7 Best Comedy Movies On Amazon Prime Right Now
Like its fellow competitors at Netflix, Max, and Hulu, Prime Video regularly updates its digital library to include films of various genres, nationalities, and distinct cultural relevance.
Along with action-packed superhero films, chilling horror movies, and award-winning indie dramas, Prime Video offers a healthy assortment of renowned comedy films for users to choose from. From rowdy romantic comedies to high-speed comedic capers, here are some of the best comedies currently streaming on Prime Video.
Knocked Up (2007)
Parenthood can either be a life-altering blessing or an unexpected ordeal, upsetting any sense of normalcy or predictability we’ve developed in our daily lives. Exploring this topic in a humorous and surprisingly nuanced manner, Knocked Up sees Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl’s hilariously mismatched couple as they prepare for the unplanned birth of their baby. Relying on director Judd Apatow’s usual troupe of actors, Knocked Up provides a heartrending portrayal of the joys and stresses that comes with parenthood, including one’s gradual growth from care-free independence into a caring, responsible adult ready to look after their family.
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
With the recent passing of Gene Hackman, now seems like the perfect opportunity to revisit the late acting legend’s iconic career. While there’s plenty to love about Hackman’s previous roles in The French Connection, Unforgiven, or Superman, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention one of his final mainstream performances in 2001’s The Royal Tenenbaums. A predictably zany comedy from Wes Anderson, The Royal Tenenbaums offers a stunning look at the extraordinary lives and relationships of the titular Tenenbaum family. Strengthened by its absurdist humor and a massive cast that includes Hackman, Danny Glover, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Anjelica Huston, Bill Murray, and Gwyneth Paltrow, it’s a laugh-out-loud dark comedy that also happens to serve as one of Anderson’s single greatest achievements as a director, existing side by side with other notable hits like Moonrise Kingdom and The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Snatch (2000)
When his career first began in the mid 1990s, director Guy Ritchie quickly became known as the United Kingdom’s answer to Quentin Tarantino. With a film like Snatch, it’s easy to see why he earned such a unique comparison. Drawing on a prominent ensemble cast that includes the likes of Brad Pitt, Benicio del Toro, Jason Flemyng, Vinnie Jones, and Jason Statham, Ritchie asserts his own inventive take on the traditional crime film with this 2000 dark comedy. Mustering together a plot filled with punch-drunk boxers, gambling-addicted jewel thieves, relentless crime bosses, and duplicitous ex-KGB arms dealers, it’s a fast-moving caper film that feels like a mishmash of Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
My Old Ass (2024)
Truthfully, we have no idea what exactly to classify 2024’s My Old Ass as, the entire film seeming like a madcap combination of science fiction, fantasy, romantic drama, and a coming-of-age comedy. But through this cross-pollinated genre mashup, My Old Ass forges its own thoughtful version of the conventional teen comedy. Incorporating a unique narrative premise that sees Maisy Stella’s teenage protagonist getting in touch with her 39-year-old self, My Old Ass uses its inventive nonlinear storyline to emphasize the importance of living in the moment, enjoying every event in our personal lives without letting the future or past distort our vision. It’s a lesson we can all take a page out of, and one that My Old Ass portrays in a heartfelt and wholly entertaining manner.
Bridesmaids (2011)
Most rowdy comedy films throughout the 2000s were released with predominantly male performers, from Frat Pack films like Old School and Anchorman to Judd Apatow-produced comedies like Pineapple Express and The 40-Year-Old Virgin. In 2011, however, SNL star Kristin Wiig spearheaded her own indelible take on the comedy genre with her uproarious project, Bridesmaids. Cobbling together a cast of talented female co-stars, Bridesmaids succeeds first and foremost as an unapologetically original comedy film, serving almost as the female-oriented equivalent to The Hangover. It’s dirty, vulgar, and characterized by a heavy mixture of offensive comedy and gross-out toilet humor – and for that, we love it dearly.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
For millions of viewers the world over, Monty Python and the Holy Grail remains the creme de la creme of international comedy, forming a lasting pillar within the fan-favorite surreal comedy subgenre. The first of three major film releases from Britain’s beloved Monty Python comedy team, The Holy Grail finds the Pythons tackling their most ambitious project up to that point in time. Working on a grander scale and with a larger budget than they were accustomed to, the Pythons found a way to mock Arthurian legend with their signature absurdist sense of humor, allowing for a medieval comedy as endlessly quotable as it is thoroughly enjoyable.
Bottoms (2023)
For every generation’s version of The Breakfast Club, there’s a far sardonic movie that thoughtfully lampoons the teen genre. Just as Heathers accomplished this feat in the 1980s, Bottoms provides a similarly outlandish view of the coming of age dramedy with its bizarre premise and shockingly dark humor. Tossing together plot elements from Fight Club, Booksmart, Pretty in Pink, and Superbad, it’s a riotous, over-the-top comedy destined for cult status at some point in the near future, likely only continuing to grow in stature with each passing year.
