When things are dark and dreary out in the world — as things so often feel these days — one of the easiest, quickest antidotes is watching a great comedy, something fun and funny that will distract you from those harsh realities with a sharp punchline, over-the-top hijinks and good vibes throughout.
One of the best streaming services around, Hulu is home to some great comedy movies, so much so that sometimes quality titles can go overlooked among the streamer's sprawling selection. Tom's Guide is here to help, shining a light on such underrated flicks that are well worth a watch when you're in the mood for something that will have you cracking up long after the credits roll.
From a Jerrod Carmichael-directed dark comedy to a shenanigans-filled Sandra Oh crowd-pleaser, here are three hilarious comedy movies on Hulu you probably haven't seen yet but definitely should.
'Quiz Lady'
How can a movie pairing together Awkwafina and Sandra Oh as odd-couple sisters be anything less than funny? In this 2023 Jessica Yu-directed comedy, Awkwafina plays the straight-faced foil (that is, Anne Yum, a tightly wound game show obsessive) to Oh's chaotic and free-spirited older sis, Jenny.
The estranged siblings are forced together when Anne's dog, Mr. Linguini, gets kidnapped by a loan shark who demands that the women pay off the $80,000 debt of their mother, who has not only escaped from her nursing home but fled the country full stop. To get the money, Jenny decides to enter her trivia-loving sis in the game show Can't Stop the Quiz in the hopes of winning it all. Hijinks unsurprisingly ensue.
'Bob Trevino Likes It'
Written and directed by Tracie Laymon, this 2024 dramedy was inspired by a real-life incident in the filmmaker's life, where she accidentally messaged a stranger on Facebook who shared a name with her father, and was pleasantly surprised to receive some warm, dad-like advice from the man. Such is the premise of this sweet flick, which stars "Euphoria" alum Barbie Ferreira as lonely live-in aid Lily Trevino and John Leguizamo as Bob Trevino, the Facebook friend with whom she makes an unexpectedly healing connection.
Wholesome and heartfelt, "Bob Trevino Likes It" gets both its emotional power and much of its tender humor from that mistaken-identity mishap, a clever and quirky watch that is equal parts deeply moving and genuinely funny.
Watch "Bob Trevino Likes It" on Hulu now
'On the Count of Three'
Jerrod Carmichael is a regular font of hilarity both onscreen and onstage, but for his directorial debut, 2021's "On the Count of Three," the comic goes deeper and darker. Carmichael plays Val, who makes a suicide pact with his lifelong best friend Kevin (Christopher Abbott) and decides to spend their last day together settling scores.
Admittedly, the premise doesn't sound all that joke-y, but the pair of lads — along with a supporting cast that includes Tiffany Haddish, J. B. Smoove, Lavell Crawford, and Henry Winkler — manage to balance out the seriousness of the subject matter with some morbidly laugh-out-loud misadventures.
"It's occasionally uneven, but 'On the Count of Three' finds director/star Jerrod Carmichael attempting an ambitious blend of drama and dark comedy—and often succeeding," praises the critical consensus over on Rotten Tomatoes, where the comedy has a solid 85% approval rating.
Watch "On the Count of Three" on Hulu now
