Sifting through Amazon Prime Video‘s catalogue of comedies is a chore. I’ve gathered 65 of the best that scored at least 7 on IMDb and 70 on Rotten Tomatoes to find the everything you should definitely add to your watchlist, including some of my favourites of all-time, award winners, critically acclaimed and cult favourites.
WYALAN star rating explained:
- 5 stars – Highly enjoyed and would highly recommend as a must watch
- 4 stars – Enjoyed and would watch again in the future
- 3 stars – Glad I watched it once, but I’ll probably never watch it again
- 2 stars – Watched to the end, but I wouldn’t watch it again
- 1 star – DNF (did not finish)
The Artist (2011) – Silent/Comedy-Drama
For fans of Singin’ in the Rain, Hugo, and Chaplin
Jean Dujardin plays a silent film star struggling with the arrival of sound cinema. Directed by Michel Hazanavicius; winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Knives Out (2019) – Comedy-Mystery/Whodunit Satire
For fans of Clue, Only Murders in the Building, and Glass Onion
Daniel Craig leads an ensemble cast investigating a wealthy family’s secrets after a suspicious death. Written and directed by Rian Johnson (Looper); nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. WYALAN Rating – 4/5
Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) – Comedy-Drama/Family Ensemble
For fans of The Big Chill, Crimes and Misdemeanors, and Marriage Story
Mia Farrow, Michael Caine, and Dianne Wiest star in intersecting tales of love, betrayal, and renewal. Written and directed by Woody Allen; winner of 3 Academy Awards including Best Supporting Actor and Actress.
The Breakfast Club (1985) – Dramedy/Teen Ensemble
For fans of Sixteen Candles, Dazed and Confused, and Easy A
Five high school students from different cliques bond during Saturday detention. Written and directed by John Hughes (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off); winner of the MTV Movie Award for Best Movie. WYALAN Rating – 3.5/5
Being John Malkovich (1999) – Black Comedy/Fantasy
For fans of Adaptation, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Synecdoche, New York
John Cusack discovers a portal into actor John Malkovich’s mind. Written by Charlie Kaufman (Adaptation); nominated for 3 Academy Awards. WYALAN Rating – 3/5
Hundreds of Beavers (2022) – Slapstick/Adventure Comedy
For fans of Buster Keaton, Monty Python, and Swiss Army Man
Ryland Brickson Cole Tews plays a drunken applejack salesman battling beavers in a surreal, silent-style slapstick epic.
Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont (2005) – Comedy-Drama/Generational Friendship
For fans of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Quartet, and Driving Miss Daisy
Joan Plowright stars as a widow who befriends a young writer while living in a London residential hotel. Directed by Dan Ireland (The Whole Wide World).
The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) – Fantasy-Comedy/Romantic Satire
For fans of Midnight in Paris, Pleasantville, and Radio Days
Mia Farrow plays a Depression-era woman whose favourite movie character steps off the screen into her life. Written and directed by Woody Allen; winner of the BAFTA for Best Film.
Tucker and Dale vs Evil (2010) – Horror-Comedy/Slasher Satire
For fans of The Cabin in the Woods, Shaun of the Dead, and Evil Dead II
Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine star as two well-meaning hillbillies mistaken for killers by clueless college students. Directed by Eli Craig (Little Evil); winner of the Audience Award at SXSW.
The Big Sick (2017) – Rom-Com/Dramedy
For fans of Crazy Rich Asians, Love, Simon, and Dating Amber
Kumail Nanjiani and Zoe Kazan star in a semi-autobiographical romance about cultural clashes, illness, and unexpected love. Written by Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon; nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. WYALAN Rating – 5/5
Buffalo ’66 (1998) – Dark Comedy/Drama
For fans of Trees Lounge, Submarine, and Wild Bill
Vincent Gallo stars as an ex-con who kidnaps Christina Ricci to pose as his wife. Directed by Gallo; nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance.
Bullets Over Broadway (1994) – Comedy/Crime Satire
For fans of Miller’s Crossing, Burn After Reading, and Mighty Aphrodite
John Cusack plays a struggling playwright whose gangster backer meddles in his production. Directed by Woody Allen; nominated for 7 Academy Awards, winning Best Supporting Actress (Dianne Wiest).
Bagdad Café (1987) – Comedy-Drama/Desert Oddity
For fans of Paris, Texas, Stranger Than Paradise, and The Last Picture Show
Marianne Sägebrecht stars as a German tourist who transforms a rundown desert café with warmth and eccentricity. Directed by Percy Adlon; winner of the Bavarian Film Award for Best Director.
Radio Days (1987) – Comedy-Drama/Nostalgic Ensemble
For fans of The Purple Rose of Cairo, Diner, and American Graffiti
Woody Allen narrates a childhood shaped by radio broadcasts, blending humour and memory with a sprawling ensemble cast. Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988) – Comedy/Con Artist Farce
For fans of Trading Places, The Producers, and A Fish Called Wanda
Steve Martin and Michael Caine star as rival con men competing to swindle a wealthy heiress. Directed by Frank Oz (Bowfinger); nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Comedy Film.
Begin Again (2013) – Comedy-Drama/Musical Romance
For fans of Once, La La Land, and Sing Street
Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo play a singer-songwriter and a record executive who collaborate on an album recorded across New York. Directed by John Carney (Once).
Psych: The Movie (2017) – Comedy-Mystery Reunion
For fans of Monk, Chuck, and Veronica Mars
James Roday Rodriguez and Dulé Hill reprise their roles as Shawn and Gus in a feature-length continuation of the detective comedy series.
The Return of the Living Dead (1985) – Horror-Comedy/Zombie Satire
For fans of Evil Dead II, Shaun of the Dead, and Re-Animator
Clu Gulager and James Karen star in a punk-infused zombie romp where corpses rise after a chemical spill. Directed by Dan O’Bannon (Alien).
Deconstructing Harry (1997) – Comedy-Drama/Meta Satire
For fans of Adaptation, Synecdoche, New York, and Sweet and Lowdown
Woody Allen plays a writer whose fictional characters invade his real life in this sharp, self-critical comedy. Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
Truman (2015) – Comedy/Drama of Friendship and Farewell
For fans of The Intouchables, Amour, and Lucky
Ricardo Darín and Javier Cámara star as lifelong friends confronting mortality and companionship. Directed by Cesc Gay; winner of 5 Goya Awards including Best Film.
Submarine (2010) – Dark Comedy/Coming-of-Age
For fans of Rushmore, The Edge of Seventeen, and Dating Amber
Craig Roberts plays a Welsh teenager navigating first love and family dysfunction. Directed by Richard Ayoade (The IT Crowd); nominated for the BAFTA for Outstanding Debut.
Uncle Frank (2020) – Comedy-Drama/Road Trip
For fans of Beginners, The Farewell, and Swan Song
Paul Bettany stars as a closeted professor travelling with his niece to a family funeral in the South. Written and directed by Alan Ball (American Beauty); nominated for the GLAAD Media Award.
Four Lions (2010) – Black Comedy/Terror Satire
For fans of In the Loop, Dr. Strangelove, and The Death of Stalin
Riz Ahmed leads a group of inept British jihadists in this biting satire. Directed by Chris Morris (Brass Eye); winner of the BAFTA for Outstanding Debut.
Lucky (2017) – Comedy-Drama/Existential Portrait
For fans of Paris, Texas, Nebraska, and The Straight Story
Harry Dean Stanton plays a 90-year-old atheist confronting mortality in a desert town. Directed by John Carroll Lynch; nominated for the Independent Spirit Award.
Cloudburst (2011) – Comedy-Drama/Road Romance
For fans of Amour, Beginners, and The Kids Are All Right
Olympia Dukakis and Brenda Fricker star as a lesbian couple fleeing to Canada to marry. Directed by Thom Fitzgerald (The Hanging Garden); winner of the Audience Award at Palm Springs.
Joy Ride (2021) – Comedy/Friendship Adventure
For fans of Bridesmaids, Girls Trip, and Booksmart
Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, and Stephanie Hsu star as friends on a chaotic trip across Asia. Directed by Adele Lim (Crazy Rich Asians).
Kenny (2006) – Mockumentary/Comedy
For fans of Best in Show, American Movie, and Borat
Shane Jacobson plays a genial plumber specialising in portable toilets, celebrated in this Australian mockumentary. Winner of the AFI Award for Best Actor.
Gypsy (1993) – Musical/Drama Adaptation
For fans of Fiddler on the Roof, Chicago, and Cabaret
Bette Midler stars as stage mother Rose in this TV adaptation of the Broadway musical. Nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Actress.
Tremors (1990) – Action-Horror-Comedy/Creature Feature
For fans of Gremlins, Shaun of the Dead, and Arachnophobia
Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward battle underground monsters in a desert town. Directed by Ron Underwood (City Slickers); winner of the Saturn Award for Best Horror Film.
June Again (2021) – Comedy-Drama/Family Reunion
For fans of The Father, Still Alice, and Wild Bill
Noni Hazlehurst stars as a woman with dementia who regains clarity and reconnects with her family. Directed by JJ Winlove; nominated for the AACTA Award for Best Film.
It’s All Gone Pete Tong (2004) – Comedy-Drama/Music Industry Satire
For fans of 24 Hour Party People, Begin Again, and Vinyl
Paul Kaye plays a DJ losing his hearing in this mockumentary-style dramedy. Directed by Michael Dowse (Goon).
Wild Bill (2011) – Comedy-Drama/Family Redemption
For fans of Fish Tank, Billy Elliot, and Submarine
Charlie Creed-Miles stars as an ex-con reconnecting with his sons in East London. Directed by Dexter Fletcher (Rocketman); nominated for the BAFTA for Outstanding Debut.
Moonstruck (1987) – Rom-Com/Family Ensemble
For fans of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Mystic Pizza, and Sleepless in Seattle
Cher stars as a widow who falls for her fiancé’s brother, played by Nicolas Cage. Directed by Norman Jewison (Fiddler on the Roof); winner of 3 Academy Awards including Best Actress. WYALAN Rating – 3/5
Sweet and Lowdown (1999) – Comedy-Drama/Musical Portrait
For fans of La La Land, Whiplash, and Round Midnight
Sean Penn plays a fictional jazz guitarist obsessed with Django Reinhardt. Directed by Woody Allen; nominated for 2 Academy Awards.
Dope (2015) – Comedy-Crime/Coming-of-Age
For fans of Superbad, Booksmart, and Atlanta
Shameik Moore stars as a geek navigating drugs, gangs, and college dreams in Inglewood. Directed by Rick Famuyiwa (The Wood); nominated for the Sundance Grand Jury Prize.
Fear of a Black Hat (1993) – Mockumentary/Comedy-Music Satire
For fans of Spinal Tap, CB4, and Hip Hop Evolution
Rusty Cundieff directs a parody of hip hop culture through a fictional rap group. Winner of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association New Generation Award.
Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical (2005) – Musical-Comedy/Satire
For fans of Rocky Horror Picture Show, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and Little Shop of Horrors
Kristen Bell stars in a campy musical parody of the 1930s anti-marijuana propaganda film. Directed by Andy Fickman (She’s the Man).
Bodied (2017) – Comedy-Drama/Rap Battle Satire
For fans of 8 Mile, Dave, and Atlanta
Calum Worthy stars in a satire of battle rap culture, produced by Eminem. Directed by Joseph Kahn (Torque); winner of the TIFF People’s Choice Award.
Trees Lounge (1996) – Comedy-Drama/Barroom Portrait
For fans of Buffalo ’66, Barfly, and The Last Picture Show
Steve Buscemi directs and stars as an alcoholic drifting through odd jobs and failed relationships. Nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature.
Benny & Joon (1993) – Rom-Com/Quirky Romance
For fans of Edward Scissorhands, Garden State, and Amélie
Johnny Depp plays an eccentric drifter who falls for a mentally ill young woman, played by Mary Stuart Masterson. Directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik (National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation).
The Hammer (2007) – Comedy-Drama/Underdog Sports Story
For fans of Rocky, Fighting With My Family, and Cinderella Man
Adam Carolla stars as a 40-year-old construction worker who improbably pursues a boxing career. Directed by Charles Herman-Wurmfeld (Kissing Jessica Stein).
Boy Meets Girl (2014) – Rom-Com/Identity and Transition
For fans of Transparent, Heartstopper, and Pose
Michelle Hendley stars as a transgender woman navigating romance and small-town life in Kentucky. Winner of multiple LGBTQ film festival awards.
Come As You Are (2019) – Comedy-Drama/Road Trip
For fans of The Sessions, The Fundamentals of Caring, and Little Miss Sunshine
Three young men with disabilities hire a driver to take them to a brothel in Montreal. Directed by Richard Wong; winner of the Audience Award at SXSW.
Language Lessons (2021) – Comedy-Drama/Connection Across Distance
For fans of Past Lives, The One I Love, and Normal People
Natalie Morales and Mark Duplass star in a tender story of friendship formed through online Spanish lessons. Morales directed; winner of the Audience Award at SXSW.
The One I Love (2014) – Rom-Com/Sci-Fi Satire
For fans of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Palm Springs, and Coherence
Mark Duplass and Elisabeth Moss play a couple whose retreat takes a surreal turn. Directed by Charlie McDowell (Severance).
Red, White & Royal Blue (2023) – Rom-Com/Political Fantasy
For fans of Love, Simon, Fire Island, and Heartstopper
Taylor Zakhar Perez and Nicholas Galitzine star as the son of the U.S. president and a British prince who fall in love. Directed by Matthew López (The Inheritance).
The Spectacular Now (2013) – Dramedy/Teen Romance
For fans of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Submarine, and Lady Bird
Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley star as high school seniors navigating love, alcohol, and uncertain futures. Directed by James Ponsoldt (The End of the Tour); winner of the Sundance Special Jury Award.
Danny Collins (2015) – Comedy-Drama/Musical Redemption
For fans of Begin Again, Crazy Heart, and Ray
Al Pacino plays an aging rock star who reconnects with his estranged family after discovering a lost letter from John Lennon. Directed by Dan Fogelman (This Is Us).
Dating Amber (2020) – Comedy-Drama/Coming-of-Age
For fans of Submarine, Big Boys, and Love, Simon
Fionn O’Shea and Lola Petticrew star as Irish teens who pretend to date to deflect suspicion about their sexuality. Directed by David Freyne (The Cured); winner of the Irish Film & Television Award for Best Film.
Swan Song (2021) – Comedy-Drama/Final Journey
For fans of Lucky, Truman, and Cloudburst
Udo Kier stars as a retired hairdresser who escapes his nursing home to style a former client’s hair one last time. Directed by Todd Stephens (Edge of Seventeen).
Rosie (2019) – Comedy-Drama/Family Struggle
For fans of Wild Bill, The Florida Project, and June Again
Sarah Greene stars as a mother fighting homelessness while protecting her children in Dublin. Directed by Paddy Breathnach (Viva).
Outsourced (2006) – Rom-Com/Cultural Clash
For fans of The Big Sick, Bend It Like Beckham, and Monsoon Wedding
Josh Hamilton stars as an American manager sent to India to train his replacement, finding unexpected romance. Directed by John Jeffcoat.
Easy A (2010) – Comedy/Teen Satire
For fans of Mean Girls, Clueless, and 10 Things I Hate About You
Emma Stone stars as a high schooler who pretends to be promiscuous to boost her reputation. Directed by Will Gluck (Friends with Benefits); nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Actress.
Mighty Aphrodite (1995) – Comedy/Modern Myth
For fans of Sweet and Lowdown, Annie Hall, and Deconstructing Harry
Mira Sorvino plays a sex worker whose life collides with a neurotic sportswriter. Directed by Woody Allen; Sorvino won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Burn After Reading (2008) – Black Comedy/Spy Satire
For fans of The Big Lebowski, In the Loop, and Fargo
George Clooney, Frances McDormand, and Brad Pitt star in a farce about espionage, vanity, and incompetence. Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen; winner of the BAFTA for Best Editing. WYALAN Rating – 4/5
Fighting With My Family (2019) – Comedy-Drama/Wrestling Biopic
For fans of Rocky, Glow, and The Wrestler
Florence Pugh stars as WWE wrestler Paige, rising from a working-class family in Norwich to global fame. Directed by Stephen Merchant (The Office UK); nominated for the BAFTA for Outstanding British Film.
Snack Shack (2024) – Comedy/Coming-of-Age
For fans of Superbad, Adventureland, and Booksmart
Two teenage best friends run a snack stand in 1990s Nebraska, navigating friendship, ambition, and first love. Directed by Adam Carter Rehmeier (Dinner in America).
Novocaine (2001) – Comedy-Crime/Black Comedy
For fans of Nurse Betty, Burn After Reading, and The Whole Nine Yards
Steve Martin stars as a dentist whose life spirals into crime after meeting a mysterious patient. Directed by David Atkins (Arizona Dream). WYALAN Rating – 4/5
Happy Gilmore (1996) – Comedy/Sports Satire
For fans of Billy Madison, Dodgeball, and Caddyshack
Adam Sandler plays a failed hockey player who discovers a talent for golf, clashing with the sport’s elite. Directed by Dennis Dugan (Big Daddy); nominated for the MTV Movie Award for Best Fight. WYALAN Rating – 5/5
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015) – Action-Comedy/Spy Adventure
For fans of Kingsman: The Secret Service, Mission: Impossible, and Austin Powers
Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer star as Cold War spies forced to work together. Directed by Guy Ritchie (Snatch); nominated for the Saturn Award for Best Action Film. WYALAN Rating – 3.5/5
Heads of State (2024) – Comedy/Political Satire
For fans of Veep, The Campaign, and Wag the Dog
Idris Elba and John Cena star in a buddy comedy about two political figures caught in global chaos. Directed by Ilya Naishuller (Hardcore Henry). WYALAN Rating – 4/5
Deep Cover (1992) – Crime-Comedy/Neo-Noir Satire
For fans of Training Day, New Jack City, and American Gangster
Laurence Fishburne plays an undercover cop drawn into the drug trade, with Jeff Goldblum as a corrupt partner. Directed by Bill Duke (A Rage in Harlem); winner of the Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay. WYALAN Rating – 3.5/5
My Old Ass (2024) – Comedy-Drama/Fantasy Coming-of-Age
For fans of Lady Bird, Juno, and The Spectacular Now
Maisy Stella stars as a teenager who meets her older self, played by Aubrey Plaza, during a mushroom trip. Directed by Megan Park (The Fallout). WYALAN Rating – 3.5/5
The Pickup (2024) – Comedy/Romantic Satire
For fans of Crazy Rich Asians, The Big Sick, and Red, White & Royal Blue
Camila Mendes and Laura Benanti star in a rom-com about mistaken identity and unexpected romance. Directed by Zara Hayes (Poms). WYALAN Rating – 3.5/5
Sliding Doors (1998) – Rom-Com/Fantasy Drama
For fans of Run Lola Run, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and About Time
Gwyneth Paltrow stars in parallel timelines exploring how a missed train changes her life. Directed by Peter Howitt (Johnny English); nominated for the BAFTA for Best British Film. WYALAN Rating – 3.5/5
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