4 actually funny Netflix comedy shows we absolutely loved in 2025

In the best of times and in the worst of times, we always turn to television and entertainment as a balm for ultimate comfort. Thankfully, we have comedy to lighten the mood and take us away with humor and levity, but comedy has become increasingly difficult to come by as thrillers, mysteries, and dark dramas have taken over streaming TV.

However, this year, Netflix continued its conscious push into launching new original comedy series that are actually funny and worth watching. (You'd think that would be more common, but being funny isn't always a requirement for comedies these days.) 2025 brought us a number of great new Netflix shows, and to our pleasant surprise, many of them were excellent comedies.

Going into 2026, Netflix has a number of hit shows returning with new seasons, including the four original comedies we're spotlighting below. These hilarious shows kept us entertained, away from our phones, and belly laughing all throughout the year. From sports comedies to family comedies, find out which Netflix shows were actually funny and among the best of the year!

Running Point

Personally, as a comedy fan, Running Point was nothing short of a dream come true. A comedy series from Mindy Kaling starring Kate Hudson... Which birthday did I make this wish on and forget?! Somehow, the series has managed to not be in awards contention this year and has mostly flown under the radar since its successful debut in February, but the basketball comedy was truly a real return to form and comeback for the comedy genre on Netflix.

Hudson plays Isla Gordon, the former wild child daughter and unexpected leader of the Los Angeles Waves basketball dynasty. She uses her unique smarts and instincts to bring the struggling team back from the dead, but not without many mistakes along the way. Kaling's sense of humor has never been sharper than in Running Point, and in Hudson's more than capable hands, the jokes land like a pad of butter on hot toast. The Emmys simply slept on this true delight!

The Four Seasons

If The Four Seasons proved anything in 2025, it's that we should never underestimate the power of Tina Fey. What seemed like a quaint little comedy miniseries turned into one of the most successful new comedy series launches for Netflix this year. Based on an obscure '80s movie, the series appeared to have niche appeal, but a wider audience found the series and fell in love with its distinct charms. Even though it's based on something, it's a real vote of confidence for taking original, weird risks.

But what made The Four Seasons work so well wasn't simply Fey's tone of voice being honed down and more refined compared to her wilder and riskier days on 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. It's the insanely talented cast that included Steve Carell, Colman Domingo, Will Forte, and so many more talented performers that steal the show. We shold considers ourselves lucky that a show like The Four Seasons is coming back to continue to inspire the next era of comedy.

Nobody Wants This

The current Netflix comedy crown jewel that's earned critical praised, fan adoration, and so many award nominations is none other than Nobody Wants This. We knew from the moment the romantic comedy series premiere in September 2024 that it was love at first sight, and the arrival of the second season this fall further confirmed that the series has the heart and humor necessary for serious longevity on Netflix. And that's because it has the perfect recipe.

That recipe begins with Kristen Bell and Adam Brody. These seasoned vets could make romantic comedies in their sleep, but they aren't on autopilot for a second as Joanne and Noah in Nobody Wants This. The small but mighty supporting cast, which was given more to do in season 2, might be one of the strongest ensembles on TV right now. More than anything, as a 20 years-plus Kristen Bell stan, I'm thrilled she found her stars-aligned role than granted her the Emmy nomination her talent and comedic timing has always earned.

Leanne

Perhaps one of the most pleasant comedy surprises of the year, across any streaming service or network, was comedian Leanne Morgan's debut sitcom Leanne. Now, it's not as if the series was anything novel or groundbreaking, but it was certainly a breath of fresh air. The traditional sitcom, a multi-camera comedy with a live audience's laughter featured in the show, has been a dying breed. They're still around, sure, but it was lovely to see a streaming service still committed to giving them space.

Netflix isn't a stranger to successful multi-cam sitcoms, with The Ranch and The Upshaws both reaching loyal fanbases. But it was reasonable for the streamer to give up on the format after these shows tapered out. (The Upshaws comes to an end in January 2026.) However, Leanne soared with a winning combination of charisma and nostalgia all in neat little package care of Morgan's fresh voice and Chuck Lorre's eye for hits. We needed Leanne in 2025!