(Photo by Bo Burnham/Netflix)
The 64 Best Netflix Stand-Up Comedy Specials
Last updated: June 7, 2021
Whether you’re in the mood to laugh, cry, or let your mind go entirely blank while you ignore the responsibilities of life and binge three seasons of a series in one weekend, Netflix has a show for that. In the past few years, the company has focused in particular on the “laugh” aspect, curating a massive collection of stand-up comedy specials from the world’s biggest comedians. Rotten Tomatoes has created our own list of the very best of those specials, coming from A-list superstars, lesser-known funny people, and many in between.
Some of the specials entered the mainstream consciousness, and four of them are even Certified Fresh at 100% on the Tomatometer (a fifth, Aziz Ansari’s latest stand-up special, Right Now, is also Certified Fresh). What you won’t find: Comedy specials that can actually be classified as variety specials, like the very funny Steve Martin and Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life, or John Mulaney and Nick Kroll’s in-character Oh Hello On Broadway, or John Leguizamo’s Tony-nominated play Latin History for Morons.
To be considered for inclusion on the list, each special must have received at least five reviews to earn a Tomatometer score. As a result some recent specials from stars like Russell Brand, Kevin James, and Trevor Noah aren’t included, nor is Tiffany Haddish’s new series spotlighting lesser-known comedians, They Ready. Cristela Alonzo and Katherine Ryan also didn’t quite make the list. And due to their current Rotten scores, some specials from A-listers like Dave Chappelle, Pete Davidson, Ricky Gervais, Ray Romano, and Amy Schumer aren’t on it either.
What is on the list: Bo Burnham’s critically acclaimed — we’re talking 100% Fresh on the Tomatometer — special Inside, which the comedian wrote, directed, and filmed from his home during 2020.
We’ll update this list as new titles launch on Netflix and get scores.
Recently Added: Bo Burnham’s Inside
#64
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#63
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#62
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#61
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#60
Critics Consensus: 23 Hours to Kill misses the mark but still finds some funny in a special that's entertaining, if not always great.
Synopsis: Jerry Seinfeld's new hour-long special, Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours to Kill, reinforces his reputation as the precision-craftsman of standup comedy.
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#59
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Comic Hasan Minhaj of "The Daily Show" shares personal stories about racism, immigrant parents, prom night horrors and more in
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#58
Critics Consensus: Amy Schumer's standup matures in an hour filled with concise insights into aging and matrimony, marked with only slight Growing pains as the comedian refreshes her comedic voice.
Synopsis: Amy Schumer gives a refreshingly honest and hilarious take on marriage, pregnancy and personal growth in her new Netflix comedy
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#57
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#56
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#55
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#54
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#53
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Urzila Carlson keeps the laughs coming with thoughts on "The Biggest Loser," sex tapes and boxed wine in a stand-up
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#52
Critics Consensus: W. Kamau Bell's affable charisma makes Private School Negro a mirthful dissection of modern America, although although seasoned fans may find the material a bit familiar.
#51
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#50
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#49
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Following her Netflix debut on The Comedy Lineup Part 1, Emmy Award-nominated Saturday Night Live writer Sam Jay is back
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#48
Critics Consensus: Aziz Ansari balances sharp social commentary with just enough earnest introspection to craft a special that, while not without its baggage, shows how far the comedian has come - and how far he may still have to go.
Synopsis: In a comedy special directed by Spike Jonze, Aziz Ansari shares deep personal insights and hilarious takes on wokeness, family
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#47
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: On stage in San Francisco, the comedian covers topics like old people getting drugs, his worst stand-up set, gay proms
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#46
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Judd Apatow returns to stand-up comedy after 25 years, riffing on living with three women, amusing moments from his career
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#45
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Stand-up comedian, actor, and podcaster, Bill Burr, delivers a scathing review on the state of the world in his new
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#44
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Meet Nate - Your stereotypical masculine man just trying to be better. Natalie Palamides: Nate - A One Man Show
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#43
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#42
Critics Consensus: An energetic Sandler jumps back into the spotlight with fresh songs, stories, and spoofs in Adam Sandler: 100% Fresh, a wonderful return to form for a beloved comedian.
#41
Critics Consensus: Chappelle is back and better than ever in the honest, provocative, and insightful Dave Chappelle: Collection 1 which offers moments for both laughter and contemplation.
#40
Critics Consensus: Seasoned pro Ellen DeGeneres finally returns to the comedy stage in her most on-brand form - genuinely goofy and undeniably good.
Synopsis: Ellen DeGeneres is "Relatable" in her debut Netflix original comedy special premiering December 18. Filmed at Seattle's Benaroya Hall, Relatable
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#39
Critics Consensus: Humorously human and poignantly hilarious, Douglas is an expertly constructed hour of comedy that further affirms Hannah Gadsby's mastery of their craft.
Synopsis: Hannah Gadsby returns for their second special and digs deep into the complexities of popularity, identity and their most unusual
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#38
Critics Consensus: Jerry Before Seinfeld finds its star revisiting his earliest material on his hometown stage, offering appropriately familiar - yet still abundant - laughs along the way.
#37
Critics Consensus: Though he switches up his attire for a more polished look, Louis C.K. remains controversial, addressing hot topics head on in this edgy and daring special.
#36
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Filmed at the historic Fillmore Theatre in San Francisco, Anthony Jeselnik's latest special delivers an all-new hour of hilarious, laugh-out-loud
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#35
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#34
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#33
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: The "Daily Show" host ponders the perils of naming countries, how traffic lights turn New Yorkers invincible and why you
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#32
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Comedian and storyteller Mike Birbiglia brings his award-winning Broadway show, Mike Birbiglia: The New One, to a global audience for
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#31
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#28
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Combining his trademark wit and self-deprecating humor with original music, Bo Burnham offers up his unique twist on life in
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#27
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: On this painfully honest but hilarious journey, Birbiglia struggles to find reason in an area where it may be impossible
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#26
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Aziz Ansari focuses his unique viewpoint on pending adulthood, babies, marriage and love in the modern era.
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#25
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#24
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: As a father of three on his second marriage, Kevin Hart proves that being him is indeed a tall order
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#23
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#22
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: In his latest Netflix original standup special, Live At Madison Square Garden, Ansari headlines the iconic Madison Square Garden and
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#21
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#20
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#19
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#18
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#17
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: In his new stand-up special John Mulaney regales a sold out audience at the Chicago Theater with stories about his
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#16
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#15
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" star Chelsea Peretti showcases her diverse talents in this dark yet silly reimagining of the comedy special.
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#14
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#13
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#12
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Comedian Tig Notaro brings her signature deadpan silliness in Tig Notaro Happy To Be Here, available only on Netflix starting
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#10
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Ali Wong's stand-up special delves into her sexual adventures, hoarding, the rocky road to pregnancy, and why feminism is terrible.
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#9
Critics Consensus: Led by a natural, effortless and extremely funny performance, Sarah Silverman delivers a special full of excellent jokes.
#8
Critics Consensus: A disarmingly perceptive exploration of loss, Patton Oswalt: Annihilation finds the comic deftly balancing his off-beat humor with an profoundly cathartic edge.
Synopsis: By turns scathing and candid, Patton Oswalt reflects on the glut of comic material in the Trump era and the
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#7
Critics Consensus: Maria Bamford delights with her distinct style and impressive onstage confidence, solidifying her status as a contemporary master of comedy.
#6
Critics Consensus: Jenny Slate leans into her Stage Fright in a special that's raw, honest, and as overwhelmingly delightful as the comedian herself.
Synopsis: Comedian and actress Jenny Slate's first Netflix original comedy special Stage Fright gives the audience an inside look at the
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#5
Critics Consensus: John Mulaney incisively describes his own befuddlement with the modern world in this uproariously funny deconstruction of manners, relationships, and religion.
Synopsis: John Mulaney relays stories from his childhood and "SNL," eviscerates the value of college and laments getting older in this
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#4
Critics Consensus: A claustrophobic masterclass in comedy and introspection, Inside is a beautifully bleak, hilariously hopeful special from Bo Burnham.
Synopsis: A new comedy special shot and performed by Bo Burnham, alone, over the course of the past year.
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#3
Critics Consensus: Ali Wong emerges a mother still perturbed in Hard Knock Wife, a hilariously honest hour of comedy that highlights the joys and oh boys of motherhood with fearless energy and just the right amount of squirmy detail.
Synopsis: Two years after the hit "Baby Cobra," Ali Wong is back with another baby bump -- and a torrent of
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#2
Critics Consensus: Chris Rock reasserts his credentials as one of comedy's preeminent figures in Tamborine, an introspective standup act delivered with fresh sensitivity and trademark exuberance.
Synopsis: Emmy and Grammy award-winning comedian Chris Rock, who redefined stand-up comedy with his hilarious and brilliant takes on relationships, race
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#1
Critics Consensus: Hannah Gadsby: Nanette brilliantly moves modern comedy into nakedly honest new territory, pivoting from dry humor to raw, powerful storytelling.
Synopsis: Australian comic Hannah Gadsby reshapes standard stand-up by pairing punchlines with personal revelations on gender, sexuality and childhood turmoil.
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