Top 10 Funniest Netflix Originals
For this list, we're looking at Netflix's greatest comedic TV series. While some of these shows venture into dramatic territory, this ranking is based solely on their sense of humor.
#10: “Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return” (2017-)
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Lasting for 10 awesome seasons, Joel Hodgson's “Mystery Science Theater 3000” popularized the practice of tearing bad movies to shreds – with the aid of two wisecracking sentient robots. As there will always be terrible flicks worth riffing on, a successful Kickstarter campaign led to Netflix and Hodgson reviving the series under the label “The Return”. The new host, Jonah Ray, is a suitable replacement for Joel Robinson and Mike Nelson, while Felicia Day and Patton Oswalt were born to portray the show's robotic tormentors. With a slew of guest stars – including Neil Patrick Harris and Jerry Seinfeld – “Mystery Science Theater 3000” does not miss a beat.
#9: “Grace and Frankie” (2015-)
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After a rocky start, Netflix's thoughtful comedy has gotten better with age. Starring the always charming duo of Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, "Grace and Frankie" sees the titular characters' lives turned upside down after their husbands decide to marry each other. Bolstered by a fantastic secondary cast and created by Marta Kauffman, Grace and Frankie warmly pokes fun at aging and sexuality, while serving as a perfect showcase for Fonda and Tomlin's chemistry. While season four opted for a more dramatic tone, Netflix's heartfelt series is the current generation's answer to “The Golden Girls”.
#8: “One Day at a Time” (2017-)
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A remake of a CBS sitcom from the '70s and early ‘80s, Netflix's highly-acclaimed series uses humor to comment on timely subjects like citizenship, sexual identity, and mental illness. Led by Justina Machado's Penelope Alvarez, “One Day at a Time” centers on the everyday challenges faced by a Cuban-American family. Despite the comedy's willingness to explore heavy themes and story arcs, “One Day at a Time”’s earnest nature is simply delightful and infectious. Bridging the gap between old-school family sitcoms and recent single-camera comedies, “One Day at a Time” is – somehow – simultaneously progressive and timeless.
#7: “Lady Dynamite” (2016-17)
Blurring the line between fact and fiction, Maria Bamford stars as herself in Netflix's surreal, loosely autobiographical comedy. Jumping between multiple timelines, Lady Dynamite sees Bamford trying to rebuild her life after a mental breakdown and being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Created by Arrested Development's Mitch Hurwitz and Hot Rod writer Pam Brady, Lady Dynamite's absurdist and hectic approach mirrors Bramford's free-flowing style of stand-up comedy, with the second season really ramping up the meta-humor. While definitely not for everyone, Lady Dynamite is a comedic tour de force that needs to be experienced to be understood.
#6: “BoJack Horseman” (2014-)
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At this point, we’re just beating a dead horse. Satirizing the celebrity lifestyle, BoJack Horseman has been lauded for its realistic depiction of addiction, depression, and trauma. It also helps that it’s about talking animals, and it happens to be pretty damn funny! As evidenced by Season 3's "Fish Out Of Water" episode, BoJack Horseman is the king of visual gags and running jokes, while the cartoon's deft employment of pop culture references is a sight to behold. BoJack's darker elements tend to overwhelm its more comedic touches at times, but Vincent Adultman and Todd Chavez's antics will never fail to entertain.
#5: “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” (2015-)
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Intended as an NBC sitcom before being sold to Netflix, Tina Fey's delightfully cartoonish series was among the earlier big comedic hits for the streaming service. Three seasons in, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” has truly found its groove as Netflix's cheerful comedy about a woman who goes back into the real world after being kidnapped by a cult. Aided by the instantly likable Ellie Kemper in the titular role, Fey takes full advantage of the network's budget and freedom to ramp up her trademark wacky comedic stylings originally seen in “30 Rock”. Odd, irreverent, and featuring an unforgettable theme song, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” is silly in all the right ways.
#4: “Love” (2016-18)
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With “Trainwreck", “Knocked Up”, and “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” under his belt, Judd Apatow knows a thing or two about rom-coms. Lasting for three seasons, “Love” is a quintessential entry in the director's body of work. Offering a grounded exploration of romantic relationships, “Community”’s Gillian Jacobs and co-creator Paul Rust portray two polar opposites who might just be perfect for each other. Alongside a ton of cringe – but not forced – humor, “Love”'s sizzling banter flows effortlessly from one punchy joke to the next, with Jacobs delivering the performance of a lifetime. Netflix and Apatow really made the most out of Love's relatively cliché premise.
#3: “American Vandal” (2017-)
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In 2017, Netflix took a step back and genuinely tried to solve the age-old mystery of who drew the 27 dicks. With all signs pointing toward class clown Dylan Maxwell as the mastermind behind the high school prank, the senior student is promptly charged and expelled, but two students believe there’s more to the case of the vandalized cars than first meets the eye. Split into eight parts per season, American Vandal is a fictional true crime mockumentary series produced by "Funny or Die" alumni Dan Perrault and Tony Yacenda, that asks viewers to question what they think they know.
#2: “Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp” (2015)
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A notorious bomb, 2001's “Wet Hot American Summer” gained a cult following after most of the movie's cast later developed into Hollywood royalty. 14 years later, Netflix reunited most of the cast – including Bradley Cooper, Amy Poehler, and Paul Rudd – for a hilarious victory lap. A prequel set in the days prior to the events of the film, “First Day of Camp” embraces and enhances the outrageous absurdity of having actors clearly in their 40s portraying teenagers. With a decent sequel series set 10 years later, “Wet Hot American Summer” effortlessly parodies summer camp movies while also being an homage to classics of the genre. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Lovesick” (2014-) “W/ Bob And David” (2015-) “F is for Family” (2015-)
#1: “Big Mouth” (2017-)
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Disgusting, embarrassing, and packed with dick jokes, Big Mouth might just be the most spot-on exploration of puberty ever put to film. The animated series follows Nick and Andrew, voiced by Nick Kroll and John Mulaney respectively, as two seventh graders trying desperately to come to grips with their blooming sexuality. While not afraid to get real, Big Mouth's surreal and outlandish humor delivers countless laugh-out-loud moments. From Andrew's dynamic with the foul-mouthed Hormone Monster to Jay’s relationship with his sentient pillow, Big Mouth is not only the funniest Netflix original, but one of the best comedies in recent memory.
