Shubhabrata Dutta
Comedy movies carry a lot of advantages for their audiences. Although they aren’t prescribed as medicines, they can work wonders for your mental health. To tune it down a bit, watching comedy movies relieves stress, brings joy, and serves as a great getaway from a mundane life. Of course, you can watch them even if your life isn’t mundane, and they will have the same effect, perhaps even better than usual, as they will only add to your already happiness-filled life.
So, here we bring you nine great comedy movies of different kinds, all of which are available for streaming on Peacock. Each of these movies, while being connected by humor, offers a different type of comedy customized to complement the story, offering you a unique experience with each watch.
8. The American Society of Magical Negroes (2024)
Directed by Kobi Libii, ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes’ is a satire on the Magical Negro trope that mocks the use of black stock characters to aid the white protagonist as prevalent in American cinema. In the film, Aren (Justice Smith), an African-American, is recruited into the American Society of Magical Negroes to help bring joy to the lives of white people. However, things get complicated when he falls for a white girl, Lizzie (An-Li Bogan), whom he is supposed to set up with one of his white subjects, Jason (Drew Tarver), and help him gain reassurance and love. Aren’s feelings for Lizzie can lead to his expulsion from the Society and even cost him his memory. Is he willing to take the chance? To find out, you can watch ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes’ right here.
7. Better Watch Out (2016)
A horror comedy directed by Chris Peckover, ‘Better Watch Out’ stars Olivia DeJonge, Levi Miller, and Ed Oxenbould. It shows what happens when 17-year-old Ashley arrives at 12-year-old Luke Lerner’s suburban home to babysit him. Luke’s friend Garret also joins them. Luke has feelings for Ashley and plans to seduce her, but things take a dark turn when someone breaks into the house. It is slowly revealed that the intruder isn’t the criminal but one of the three already inside the house. Who is it? To find out, you can watch this movie here.
6. Welcome to Me (2015)
Kristen Wiig pulls off one of her most charming roles ever in ‘Welcome to Me,’ directed by Shira Piven, and proves that she is an actor of high caliber. The movie transcends the comedy genre as we meet Alice Klieg, who has borderline personality disorder. After winning $83 million in a lottery, she decides to put aside her meds and produce her TV show where she speaks her heart out to the world, her inspiration being Oprah Winfrey. But while she is all set to reveal herself to the world, is the world prepared for her? ‘Welcome to Me’ is problematic not as a movie but as an experience that shows the absurd world as seen through Alice’s eyes while providing a fair share of laughter. You may watch the film here.
5. The Little Hours (2017)
Directed by Jeff Baena, ‘The Little Hours’ is a dark comedy set in 14th-century Italy and centers on a trio of sexually impoverished nuns and their new deaf-mute gardener, Massetto. Each of these people has secrets underscored by the overwhelming urge for sexual pleasure. It is how pleasures of the skin are incorporated in such a religious setting that adds to ‘The Little Hours’ effectiveness. Even the father, who runs the convent, and the Mother Superior are shown to be in a secret relationship. Dark, twisted, surreal, and humorous, ‘The Little Hours’ is a fun-to-watch period comedy pulled off by compelling performances from Alison Brie, Kate Micucci, Aubrey Plaza, and Dave Franco. You can watch the film here.
4. Bernie (2011)
This independent dark comedy is based on Skip Hollandsworth’s January 1998 article, “Midnight in the Garden of East Texas”, published in Texas Monthly magazine. The film is set in Texas in 1996 and shows the companionship between mortician Bernie Tiede and 81-year-old wealthy widow Marjorie “Marge” Nugent and the subsequent murder of Marge by Bernie. Why he did it, how he did it, and how his heinous crime was discovered is what we find out in this Richard Linklater directorial. Jack Black as Bernie Tiede is a treat to watch, and his performance earned him a Golden Globe nomination. Legendary actress Shirley MacLaine plays Marjorie to a T. The cast also includes Matthew McConaughey, Brady Coleman, and Richard Robichaux. You can watch ‘Bernie’ here.
3. Irresistible (2020)
Starring Mackenzie Davis, Rose Byrne, and Steve Carell, ‘Irresistible’ is a political comedy directed by Jon Stewart. It revolves around campaign consultant Gary Zimmer, a Democrat, who is heartbroken due to the defeat of the Democrats in the 2016 presidential elections. So he is looking for a new candidate to make a face out of and finds one in Marine veteran Col. Jack Hastings from the fictional town of Deerlaken in Wisconsin. Thus begins Zimmer’s work of convincing Hastings to run for mayor of the town and grab the national spotlight. A political satire, by all means, ‘Irresistible’ is a great watch. You can watch the movie here.
2. Bridesmaids (2011)
Directed by Paul Feig, ‘Bridesmaids’ brings together a star ensemble to give us a pre-wedding comedy. We have Kristen Wiig, Ellie Kemper, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Rose Byrne, and Maya Rudolph. The first five actresses play the bridesmaids while Rudolph plays the bride. The film follows the bridesmaids who cannot make a plan for the bride, Lillian. Annie (Wiig) appears to be the only sane of the lot, but she also has her issues, including her singlehood and lovesickness. All this, along with the stunts pulled by the other ladies to make the bachelorette gravy taste good, make the movie a laughter riot. The film received 3 Critics’ Choice Awards, winning one, 2 Oscar nominations, and 2 Golden Globe nominations, along with many other accolades and awards. You can watch it here.
1. Bruce Almighty (2003)
Continuous complaints from a guy named Bruce Nolan (Jim Carrey), a news reporter, force God (Morgan Freeman) to come to Earth and give Bruce His powers, allowing him to take control of his life and of all the humans across the world. However, he cannot tell anyone that he is God and cannot change free will. While he does have initial success as far as professional revenge and the omnipotence feeling are concerned, he soon realizes that being God and listening to billions of prayers is not that easy, especially after it compromises his love life. Carrey is perfect as Bruce Nolan, balancing his impeccable comic timing and emotional quotient as only he can. He is joined by the wonderful Jennifer Aniston, who plays the role of Grace, his ladylove. One of the best comedy films of all time with an apt amount of emotions, ‘Bruce Almighty’ is directed by Tom Shadyac. It won the People’s Choice award for Favorite Comedy Motion Picture. You can watch it here.
Read More: Best Comedy Movies on Paramount+
