Summary

  • HBO Max offers a variety of comedies to suit all audiences, from classic HBO originals to non-HBO shows like Ghosts and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
  • Some of the best comedies on Max deliver big laughs, while also incorporating deep moments of drama, such as Barry.
  • Max features a mix of animated comedies like South Park, experimental comedies like The Rehearsal, and sitcoms with loyal followings like Veep and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

The best comedies on Max provide some of the biggest laughs on television. HBO Max is rapidly emerging as one of the leading streaming platforms, thanks to the presence of iconic HBO originals. Many of these are sitcoms with a loyal following, including the likes of Veep and Curb Your Enthusiasm. At the same time, comedy aficionados can also stream non-HBO shows such as BBC One's Ghosts and NBC's The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

The variety of comedies now on Max means there is something for all audiences who want to laugh out loud with their viewing experience. Fans of animation can check out such beloved long-running series as South Park. Those who like more experimental forms of comedy can check out The Rehearsal. There are even hilarious comedies that manage to include deep moments of drama as well as with Barry. However, above all, the best comedies on Max deliver laughs to viewers.

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25 Ghosts (2019-)

A man and woman sitting on the floor while several ghosts stare from above in Ghosts

The horror-comedy genre is one that seems especially difficult to pull off on television yet fans of these shows will love Ghosts. As a couple moves into an archaic country house, they meet all sorts of ghosts from different historical periods. While this paranormal comedy formula has been tried several times before, this British comedy's good-natured humor serves as a breath of fresh air. Given the premise of Ghosts, it's inevitable to spot satirical tributes and tonal similarities with the gag-filled low-budget horrors of the yesteryear era, particularly the Hammer horror movies.

24 Bored To Death (2009-2011)

George, Ray, and Jon sit at the bar in Bored to Death

While Bored to Death was never a big ratings hit, with a star-studded cast and a comedy-mystery premise, it should have been a huge success. Jason Schwartzman stars as a struggling writer who uses old detective novels to create a fake double life as a private detective. With Zack Galifianakis and Ted Danson as Schwartzman's friends who tag along on this journey, the show pokes fun at the detective genre while also serving as a hilarious love letter to it. The show is also packed with guest stars that populate the new and unusual cases in each episode. With shows like Poker Face bringing this kind of series back into fashion, now is an ideal time for Max audiences to check out Bored to Death.

23 Our Flag Means Death (2022-)

Blackbeard looking at Stede in Our Flag Means Death.

The bizarre true story of Our Flag Means Death adds to the excitement and hilarity of the series. Set in the 1700s, this period comedy follows Stede Bonnet, a wealthy aristocrat who leaves behind his life of comfort to take to the high seas as a "gentleman pirate." With a ragtag crew of colorful characters, it is great fun seeing this kind and naive man attempt to navigate the dangerous world of pirates, especially with the introduction of Blackbeard (Taika Waititi). The period setting allows it to stand apart from most comedies on television and there is a lot of heart and unexpected romances in the story to go along with the big laughs from the talented cast.

22 Girls (2012-2017)

Lena Dunham in Girls

Lena Dunham broke into the spotlight by creating and starring in the comedy Girls. The show is an ensemble story about a group of female best friends living in New York City and dealing with everything from relationships and professional drama. While the premise might sound like so many other shows out there, Girls has its own distinct voice and its characters are unique depictions of young women. The show helped launch the careers of Adam Driver and Allison Williams while also featuring an incredible line-up of guest stars over the years, including Donald Glover and Riz Ahmed.

21 The Righteous Gemstones (2019-)

The Righteous Gemstones promo image

The Righteous Gemstones is just the latest Danny McBride comedy on Max but stands out as one of the best comedies currently on television. The show takes a look inside the greedy and hypocritical world of televangelists, focusing on a prominent family in the industry who certainly do not practice what they preach. McBride, Adam Levine, and John Goodman lead the show but there are so many wild and outlandish characters that populate this engrossing and hilarious world. The show is extremely successful at balancing how outrageous the show is without taking away from the realism. It is one of those series that does not worry about making its characters likable and is so much funnier for it.

20 Flight Of The Conchords (2007-2009)

Flight of the Conchords library gig

A small comedy folk duo from New Zealand unexpectedly were given their own HBO comedy that highlighted both their dry sense of humor and their genuinely catchy music. Flight of the Conchords stars Jemaine Clement and Bret MacKenzie as fictional versions of themselves, a struggling band in New York City who escape their dull lives by imagining elaborate musical sequences to their hilarious songs. Flight of the Conchords is filled with running gags and wonderfully mundane stories that mix for an endlessly charming show. Special mention must also be given to Rhys Darby who steals most scenes as the band's ineffective manager.

19 Chewing Gum (2015-2017)

Michaela Coel won acclaim and fame with her powerful drama I May Destroy You, but fans of that series should be sure to check out her earlier show, Chewing Gum. The show stars Coel as a young British woman in a strict religious community who seeks to experience the forbidden aspects of the world and live a little. Coel's performance is a big part of the show's success with her hilarious line delivery and talent for physical comedy. The show isn't afraid to push buttons on controversial topics but also has a surprising warmth to it.

18 The Sex Lives Of College Girls (2021-)

The Main Characters in The Sex Lives of College Girls

The Sex Lives of College Girls is another show that looks at the experiences and struggles of young women in a funny yet insightful way. Like Girls, the premise is familiar, following a group of girls navigating the college world, but it is made special by its humor and characters. The relationships are touching and the issues are relatable, but the show never loses touch of being funny while allowing these characters to be authentic in their flaws and missteps. Created by Mindy Kaling, it is another success for the talented writer and actor.

17 Entourage (2004-2011)

The All Out (Entourage) Cropped

Loosely based on the career of Mark Wahlberg, Entourage is a wish fulfillment series that was a huge hit in its time. The series follows Vinny Chase, an up-and-coming movie star who brings his childhood friends along on his journey to fame filled with wealth, luxury, and beautiful people. Entourage's celebrity cameos are one of the most notable aspects of the show with Matt Damon, Bob Saget, and Scarlett Johansson as some of the standout appearances. It is a fun look inside the world of Hollywood with most of the comedy coming from Jeremy Piven's erratic agent Ari Gold.

16 Harley Quinn (2019-)

Harley Quinn hero season 4

Max will soon be filled with shows set in the DCU, but it already features one of the best DC shows ever made. Harley Quinn is a brilliant and wild adult animated comedy series that allows the famous henchwoman of Joker to step into the spotlight as she makes a name for herself. A comedy set inside the world of Batman and the other DC heroes is such a wonderful idea and has a lot of fun with these characters that are sometimes handled too seriously. While Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn is a blast, this version stands on its own, helping to make the character all the more iconic.

15 The Rehearsal (2022-)

Nathan Fielder in The Rehearsal finale

While it can be fun to watch the typical sitcoms that provide solid laughs to the audience, there is something really thrilling in seeing a comedy that is truly inventive and willing to take risks. Such is the case with The Rehearsal, the latest project from Nathan Fielder. This comedy documentary finds Fielder helping various subjects tackle difficult real-world situations by staging elaborate rehearsals with trained actors, accurate sets, and different planned outcomes. The idea itself is mind-blowing and Fielder pulls it all off with his signature dry humor and cringe-comedy to create one of the most engrossing comedies in television history.

14 The Larry Sanders Show (1992-1998)

Larry sitting at his desk in The Larry Sanders Show

The Larry Sanders Show may not have the popularity of other 90s sitcoms but it had a huge impact on the genre. Garry Shandling stars in the series as a late night talk show host with it serving as a look behind the scenes. The show featured so many great cameos by people playing exaggerated versions of themselves while The Larry Sanders Show also proved sitcoms didn’t need a laugh track, episodes with lessons, or a multicam set up. The only thing that mattered was if it was funny. Shows like Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and 30 Rock learned all of this from The Larry Sanders Show.

13 Eastbound & Down (2009-2013)

Danny McBride as Kenny Powers in Eastbound and Down

Sports comedies often cover the fall from grace of a sportsperson along with their subsequent comeback. Eastbound & Down follows the same premise as the protagonist is a disgraced baseball player. As he returns to his hometown, he is forced to become a substitute physical education coach. Apart from the writing, the show's strongest asset is leading man Danny McBride. The first of his comedies on HBO, Eastbound & Down happens to be one of his most acclaimed titles that unleash the true potential of his comedic energy, cementing Kenny Powers as McBride's most outrageous character which is saying a lot.

12 Hacks (2021-)

the women of hacks sit in car together

Yet another Max comedy that has a lot of fun with the show business world is Hacks. Jean Smart stars as a legendary comedian who is in need of a new act and hires a young comedy writer to work for her. The difference in age and opinions make for a fiery relationship and a strong bond that develops over time. The show is a smart look at the world of comedy and provides sharp commentary on the business. However, the real draw is the friendship between the two main characters with Smart and Eindiner making for a great duo.

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11 Peacemaker (2022-)

John Cena as Peacemaker in the woods with cuts on his face

James Gunn's DCU will bring plenty of new shows to Max within that superhero universe, but he already got things started with the wild superhero comedy series Peacemaker. John Cena reprises his scene-stealing role from The Suicide Squad as the titular villain who thinks he is a superhero. Peacemaker is recruited to help stop a vast conspiracy that threatens to destroy the entire world. From the inventive opening credits scene alone, Peacemaker is a blast to watch, mixing the dark and irreverent comedy Gunn is known for with stylized action and surprising depth.

10 The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air (1990-1996)

The Fresh Prince of Bel Air cast huddled together

The TV show that launched Will Smith's career in movies, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was arguably one of the most influential sitcoms of the 1990s. As the classic opening song reveals, the show focuses on a boy from Philadelphia who must move to a posh neighborhood in Bel-Air. As he embraces his new life, hilarious encounters and life lessons await. Even though it has received a modern-day reboot, the original Fresh Prince must be revisited for its cultural impact alone if not memorable characters like Will Smith's Will and James Avery's "Uncle" Phil.

9 Silicon Valley (2014-2019)

The cast of Silicon Valley.sitting down and looking at the camera

Set in the settlement of the same name, Silicon Valley revolves around a bunch of socially-awkward techies who plan to revolutionize the Internet, albeit with mixed results. While functioning as an underdog story, the HBO original uses deadpan humor to satirize the inner workings of tech companies in the Valley. Based on Mike Judge's own younger experiences, Silicon Valley is a perfect entry in his bizarrely funny screen credits. So, if viewers wish to indulge in some geeky mature humor, this should be the perfect pick.

8 Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-)

Jeff Garlin and Larry David have a laugh in Curb Your Enthusiasm

Seinfeld co-creator Larry David is an established figure in the TV space. But with HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, he subverted the notions of the familiar sitcom formula with a meta-narrative that mocks his own stardom. With episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm covering fictionalized interactions between his friends and family, the show also exposes the highs and lows of showbiz from a comedic lens. While Curb Your Enthusiasm may finally end in season 12, audiences can be thankful for so many years of this sharp and brilliant comedy.

7 Rick And Morty (2013-)

best animated TV Shows ever

The animated Adult Swim sensation has influenced pop culture with every subsequent season, be it in terms of silly memes or existential philosophies. On the surface, the sci-fi cartoon details the inter-dimensional adventures of an alcoholic scientist and his naive grandson. But it is much more than that. The characters of Rick and Morty celebrate realistic human imperfections while the episodic arcs charter toward all sorts of over-the-top dimension-hopping. The combo results in one of the best adult animated shows in recent times.

6 The Other Two (2019-2023)

The two main characters of The Other Two

The recent cancelation of The Other Two on Max should not deter audiences from checking out one of the best television comedies in recent years. The show follows two adult siblings of a young pop star who has found sudden fame as they struggle to make their own show business dreams come true. Like so many other great Max comedies, The Other Two has a lot of fun exploring the world of celebrity and has some of the sharpest satire of the current show business world out of any show out there. It is a hilarious and compelling series that will certainly be missed.