Yahoo News The 20 best comedy movies on Max
Between family-friendly flicks and raunchy cult classics, there are plenty of laughs to go around.
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Renee Zellweger in 'Bridget Jones's Diary'; Riley Keough and Taylour Paige in 'Zola'; Michael Cera in 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World'No need to worry if you missed these comedy movies in theaters, because now you can laugh out loud at them from the comfort of your home with Max. And since HBO's 2023 rebranding, we could all use a tour of the streamer's latest selection of films, funny or not. Whether you're craving a heartwarming rom-com like My Big Fat Greek Wedding or seeking a cultural phenomenon like Barbie, we've got you covered.
Read on for EW's handpicked list of the 20 best comedy movies streaming on Max right now.
Barbershop (2002)
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Ice Cube (right) in 'Barbershop'Inheriting his late dad's dusty barbershop business in Chicago's South Side, Calvin Palmer Jr. (Ice Cube) yearns to break free from its monotonous rhythm. After hastily selling the shop for a quick buck, Calvin begins to appreciate his father's legacy and the tight-knit community it serves. While Barbershop might not redefine comedy or match the raucousness of Ice Cube's Friday (1995), the film offers a refreshing, easygoing watch with a whole lot of heart, snippy dialogue, and an ensemble cast including then-emerging talents like Eve, Michael Ealy, and Anthony Anderson. —James Mercadante
Where to watch Barbershop: Max
EW grade: N/A (read the review)
Director: Tim Story
Cast: Ice Cube, Anthony Anderson, Sean Patrick Thomas, Eve, Troy Garity, Michael Ealy, Leonard Earl Howze, Keith David, Cedric the Entertainer
Related content: Barbershop jokes anger civil rights activists
Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004)
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Queen Latifah (center) in 'Barbershop 2: Back in Business'Two years after the original, the entire cast reprises their beloved roles for the sequel, despite director Tim Story stepping down and Kevin Rodney Sullivan taking the helm. This time around, we find the same up-and-running barbershop facing the threat of gentrification and competition from Gina (Queen Latifah) — a stylist at the neighboring beauty shop — while also fielding a tempting buyout offer from a greedy developer (Harry Lennix). Delving deeper into the lives of its cherished characters, Barbershop 2 is hailed by EW's critic as a "rare film to evoke what can’t be replaced about a local business. It pays more than lip service to the glories of lip service." —J.M.
Where to watch Barbershop 2: Back in Business: Max
EW grade: N/A (read the review)
Director: Kevin Rodney Sullivan
Cast: Ice Cube, Anthony Anderson, Sean Patrick Thomas, Eve, Troy Garity, Michael Ealy, Leonard Earl Howze, Keith David, Cedric the Entertainer, Queen Latifah
Related content: Cutting up with Barbershop 2's Cedric the Entertainer
Barbie (2023)
In the summer of '23, pink was no longer just a color — it was a ubiquitous lifestyle that eventually led to a paint shortage. With more than $1 billion in ticket sales (for which the Golden Globes pretty much handed the film its first-ever box-office award), Greta Gerwig's eight-time Oscar-nominated blockbuster brought the beloved toy to the silver screen. Much like the doll's polished surface, the film's premise promises silly, campy fun with Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie) becoming sentient and trying to revert to blissful ignorance in her Dreamhouse. But what seems like an escapist adventure blooms into a poignant narrative rich with existential ruminations on mortality and womanhood. From its hard-hitting soundtrack to its candy-colored mise-en-scène to its instantly quotable dialogue, Barbie is for everyone — whether you're a Barbie, just Ken, or...Alan. —J.M.
EW grade: A–
Director: Greta Gerwig
Cast: Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman, Will Ferrell
Related content: Breaking down the chaotic discourse around Barbie Oscars 'snubs'
The Breakfast Club (1985)
In John Hughes' seminal '80s classic, five teenagers from varying social circles — "Brain" Brian Johnson (Anthony Michael Hall), "Athlete" Andrew Clark (Emilio Estevez), "Basket Case" Allison Reynolds (Ally Sheedy), "Princess" Claire Standish (Molly Ringwald), and "Criminal" John Bender (Judd Nelson) — find themselves serving Saturday detention together. Despite their surface-level differences, the quintet bonds over shared struggles at home, realizing they're not that many poles apart. The Breakfast Club has long lived as one of the most defining teen comedies of the '80s and tops EW's list of the 50 best high school movies of all time. As EW's critic writes, "If hell is other people — and high school is hell — then John Hughes is the genre's Sartre, and this is his No Exit." —Kevin Jacobsen
Where to watch The Breakfast Club: Max
Director: John Hughes
Cast: Emilio Estevez, Paul Gleason, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy
Related content: The best '80s movie soundtracks
Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)
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Renée Zellweger in 'Bridget Jones's Diary'When it comes to turn of the 21st century romantic comedies, you don’t get much more iconic than Bridget Jones’s Diary. Based on the novel by Helen Fielding, Bridget Jones tells the story of its eponymous hero, Bridget (Renée Zellweger), a British thirtysomething looking for love. Bridget’s romantic life — which she chronicles in her diary along with her other misadventures — takes a turn when she engages in an ill-fated affair with her dashing boss, Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant), leaving the kind Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) in the lurch. Fans of the book were skeptical when production announced the part of Bridget would be played by a Texas-born actress, but Zellweger pulls off the role with aplomb, perfectly channeling Bridget’s lovably messy essence. —Ilana Gordon
Where to watch Bridget Jones’s Diary: Max
EW grade: N/A (read the review)
Director: Sharon Maguire
Cast: Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent, Gemma Jones
Related content: Fourth Bridget Jones's Diary movie in the works, says writer Helen Fielding
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Meryl Streep may not have won an Oscar for her role as Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada, but the film does bear the distinction of being one of her most quotable works. An adaptation of the 2003 novel by the same name — which was based on the author’s experiences working as an assistant at Vogue — the movie tells the story of Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway), an aspiring writer who accepts a job working for the demanding editor in chief at one of the most distinguished fashion magazines in New York City. What follows is a headlong descent into the fashion world, complete with insane assignments, eccentric characters, and glorious outfits. Hathaway is charming as the fish out of water who gets the fashion education she never knew she wanted or needed, but the movie belongs to Streep and her clipped, precise performance. That’s all. —I.G.
Where to watch The Devil Wears Prada: Max
EW grade: N/A (read the review)
Director: David Frankel
Cast: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, Simon Baker, Adrian Grenier
Related content: The Devil Wears Prada oral history: Cast reunites to dish on making the best-dressed hit
Dicks: The Musical (2023)
When penning their off-Broadway sensation F-----g Identical Twins, which would later blossom into A24's first-ever produced musical, it's safe to say that real-life pals Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson probably took a look at silly screwball classics like Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989) and Dumb and Dumber (1994) and said, "We should write one, but make it really gay!" Directed by Seinfeld staff writer Larry Charles, this off-the-walls caper follows two narcissistic businessmen who stumble upon the shock of their lives: They've met their "identical" twin. This then calls for Parent Trap-esque mischief as they scheme to reunite their procreators (Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally) and reignite their once-hot, now-dried-up spark. You'll either absolutely love Sharp and Jackson's irreverent, off-center humor or find yourself haunted by visions of Lane baby-birding sewer boys in your dreams, but that's the beauty of Dicks: The Musical — it's an experience that unapologetically tattoos itself in your mind forever. —J.M.
Where to watch Dicks: The Musical: Max
Director: Larry Charles
Cast: Aaron Jackson, Josh Sharp, Megan Mullally, Nathan Lane, Megan Thee Stallion, Bowen Yang
Related content: How Dicks: The Musical created Megan Thee Stallion's alpha anthem (and other soundtrack secrets)
Eighth Grade (2018)
While most of us aim to shove middle school memories into the bottomless depths of our minds, for many Gen-Zers, every awkward stumble is immortalized on the internet. Writer-director Bo Burnham gently peels back this modern phenomenon in his debut feature film, which trails the painfully realistic journey of self-effacing, anxiety-ridden eighth-grader Kayla (Elsie Fisher in her Golden Globe-nominated performance) — whose way of coping with her peer isolation is to drown out the noise with more noise, a.k.a. social media. Capturing the universally cringey middle-school experience through Burnham's keen screenplay and with actors who actually fit the bill, Eighth Grade is what EW's critic calls "an absolute delight that stings with truth. It’s heartbreaking, heartwarming, and a total charmer." Gucci! —J.M.
Where to watch Eighth Grade: Max
EW grade: A (read the review)
Director: Bo Burnham
Cast: Elsie Fisher, Josh Hamilton, Emily Robinson, Jake Ryan, Fred Hechinger
Related content: Bo Burnham originally thought no one would ever take Eighth Grade seriously
Election (1999)
Based on the eponymous novel by Tom Perrotta, Alexander Payne's cult classic follows the ruthless race for student government president at Carver High, where petty history teacher Jim McAllister meddles in the campaign of unstoppable go-getter Tracy Flick (his least favorite student) by convincing golden retriever-type jock Paul to throw his hat in the ring. As tensions rise, Paul's slacker sister joins the fray, fueled by spite after he inadvertently steals her girlfriend. With a delightful mix of power plays and personal vendettas — plus a sequel on the way — Election brilliantly parodies the circus that is politics, an evergreen spectacle in today's world, making it a perfect pick for your watchlist. —J.M.
EW grade: N/A (read the review)
Director: Alexander Payne
Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Matthew Broderick, Chris Klein, Jessica Campbell, Mark Harelik, Phil Reeves, Molly Hagan, Delaney Driscoll
Related: Tom Perrotta on the origins of Election, Tracy Flick's legacy, and adapting his own work
The Farewell (2019)
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Jiang Yongbo, Aoi Mizuhara, Chen Han, Tzi Ma, Awkwafina, Li Xiang, Lu Hong, and Diana Lin in 'The Farewell'Nora Lum sheds her Awkwafina persona for the Lulu Wang-directed dramedy, The Farewell. A film based on Wang’s real life experiences, Lum plays Billi, an American writer whose family makes the decision to not tell Billi’s grandmother, Nai Nai, that she has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. After flying to China to spend time with her grandmother, Billi is forced to deal with the decision and the cultural factors that informed her family’s choice. EW’s critic writes that Lum “finds something appealingly honest and vulnerable in Billi” and that Wang’s script “shares the familiar contours of other immigrant tales: the Babel tower of half-spoken languages; the ties that bind across oceans, and the physical and cultural gaps that can still break them.” The film may be based on a real lie, but relatable truths abound within. —I.G.
Where to watch The Farewell: Max
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Director: Lulu Wang
Cast: Awkwafina, Tzi Ma, Diana Lin, Zhao Shu-zhen
Related content: The two faces of Awkwafina: How the actress got in touch with her dramatic side for The Farewell
I, Tonya (2017)
Those who survived the '90s might assert that few stories were more captivating during that decade than the rivalry between U.S. Olympic ice skating team contenders Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding. Those people didn't know that, 23 years later, a film adaptation of 1994's biggest criminal sporting controversy would prove almost — if not more — riveting. Shot in a mockumentary style, I, Tonya stars Margot Robbie as Tonya Harding; Allison Janney as her mother, LaVona Golden; and Sebastian Stan as Tonya's husband at that time, Jeff Gillooly. A film that focuses as much on the unreliability of its narrators as the events they purport to explain, I, Tonya finds yet another way to channel Robbie's athleticism, grit, and charisma. Also notable is Janney's performance as Harding's abusive, withholding mother, which won her the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. —I.G.
EW grade: A– (read the review)
Director: Craig Gillespie
Cast: Margot Robbie, Allison Janney, Sebastian Stan, Paul Walter Hauser, Bobby Cannavale
Related content: How I, Tonya used conflicting accounts of Tonya Harding's story to its advantage
Just Wright (2010)
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Queen Latifah and Common in 'Just Wright'Leslie Wright (Queen Latifah), a staunch basketball buff and physical therapist, is tired of being sidelined in the friend zone. But when she scores her dream job of rehabbing basketball superstar Scott McKnight (Common) from a career-threatening injury — and finds herself tripping head over heels for him — her gold-digging friend Morgan (Paula Patton) is the one who captures his attention. Elevated by the leads' charming performances, Just Wright makes for a winning comfort watch. As EW's critic puts it, "The movie is a rigged game of clichés and platitudes, but fans will be pleased by additional proof that Latifah is a lovable Queen but not a pampered princess." —J.M.
Where to watch Just Wright: Max
EW grade: B (read the review)
Director: Sanaa Hamri
Cast: Queen Latifah, Common, Paula Patton, James Pickens Jr., Pam Grier, Phylicia Rashad
Related content: Queen Latifah's best performances
The LEGO Batman Movie (2017)
Many legendary actors have taken on the iconic role of Batman over the years, but The LEGO Batman Movie reshapes this superhero in an unforgettable way. With a miniature plastic Joker scheming in Gotham City, it's up to the animated Batman to swoop in and save the day. This Caped Crusader has defeated countless enemies, leaving his foe determined to prove himself as the Biggest Bad around. (After all, what's a superhero without a supervillain?) Though it's based on a toy, this film appeals to all ages, with building blocks for success that include an engaging story, catchy musical numbers, an A-list voice cast, and the limitless world of LEGO. —Kelsie Calderon
Where to watch The LEGO Batman Movie: Max
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Director: Chris McKay
Cast: Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson, Ralph Fiennes, Jenny Slate, Héctor Elizondo, Ellie Kemper, Mariah Carey, Lauren White, Todd Hansen
Related content: Batman Rewatch: The LEGO Batman Movie and The Batman bury the Dark Knight to heap on praise
Life After Beth (2014)
In the aftermath of his girlfriend Beth's demise, Zach's life takes an unexpected twist when she mysteriously revives herself, turning their romance into a grave situation (literally) as she craves human flesh. Life After Beth is the zombie comedy the world never knew it needed, as Aubrey Plaza lends her trademark offbeat and deadpan humor to the film's titular character. "She commits so fully to her rabid, Romero-esque alter ego, she chews the movie up," EW's critic said. This out-of-the-ordinary film explores the lengths a person might go for love, even in the face of death (and un-death). —K.C.
Where to watch Life After Beth: Max
EW grade: B (read the review)
Director: Jeff Baena
Cast: Aubrey Plaza, Dane DeHaan, Molly Shannon, Cheryl Hines, Paul Reiser, Matthew Gray Gubler, John C. Reilly
Related content: Aubrey Plaza goes full zombie in Life After Beth trailer
My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
Finding the perfect partner is one thing, but for Toula, winning your family's approval is the real challenge. According to her clan, "Nice Greek girls are supposed to do three things in life: marry Greek boys, make Greek babies, and feed everyone until the day we die." At age 30 and still single while her siblings have already started their own Greek families, Toula unexpectedly falls fast and hard for Ian Miller. The only problem: He isn't Greek. Despite the cultural clash, love knows no bounds — and Toula's story is far from over. —K.C.
Where to watch My Big Fat Greek Wedding: Max
Director: Joel Zwick
Cast: Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Michael Constantine, Lainie Kazan, Gia Carides, Louis Mandylor, Andrea Martin, Joey Fatone
Related content: Nia Vardalos directing My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 in Greece: 'Much love and gratitude'
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)
How hard are you willing to fight for love? For 22 year old musician Scott Pilgrim, the answer is very. After meeting and falling for Ramona Flowers, Scott discovers that to win her hand, he must first defeat her seven evil exes in combat. A romantic action comedy film based on the graphic novel series and told using video game and comic-like imagery, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World may have Sex Bob-Ombed at the box office, but the film has since developed a loyal cult following — and rightly so. With an ensemble cast featuring some of the best twentysomething comedic talent the early-2010s had to offer, Scott Pilgrim is a unique comedy with a style that’s all its own. —I.G.
Where to watch Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: Max
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Director: Edgar Wright
Cast: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Anna Kendrick, Alison Pill, Brandon Routh, Aubrey Plaza, Jason Schwartzman, Johnny Simmons, Chris Evans
Related content: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: An oral history of Edgar Wright's super-powered cult classic
Shiva Baby (2020)
While enduring a painfully awkward shiva, aimless college undergrad Danielle comes face to face with her accomplished ex-girlfriend and unexpectedly crosses paths with her own secret sugar daddy, who arrives with his non-Jewish wife and baby in tow. Striving to uphold her family's upstanding reputation, Danielle must navigate the treacherous waters of gossip-hungry neighbors and overbearing relatives if she wants to keep the skeletons in her closet hidden. In her breakout feature role, Rachel Sennott commands the screen with an unmistakable Millennial flair, infusing every scene with her fresh and unique delivery. Shiva Baby spins a chaotic but earnest coming of age tale, cleverly unfolding within the confines of mostly one location and offering an expansive glimpse into this dynamic community. —J.M.
Where to watch Shiva Baby: Max
EW grade: B (read the review)
Director: Emma Seligman
Cast: Rachel Sennott, Molly Gordon, Dianna Agron, Danny Deferrari, Polly Draper, Fred Melamed, Jackie Hoffman, Sondra James, Deborah Offner
Related content: Bottoms up! Shiva Baby duo on reuniting to form their queer teen fight club
Spaceballs (1987)
Long before Scary Movie was poking fun at absurd horror tropes, Spaceballs was giving space sagas a run for their money. Ingeniously lampooning just about everything under the sun on Star Wars and other franchises like Star Trek, Alien, and more, Mel Brooks' 1987 cult classic stars himself as President Skoob of planet Spaceball — who responds to an air crisis by ordering Dark Helmet (Rick Moranis) to abduct Princess Vespa (Daphne Zuniga) of oxygen-laden Druidia as a bargaining chip. While not as revered as Brooks' earlier works like The Producers (1967) or Young Frankenstein (1974), Spaceballs still delivers timeless laughs that may have flown over your head at first viewing. —J.M.
Where to watch Spaceballs: Max
Director: Mel Brooks
Cast: Mel Brooks, John Candy, Rick Moranis, Bill Pullman, Daphne Zuniga, Dick Van Patten, George Wyner, Joan Rivers
Related content: The 40 best alien movies of all time
White Men Can't Jump (1992)
When the 2023 remake starring Jack Harlow and Sinqua Walls hit Hulu, critics didn't quite dribble with excitement while comparing it to this '90s classic. Then-rising star Woody Harrelson landed his first major film role as Billy Hoyle, the former college basketball player who hustles streetballers with his deceptively unassuming skills. Forming an unlikely alliance with his on-court rival Sidney Deane, Billy and Sidney go on a mission to win a hoops tourney, discovering they share more in common than just a love for the game. Dubbed "a valentine to its sport" and "the best basketball movie ever made," EW's critic wrote, "you don't have to be a sports fan to love it. The movie is a smart [Ron] Shelton riff on the typically male struggle between becoming a full-fledged grown-up and staying forever young; it's as much about these hustlers' dreams as it is their schemes." —J.M.
Where to watch White Men Can't Jump: Max
EW grade: N/A (read the review)
Director: Ron Shelton
Cast: Wesley Snipes, Woody Harrelson, Rosie Perez, Tyra Ferrell, Cylk Cozart, Kadeem Hardison, John Marshall Jones, Ernest Harden Jr., Duane Martin
Related content: White Men Can't Jump: Behind the auditions, hustling, and dunks
Zola (2020)
In 2015, a viral Twitter thread held the internet’s attention hostage for an entire afternoon. Five years later, Zola — a film based on one harrowing trip to Florida as experienced by Zola (Taylour Paige), a waitress and part-time exotic dancer — took the leap from social media to the big screen in a dark comedy directed by Janicza Bravo. The film, like the story on which it’s based, is unhinged, terrifying, and impossible to tear yourself away from. But where a lesser adaptation might have succumbed to the story’s most sensational elements, EW’s critic writes that Bravo’s version offers humor, humanity, and “a sort of electric buzz: the thrill of watching something stranger than fiction, and somehow better for being some kind of true.”
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Director: Janicza Bravo
Cast: Taylour Paige, Riley Keough, Nicholas Braun, Ari'el Stachel, Colman Domingo
Related content: Janicza Bravo on bringing a viral Twitter thread to the screen — and to Sundance — with Zola
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