Over the past few years, Netflix has ramped up its stand-up comedy programming by adding hundreds of specials to its streaming platform. Finally, the laughter void is once again being filled on the small screen--step aside HBO and Comedy Central--and with Netflix's comedy expansion, a plethora of amusing selections are now available for your viewing pleasure.
Stand-up comedy is an artform--and one that has worked best when original, personal, and unique voices take the stage. From clean-cut observational humor to envelope-pushing raunch, Netflix has a variety of options to help you decompress from life's stresses.
We've narrowed things down a bit, with a list of selections that are sure to get the laughs rolling. Here are 26 of the best stand-up comedy specials currently available on Netflix.
26. Trevor Noah: Afraid of the Dark
Many know Trevor Noah as the host who replaced Jon Stewart on The Daily Show. But before he became the face of Comedy Central's comedy news program, Noah made a name for himself in the stand-up comedy world. He brings his South African upbringing into his comedy for a fresh perspective. Born in Johannesburg, the comic regularly discusses his South African upbringing. While his job on The Daily Show has been to focus on celebrity interviews and the trending political topic of the day, his stage work is much more personal, and that's where the good stuff lies.
25. Bill Burr: Walk Your Way Out
There's something weird about recording a comedy special weeks before Election Day, but that's exactly what Bill Burr did with Walk Your Way Out. Some comedians' work would probably be hurt in the long run depending on which way their political leanings go. That's not how Burr rolls, though. Sure, he does pit Hillary Clinton against Donald Trump with a few biting bits, but mostly Walk Your Way Out is Burr at his most selfish. Basically, he's like if Archie Bunker and Al Bundy had a ginger baby.
24. Jim Jeffries: Freedumb
While he's racked up a number of noteworthy projects over the past decade--his FX show Legit was quite underrated and his battle with Piers Morgan on Real Time with Bill Maher is something to behold--audiences mostly know Jim Jeffries for his viral rant on gun control. In Freedumb, the Australian comic goes all-in on then-presidential candidate Donald Trump. The special isn't all political; his insights on fatherhood and other challenges are delivered with the comic's signature bluntness, and the results are equally hilarious.
23. Anthony Jeselnik: Thoughts and Prayers
Stand-up comedy is best when it's unsafe, and Anthony Jeselnik is the type of comic that regularly pushes the envelope. Sometimes the best way to work through a tragedy is to mock it, and Jeselnik has honed this art along with his quick-witted deadpan stage persona, bringing together a show that's equally as unsettling as it is thought provoking. As dangerous as his material can be, Jeselnik brings the audience on a journey that often ends up in a surprising place.
22. Jen Kirkman: Just Keep Livin'?
An outspoken feminist with a knack for spinning an elaborate yarn, Jen Kirkman is known for building a memorable narrative in her stage routine. Each story she tells gives the audience some hilariously nuanced insight into who she is, while also digging deeper into the cultural and political topics of the day. And about the title of the special: Sometimes people make unfortunate decisions and this one involves a tattoo on Kirkman's ankle that references Matthew McConaughey's pervy catchphrase from Dazed and Confused.
21. Mike Birbiglia: Thank God for Jokes
Imagine a world without humor. That would be an unfortunate place, and Mike Birbiglia's special, Thank God for Jokes, uses that notion as its jumping off point. His monologues are personal, picking apart his own discomfort and insecurities. But the special also uses the Charlie Hebdo shooting as its inspiration, shining a light on the ongoing importance of jokes in the face of terror.
20. Todd Glass: Act Happy
Todd Glass does his best to remain positive and upbeat throughout Act Happy, which completely explains the title of his newest comedy special. He comes to the stage armed with a back-up band and brings an unexpected energy with him. He utilizes his visibility within both the gay and comedy communities to smash caricatures to pieces. Glass explores his own life challenges of coming out of the closet--err, we mean "busting out of the shed"--to surviving a heart attack. Comedy comes from pain, you guys.
19. David Cross: Making America Great Again
From the title, it's obvious where David Cross's politics lie. And even though Making America Great Again was filmed before the 2016 presidential election, the material in the comic's act is still as relevant as ever. In case you're suffering from Trump fatigue, here's a warning: Cross sets much of his sights on the Donald during his time on stage. For those who only know Cross from his work as Tobias Funke on Arrested Development, you're in for a surprise. It's worth noting that this special isn't a Mr. Show sketch, either. His stage presence is intense, his material is insightful, and his delivery is equal parts scathing and sardonic.
18. Norm MacDonald: Hitler's Dog, Gossip and Trickery
Norm MacDonald brings his deadpan brilliance to Netflix with Hitler's Dog, Gossip and Trickery. And while he does actually take on the topic of Hitler's dog, the majority of the special resides in the realm of "gossip and trickery." There's a sense that the audience never fully gets a grasp on which Norm is the real Norm, and that's all a part of his plan. He never quite lets go of his signature cynicism, but in the process, the SNL alum hits his fans with comic insights that are both absurd and poignant. Which Norm is the real Norm? In the end, it doesn't really matter.
17. Jerry Seinfeld: Jerry Before Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld is one of Netflix's biggest comedy gets. Two decades after Seinfeld deconstructed TV's sitcom format, the comedian did the same thing on the streaming giant. Instead of simply standing on stage delivering his observational humor to the masses, Jerry's first special blends stand-up comedy with an autobiographical tale of his life. What transpires is an insightful one-man show that peels back the curtain on the famous jokester's upbringing and introduction to the comedy world, while he workshops new material on stage. The end result gives the audience a wonderful peek into how Seinfeld became Seinfeld.
16. Hannibal Buress: Comedy Camisado
He's had recurring roles in shows like 30 Rock and Broad City, but most people know Hannibal Buress as the guy who brought the sexual assault allegations against Bill Cosby into the spotlight. Not only did that media attention start Cosby's downfall, it gave Buress some unexpected fame. It goes without saying that the majority of the material in Comedy Camisado touches on this newfound celebrity--it is a bit odd for a comedian to become famous for taking down a comedy icon. It's a fact Hannibal is quite cognizant of. Aside from his takes on the mainstream media and his Cosby-inspired notoriety, Buress brings a plethora of jokes that pay off in the most unexpected places.
15. Tracy Morgan: Staying Alive
There are comebacks and then there are comebacks. Tracy Morgan not only got hit by a WalMart truck--he went into a coma, and survived. Through it all, the man known to many as 30 Rock's Tracy Jordan persevered and continued to find humor everywhere. He even jokes that God wouldn't let him die because he wasn't talented enough to mark his death as tragic. As dark as that sounds, his quip shows just how resilient and necessary comedy is.
14. Ali Wong: Baby Cobra
What makes Ali Wong's comedy special, Baby Cobra, even more unique is that she performs her signature brand of filth while seven-and-a-half months pregnant. Her comedy isn't for everyone, but Baby Cobra is important for the simple reason that Wong is pushing the envelope. In 2018, there are hardly any topics left that society deems off-limits. Motherhood (or pending motherhood) seems to be one of them. And in comedy, discomfort is where the good stuff lies.
13. Katt Williams: Great America
Is Katt Williams still "The King of Underground Comedy?" By the look of things, the answer is a resounding yes. It only takes ten minutes on stage for the man to break a sweat. From politics to racism to the glorious grit of Jacksonville, Florida (where he recorded this special), Williams keeps his audience on their toes as he jumps from topic to topic.
12. John Mulaney: The Comeback Kid
Mulaney's a comedian that was made for the stage. Many successful comics set themselves apart with specificity, and Mulaney is no different. Heck, his material spawned Mulaney, NBC's short-lived sitcom. Bouncing back from the series' cancellation, Comeback Kid finds the comic in his natural habitat--telling amusing stories inspired by his personal life. From musings on married life to the one time he met Bill Clinton in 1992, this special brings together every brilliant element that makes John Mulaney a star, and it does so brilliantly.
11. Donald Glover: Weirdo
Is there anything Donald Glover can't do? He's an accomplished musician, a multi-faceted actor, a comedy writer, and a show-creator--FX's Atlanta has won multiple awards for a reason. And aside from the awesome fact we'll be seeing Glover play a young Lando Calrissian later this year, the man has also proven himself to be a worthy stand-up comedian. The special shows why Glover was a standout in the SNL writers' room and in front of the camera on NBC's Community. Much like the early work of his rap alter-ego Childish Gambino, Weirdo is just that: weird--but delightfully so.
10. The Lucas Bros: On Drugs
There's something inexplicably comforting about watching The Lucas Brothers perform. Maybe it's their appreciation for a multitude of illicit substances. Maybe it's the fact that they're twin brothers--it is said that twins can communicate on a higher level than mere mortals. Whatever the case, it's damn near impossible to not laugh when listening to The Lucas Bros' take on life. Here, they touch on everything from Space Jam to O.J. Simpson puns. It may sound silly, but this special steadily delivers the goods.
9. Maria Bamford: Old Baby
Fans of Lady Dynamite take note: Maria Bamford's series may have been canceled after two seasons, but her erratic comedy lives on. Old Baby is her latest special and continues Bamford's mission to destigmatize mental illness. There's also a unique style to the special, which opens on Bamford performing to her reflection in a mirror, eventually evolving into a growing audience in front of her. The many characters she played on her show are in full force here as she explores her personal battles with romance, the entertainment industry, and therapy.
8. Bo Burnham: Make Happy
Simply put: Bo Burnham's a flippin' genius. Initially becoming famous in his teenage years on YouTube, the 27-year-old comic has made a reputation for putting on quite a show. It's energetic, bizarre, chaotic, and unexpected--and that doesn't even cover the comedian's musical talents. The quick pacing of Make Happy leaves the audience wanting more, even after an hour of Burnham's witty antics. As for the songs, some are works of melodic art, while others are mere conversation starters for bigger bits on society, relationships, hypocrisy of modern country music, and everything in between. It's a comedy show in a category all its own.
7. Marc Maron: Thinky Pain
Thinky Pain hit Netflix in 2013, a year after Marc Maron's IFC series--simply titled, Maron--hit the air. The comedian had already built a sturdy fanbase with his popular WTF! podcast, and Thinky Pain showcases a neurotic man reluctantly stepping into the spotlight. Since Thinky Pain hit Netflix, Maron has gone on to create another comedy special and star in the shows like GLOW and Easy. However, it's in Maron's nearly two-hour performance that we get the clearest idea of the man's struggles and neuroses. Much of this material made its way into is IFC series, but his self-deprecating stage act works best in front of a live audience.
6. Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King
Hasan Minhaj first gained attention as a correspondent on The Daily Show before bringing his cutting edge perspective to the White House Correspondents Dinner in 2017. With Homecoming King, Minhaj delivers a personal one-man show. Here, the comic takes a break from Donald Trump jokes to tell an autobiographical tale from Minhaj's Muslim upbringing to his trip to prom to his family's reaction to 9/11. It's equally hilarious and emotional and offers multiple teachable moments as a response to the ongoing issue of racism in America.
5. Sarah Silverman: A Speck of Dust
In recent years, Sarah Silverman has moved away from shock value when it comes to her material. The sexual content is still there, but Silverman's work has matured. Maybe it's a reaction to Trump's America--her Hulu series, I Love You, America, regularly seeks common ground between the country's polarized ideologies--but in A Speck of Dust, Sarah's delivery is more conversational than in-your-face. That's not to say she's left her adventurous sensibilities behind. There's still plenty of blue humor within this hour-long special. But beyond that, it seems as if Silverman has recognized the power of comedy: Laughter brings people together. And thankfully, she's using her powers for good.
4. Aziz Ansari: Live at Madison Square Garden
It's worth noting how impactful Aziz Ansari's fourth recorded stand-up show truly is. The comic, fresh off his work as Tom Haverford on Parks and Recreation, sold out Madison Square Garden with his 2015 special. Only a handful of comics before him were able to fill every seat in the building--George Carlin and Eddie Murphy are on that list. As grandiose as the locale is, though, Ansari uses the stage and his catchy rapport with the audience to deliver a show that's as intimate as it is hilarious. Aziz also directed the special, showcasing talents that are put to further use in his Emmy-winning series, Master of None.
3. Dave Chappelle: The Age of Spin
In 2017, Dave Chappelle brought four stand-up comedy specials to Netflix. His first, The Age of Spin, is probably the best of the bunch. Let's be clear here: It's difficult really discerning which Chappelle is the best Chappelle. But his resurgence in the comedy world made a huge impact. That's not to say his return came without controversy. His jokes about the transgender community--followed by an insensitive reaction to one of Louis CK's victims in his later special, The Bird Revelation--has spawned a backlash, to be sure. That said, Chappelle's return brought a plethora of keen observations about the world around us at just the right time.
2. Patton Oswalt: Annihilation
After his wife, crime writer Michelle McNamara, unexpectedly passed away in April of 2016, Oswalt did his best to work through the pain. Not only did he have a daughter to raise, he had to continue working. They say laughter is the best medicine, and for some, performing on stage is the best form of therapy. Needless to say, Annihilation is a heartfelt exercise in grief. Oswalt's work is raw and emotional, showcasing a man recovering from tragedy. Yes, he discusses politics and Donald Trump. But instead of dragging things through the mud for too long, Oswalt makes it his mission to keep his special on track with his late wife's motto: "It's chaos out there, be kind."
1. Richard Pryor: Live in Concert
Two words: Comedy Legend.
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