HBO Max isn’t kidding around when it comes to comedy. The streaming service, which comes with multiple subscription tiers, features a load of excellent movies and TV shows that were previously difficult to stream elsewhere. They come in all sorts of genres — and, luckily, among them is a notably stacked-up selection of TV comedies.
We’ve gone through HBO Max’s extensive catalog and selected the best of the best for your viewing enjoyment. From old favorites to HBO originals, HBO Max has covered all the bases. Whether you need a solid comedy-drama, some deliciously dark humor, or the perfect background sitcom, the streaming platform is there for you.
Here are the 12 best TV comedies you should be watching right now on HBO Max.
1. Friends
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It’s time to pivot away from Netflix and toward HBO Max, the only streaming service that will let you binge Friends to your heart’s desire. Why wouldn’t you want to hang out with the Central Perk gang another time… or 20?
With Rachel, Ross, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, and Chandler entering an endless string of romances and embarking on various career adventures, it’s easy to stay interested. Plus, it’s good to keep fresh on all the show’s pop culture references, since the internet continues to use them now and probably forever.
How to watch: Friends is now streaming on HBO Max.
2. Veep
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After her Seinfeld and The New Adventures of Old Christine days, Julia Louis-Dreyfus starred as the United States Vice President (and later President) Selina Meyer in Veep. And, yes, she smashed it.
The political satire, which wrapped up last year, took a close look at the inner workings of Selina’s career. Though she hopes to keep up her image and remain admired by the country, she more often gets wrapped up in political shenanigans and is forced to work them out with the help of her staff.
Veep is witty, edgy, and well-acted — so it might be your stream dream.
How to watch: Veep is now streaming on HBO Max.
3. Rick and Morty
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HBO Max has welcomed a large collection of Adult Swim series onto its platform, and that includes Rick and Morty.
While the sci-fi sitcom features appearances from the entire Smith family, it focuses primarily on anxious, 14-year-old Morty and his mad scientist grandfather, Rick, as they journey through wacky dimensions and domestic life. This juxtaposition is made possible by the show’s smart writing and confident humor, which has it winning the adult cartoon category.
How to watch: Rick and Morty is now streaming on HBO Max.
4. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
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There’s a lot to love about this iconic sitcom: the rise of Will Smith (who, ironically, plays a character named Will Smith), the ’90s aesthetic, the talented cast, and the snappy writing.
The show has a teenage Will being uprooted from his life in West Philadelphia and moving into his aunt and uncle’s mansion in the wealthy L.A. neighborhood of Bel-Air. He must find a way to adjust to his relatives’ upper-class lifestyle, and, no — it’s not easy.
How to watch: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is now streaming on HBO Max.
5. Succession
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Succession plants itself in the black comedy genre, giving the family business plot seen in shows like Arrested Development a darker, more dramatic edge.
The show centers on the dysfunctional Roy family, which owns and manages the giant media conglomerate Waystar Royco. Though Logan has always headed the business and led his family, he might have to let a thing or two go after his health begins to decline. That leaves his four children to fight for control.
How to watch: Succession is now streaming on HBO Max.
6. Insecure
Credit: HBO
Issa is funny, bold… and insecure.
Like Succession, this one edges into comedy-drama territory but keeps a much lighter tone while focusing on the black female experiences of two friends in Los Angeles.
Insecure‘s narrative begins at major turning points in the leads’ lives. While Issa questions whether she should move on from her unemployed boyfriend after turning 29, Molly struggles to be as successful in her dating life as she is in her attorney career.
Raunchy but intelligent, Insecure will keep you on your toes.
How to watch: Insecure is now streaming on HBO Max.
7. The Big Bang Theory
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It all started with a big bang! This long-running CBS comedy concluded last year, and with all 12 seasons now available for streaming via HBO, you have the perfect opportunity to revisit.
The Big Bang Theory has the brilliant, geeky, and terribly awkward Leonard and Sheldon sharing an apartment in Pasadena, California. Though the pair’s smarts have scored them a couple of jobs as physicists at Caltech, their intelligence hasn’t spilled over into their dating life. This leaves them ill-prepared to catch the attention of their lovely new neighbor, Penny.
The first season might get off to a slow start, but Big Bang Theory does eventually find its sweet spot and keeps the jokes running.
How to watch: The Big Bang Theory is now streaming on HBO Max.
8. Barry
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If you’re asking for something that’s not as intimidating to binge (Big Bang Theory has 279 episodes), Barry might be your answer, especially if you’re craving a darker brand of humor.
The 16-episode series catches up with the titular hit man, who heads from Ohio to L.A. to murder his next victim — that is, until he stumbles into an acting class and discovers his new passion: theater. (Yes, technically he also sticks around due to his huge crush on one of the aspiring actresses, but that’s beside the point.) His reinvention of the self is a riot, and you get a front-row seat to all the drama.
How to watch: Barry is now streaming on HBO Max.
9. Curb Your Enthusiasm
Credit: HBO
Larry David plays a fictionalized version of himself in this cringe comedy. The semi-retired TV writer has little patience with people, and as a result, he frequently gets into misunderstandings.
Curb Your Enthusiasm is largely improvised, which keeps the dialogue hot. And the show is known for its frequent use of guest stars, including Dr. Phil, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Lauren Graham, Ted Danson, and Alanis Morissette, to name a few. If you want a few laughs and a load of surprises, this is your show.
How to watch: Curb Your Enthusiasm is now streaming on HBO Max.
10. The Office (UK)
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Let’s make this clear, just in case you haven’t gotten the memo: The Office (UK) is not the American Office. It’s not heartwarming, there are no sweeping romances, and it’s only two seasons long. However, if you can appreciate a very dry, very British sense of humor, the original Office is definitely worth your time. Plus, if you’re a hardcore fan of the U.S. version, the UK one will give you a more complete idea of where your favorite show came from.
The Office (UK) follows a group of workers who are employed at Wernham Hogg paper company in the English town of Slough. While work isn’t particularly fun for the crew, it’s only made worse by their narcissistic manager, David Brent (Ricky Gervais).
The uncomfortable social interactions between the staff will leave you simultaneously cringing and laughing.
How to watch: The Office (UK) is now streaming on HBO Max.
11. Hacks
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Hacks is many things: an incredible vehicle for Jean Smart; a provocative piece about the business of comedy; an odd-couple two-hander about work relationships that become all-consuming.
The show, about a falling star older comedian (Smart) and the once-hot, now-blacklisted writer (Hannah Einbinder) that begins to work with her on her Las Vegas standup act, is snappy and smart, with plenty to say about women who never got their due. It could easily have turned into a screed against Gen Z or Boomers, but instead, Hacks (which was co-created by Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky) is a thoughtful exploration of change and comedy, engaging to both those who know a lot about the inside of Hollywood as well as those who look on from afar. The show is engrossing and funny — a weekend binge you’ll be thinking about far after the surprising and stirring final moments. — Erin Strecker, Entertainment Editor *
How to watch: Hacks is now streaming on HBO Max.
12. The Other Two
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The Other Two is a hilarious (and criminally underrated) satire of show business created by former Saturday Night Live head writers Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider. When siblings Cary and Brooke Dubek (Drew Tarver and Heléne Yorke, both excellent) discover that their younger brother Chase (Case Walker) has become an overnight teen pop sensation, they do their best to help him navigate stardom – and try to figure out how to use his fame to boost their own stalling careers.
In Kelly and Schneider’s capable hands, what could have been a one-note comedy about sibling jealousy becomes a show where the dramatic payoff is just as resonant as the many, many jokes. Come for all the pop culture references (including the best Call Me By Your Name parody ever put to film), stay for the emotional turmoil of the Dubek family. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Fellow
How to watch: The Other Two is now streaming on HBO Max.
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