Looking for a good laugh without leaving your couch? Some of the best stand-up specials in comedy history are right on Netflix! Whether you love edgy humor, observational genius, or emotional storytelling with punchlines, it’s just a stream away.
Here are 10 of the funniest Netflix specials that will have you crying laughing.
10. Welcome to Buteaupia, Michelle Buteau
Michelle Buteau’s Welcome to Buteaupia is a vibrant, laugh-packed special filled with charm, big energy, and unfiltered truth-telling. She covers topics like IVF, marriage, and cultural identity with fierce confidence and an infectious sense of fun. Buteau’s warmth and magnetic personality make you feel like you’re laughing with your most hilarious friend, earning her a well-deserved spot among the best stand-up specials on Netflix.
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9. Asian Comedian Destroys America!, Ronny Chieng
Ronny Chieng unleashes a blistering, fast-paced takedown of American culture in Asian Comedian Destroys America!, skewering everything from consumerism to political correctness. His delivery is fiery and unapologetic, laced with global perspectives and sharp sarcasm that leave the audience cracking up while rethinking familiar norms. It’s filled with energy, intellect, and expertly timed rage-fueled humor.
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8. Joke Show, Michelle Wolf
In Joke Show, Michelle Wolf comes out swinging with her signature high-pitched voice and relentless punchlines. From cancel culture to periods and childbirth, nothing is off-limits, and her take is always sharp and surprising. She thrives on shocking the audience into laughter, making this one of the best stand-up specials on Netflix.
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7. Homecoming King, Hasan Minhaj
Hasan Minhaj brings theatrical storytelling and sharp humor together in Homecoming King, a deeply personal special that explores growing up as a first-generation Indian-American. With visual aids, well-timed pauses, and powerful anecdotes about racism, love, and family, Minhaj redefines what stand-up can be. It’s incredibly impactful as it blends emotional depth with comedic brilliance.
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6. Look at You, Taylor Tomlinson
In Look at You, Taylor Tomlinson opens up about therapy, losing her mother, and navigating her twenties, all while delivering sharp punchlines. Her ability to intertwine vulnerability into every joke makes her stand out in the crowd of up-and-coming comedians. It’s one of the most refreshingly honest stand-up specials on Netflix, and a perfect choice for anyone who loves humor with heart.
5. The Age of Spin, Dave Chappelle
Dave Chappelle proves he’s still got it in The Age of Spin, the first of his Netflix specials. With his sharp wit, he dives into topics like race relations, O.J. Simpson, and his own past controversies. Chappelle is an instigator with purpose, and this special shows him at his most reflective as he combines the hilarious with the uncomfortable.
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4. Nanette, Hannah Gadsby
Nanette starts as stand-up but becomes something much deeper: a genre-defying performance about trauma, identity, and storytelling itself. Hannah Gadsby uses comedy not just to entertain, but also to confront. Her reflections on her experiences as a queer woman and survivor are moving, and she challenges the audience’s expectations in real time. This is one of the most talked-about stand-up specials on Netflix because it changes how we define comedy altogether.
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3. Kid Gorgeous at Radio City, John Mulaney
In Kid Gorgeous, John Mulaney masterfully merges polished storytelling and absurd imagery, tackling everything from his Catholic school education to bizarre security briefings with perfect timing. His iconic “street smarts” joke alone is worth the watch. Mulaney’s charm, delivery, and theatrical flair make this special worth watching.
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2. Baby Cobra, Ali Wong
Ali Wong smashed expectations in Baby Cobra, filmed while seven months pregnant and wearing leopard print heels. Her take on sex, marriage, and career ambition flips the traditional mom-comedian trope on its head. Her delivery and unapologetic honesty about “trapping” her husband and hating feminism (jokingly, of course) make this one of the best stand-up specials on Netflix. It marked a cultural moment where a new comedy queen was crowned.
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1. Inside, Bo Burnham
Bo Burnham’s Inside isn’t just a comedy special, it’s a cultural time capsule. Shot entirely by Burnham in one room during the COVID-19 lockdown, it’s an existential spiral wrapped in brilliant writing and biting social commentary. From the hilariously self-aware “White Woman’s Instagram” to the unsettlingly catchy “Welcome to the Internet,” this special proves that stand-up can evolve into something entirely new.
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