Our team compiled the best kids movies on Netflix and here is what they came up with
Sometimes the simplest way to get a laugh is to rely on the tried and true method of stand-up comedy. Within an hour, a comedian can entertain with little more than a microphone, some jokes, and brilliant delivery. Netflix has hundreds of options for finding stand-up comedy, ranging from classic favorites to up-and-coming talent. Here’s the best of what Netflix offers regarding stand-up comedy specials. Here are ten best Best Stand-Up Comedy Specials on Netflix.
Here are the 10 Best Stand-Up Comedy Specials on Netflix to check out on the streaming service.
1. Best Stand-Up Comedy Specials on Netflix – Bo Burnham: Inside
Bo Burnham has performed a handful of stand-up comedy specials, but he delivers his best work with this special where he doesn’t have a live audience. During the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, Burnham locked himself in an apartment with enough technical equipment to stage a special. He performs skits and gags as well as musical numbers with biting commentary on the state of the world. The unique mixes absurd observations on online culture with the dark despair one feels for the state of the world. The special is worth watching not just for how it encapsulates the lockdown experience but for the catchy soundtrack of Burnham composing original songs like “Welcome To The Internet” and “White Lady Instagram.”
2. Richard Pryor: Live in Concert
Richard Pryor blazed a significant trail in black comedy by being brutal and upfront with his comedy. In this legendary special from the 1970s, Pryor displays his impressive ability to tell jokes with his over-the-top facial expressions and hilarious delivery. No topic is off limits as he jokes about family, and so much more. Pryor’s comedic talent has been greatly showcased in many films. Still, he’s really at his height of generating laughs in this special that critic Pauline Kale called “probably the greatest of all recorded-performance films.” Whether you’re an aspiring comedian or want to watch some of the best comedians in the medium’s history, this is a must-watch special.
3. Patton Oswalt: I Love Everything
Patton Oswalt has been no stranger to the stage for his many years of stand-up comedy and a huge assortment of comedic roles in film and television. I Love Everything is one of his most engaging specials for the topics he covers and how personal he gets. In this special, he describes in great detail how he put off his dream of attending a Star Wars premiere to be at his daughter’s science fair, featuring the best punchline for pulling himself back on his geeky love of Star Wars. He also gives one of the greatest and most hilarious excuses for his inability to make jokes about the Trump Administration. It’s a brilliant special for Oswalt being upfront and critical of his geeky life and outlook on the world.
4. Eric Andre: Legalize Everything
Known for his unpredictable comedy on Adult Swim’s The Eric Andre Show, Eric Andre unleashes his wildly loud and unbound levels of comedic brilliance. He goes off harder than any other comedian with his brash and bold performance of riffing on everything from the nature of fast-food icons to the bizarre choice in music for the reality series Cops. His bit about how Jamaican-style music clashes with scenes of police brutality and chases is a jarring experience, complete with Andre exaggerating police responses and posing it against Little Mermaids Under The Sea. It’s a special so mile-a-minute it has to be seen to be believed.
5. Aziz Ansari: Right Now
Directed by Spike Jonze, this Aziz Ansari special is incredibly raw and reveals the nature of social media and our perceptions of culture. The special was Ansari’s first after being cleared of misconduct charges that were falsified. Having endured the process of being wrongly accused, the comedian aims to show how easy it is to buy into the fervor generated by social media. Touching on topics of racism and family, this is a sobering and insightful comedy special that is as hilarious as it tells about how we respond to an online world where gossip travels fast.
6. Colin Quinn: Red State Blue State
Colin Quinn has always been a comedian who wasn’t afraid to mince words regarding tough topics. In this special from 2019, Quinn probes into the deep political divide in America by highlighting the changing times and clashing of cultures. Based on his off-Broadway show, Quinn’s one-man performance is so determined and forceful that jokes almost seem to spill out of his mouth as he tries to showcase America’s political discourse. It’s a sobering special worth watching for how easily Quinn blends commentary and comedy.
7. Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special
Being in lockdown in 2020, Macdonald recorded himself delivering what would’ve been a live stand-up performance for a crowd. He cracks jokes about everything from casinos to careers. The recordings wouldn’t debut on Netflix until months after this was recorded and the special closes with a roundtable discussion from those who knew him best. It’s also a friendly reminder of how witty and brilliant Norm could be regarding comedy.
8. John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous At Radio City
John Mulaney has a distinct voice and a fantastic ability to deliver jokes that bring heavy laughs. In one of his greatest specials, Mulaney makes hilarious commentary on adolescence, celebrity, marriage, politics, and Americana anxiety. With great hit and a chipper attitude, it’s no wonder why Mulaney’s special would win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special. If you’ve heard Mulaney’s voice in his many animated roles, it’s absolutely worth checking out his stand-up comedy.
9. Steve Martin & Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget For The Rest of Your Life
They might be getting older, but the comedic duo of Steve Martin and Martin Short haven’t lost their comedic chops. The two legendary comedians take to the stage at the Peace Center in Greenville, South Carolina. Aided by music from The Steep Canyon Rangers and jazz pianist Jeff Babko, Martin and Short reveal more about themselves in a series of honest and musically absurd sketches. If their recent guest star on Saturday Night Live has you pining for more of their antics, look no further than this 2018 special.
10. Best Stand-Up Comedy Specials on Netflix – Sam Kinison: Breaking the Rules
When it comes to loud and ranty comedians, it’s hard to find a bigger voice than Sam Kinison. There is nothing off-limits for Kinison in this 1987 special featuring bits revolving around marriage, religion, and a slew of other controversial topics. In the 1980s, Kinison could be seen gracing movies like Back to School and TV shows like Married With Children. At one point, he was considered for Dan’s role on the TV series Rosanne, posed as just as loud a voice to compete with Rosanne Barr’s attitudes. After watching Breaking the Rules, you’ll understand why he was so revered and one of the most brilliant of comics.