Discover The Best 31 Comedies Currently Available for Streaming on HBO Max!
| LAST UPDATE 06/04/2023
Comedy – it’s something we need more often than we realize. Laughter is the best medicine, and there is no better way to enjoy laughter than sitting down to watch a good movie before bed. It was hard for us to decide, but we think the comedy movies on HBO Max have a lot of real estate in our minds when we think about this genre.
Our list will focus on the best comedies on HBO Max out of all the funny movies on their platform. It was a challenge, but we were up for it. So don’t waste your time searching for a title. Just bookmark this page!
The Last Word (2017)
The Last Word is a heartwarming movie starring Shirley MacLaine (Steel Magnolias) that teaches valuable life lessons. Harriet is a successful businesswoman who hires a young journalist named Anne to write her obituary. At the same time, she's still alive, and in doing so, they both undergo transformations that change their perceptions of life.
MacLaine and Seyfried deliver an impeccable performance, portraying characters that help us understand the importance of living our dreams, being kind to others, and being aware of our impact on the world around us.
Stepbrothers (2008)
Stepbrothers is a comedy directed and co-written by Adam McKay that showcases the exceptional comedic talents of Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly. It's a story about two stepbrothers portrayed as man-children and forced to live together when their parents get married.
While watching this film, you'll quickly become friends with the characters as they hilariously make their parents' lives a nightmare. In addition to the witty leads, the movie features a hilarious supporting cast, including Kathryn Hahn, Richard Jenkins, Adam Scott, and Mary Steenburgen. Don't miss out on this absurd and zany comedy!
Long Shot (2019)
In this completely expected, wannabe-romantic comedy, Charlize Theron portrays a candidate running for president, who brings on journalist, Fred (Seth Rogen) to be her speech writer. To both characters’ surprise, they knew each other once upon a time;
As a child, Charlotte babysat Fred. Though their career paths could not be more divergent, they quite unexpectedly hit it off, and it seems like the beginning of a beautiful connection.
Jennifer’s Body (2009)
Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried together in the dark comedy hit Jennifer's Body is a combination of pure genius! Diablo Cody brought her iconic award-winning writing style to the big screen, but with a creative twist as she subverted expectations within the horror genre. Director Karyn Kusama used Jennifer's Body to explore intriguing themes of sexuality, femininity, and bodily autonomy by utilizing an “evil demon” metaphor that plays with traditional interpretations.
What started out as an ordinary horror movie turned into a bold tale of queer romance and female friendship with ways that never before been seen. Fans everywhere seem to agree that Megan and Amanda's incredible performances are award-worthy and only add to this movie's immense success, solidifying its status as an unsung cult classic!
Garden State (2004)
Garden State is truly a genre-defining movie and the perfect example of a classic "mainstream actor returning to their childhood hometown" indie comedy. Zack Braff's directorial debut introduced us to some amazing performances alongside his own, including Natalie Portman's charming display and Ian Holmas Braff's incredible last moment as an actor.
The film is also a true throwback to early 2000s music, allowing us to dive into the nostalgia of this era. All in all, Garden State remains one of the most defining and iconic films of its time that still warms our hearts today!
13 Going on 30 (2004)
Gary Winick's rom-com is an absolute delight, overflowing with one of the most endearing and lovable casts ever assembled in a film! Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo deliver an awe-inspiring performance as the cutest romantic comedy duo of the 21st century - this pair will have you swooning from start to finish! Judy Greer glows in every scene, stealing every show with charm, while Andy Serkis provides a true iconical moment with his epic Thriller dance.
Garner steals the spotlight with her hilarious fish-out-of-water comedic timing matching those of Hollywood favorites like Tom Hanks' Big and Will Ferrell’s Elf. This is not to be missed - a guaranteed pick me up with joy and laughter that'll stay with you long after you turn off your TV. Truly one of the best feel-good movies of our time!
Horrible Bosses (2011)
Boasting an A-list comedy cast led by Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, and Jason Sudeikis; Horrible Bosses follows three best friends who all have been burnt out by their jobs, particularly their demanding (and sometimes dangerous) bosses. The three then decide to take matters into their own hands, quitting their jobs, and consulting with a mysterious criminal (Jamie Foxx) to help guide them in their plot to murder their bosses and shenanigans ensue.
Horrible Bosses plays as both a pitch-black comedy and a populist studio comedy; the characters in the film are doing despicable things. Still, the fact that almost all of them are played by charismatic actors and actresses makes it easier to root for the three burnt-out heroes. There's also a scene-stealing Jennifer Anistonas Day's boss, a sex-crazed dentist. So there is plenty of fun to be had, just maybe not for the whole family.
The Menu (2022)
If we had to recommend a movie for the ones who love their comedy black, The Menu would be the first on the list. Tyler and Margot travel to an exotic coastal island that promises an extraordinary culinary retreat.
With their charming chef, Chef Slowik creating wonders in the kitchen, their ride of joy quickly pulls the brakes when they discover that there's more to the dishes than meets the eye. With the environment set for shocking discovery, you need to have the stomach to digest it to the last of its flavor (too soon for the joke ?)
Young Frankenstein (1974)
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein tries his best to distance himself from his infamous grandfather, known for some of the most shocking experiments on human beings. Still, when he discovers that he has been left with the family estate in Transylvania, his curiosity gets the best of him as he travels back to explore what lies in this mysterious estate.
As you can imagine, this is where the dominoes start to fall, and he is slowly drawn into the world of his grandfather’s experiments. With the help of the estate’s servants, he creates a monster to his name, but without realizing the consequences.
The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)
The Banshees of Inisherin is a movie with a plot that seems strange but contains something that makes you sit down and watch what happens to the two lifelong friends. Pádraic and Colm have been friends all their life, until one day, Colm suddenly doesn’t want anything to do with Pádraic. Perplexed, Pádraic embarks on the help of his close ones to understand what caused this sudden change of heart, and why Colm keeps pushing away the closer they try to come.
But when Colm takes it a step beyond what everyone would expect, things turn upside down with consequences no one could have predicted. A marvel from Martin McDonagh, The Banshees of Inisherin is a delight for moviegoers.
Chef (2014)
Jon Favreau leads Chef as chef Carl Casper, a chef of passion who has had it enough with his micro-managing boss. Things go for a turn when a restaurant review and his subsequent response trend online, not in a good way. Quitting his much-coveted position and moving back to Miami, he must find his passion for cooking once again with the help of his ex-wife, best friend and son.
His chance – to successfully run a food truck business. Supported by an A-list team of Sofia Vergara, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr and Dustin Hoffman, Chef is witty, smart and full of heart.
We're the Millers (2013)
We're the Millers stars, Jason Sudeikis, as David, a pot dealer who thinks life can be lived without too much trouble if you can sell weed. But one good deed changes his life forever – when he is robbed of his weed by some local thugs.
To make things right with his supplier, he must head to Mexico to retrieve the latest stash – and make sure he flies under the radar of law enforcement. While a plan to travel to Mexico with a fake family seems completely foolproof, the truth is far from it. What happens in the end?
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Most young girls would do anything to win the Little Miss Sunshine title. So is the case with Olive, played by Abigail Breslin. But what if your dysfunctional family supports you by traveling across the states to get you to the contest? That’s the movie's premise, but this description won’t do justice to the 102-minute-long classic masterpiece.
A refreshing movie that maintains a delightful tone throughout the duration, the movie circles around one point – learning to accept the quirks of your loved ones. No matter how often you watch this movie, you’ll still feel like it’s the first time.
Shiva Baby (2021)
Rachel Sennott delivers a spectacular performance in Shiva Baby as Danielle, a bisexual Jewish woman attending a funeral in her community. The stage is set, and now the actors come into the scene – her ex-girlfriend and her sugar daddy, who also brings his wife along.
With scenes that depict a sense of claustrophobia, Shiva Baby is not for everyone, but for those willing to delve a little deeper into the story, a juicy morsel to savor. Directed by Emma Seligman, the movie is a modern classic, with enough sexual tension and anxiety to keep your eyes glued to the screen.
The Heat (2013)
An all-female buddy cop movie, The Heat has Melissa McCarthy and Sandra Bullock start as enemies who hate each other’s guts – but turn into best buds in their common mission to arrest a drug lord. The two couldn’t be more different – Sarah Ashburn is an excellent agent with a repute for arrogance, while Shannon Mullins is a cop with street smarts, but a big softie on the inside.
But their encounters and bonding onscreen offer much to laugh at, and even enough to smile happily about. We’re just hoping for the rumors about a sequel to come true.
Let Them All Talk (2020)
Alice is an acclaimed author who has been claiming for years of one final story to tell, but neither her literary agent nor her publishers have seen it to date. To get to the bottom of it, her literary agent Karen books a cruise with Alice, her old friends Roberta and Susan, and Alice’s nephew Tyler.
Alice wants to use this time to heal old wounds and bring some life back into her life, but it may be more difficult than she thought. Let Them All Talk has an intriguing element that will keep you in front of the screen for 113 minutes.
Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)
Put together John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, and Clark Duke into roles where they’re tired of their adult lives and just want to live the old days – you get the gist of Hot Tub Time Machine. But what you need to experience is just how wacky it gets when their wish comes true, and they land up in the winter of 1986.
With a shot at reworking their past in the hope of a better future, this frat boy comedy is a consistently filled package of fun and jokes, and it is sure to defy any expectations from the first impressions.
South ParQ: Vaccination Special (2021)
South ParQ: Vaccination Special is a welcome event during the pandemic, where laughter seems to be available in small doses. During the pandemic, Kyle, Stan and Cartman decide they don’t want to remain bros any longer. But this leaves the issue of Kenny – how do they spend the time with him equally?
Add to this the vaccination drive, where a militant group has hatched plans to stop the boys from helping their teacher get vaccinated. How does this all play out? South ParQ is the wind-down you deserve from the monotonous serious life, and this is a great episode to start.
Limbo (2020)
Limbo is a movie that came with an astounding number of accolades, so we had to see what the hype was all about. A simple, rather offbeat movie, it is written around the refugee experience, through the life of the main protagonist Omar. A talented Syrian musician, he must find companionship with other refugees and discover his way forward in a new land, where it is difficult to find acceptance.
With many personal stories carrying the movie, the movie is incredibly sad – but filled with moments of empathic humor that are equally thought-provoking.
Best In Show (2000)
Centered around the Mayflower Dog Show, Best in Show is a look into the lives of the canine contestants and their owners, put up for display to the world. Christopher Guest excels in scripting and directing a movie that offers a funny premise that is carried well by the stellar cast.
Hilarious and offbeat, the movie continuously improves on the comedy, in a way that builds up in a good way. It will take some time to understand the comedy, so you need to give it time – but once it sets in, you’re in for a treat.
Father of the Bride (2022)
Andy Garcia is a charmer, and Father of the Bride is a playground for him to work out his charm on us – the audience. Based on the previous installments with the same name, Andy is shocked to find his baby girl engaged and getting ready to be married, in a manner that is opposite from the way he planned it.
But, riding with the change, he must find a way to maintain the bonds within the family. Witty and full of heart, some movies are perfect for the season of love – Father of the Bride is one of them.
The French Dispatch (2021)
The French Dispatch is a marvelous movie that connects you to the Wes Anderson style of aesthetics, color and cast. The movie presents a series of stories originating worldwide, compiled by the best expatriate journalists in a fictional 20th-century French city.
You will notice how the movie blends intricacy across multiple narratives while maintaining a healthy dose of offbeat humor. There’s not much more you can ask for if you’re a long-standing fan of the director’s quirky charm and emotional resonance. We are sure you’ll think this movie differs from the others on this list from minute to minute.
Freaky (2020)
Freaky is a new take on the body-swap sub-genre of movies, but the premise of a gender-bending horror-comedy called for a spot on our list. Millie Kessler is a nobody in high school and is the regular punching bag of the popular crowd. But when the Blissfield Butcher, the town’s infamous killer, attacks her with his mystical dagger, she finds out that she has only 24 hours to get it back.
But the killer in her body is out for blood, and she must save her bullies from being killed. We had no hopes when we turned on this movie, but we were pleasantly surprised at how amusing it was.
Ron's Gone Wrong (2021)
A charming sense of foreboding is displayed when movies confront technology creep, but Ron’s Gone Wrong has everything going right regarding humor and heart. Barney is a socially awkward middle-schooler who got a B-Bot after craving one for as long as he could remember.
But when this walking, talking B-Bot named Ron malfunctions in hilarious ways, Barney discovers that true friendship cannot come out of a box through an action-packed adventure. We couldn’t recommend this movie enough because it did touch our hearts with its pureness.
The King's Man (2021)
The King’s Man is based on true events not mentioned in the common history textbooks we have. A spinoff of the famous Kingsmen franchise, this movie follows the exploits of Orlando Oxford, tasked with stopping the worst tyrants and criminal masterminds in the world from sparking the fire for a war that could lead to the deaths of millions.
This combination of satire, adventure, and history portrays a fast-moving world hidden in plain sight at times and makes us wonder. We have to agree that the Kingsmen are impressive British gentlemen.
Free Guy (2021)
We have to admit that even though the movie was released way later than promised, Free Guy made up for it with a unique concept, brilliant humor, and the cherry on top: Ryan Reynolds as the lead actor. When Guy, played by Reynolds, discovers that he is a background player in an open-world video game, his eyes open up at the possibility of what he could be.
In his style, he sets out on a journey to save the world – but it doesn’t quite turn out to be a remotely easy path. This movie packs a real punch for the comedy genre, and we happily recommend you watch this movie immediately.
The Hangover (2009)
When it was released in theatres, The Hangover took the world by storm with its clever script and hilarious scenes that had us laughing non-stop. Doug (Justin Bartha) takes his friends Phil, Stu, and Alan (played by Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis) to Las Vegas for a wild party two days before he gets married. The wild night takes place... but no one remembers what happened, and they can’t find Doug either.
The three friends must now rediscover the night they don’t remember, with all the clues and impressions they left in their drunken, wild stupor, and find Doug before it’s too late.
Adventureland (2009)
Adventureland is a romantic comedy-drama that takes the coming-of-age concept and repackages it in a way that can be enjoyed by teens and adults alike. When James, played by Jesse Eisenberg, is denied his dream trip to Europe because his parents can’t help out with a loan, he takes a job at the local amusement park during the summer of 1987.
But what starts as the worst job in the area soon finds a bright light in the darkness, in the form of his co-worker Em, played by Kristen Stewart. This adventure did a great job of bringing back the 80s with a fresh quality of emotions.
Project X (2012)
The coming-of-age genre frequently features an element of teen partying, which is funny to watch - and Project X takes this storyline and brings to us 87 minutes of pure entertainment. Thomas, Costa and JB are three nobodies in their high school, but they decide that it's time that all changes.
And how do they plan to execute this? With a full-blown house party, of course! While this seems easy for these smart boys, are they really capable of handling everything that can (and eventually will) go wrong?
Dumb and Dumber (1994)
We'll say it out right away – Dumb and Dumber is one of our favorite comedy movies of all time. With a lead cast of Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels, there is little if nothing that can hold you back from enjoying this movie wholeheartedly. Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne, played by Carrey and Daniels, are best friends - but more importantly, absolute imbeciles.
Because of their honesty, they try to return a suitcase filled with money to Mary Swanson, who left it behind in Harry's car, without knowing that it was all linked to a kidnapping. The police and the hired killers are out to get to the bottom of this, and it's up to the boys to figure their way out of this mess.
My Cousin Vinny (1992)
My Cousin Vinny is a movie carried entirely by the comic exchange between the leads Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei. What seems like a predictable plot is brought to life in a dreary setting such as the courtroom, where humor seems to be left at the door. A New York lawyer, Vinny has never won a case to his name.
But when his cousin Bill and his friend Stan find themselves in the middle of a murder case, Vinny must find a way to get them out - even if he has no clue where to start.
American Splendor (2004)
American Splendor is a biopic with a unique method of storytelling. Based on the life of Harvey Pekar, an underground comic book writer, we are taken around through his eccentric day-to-day life and, in particular, his relationship with his wife, Joyce Brabner.
The movie can seem like a random topic to portray, but the unpredictability of this movie offers a unique pleasure that can only be understood by watching this movie. At its core, American Splendor is the story of a man looking to do the best he can with life's disappointments - all while told in an unconventional comic way.
