and childhood will make you laugh, maybe make you cry, and also offer a unique, necessary perspective on America.
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John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City
Live (not really, but you get the point) from Radio City is John Mulaney, a veteran of the SNL writers' room. In Kid Gorgeous, as in all of his Netflix specials, Mulaney wears a suit and tie, so you know he means business — funny business, that is. Watch for hilarious stories from Mulaney's childhood, his time on SNL, and the wild price of an English degree.
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Ali Wong: Baby Cobra
Ali Wong is a woman of many talents including writing, producing, and starring in Netflix rom-com Always Be My Maybe and performing stand-up comedy while seven-and-a-half months pregnant! In her hilariously bold comedy special, Wong turns widely accepted notions about gender inequality, feminism, and her identity as an Asian woman upside down.
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Sam Jay: 3 in the Morning
Emmy-nominated SNL writer Sam Jay serves up her takes piping hot. In 3 in the Morning, Jay offers sharp, biting commentary on traveling with her girlfriend, her shroom-induced epiphany about the audacity of white people, and not surviving on a stranded island.
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Leslie Jones: Time Machine
In this comedy special, Leslie Jones, who was an SNL cast member and writer, will have you rolling on the floor laughing. Her jokes about aging, seducing Prince, and battling sleep apnea are outrageously hilarious.
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Michelle Buteau: Welcome to Buteaupia
You may know Michelle Buteau from stealing scenes in Netflix movies like Always Be My Maybe and Someone Great, but she takes center stage in her Netflix special. Joyous and spirited, Buteau cracks jokes about being a mother of twin babies, her relationship with her Dutch husband, and more.
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Wanda Sykes: Not Normal
Wanda Sykes: Not Normal is definitely a must watch, as comedy legend Wanda Sykes brings her talents to Netflix with this special. Sykes delves into politics, racism, and reality TV in a way that only she could.
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Cristela Alonzo: Lower Classy
Cristela Alonzo isn't just the first Latina woman to create, produce, write, and star in her own primetime comedy in the US, she's also a genius comedian. In the special, Alonzo tackles Latinx stereotypes, immigration, and growing up poor in a way that challenges the status quo and will make you laugh nonstop.
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James Acaster: Repertoire
British comedian James Acaster's Repertoire gives you not just one comedy special but also a collection of four comedic masterpieces that will still leave you begging for more. With the multitude of stand-up comedy across streaming platforms, we're pretty familiar with the standard setup, punchline routine. Acaster's approach, however, is unique as he melds storytelling that will send you down a rabbit hole with observations about the absurdities of everyday life.
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Hannah Gadsby: Nanette
In her breakout comedy special, Australian comedian Hannah Gadsby creates a whole new way of doing the traditional comedy hour. At each turn she surprises and bucks expectation. You'll find the pairing of punchlines with her personal confessions relating to gender, sexuality, and challenges she faced in her childhood as emotional and empowering as it is witty and funny.
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Michelle Wolf: Joke Show
For a dose of quirky comedy with eccentric commentary on life, check out Michelle Wolf's special Joke Show. Wolf offers her wacky takes on massages, childbirth, feminism, and, yes, otters.
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Tiffany Haddish: Black Mitzvah
If there's one thing we know about Tiffany Haddish, it's that she's always ready to bring on the laughs. In her second Netflix special, Black Mitzvah, Haddish comically takes us through her coming of age as a woman. Reflecting on her life experiences, Haddish pokes fun at her past, from living in foster care to dating for free meals as a broke comedian, turning tales of hardship into jokes she can triumphantly laugh at.
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Neal Brennan: 3 Mics
Neal Brennan's special 3 Mics is a little unorthodox but so worth it. Brennan literally has three microphones set up on the stage — one for one-liners, one for traditional stand-up with setups and punchlines, and one for "emotional stuff." Though the setup is unusual, it ends up being a pretty hilarious and unique comedy hour in which Brennan gets up close and personal with the audience.
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Mo Gilligan: Momentum
British comedian Mo Gilligan's special Momentum is so next level that he has a whole band backing him up on stage. You can bet that Gilligan's humor is sharp and his observations on family dynamics, friends' birthday parties, and dancing in the club are hilariously relatable. The physical and musical comedy is sure to have you clutching your stomach and jammin' at the same time.
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Sarah Silverman: A Speck of Dust
Emmy Award-winning comedian Sarah Silverman has a bit of a reputation for being provocative because she's not afraid to get into controversial subjects. In her Netflix special, Silverman uses satire, a bit of dark humor, and her characteristic deadpan delivery to ponder big questions about life.
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Nikki Glaser: Bangin'
Nikki Glaser is by no means new to the comedy game. Dynamic and unbridled, Glaser's comedy special is in fact bangin'. Glaser isn't afraid to keep it all the way real about her sexual experiences and her deepest insecurities.
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Iliza Scheslinger: Elder Millennial
Iliza Scheslinger is no stranger to Netflix's comedy lineup. In addition to her four stand-up specials, she has also got a sketch show and wrote and stars in the Netflix film Good on Paper. For an introduction to the Scheslinger comedic universe, laugh out loud to Elder Millennial, where she gets into the truth about aging, our hidden flaws, and dating.
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Michael Che: Shame the Devil
Known for his deadpan delivery and controversial jokes from behind the desk of SNL's "Weekend Update," Michael Che also tackles current events in this Netflix comedy special. Although Che seems casual and cool, seated on a stool instead of standing up, he uses comedy to make some important points about celebrities and activism, mental health, and racial and economic inequities in healthcare.
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Hari Kondabolu: Warn Your Relatives
Witty and unpredictable, Hari Kondabolu breaks down identity politics, his mango obsession, and an awkward celebrity encounter in this special. Plus, this comedy special is packed with food-themed jokes that are downright funny.
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Trevor Noah: Son of Patricia
You can't go wrong with a full hour of comedy from Trevor Noah, The Daily Show host, who always delivers critical insight into today's politics with humor. In his second Netflix special, Son of Patricia, Noah shares lessons he learned from his mother growing up in South Africa, his interpretation of trap music, and his thoughts on tacos.
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Eric Andre: Legalize Everything
Heads up, you will definitely need to prepare yourself for this one. If you are familiar with Eric Andre or have seen The Eric Andre Show on Comedy Central, you know his brand of comedy: loud, in your face, and a little bizarre. Things get pretty wild as Andre discusses his mishaps getting high in public, missing Tupac's hologram at Coachella, and Cops' inappropriate theme-music choice.
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Katherine Ryan: Glitter Room
Fresh off touring in the UK, Katherine Ryan offers up her clever observations about everything from her precocious British daughter to the maddening double standards between single moms and single dads and the challenges of coparenting. With each joke and story she tells, Ryan is sure to keep you on your toes.
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Christina P: Mother Inferior
In her comedy special, Christina Pazsitzky gets into the reality of how her life changed after giving birth, why people hate on millennials, and the key to her happy marriage. This one's for those who'll appreciate a truly biting sense of humor.
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Whitney Cummings: Can I Touch It?
Watch Whitney Cummings's special Can I Touch IT? for her witty riffs on feminism. Cummings also brings out a special guest (that may or may not be a robot) on stage.
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Tig Notaro: Happy to Be Here
Tig Notaro, known for her deadpan delivery, gets playful in her second Netflix comedy special. The hour is filled with funny anecdotes about parenting, her wife's Google-able questions, talking to her cat, and more.
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Jenny Slate: Stage Fright
Despite her severe stage fright, dynamic and energetic comedian Jenny Slate graces the stage in this Netflix special. A mix of footage from home videos, interviews with her family members, and stand-up featuring stories about adulthood, Stage Fright is equal parts intimate, goofy, and quirky.
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Pete Davidson: Alive From New York
SNL star Pete Davidson, known for his dating life almost as much as his comedy, bares all in his special Pete Davidson: Alive From New York. His comedy is a fun mix of wry and a little offbeat. Davidson gets candid about his experience working at SNL, rumors about his BDE, a weirdly specific sex story about his dad, and more.
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Hannah Gadsby: Douglas
If Hannah Gadsby's first Netflix comedy special, Nanette, left you wanting more, have no fear. Follow it up with Douglas, which has more of Gadsby's unique perspectives on life and comedy.
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Ali Wong: Hard Knock Wife
Two years after her first hit Netflix special, Baby Cobra, Ali Wong came back with more hard truths and another baby bump! In this follow-up, Wong reveals the hilarious lessons she's learned about motherhood and marriage since having her first baby.