Illustration by Lebassis
What To Watch
Stand-Up Comedy Specials You Haven’t Seen Yet
Maybe you have, we don’t know your life.
By Ashwin Rodrigues & Derek Lawrence
Jan. 14, 2026
The Best Stand-up Comedy Specials on Netflix - Netflix Tudum
Over the years, Netflix has amassed a deep bench of stand-up comedy specials you can tune into whenever you need a laugh — and who doesn’t need a laugh these days? Whether it’s new material from your favorite stars, getting acquainted with an up-and-coming comedian, or a mic drop straight from the Netflix Is a Joke festival, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Putting on a comedy special is a great way to start a conversation-slash-argument with your roommate about the state of humor today. It can also be a nice balm to soothe you from all the dystopian and gory shows you’ve been watching.
We’re here to humbly recommend some comedy specials — we’d like to think it’s a wide buffet of options that will offer some laughs, spark some thoughts and help you spend an hour of your life doing anything else but staring blankly at your phone.
Popular Now
Ali Wong: Hard Knock Wife
The San Francisco native absolutely ripped it in her first Netflix special in 2016 with Baby Cobra, where she performed while pregnant. In case you thought she was a one-hit wonder, she killed again in Hard Knock Wife—and this time, she’s even more pregnant? She returns to reflect on her life since Baby Cobra and tells a story about the most romantic thing she’s ever heard. (You won’t be able to guess what it is.) Wong’s comedy is raunchy and wholesome at once, and you can also check her out in her 2019 rom-com debut, Always Be My Maybe, her 2022 special Don Wong, and the Emmy-winning 2023 limited series BEEF.
Bill Burr: Live at Red Rocks
One of the industry’s most successful comedians, Bill Burr’s Live at Red Rocks marks his sixth solo Netflix special (not including 2022’s Bill Burr Presents: Friends Who Kill). As always, the 54-year-old Bostonian isn’t afraid to hold back, but he’s at his most effective when reflecting on his own childhood and how not to repeat his father’s mistakes. And, speaking of family, Burr’s brash style is also on full display in his Emmy-nominated animated series F Is for Family.
Chris Rock: Selective Outrage
Chris Rock knows how to put on a show, and the whole world got to see him do it live. Last March, the legendary comedian headlined the first-ever live event to stream on Netflix. Selective Outrage was Rock’s second stand-up special for Netflix, coming five years after he returned to the stage with the introspective Tamborine, which he released an extended and re-edited cut of in 2021.
Cristela Alonzo: Upper Classy
Even though she’s workedmade her way up to a third Netflix special, Alonzo is one comedian who’ is still keeping it down- to- earth in her set. This time, it’s all about the pursuit of happiness, and she jokes with the audience about getting a status update on her high school bully, overdoing it at a spa, and taking her family on their first vacation ever. Keep the laughs going with Alonzo’s 2022 special, Cristela Alonzo: Middle Classy, and her 2017 release, Cristela Alonzo: Lower Classy.
Gabriel Iglesias: Stadium Fluffy
In his biggest special yet, the Los Angeles-raised Gabriel Iglesias returns home to become the first comedian to perform at the world-famous Dodger Stadium. With 50,000 audience members in front of him, Iglesias jokes, “This is like birthday, Christmas, the World Series and losing [your] virginity, all at the same time.” The historic comedy event features the man affectionately known as Fluffy recounting how he lost weight, got blackmailed and offended a professional boxer, which is not exactly the ideal order of events!
Hannah Gadsby: Nanette
Filmed in the Sydney Opera House, here’s a comedy special that makes a strong case against the traditional comedy special. Gadsby’s set contains classic setup-punchline bars but also longer reflections on comedy as an artform (she also pulls from her art history major). Spoiler alert: Gadsby did not quit comedy for good. Her lighter 2020 follow-up special, Douglas, is also streaming on Netflix.
Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King
Minhaj’s deeply personal special covers many of the critical moments in his life: from landing a gig at the Daily Show in 2014 to a less-than-ideal high school prom. The highly biographical special is sometimes infuriating, as the comedian details times he was confronted with different flavors and intensities of racism. Watch this special and learn a little bit more about the Indian American experience. It’s good for you. It’s also extremely funny. (For more, check out his 2022 special, The King's Jester.)
Iliza Shlesinger: Elder Millennial
If you’re looking for someone who can deliver a top 10 peacock impression and show you how not to dance, then Iliza Shlesinger is your comedian. In her fourth Netflix stand-up special, Elder Millennial, Shlesinger performs aboard the USS Hornet. Now 35 and newly engaged, Shlesinger has some advice for all the singles out there, explaining why women don’t make the first move and the thing that she finds most endearing about men.
Jacqueline Novak: Get on Your Knees
With origins at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and acclaimed performances Off-Broadway in New York, Jacqueline Novak’s Get On Your Knees takes a theatrical approach to its 90 minutes of meditations on sex, coming of age, and a certain body part. Directed by Natasha Lyonne, Get On Your Knees isn’t as bawdy as you might think it would be, considering the subject matter. Instead, Novak mixes the philosophical and the absurd as she gets deep (sorry) on the mechanics of blow jobs and the language we use to describe them, sexual power dynamics, and everything in between.
Jerry Before Seinfeld
Seinfeld fans (and anyone else who has wondered what exactly is the deal with things) will enjoy this special, which takes on a unique format: stand-up spliced with biographical documentary bits about Seinfeld’s childhood (“we grew up like wild dogs!”) and footage from his early years as a comedian, before Seinfeld (the TV show). Performed at the Comic Strip in New York City, the comedian delivers his classic style of observational comedy that you can show your grandmother.
Joel Kim Booster: Psychosexual
In Joel Kim Booster’s first stand-up special, he just wants to be relatable — and not just to other gay or Asian men. Enter audience member Ben, a straight white man with whom Booster regularly checks in during Psychosexual, wanting to know if Ben has felt alienated by any of the content — whether it be the comedian’s nudes leaking online or being adopted by a family of Southern, white conservatives or doing bath salts. In the midst of a breakout summer that also included his film Fire Island, Booster can be heard on both Big Mouth and BoJack Horseman.
Marcello Hernández: American Boy
As a Saturday Night Live cast member, Hernández made a name for himself with hilarious characters like the paramour Domingo and the Weekend Update regular the Movie Guy, not to mention a spot-on portrayal of Don Francisco of the Spanish-language show Sábado Gigante. In his debut Netflix special, Hernández reflects on his Latino roots, from unhinged family dance-offs to unforgettable life lessons from his hardworking mother. With his signature animated physicality, he lands punchlines and proves why he’s a rising star in comedy.
Michelle Buteau: A Buteau-ful Mind at Radio City Music Hall
She narrates every season of the reality show The Circle and she created and stars in the beloved series Survival of the Thickest. Still, with this special, Michelle Buteau makes history — or, rather, herstory — by becoming the first female comic to record at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Throughout the hour, Buteau reflects on getting high, going viral, and expanding her family by raising twins. This is her second Netflix special since the 2020 release Michelle Buteau: Welcome to Buteaupia.
Michelle Wolf: Joke Show
The Daily Show alum really delivers on the title here. There’s no denying this is a show of jokes. Wolf is one of the best comedy writers working — check out her White House Correspondents Dinner set for proof — and this special is one to show how prescient she is. She saw the Karen phenomenon coming from a mile away. You should also check out her 2018 variety sketch show The Break with Michelle Wolf.
Mo Amer: Mohammed in Texas
Introduced via video by his Black Adam co-star Dwayne Johnson, Mo Amer returns to his hometown of Houston, Texas, for his second Netflix stand-up special. The Ramy star shares multiple revelations, including his divorce during the pandemic and how Dave Chappelle is essentially responsible for Amer getting COVID twice — and why Bradley Cooper is disappointed in him. The 41-year-old comedian showcases his wide variety of accents as he discusses hummus, bad airport etiquette and the people he doesn’t mess with, before eventually wrapping up with the story of his return trip to Palestine. The Muslim American multi-hyphenate also recently released Mo, a new series from Amer and Ramy Youssef based on the former’s life as a Palestinian refugee living in Texas.
Nick Kroll: Little Big Boy
Big Mouth star and co-creator Nick Kroll shows that he’s still a Little Big Boy in his first Netflix stand-up special. Fans of Big Mouth will appreciate some of Kroll’s familiar voice work, while everyone will enjoy his repeated impersonation of Jason Statham. A self-proclaimed late-bloomer, Kroll shares the story of his first heartbreak, which happened at 33, as well as tales of hypnosis and diarrhea. There’s also his explanation for why moms are like Vin Diesel — and it’s not because they live life a quarter mile at a time.
Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special
Stuck at home at the beginning of the pandemic and preparing to undergo a medical procedure, Norm Macdonald sat down and recorded Nothing Special. Ironically, the thrice Emmy-nominated special didn’t live up to its name, and the 55-minute act is full of classic Macdonald zingers. (“My dad did good stuff,” he says. “He was in the second World War, he fought Hitler! I mean, he had help.”) Macdonald died at the age of 61 in September 2021, and when Nothing Special was released eight months later, the concluding 30 minutes featured a touching, hilarious roundtable conversation between some of Macdonald’s closest friends, including David Letterman, Dave Chappelle and Adam Sandler.
Ronny Chieng: Asian Comedian Destroys America!
The Malaysia-born Ronny Chieng has lived all over the world, and Asian Comedian Destroys America! is Chieng’s love letter to America. The Daily Show veteran uses his signature impassioned, profanity-laced style to attack the constant complaining from Americans, subway doors, bad state mottos and people with allergies. He also happens to believe that his lack of interest in holidays would make him a perfect president: “I’d rather fix health care than eat turkey.”
Sam Jay: 3 In The Morning
The Saturday Night Live writer makes a strong entrance to the stand-up world with her first hour-long special for Netflix. The smooth cinematography contrasts with Jay’s material, which is often intentionally provocative — not for the sake of being contrarian but to make an earnest point on the topics of gender, race, #MeToo and more. If you know Jay through her writing on SNL, this is an entirely new and personal side of her: She’s now performing for herself, instead of others, talking about her own life, traveling with her girlfriend, and a beef with Greta Thunberg. For more Sam Jay, you can find her on the 2018 series, The Comedy Lineup.
Seth Meyers: Lobby Baby
The premise is pretty simple: Seth Meyers’s wife gave birth to their second son in their apartment building’s lobby. The Saturday Night Live alum and Late Night host tells the story of the unexpected delivery in his first Netflix special, which earned an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special in 2020. Meyers also fills the hour with stories about weddings and parenting, plus his signature political comedy.
Sheng Wang: Sweet and Juicy
Introduced in Sweet and Juicy by comedy superstar (and the special’s director) Ali Wong as one of her favorite comedians, Sheng Wang clearly shows why Wong and so many others are big fans. Delivered in his laid-back manner, Wang’s set introduces the audience to his mind, such as his recent decision to start buying pants from Costco, the intimidation that he feels walking into a bookstore — aka “a strip club for wisdom” — and the depths of his religious beliefs. “I’m very open-minded,” he shares. “I will go to any church… that has a basketball court.”
Taylor Tomlinson: Quarter-Life Crisis
Though she’s only 26 years old in this special, Tomlinson is already fed up with her twenties. (Remember those?) Though she says she’s never been the life of the party (“more of a faint pulse at a potluck”), we beg to disagree. Whether you’re in your twenties, or you’re annoyed by people in their twenties, she’s got you covered. Her observations seem years ahead of her own age, somehow. You can also catch another Tomlinson set on The Comedy Lineup.
Tig Notaro Happy To Be Here
In this intimate special, the 46-year-old Notaro performs in The Heights theater in Houston, Texas. She touches on her recent marriage, the joys and pains of becoming a new parent (plus one weird trick you’ve gotta try if you have a baby!) and what happens when you meow at a cat. Even those familiar with Notaro won’t be able to anticipate the ending to this special. For a very different side of Notaro, you can see her in the 2021 zombie action movie Army of the Dead.
Vir Das: Fool Volume
In a world that takes itself too seriously, being a fool may be the smartest thing you can do. At least that’s what Das wants viewers to take away from his fifth and newest Netflix stand-up special. In Fool Volume, the globally recognized comedian brings his signature wit to a deeply personal set — a collection of intrusive thoughts Das had when he lost his voice and was forced to write in complete silence. The result? Heartwarming and hilarious reflections on what it means to really use your voice. (His 2022 special Landing, which won him an International Emmy, is also worth a watch.)
Wanda Sykes: Not Normal
Before she recorded this special, Sykes upset several fans when she opened up a New Jersey show with some jokes about former President Trump in 2018. She addresses this story up top — those fans “fucked up” twice when they came to see Sykes perform. Aside from the president, there are many other things that Sykes finds are not normal, both on TV and in her own life. She also has a medical explanation as to why it would actually kill her to be more ladylike.
Shop
Discover More What To Watch
What To WatchThe bees disappear along with everyone’s sanity in the 2025 comedic thriller.By Krutika MallikarjunaYesterday 7:00 am
What To WatchGo inside these gripping stories of power, truth and survival.By Ananda Dillon and Leah CarrollApril 24
What To WatchStream How to Train Your Dragon, You've Got Mail, Train to Busan, and more before the month ends.By Ashley LeeApril 24
What To WatchClear eyes, full hearts, screens on.By Tudum StaffApril 24
What To WatchThese comedies understood the assignment.By Ananda Dillon and Jessie MooneyApril 24
What To WatchThe Oscar winner co-stars with Taron Egerton in a new survival thriller.By Caitlin BuschApril 24
What To WatchFor when you’re seeking a thrill ride from the comfort of your own home.By Allison Picurro & Derek LawrenceApril 24
What To WatchDiego Luna and more star in these new previews.By Caitlin BuschApril 24
Discover More Comedy
Who’s Who“Whatever I need to do to get girls to say ‘funny’ like that, I will devote my life to it.”By Melanie Whyte1:00 pm
New on NetflixPlus Should I Marry a Murderer?, Supernova Strikers: Genesis, and more.By Ashley LeeApril 24
NewsThe Netflix comedy competition culminates with two live episodes and real-time voting.By Amanda RichardsApril 23
NewsCliff “Method Man” Smith, Norman Nixon Jr., and more join the cast.By Alex FrankApril 23
Related Videos
Skip IntroDon’t miss this Buteau-ful episode.April 4, 202528:18
What To WatchFrom Ali Wong to Nick Kroll, these comedians will have you cracking up.Feb. 27, 20232:50
