15 Underrated Comedy Movies on Netflix to Watch Right Now

Jessica Williams of 2 Dope Queens portrays a struggling playwright in the warm rom-com The Incredible Jessica James. While navigating her career, the titular character opens up to a new love interest (Chris O’Dowd) as she reels over a breakup with Lakeith Stanfield, who also plays the guy that got away in Someone Great.

Watch The Incredible Jessica James on Netflix.

In The Edge of Seventeen, Hailee Steinfeld shines as socially awkward teen Nadine. Trying to fit in with her high school peers is hard enough, but Nadine’s also grieving the death of her father in this darkly witty teen comedy – in fact, her only real friend is her teacher, Mr. Bruner (Woody Harrelson).

Watch The Edge of Seventeen on Netflix.

Between Marriage Story and The Squid and the Whale, Netflix has a treasure trove of Noah Baumbach dramas. One of his comedies worth checking out is The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected. Elizabeth Marvel, Adam Sandler, and Ben Stiller star as offbeat siblings who reunite for their difficult father’s retrospective.

Watch The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) on Netflix.

Fresh after the smash-hit release of Captain Marvel, Netflix dropped this quirky, candy-colored indie directed by Brie Larson. Larson stars in Unicorn Store as Kit, an idealistic painter who fails out of art school and ends up as a temp in an uninspiring job. The dramedy also has Samuel L. Jackson in a goofy role as the Salesman, who offers Kit the opportunity of a lifetime: to own a unicorn.

Watch Unicorn Store on Netflix.

The Fundamentals of Caring is definitely a heartfelt, understated gem if you’re in the mood for a low-key teen comedy. Healing from a personal tragedy, retired writer Ben, played by Paul Rudd, becomes a caretaker for Trevor (Craig Roberts), a mischievous and sharp-tongued 18-year-old with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The two guys meet many characters along their road trip, including Dot (Selena Gomez), a girl trying to start her life anew.

Watch The Fundamentals of Caring on Netflix.

Heartfelt and raunchy, Dolemite Is My Name is all about a man who makes his dream of creating a movie happen, whether or not the gatekeepers are on his side. After a hiatus, the hilarious Eddie Murphy returns to the screen as the inimitable Rudy Ray Moore, the man who produced the iconic kung-fu Blaxploitation film Dolemite. Though Murphy earned a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal, the movie seemed to fall out of the spotlight quickly.

Watch Dolemite Is My Name on Netflix.

The sexual tension sizzles between Alison Brie and Jason Sudeikis in the very steamy Sleeping With Other People, even if they spend most of the movie not hooking up. Twelve years after a one-night stand, Lainey (Brie) and Jake (Sudeikis) reunite at a sex addicts meeting. They make a pact to just stay friends and not have sex with each other – that, of course, becomes difficult over the course of the film.

Watch Sleeping With Other People on Netflix.

Imagine returning to your hometown to see your ailing cat and having to live with your ex and his girlfriend. In her directorial debut, SNL alumnus and Master of None actress Noël Wells stars as Emily, the struggling comedian in just that pickle.

Watch Mr. Roosevelt on Netflix.

A gay New York comedy writer (Jesse Plemons) returns to his hometown of Sacramento, CA, where he takes care of his supportive mom (Molly Shannon), who has advanced cancer. There are plenty of quietly funny moments, as well as big emotional ones in Other People – it might be hard to not get extra feelings the next time you listen to Train’s “Drops of Jupiter.”

Watch Other People on Netflix.

Obvious Child brings a gentle and humorous touch to the sensitive topic of abortion. Jenny Slate portrays a stand-up comedian who accidentally becomes pregnant after a drunken hookup. While waiting for her abortion appointment, she develops feelings for her one-night stand.

Watch Obvious Child on Netflix.

Between Grey’s Anatomy and Killing Eve, Sandra Oh starred in this dark comedy as a vicious housewife named Veronica who harbors a rivalry with her college friend Ashley (Anne Heche), a struggling artist. Years after the start of the movie, their lives look completely different, but the tension between them is very much visceral and alive.

Watch Catfight on Netflix.

The Little Hours throws all of your comedy favorites into this wacky medieval romp. When Father Tommasso (John. C. Reilly) brings a handsome hired hand (Dave Franco) to the convent, a trio of nuns (Aubrey Plaza, Alison Brie, and Kate Micucci) keep their eyes closely on him.

Watch The Little Hours on Netflix.

The critically acclaimed Lionheart is a feel-good Nigerian family dramedy with a strong female lead at its core. Writer and director Genevieve Nnaji plays Adaeze, a woman who wants to help her ailing father run his company. Adaeze ends up working with her eccentric uncle, her father’s designated replacement, to keep the business afloat.

Watch Lionheart on Netflix.

Violet Jones (Sanaa Lathan) thought she had it all – a successful job, a hot doctor boyfriend, and a perfect head of hair. An accident at the salon pushes her to realize that she’s not living the life that she wants. In Netflix’s rom-com library of varying quality, Nappily Ever After is definitely a hidden gem!

Watch Nappily Ever After on Netflix.

Widow and former musician Carol (Blythe Danner) starts a new lease on life after her dog passes away. She opens up to love for the first time in decades, striking a friendship with her pool cleaner, Lloyd (Martin Starr), and pursuing a romance with Bill (Sam Elliott).

Watch I’ll See You in My Dreams on Netflix.