Come rain or shine, these comedies will keep you chuckling
It’s easy to get Netflix tunnel vision when firing up your preferred streaming device for an epic telly session. But don’t be a fool of Kraken-sized proportions and discount Prime Video’s growing library of gems. Here’s our guide to the best Amazon Prime Video comedy.
As this collection of Stuff favourites shows, Amazon’s streaming service has become particularly adept at laughter generation. And remember; all of these movies and TV shows are already included in your Prime subscription. So sit back and prepare to engage your face’s smile apparatus with these comedy masterpieces…
Parks and Recreation (S1-7)
The show that propelled Amy Poehler to Golden Globe-presenting notoriety and Chris Pratt to ubiquitous ultrastardom has its wit and oneliners honed to perfection. Taking Modern Family‘s warmth, mixing it with Arrested Development‘s absurdity and building it around The Office‘s mockumentary formula, it centres on the inconsequential workdays of the least consequential department of the council of fictional middle- American town of Pawnee, Indiana.
Like The Office, its brilliance lies in its characters and their relationships, although its comic set pieces are also ingenious. But unlike The Office, it’s not tragic – it’s bright, touching and will leave you grinning from cheek to cheek. It takes until series two to really hit its stride, but Parks and Recreation is a true must-see.
Adaptation
A few years on from the triumphant Being John Malkovich, director Spike Jonze and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman reunite with Adaptation, a supremely clever comedy movie about Kaufman’s own attempts to adapt Susan Orlean’s non-fiction book The Orchid Thief.
Starring Nicolas Cage as both Charlie Kaufman and his non-existent (at least in the real world) twin brother Donald, it manages to be the very adaptation Kaufman was asked to write, as well as an examination of screenwriting, natural selection and much, much more. Postmodern but wildly entertaining and filled with wonderful characters (Meryl Streep and Chris Cooper are fantastic), it’s one of the best examples of mainstream Hollywood creativity around.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
A holiday favourite from way back in the 1980s, this hilarious and heart-warming road movie stars Steve Martin and John Candy as travellers forced to team up in order to get home in time for the Thanksgiving turkey dinner. Martin shines as the uptight middle-class straight man, the opposite to Candy’s motor-mouthed shower curtain ring salesman – so it’s no surprise when their journey descends into chaos and rancour. It all ends on a positive note, of course, which is probably why this film has become something of a classic of its time. It’s certainly among the late Candy’s best movies.
Beetlejuice
When Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis’ married couple perish in a tragic accident, they become ghosts in their former home – but try as they might, they can’t scare away the new occupants. They’re just not cut out for the haunting business. Enter Michael Keaton’s Betelgeuse, a spook for hire that promises to rid them of the troublesome humans – at a price.
Tim Burton’s comedy is rich with the dark, creepy wonder we’ve come to expect from his movies, but it’s also raucously funny to boot. It’s recently been announced that, 30 years on, a sequel is in production, with both Keaton and co-star Winona Ryder to return. So even if you’ve seen Beetlejuice before, now’s the perfect time to get reacquainted.
Patriot (S1-2)
This quirky spy drama blends deadpan humour, action and a coterie of memorable characters for a truly original whole.
Michael Dorman excels as the permanently put-upon CIA operative John Lakeman, who really just wants to be a folk singer – only for life to keep conspiring against him.
The smart plot takes in Iran, nuclear weapons, a single-minded Luxembourger cop and a lot more info about industrial piping than you’d ever need know. It’s genuinely laugh-out-loud funny at times and the acting throughout is excellent. A real winner.
Ghost World
Based on the graphic novel by Daniel Clowes, Ghost World stars Thora Birch and Scarlett Johansson as teenage best friends on the cusp of adulthood – and distinctly pessimistic and cynical about their prospects and the world in general. If you like your comedies light and airy, the irony levels of this cult coming of age tale might well weigh you down – but those with a taste for thought-provoking, character-driven indie flicks will embrace its dark sense of humour.
The Disaster Artist
James Franco directs and stars in this retelling of the making of the best bad movie ever committed to film: Tommy Wiseau’s The Room.
Franco’s turn as the enigmatic, vampire-esque Wiseau (Where is he really from? How old is he? Where does all his money come from?) is frightening accurate, while his real-life brother Dave plays Greg Sestero, the naive, wide-eyed wannabe who somehow becomes embroiled in Wiseau’s opus of awful acting, bizarre plotlines and cringe-worthy love scenes.
While Franco has wisely made The Disaster Artist accessible for everyone, those who have seen The Room will likely get much more of a kick out of it. It’s also an incredible piece of work in its own right, somehow transcending its all-round dreadfulness to become something almost magical. Seek it out if you can.
Upload (S1-3)
Given a choice between death and eternity as an avatar in a virtual world that’s almost indistinguishable from the real one, many of us would pick the latter without question – but before too long we might be questioning our decision.
That’s the setup for this Amazon original sitcom from Greg Daniels (he of the US Office and Parks and Recreation fame), in which app developer Nathan has his consciousness uploaded to a luxurious digital heaven, only to quickly discover that not only have his earthly problems not suddenly disappeared, they’re now bolstered with a bunch of new ones. Mixing sci-fi, satire, romance and more, Upload is sure to strike a chord with anyone who spends time pondering the future of tech. That means you, Stuff reader!
Good Omens (S1-2)
Fans of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s beloved comic fantasy novel have for years been crossing fingers, toes and other body parts in the hopes that one day, somebody would take a chance on a screen adaptation of Good Omens – and that somebody turned out to be Amazon, which produced this star-studded series (now returned for a second, Gaiman-approved season of material not based on the book).
Set in modern-day England, it stars David Tennant and Michael Sheen as a demon and an angel whose eons-old friendship faces obliteration (along with the rest of the world) as the Antichrist comes of age and Armageddon looms. With the massive supporting cast including Jon Hamm, Jack Whitehall, Miranda Richardson and Michael McKean and a budget capable of bringing the novel to life, the fanboys and girls’ waiting has not been in vain.
The Hangover
Las Vegas was created to feed partygoers everything they want… until all they want is darkness, sleep and a bucketload of Alka Seltzer. And The Hangover is the movie incarnation of that attitude of unbridled intemperance, a film in which a four-man stag party in Sin City careers outrageously off the rails. And yes, there are hilarious consequences.
If you’re hungry for more, the two sequels are also streaming on Prime Video. But neither quite hit the hedonistic heights of the original.
The Marvelous Mrs Maisel (S1-5)
Hankering for a grown-up TV show in the vein of Mad Men? One also set in mid-century Manhattan? The Marvelous Mrs Maisel might be the new series for you. Rachel Brosnahan stars as Miriam “Midge” Maisel, a quick-witted middle-class housewife with what she thought was the perfect 1950s New York lifestyle: husband, kids and a beautiful Upper West Side apartment. When things take an unforeseen turn, she stumbles into trying out stand-up comedy – and discovers she has something of a talent for not only making people laugh, but for hitting upon life’s truths and enigmas while doing it.
With three seasons to binge upon, this award-winning comedy drama makes for a lightweight, enjoyable watch.
Triangle of Sadness
Wealth, beauty, sexual politics and social hierarchy all find themselves in the crosshairs of Ruben Östlund’s clever, riotous and frequently disgusting social satire, which bagged the Cannes Palme d’Or and was nominated for Best Picture at the 2023 Oscars.
In series of long chapters focussing on specific situations, Östlund delivers a pitch-black dissection of the hyper-rich, as seens through the (relatively destitute) eyes of a pair of models-cum-influencers who snag a freebie aboard a luxury cruise. From painfully awkward interactions between members of different societal tiers, to a Captain’s dinner that goes terribly wrong, to a brilliant final section in which all manner of traditional roles – gender, class, race – are turned upside down, this is an enjoyable but cynical exploration of how the modern world keeps power and money fundamentally entangled.
24 Hour Party People
Michael Winterbottom’s dramatised history of Madchester, Factory Records and The Hacienda has no right to be this funny – but what do you expect if you cast Steve Coogan as broadcaster and Factory co-founder Tony Wilson, the ringmaster to a chaotic circus of booze, drugs, sex and tragedy?
Fast-paced, compelling and engagingly postmodern, it functions both as a character study and an informative inside look at the story behind bands like The Happy Mondays and New Order.
Freaks and Geeks (S1)
Before Judd Apatow and Paul Feig hit the big time with the likes of Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Bridesmaids, they co-created a little TV comedy-drama based on Feig’s own adolescence in early 1980s Michigan. Dubbed Freaks and Geeks (most of its main characters fall into one or both of these categories) it lasted just one 18-episode season – something that’s still hard to fathom, given how fantastic it is.
Perhaps viewers just weren’t ready for a well-written, warm and entirely honest portrayal of the highs and lows of high school. Despite its untimely demise, it kickstarted a bunch of major Hollywood careers (James Franco, Linda Cardellini, Jason Segel and Seth Rogen being the obvious examples) and is regarded as a cult classic 20 years later.
All 18 episodes are now streaming on Prime, so why not go back to school?
Nathan for You (S1-4)
This brilliant spoof reality series, in which deadpan Canadian comedian Nathan Fielder swoops in to save ailing small businesses with absolutely woeful advice, has largely flown under the radar this side of the pond, but do yourself a favour and give it a shot. Often so surreal and bizarre you won’t believe Nathan’s clients aren’t in on the joke, Nathan for You is a true original.
Palm Springs
Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti find themselves trapped in a time loop in this offbeat romcom. Should they fall asleep or die, they wake up and live the entire day – in which they’re guests at a wedding in California desert – through again. The pair decide to make the most of their temporal purgatory, indulging in wilder and wilder behaviour in the knowledge that whatever happens, they’ll just end up back at square one. Everything, it seems, has become meaningless.
If might sound like a hackneyed idea but Palm Springs feels different by dint of focussing on a pair of people rather than just one. The chemistry and tensions between the two keep the film nicely involving – and it’s genuinely funny to boot.
Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm
Kazakhstan’s favourite son returns to the screen, with Sacha Baron-Cohen’s creation once again poking fun at Americans – this time in the midst of a chaotic Trump presidency and the COVID-19 pandemic. While the civilian victims of Borat’s pranks sometimes seem a little undeserving (seemingly being accommodating to an eccentric foreigner rather than outright agreeing with his terrible opinions) it’s hard to feel sorry too many people in this movie, as its hidden camera setups delivering almost-unbearable levels of cringe and no small amount of laughs.
To call the film scorching satire would feels inaccurate – it simply reinforces what most right-minded viewers already think about bigots, gun nuts and Republicans – but at the very least, Borat’s antics are reliably entertaining.
The Office (US, S1-9)
It might have started out as a pale shade of the British original, but NBC’s long-running sitcom quickly found its feet and its own comedic voice. Even if Steve Carell’s Michael Scott is a bit broader and a bit less melancholy than Ricky Gervais’ David Brent, it’s hard to deny that Carell has made the role of “awkward boss at a mid-level paper company” his own, and made himself into a massive star in the process.
You know the drill: The Office is a sort-of mockumentary set in a dreary Pennsylvania workplace populated by a few normal folks – representing us, the viewers – and a few caricatures. The comedy mostly springs from the interactions between the two, and the formula works so well that NBC managed to keep it going for an astonishing nine seasons.
Fleabag (S1-2)
Phoebe Waller-Bridge writes and stars in this riotous six-part sitcom about a single woman’s attempts to navigate the many pitfalls of modern London life. Even if that sounds like a hackneyed synopsis, or one that fits roughly 10,000 British sitcoms, we suggest you delve in anyway, because Waller-Bridge’s eyes-open approach – acerbic, dry, unashamed, raw – doesn’t feel unoriginal in the slightest. It’s also really, really funny, which is probably worth mentioning too.
A second series, with both Waller-Bridge and on-screen rival Olivia Colman returning, is also now available to stream on Prime Video – albeit not for free. If you have access to BBC iPlayer, however, have at it on there.
Forever (S1)
The world doesn’t seem short on wry, quirksome comedy drama series exploring the crushing ennui of modern life, but Amazon has furnished us with another one – and it’s a delightful surprise.
Starring Maya Rudolf and Fred Armisen as a married couple struggling with an encroaching middle-aged itch, Forever starts off as one kind of show and quickly transforms into another. Funny, smart and affecting, it’s Amazon’s best new original series in a long time.
Transparent (S1-5)
Amazon spent a long time trying to “do a Netflix” by creating its very own blockbusting TV shows, and Transparent was the moment it got it right. For a start, this is really bold – it tells the story of a sixtysomething divorcee announcing to his three grownup kids that he’s always felt different and is now going to live as a woman.
Sounds heavy, and it sort of is, but it’s also darkly funny, with a degree of wit and sharpness that’s still rare even in this golden age of TV. The bickering between the three kids (each of whom is riddled with their own individual problems and peccadillos) is as chucklesome as it is awkward and believable. Amazing telly.
Red Oaks (S1-3)
A hidden gem in Amazon’s catalogue, Red Oaks‘ unremarkable premise belies a nuanced show that blends humour and pathos surprisingly adeptly.
Set in 1980s suburban New York, it follows the bumbling but tumultuous life of David Myers. From the enigmatically aloof love interest to parental turmoil at home, all the classic teen drama tropes are ticked off here with just enough of a twist to sustain your intrigue. What really elevates this show above the many others that riff off a similar tune is its riotous roster of characters. Sleazy, feckless tennis coach Nash alone is worth the price of admission.
The Big Sick
Silicon Valley star and stand-up comedian Kumail Nanjiani plays himself in this dramatisation of how he and his wife, the writer Emily Gordon (here called “Emily Gardner” and played by Zoe Kazan), met each other, fell in love and got married.
An enjoyable culture-clash romantic comedy revolving around Nanjiani’s desire to lead a normal American life while his Pakistani parents pressure him to enter into an arranged marriage with a woman he barely knows, The Big Sick really gets going when Emily falls seriously ill, forcing our hero to confront the two sides of his life – not to mention meet her parents, played by Holly Hunter and Ray Romano.
