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Best Comedy Movies On Prime Video Right Now
Here's a breakdown of the 12 best comedy movies that Amazon Prime Video subscribers can stream right now, from Office Space to Pineapple Express.

Best Comedy Movies On Prime Video Right Now

Amazon Prime Video’s huge content library has something for everyone – here are the best comedy movies available to stream right now. A major player in the streaming wars with Netflix, HBO, and Hulu, Prime Video has established itself as one of the must-have streaming services that can compete with the likes of Netflix and Disney+. Subscribers have access to a mixture of exclusive content, popular new releases, and classic movies.

Given the subjectivity of what makes a person laugh, comedy is generally considered the most difficult genre for a filmmaker to master. The popularity of comedy movies dates back to the silent age when Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton made audiences laugh through physical comedy alone. Comedy cuts across all genres with even the most serious of films including a joke or a brief funny moment to cut the tension. But purely comedic focussed movies remain popular today, with directors like Taika Waititi and Adam McKay continuously redefining the genre.

Although Netflix and Disney+ are generally better stocked with original movies, Amazon Prime Video has a wide and varied content offer. Amazon Prime’s library includes cult classics, recent releases, and a handful of comedy films produced by Amazon Studios. With that in mind, here’s a look at the 12 best comedy movies available on Amazon Prime Video in the U.S. right now.

Shrek (2001)

Winner of the first Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, DreamWork’s Shrek is now streaming on Amazon Prime. To get back his swamp, the universally beloved ogre agrees to rescue Princess Fiona from her dragon-guarded tower for Lord Farquaad. Shrek is arguably the best Shrek movie because of its numerous parodies of Disney’s traditional fairytale clichés and use of pop-culture references, like Fiona’s Matrix kicks. Two decades since its release, Shrek remains one of the most popular animated movies of the 21st century thanks to its countless jokes, quotability, and positive message.

Rushmore (1998)

Wes Anderson’s second movie, Rushmore, is the coming-of-age story of an eccentric teenager, Max, (Jason Schwartzman) who falls in love with the same woman as a wealthy businessman (Bill Murray). Unlike most high schoolers in teen movies, Max is a nuanced character who feels real, one whose annoying tendencies can be explained by his need for validation. Rushmore is one of Wes Anderson’s best movies, displaying the auteur’s trademark quirky design and deadpan humor.

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (2021)

Amazon Studios’ own Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is a coming-of-age drag musical, based on the UK stage show of the same name. Jamie New (Max Harwood) is a teenage boy from Yorkshire, England whose dreams of becoming a drag queen become a reality with the help of his mentor, Loco Chanelle (Richard E. Grant). There is plenty to enjoy for newcomers to drag, with its catchy songs and innocent humor, but long-time viewers of RuPaul’s Drag Race will be excited to see Bianca Del Rio have a small role in the cast of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.

Election (1999)

Reese Witherspoon stars as Tracy Flick in Election, the wannabe study body president who is despised by her school teacher Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick). Although set in a school, the dark comedy is a wider reflection of modern politics that still resonates today; it’s a cult classic for a reason. Despite its modest performance at the box office, Election received critical acclaim, earning an Academy Award nomination and Reese Witherspoon winning the 1999 Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical.

Sonic The Hedgehog (2020)

Sonic the Hedgehog is also available to stream on Amazon Prime, following the box office success of the movie’s recent sequel. The maniacal villain Dr. Robotnik, played by Jim Carrey, hunts Sonic because he wants to harness his supersonic power for evil. Sonic surpassed all expectations, given that video game adaptations are rarely successful and the blue hedgehog’s original design was heavily criticized. But rather than condemning Sonic to a Cats-like response, Paramount delayed its release to give Sonic a much-improved look. The fast pace and quick wit make Sonic The Hedgehog a must-watch.

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story is one of the most quotable movies in recent memory. To save his financially failing gym, Peter LaFleur (Vince Vaughn) assembles a team of misfits in an attempt to “Dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge” their way to prize money glory. The goofball comedy is an easy watch that never takes itself too seriously and is full of slapstick humor. Night At The Museum’s Ben Stiller puts in a silly, self-aware performance as White Goodman, the owner of a rival gym who steals the show with his bad metaphors and questionable flirting techniques.

Guns Akimbo (2019)

Also available on Amazon Prime right now is the high-octane Guns Akimbo. Daniel Radcliffe stars as an internet troll who is forced to participate in a real-life death match when he wakes up with guns bolted to his hands. Although its violence may not be for everyone, Guns Akimbo is a fun, frenetic sprint, similar to Crank, whose comedy moments stem from the complete absurdity of the gun-strapped premise.

Pineapple Express (2008)

Prime Video subscribers can also watch stoner comedy Pineapple Express, starring Seth Rogen and James Franco. Dale Denton (Rogen) is a recreational marijuana smoker who, alongside his drug dealer (James Franco), ends up on the run from hitmen having witnessed a murder. The bromantic adventure has reached cult status and remains David Gordon Green’s best movie. Its outrageous jokes and explosive action scenes make Pineapple Express a movie that is easy to watch on repeat.

Office Space (1999)

Mike Judge’s workplace comedy, Office Space, is one of the funniest and most relatable movies, not just that’s available to stream on Amazon Prime, but of all time. Focusing on the hilariously mundane lives of workers at a software company, Office Space remains the benchmark for office-based comedies. There’s a good chance that Amazon subscribers who haven’t yet watched Office Space will recognize several scenes upon viewing it thanks to subsequent parodies and the movie’s meme-ability.

Eagle vs Shark (2007)

Taika Waititi’s movies have been must-see even before he directed Thor: Ragnorok, and his less-known debut movie, Eagle vs Shark, is now available on Prime Video. Jarrod (Jemaine Clement) and Lily (Loren Horsley) are two eccentrics who fall for each other at a costume party. Eagle vs Shark is a character-driven comedy that shares a similar awkward tone to Napoleon Dynamite. While it doesn’t reach the heights of Taika Waititi’s other movies, Eagle vs Shark is a charming and funny directorial debut.

The Big Sick (2017)

Amazon Studios’ The Big Sick is a romantic comedy co-written by and starring Kumail Nanjiani and his wife, Emily V. Gordon. Nanjiani stars as a fictional version of himself who has to deal with the cultural differences between his parents and the family of the woman he is dating, played by Gordon, after she gets seriously sick. The Big Sick received positive critical and audience reviews, and benefits from feeling authentic because it is based on their real-life relationship and experiences with her medical issues.

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)

The Coen brothers’ comedy musical O Brother, Where Art Thou?, starring George Clooney, is also available to stream now on Amazon Prime Video. The satirical take on Homer’s Odyssey follows a trio of convicts who escape their hard-labor sentence to search for missing treasure. Although the comedy didn’t reach the same dizzy heights as the Coen brother’s other movies, O Brother, Where Art Thou? was still nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Cinematography.