Uplifting Oscar winners and endless time loops are a few of the experiences in store in this list of comedy films that are must-watch.

The 25 best comedy movies on Hulu

Uplifting Oscar winners and endless time loops are a few of the experiences in store in this list of comedy films that are must-watch.

By Kevin Jacobsen

and Andrew Walsh

on August 1, 2025 06:47AM EDT

June Squibb as Thelma Post in 'Thelma'; Awkwafina as Anne Yum in 'Quiz Lady'; Andy Samberg as Nyles in 'Palm Springs'. Credit:

Magnolia Pictures; Michele K Short/20th Century Studios; Jessica Perez/Hulu/Courtesy Everett Collection

Life is hard, and we could all use a mental vacation sometimes. From revelling in the raunchy gags of *Bridesmaids* (2011) to enjoying the heartfelt laughs of *Thelma* (2024), we've got your comedy needs covered from coast to coast, with a variety of genre destinations in between.

As of August 2025, here are the best comedy movies streaming on Hulu.

Anora (2024)

Mark Eydelshteyn as Ivan 'Vanya' Zakharov and Mikey Madison as Anora 'Ani' Mikheeva in 'Anora'.

Courtesy of Neon

Much like the journey its title character goes on, *Anora* is a wild ride of emotions, part screwball comedy, part meditation on the American class system, and part absorbing character study. Tying it all together is Mikey Madison, who plays a stripper/sex worker living in Brooklyn's Brighton Beach who meets and soon marries the son of a Russian oligarch. Things take a turn for the worse when her new husband's family catches wind of the marriage and takes great pains to tear them apart. Madison is an utter revelation in a role that won her an Oscar — of which the film won four others, including Best Picture. —*Kevin Jacobsen*

Where to watch *Anora*: Hulu

**EW grade:** B+ (read the review)

**Director:** Sean Baker

**Cast:** Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Yura Borisov, Karren Karagulian, Vache Tovmasyan, Darya Ekamasova, Aleksei Serebryakov

Babes (2024)

Ilana Glazer as Eden and Michelle Buteau as Dawn in 'Babes'.

Pamela Adlon tackled the pains of motherhood with refreshing frankness on her FX series *Better Things*, and this laugh-out-loud comedy proves she still has more to say on the subject. Adlon's feature directorial debut stars Ilana Glazer as Eden, a young woman who becomes pregnant from a one-night stand and decides to keep the baby; Michelle Buteau costars as Eden's best friend, Dawn, who struggles with postpartum depression, While they rely on each other for moral support, their bond is soon put to the test.

Offscreen friends for decades, Glazer and Buteau have electric chemistry together, and Adlon's screenplay will certainly ring true for those who have been through the highs and lows of pregnancy. —*K.J.***

Where to watch *Babes*: Hulu

**Director:** Pamela Adlon

**Cast:** Ilana Glazer, Michelle Buteau, John Carroll Lynch, Oliver Platt, Sandra Bernhard, Stephan James, Hasan Minhaj

Bridesmaids (2011)

Wendi McLendon-Covey as Rita, Rose Byrne as Helen Harris III, Kristen Wiig as Annie Walker, Melissa McCarthy as Megan Price, Maya Rudolph as Lillian Donovan, and Ellie Kemper as Becca in 'Bridesmaids'.

Suzanne Hanover/Universal Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Baker–turned–jewelry store clerk Annie (Kristen Wiig) finds herself thrown into the whirlwind of wedding politics when her childhood best friend, Lillian (Maya Rudolph), asks her to be her maid of honor. After learning of Lillian's close friendship with the snobby Helen (Rose Byrne), Annie vies for her best friend's attention as she tries to live up to impossibly high expectations, stumbling mightily along the way.**** With its cast of some of the funniest women in entertainment, combined with the kind of gross-out humor stereotypically reserved for men, *Bridesmaids* was hailed as a landmark film upon its 2011 release. It also made a star out of Melissa McCarthy, whose scene-stealing performance led to an Oscar nomination and a thriving career as a lead on big and small screens. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Bridesmaids*: Hulu

**EW grade:** A (read the review)

**Director:** Paul Feig

**Cast:** Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper, Chris O'Dowd

The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs, Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly, and Emily Blunt as Emily Charlton in 'The Devil Wears Prada'.

20th Century Fox

*The Devil Wears Prada*? On a list of great movie comedies? *Groundbreaking*. Miranda Priestly may not approve of such a standard choice, but we can't help but return to this 2006 adaptation of Lauren Weisberger's novel again and again. Anne Hathaway stars as Andy, a budding journalist who takes an assistant job working for Meryl Streep's Miranda, a demanding fashion editor who inspires fear without even raising her voice. The film remains endlessly rewatchable, not only for its quotable lines and fun atmosphere but also for its potent themes, from Andy's evolution into a more confident person to its depiction of the fashion industry and its surprising impact on the world. *That's all*. —*K.J. *****Where to watch *The Devil Wears Prada*: Hulu

**EW grade:** N/A (read the review)

**Director:** David Frankel

**Cast:** Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, Simon Baker, Adrian Grenier**

Easy A (2010)

Emma Stone as Olive Penderghast and Penn Badgley as Todd in 'Easy A'.

Adam Taylor/Screen Gems/Courtesy Everett Collection

Emma Stone achieved full star status with this 2010 teen comedy, which pays homage to *The Scarlet Letter*. She plays Olive, a California high schooler whose lie about losing her virginity spirals out of control and becomes a school-wide scandal as she comes to embrace her newfound status as a "promiscuous" person. While pretending to have sex with fellow students to boost their reputations, she also rekindles her relationship with Todd (Penn Badgley), her childhood crush who sees Olive for the real her, not people's assumptions of who she is. Stone earned huge raves for her performance, with EW's critic stating, "Stone has a speed and sparkle that may remind you of [Lindsay] Lohan in her *Mean Girls* prime." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Easy A*: Hulu

**EW grade:** B–

**Director:** Will Gluck

**Cast:** Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Amanda Bynes, Thomas Haden Church, Patricia Clarkson, Cam Gigandet, Lisa Kudrow, Malcolm McDowell, Stanley Tucci

Fire Island (2022)

(From left to right) Bowen Yang as Howie, Joel Kim Booster as Noah (sitting), Tomás Matos as Keegan, Matt Rogers as Luke, Margaret Cho as Erin (sitting), and Torian Miller as Max in 'Fire Island'. Jeong Park/Searchlight Pictures

Jane Austen's novel *Pride and Prejudice* gets a queer, Millennial makeover in *Fire Island*, the debut film from comedic multihyphenate Joel Kim Booster. Booster stars as Noah, a broke thirtysomething with a longstanding tradition of vacationing with his friends on Fire Island. When the group learns their house mother (Margaret Cho) plans to sell her home, the friends are forced to confront their love lives and class issues during their last week together. *Fire Island *also stars *Saturday Night Live*'s Bowen Yang as Howie, Noah's neurotic best friend. A clutch casting choice, Yang imbues the film with some of its most memorable comic sequences.

EW's critic writes, "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a very small swimsuit must be in want of a rom-com to call his own; *Fire Island* sets the stage, messy and sweet, and lets its freak flag fly." —*Andrew Walsh*

Where to watch *Fire Island*: Hulu

**EW grade: **B (read the review)

**Director: **Max Barbakow

**Cast: **Joel Kim Booster, Bowen Yang, Conrad Ricamora, James Scully, Margaret Cho, Matt Rogers******

The Full Monty (1997)

Tom Wilkinson as Gerald Arthur Cooper, William Snape as Nathan Schofield, Robert Carlyle as Gaz Schofield, Steve Huison as Lomper, Hugo Speer as Guy, Paul Barber as Horse Mitchell, and Mark Addy as Dave Horsfall in 'The Full Monty'.

Fox Searchlight/Everett Collection

This cheeky British comedy — emphasis on cheeky — is a hilarious yet poignant ode to friendship and brotherhood. Desperate for money, former mill worker Gaz (Robert Carlyle) recruits a group of fellow unemployed men to form a striptease act. While not exactly model material, the men's eagerness to put themselves out there makes them an unexpected sensation. There's plenty of comedy to be found in the premise alone, but *The Full Monty* also wears its heart on its sleeve while resisting being too cutesy. The film also spawned a sequel TV series on Hulu with the original cast, which was released in 2023. *—K.J.*

Where to watch *The Full Monty*: Hulu

**Director:** Peter Cattaneo

**Cast:** Robert Carlyle, Tom Wilkinson, Mark Addy

Happiest Season (2020)

Kristen Stewart as Abby and Mackenzie Davis as Harper in 'Happiest Season'. Lacey Terrell/TriStar Pictures

In 2020, actress, writer, and director Clea DuVall pulled us out of our collective pandemic funk with the gift of *Happiest Season,* a queer holiday rom-com released on Hulu. Co-written with actress Mary Holland and directed by DuVall, *Happiest Season* follows Abby (Kristen Stewart) as she goes to meet her girlfriend Harper's (Mackenzie Davis) parents and spend Christmas at their family's home. The visit is only slightly complicated by the fact that Harper's conservative family — including her perfectionistic mother Tipper (Mary Steenburgen) and her mayoral candidate father (Victor Garber) — don't know she's gay...or that she's dating Abby. Hijinks ensue, feelings are hurt, and the city of Pittsburgh has never looked more inviting.

With a monster cast that includes Alison Brie and Holland as Harper's eccentric sisters, Aubrey Plaza as her ex, and Dan Levy as Abby's best friend, *Happiest Season *manages to be, as EW's critic puts it, "a smart, heartfelt comedy whose small flaws are easily blotted out by bigger charms." —*A.W.*

Where to watch *Happiest Season*: Hulu

**EW grade: **B+ (read the review)

**Director: **Clea DuVall

**Cast: **Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza, Dan Levy, Mary Holland, Victor Garber, Mary Steenburgen********

The Heat (2013)

Melissa McCarthy as Shannon Mullins and Sandra Bullock as Sarah Ashburn in 'The Heat'.

Gemma La Mana/20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection

*The Heat* features the kind of pairing that makes you wish they starred in a dozen more movies together. Alas, Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy have only teamed up for this riotous crime comedy, starring the former as straitlaced FBI Special Agent Sarah Ashburn and the latter as street-smart Boston detective Shannon Mullins. Ashburn and Mullins partner up to catch a local drug lord, though their differing approaches to the case make things difficult. While its pacing may be familiar to any buddy cop comedy fan, EW's critic praises the film as "a piece of smash-and-grab policier pulp that, through the interplay of Bullock and McCarthy, spins to its own snarly/confessional feminine beat." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *The Heat*: Hulu

**EW grade:** B (read the review)

**Director:** Paul Feig

**Cast:** Sandra Bullock, Melissa McCarthy, Demián Bichir, Marlon Wayans, Michael Rapaport

High Fidelity (2000)

John Cusack as Rob Gordon, Jack Black as Barry Judd, Todd Louiso as Dick, Tim Robbins as Ian 'Ray' Raymond in 'High Fidelity'.

Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

This laugh-out-loud adaptation of Nick Hornby's book of the same name is all about a man trying to figure out what he's doing wrong in the romance department. John Cusack plays Rob, a record store owner going through a bad breakup with Laura (Iben Hjejle), who he thought was the love of his life. When he and his employees aren't making fun of customers whose music taste they deem inferior to their own, Rob seeks out old girlfriends, tries to reconnect with Laura, and ultimately finds he has a lot of maturing to do. EW's critic calls *High Fidelity* a "cute, quaint, at times rather silly movie that displays a genuine affection for the rebel-nerd scholasticism of record-store junkies." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *High Fidelity*: Hulu

**EW grade:** N/A (read the review)

**Director:** Stephen Frears

**Cast:** John Cusack, Iben Hjejle, Jack Black, Todd Louiso, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Lisa Bonet, Sara Gilbert, Chris Bauer, Lili Taylor, Joan Cusack

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

(Clockwise from upper left): Mary Lynn Rajskub as Pageant Assistant Pam, Greg Kinnear as Richard, Paul Dano as Dwayne, Toni Collette as Sheryl, and Abigail Breslin as Olive in 'Little Miss Sunshine'. Fox Searchlight/Courtesy Everett Collection

This little Sundance-darling-that-could is as quirky and charming as the yellow Volkswagon van the Hoovers use for their road trip to California. The film centers on a chaotic family as they drive from New Mexico to bring young Olive (Abigail Breslin) to a child beauty pageant, in which she desperately wishes to compete. Plenty of dysfunction occurs along the way, including persistent van troubles, which only compounds the stress for mother Sheryl (Toni Collette), workaholic father Richard (Greg Kinnear), and Sheryl's brother Frank (Steve Carell), who is struggling with depression. And that's not even taking into account Olive's older brother Dwayne (Paul Dano), who has taken a vow of silence, and Olive's beloved grandpa Edwin (Alan Arkin), who has a heroin addiction.

The winning ensemble contributes to a hectic yet lovable atmosphere; the film went on to be embraced by critics and audiences, taking home the Oscars for Best Supporting Actor for Arkin and Best Original Screenplay. *—K.J.*

Where to watch *Little Miss Sunshine*: Hulu

**Directors:** Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris

**Cast:** Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Paul Dano, Abigail Breslin, Alan Arkin**

My Cousin Vinny (1992)

Joe Pesci as Vinny Gambini and Marisa Tomei as Mona Lisa Vito in 'My Cousin Vinny'.

20th Century Fox Film Corp./Courtesy Everett Collection

After his nephew Bill (Ralph Macchio) and Bill's friend Stan (Mitchell Whitfield) are convicted of a murder they didn't commit in Alabama, Brooklyn lawyer Vinny Gambini (Joe Pesci) tries to defend them in this beloved courtroom comedy. Unbeknownst to Bill and Stan, however, Vinny only just became a practicing lawyer, and he completely lacks trial experience. Vinny ultimately stumbles his way through his defense, though his smart-talking fiancée, Mona Lisa Vito (Marisa Tomei), greatly helps him in assembling a case. Pesci, two years removed from his riotous performance in *Goodfellas*, is in full command of his instrument, but it's Tomei who steals the show here, winning an Oscar for her hilariously sassy turn. —*K.J.*****Where to watch *My Cousin Vinny*: Hulu******EW grade:** B (read the review)******Director:** Jonathan Lynn******Cast:** Joe Pesci, Ralph Macchio, Marisa Tomei, Mitchell Whitfield, Fred Gwynne

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Nightbitch (2024)

Amy Adams as Mother in 'Nightbitch'.

Searchlight Pictures

In this dark comedy, an overstressed stay-at-home mom (Amy Adams) fears she may be turning into a dog. Yes, seriously. While the concept makes it sound like a farce directed by the Farrelly brothers in the early-2000s, *Nightbitch* is, in reality, a clever, surprisingly tender examination of motherhood that gives Adams her best role in years. Horrified yet fascinated by her sudden transformation, Adams' character, credited only as "Mother," gradually begins to embrace her new identity. EW's critic calls *Nightbitch* "a frank dissection of female rage and post-pawrtum (sorry, not sorry) fracture." —*K.J.***

Where to watch *Nightbitch*: Hulu

**EW grade:** A– (read the review)

**Director:** Marielle Heller

**Cast:** Amy Adams, Scoot McNairy, Arleigh Snowden, Emmett Snowden, Zoë Chao, Mary Holland, Ella Thomas, Archana Rajan, Jessica Harper

No Hard Feelings (2023)

Andrew Barth Feldman as Percy Becker and Jennifer Lawrence as Maddie Barker in 'No Hard Feelings'. Macall Polay/Columbia Pictures

While *No Hard Feelings* may have been sold as a raunchy comedy, the film has an underlying sweetness that makes for a well-rounded experience. But don't get us wrong, the film's setup certainly provides plenty of broad, laugh-out-loud humor: Jennifer Lawrence stars as Maddie, a 32-year-old Uber driver desperate for money. She finds a Craigslist ad from a wealthy couple hoping to hire a woman to date (and perhaps do more with) their inexperienced 19-year-old son, Percy (Andrew Barth Feldman), before he goes to college. Maddie's attempts to court Percy lead to hilarious results, though they soon come to appreciate each other over the course of the summer.

The film proves Lawrence's adeptness as a comedic star, fully committing to even the most ludicrous of scenes. "*No Hard Feelings* is a welcome addition to a dwindling genre," writes EW's critic, "and a reminder that Lawrence is one [of] Hollywood's best (and funniest) leads." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *No Hard Feelings*: Hulu

**EW grade:** B (read the review)

**Director:** Gene Stupnitsky

**Cast:** Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman, Laura Benanti, Natalie Morales, Matthew Broderick**

Not Okay (2022)

Dylan O'Brien as Colin and Zoey Deutch as Danni Sanders in 'Not Okay'. Nicole Rivelli/Searchlight Pictures

The perils of internet fame are explored in this satirical cautionary tale. Zoey Deutch plays Danni, a photo editor whose innocent lie about attending a writers' retreat in Paris spirals out of control as she fabricates photos of her trip for online attention. Things are taken to a new level when she claims to have survived a bombing at the Arc de Triomphe, which gains her unearned sympathy as she struggles to maintain the lie. *Not Okay* made headlines with its tongue-in-cheek trigger warning at the start of the film, claiming some viewers may be turned off by its depiction of an "unlikable female protagonist." With its sharp, provocative edge, it won't be for everyone, but few would disagree with its messaging of the dangers of being Too Online. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Not Okay*: Hulu

**Director: **Quinn Shephard

**Cast: **Zoey Deutch, Mia Isaac, Dylan O'Brien, Nadia Alexander, Embeth Davidtz, Karan Soni******

On the Count of Three (2022)

Christopher Abbott as Kevin and Jerrod Carmichael as Val in 'On the Count of Three'. United Artists

Jerrod Carmichael made his feature directorial debut with this dark comedy in which he stars alongside *Girls* alum Christopher Abbott. The duo play friends who make a suicide pact, but decide to spend one last day doing whatever they want and resolving prior issues. Despite its dark premise, Carmichael finds the right tone to deliver an authentic portrait of friendship as his Val and Abbott's Kevin are able to find simple joys in life even through the pain. "The movie settles into the blackest kind of buddy comedy," EW's critic writes in the review, "a lacerating slice of nihilism rooted in real despair, and real I-love-you-man tenderness, too." Plus, the film's expert use of Papa Roach's "Last Resort" certainly leaves an impact. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *On the Count of Three*: Hulu

**EW grade: **B+ (read the review)

**Director: **Jerrod Carmichael

**Cast: **Jerrod Carmichael, Christopher Abbott, Tiffany Haddish, J.B. Smoove, Lavell Crawford, Henry Winkler

Palm Springs (2020)

Cristin Milioti as Sarah Wilder and Andy Samberg as Nyles in 'Palm Springs'. Jessica Perez/Hulu

Nyles (Andy Samberg) and Sarah (Cristin Milioti) are stuck at a Palm Springs wedding that will literally never end. While Nyles is resigned to his fate, Sarah — the maid of honor — is desperate to escape this desert hell. Directed by Max Barbakow with a script from Andy Siara, *Palm Springs* adds a trippy time loop twist to the rom-com genre. This existential comedy — which broke Sundance sales records by 69 cents (nice) — uses its sci-fi hook to explore what it really means to forgive yourself and let go of the past. Then there's the standout performance from J.K Simmons as deranged wedding guest Roy, who manages to be inspiring, terrifying, and hilarious all at once. Still, it's the budding romance between Milioti and Samberg that will make you want to revisit *Palm Springs* again and again. —*A.W.*

Where to watch *Palm Springs*: Hulu

**EW grade: **B+ (read the review)

**Director: **Max Barbakow

**Cast: **Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, J.K. Simmons******

Quiz Lady (2023)

Awkwafina as Anne Yum in 'Quiz Lady'.

20th Century Studios/Courtesy Everett Collection

Part of the appeal of this charming, Emmy-winning TV movie from Jessica Yu is in seeing its stars stretch beyond their typical roles. Awkwafina, often cast as the brazen comic relief, plays anxious game-show aficionado Anne, while the typically hyper-competent Sandra Oh plays Anne's messy older sister Jenny. They are reunited after their mother flees the country on a gambling streak, and after a loan shark comes out of the woodwork, the sisters come up with a scheme for Anne to go on her favorite game show to get enough money to pay him back. Awkwafina and especially Oh excel in their against-type roles, creating a believable chemistry that goes beyond silly antics; their bonding allows them to confront old traumas and get to a more hopeful place as sisters. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Quiz Lady*: Hulu

**Director:** Jessica Yu

**Cast:** Awkwafina, Sandra Oh, Will Ferrell, Jason Schwartzman, Holland Taylor, Tony Hale, Jon "Dumbfoundead" Park

Raising Arizona (1987)

Holly Hunter as Ed McDunnough and Nicolas Cage as Hi McDunnough in 'Raising Arizona'.

20th Century Fox/Courtesy Everett Collection

The Coen brothers have long been lauded for putting their offbeat spin on the plight of working-class characters stumbling their way through crimes and their messy aftermath. *Raising Arizona* is one of their foundational comedies of this variety, centering on ex-convict Hi (Nicolas Cage) and his ex-police officer wife Ed (Holly Hunter) as they try to figure out how to start a family. Unable to conceive or adopt, they resort to kidnapping a newborn baby, leading to a chaotic series of events. Cage and Hunter are perfectly suited for the film's zany energy, with EW ranking *Raising Arizona* as the No. 1 Coen brothers movie, praising it as "a fairy tale that points out that no good guy is ever all good, and the bad guys are just flawed characters who were raised wrong." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Raising Arizona*: Hulu

**Director:** Joel Coen

**Cast:** Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter

A Real Pain (2024)

Kieran Culkin as Benji Kaplan and Jesse Eisenberg as David Kaplan in 'A Real Pain'.

Searchlight Pictures

A pair of cousins tour Poland in tribute to their late grandmother in this acclaimed comedy-drama. Jesse Eisenberg stars as the neurotic David, who grows resentful of his erratic, outgoing cousin Benji (Best Supporting Actor Oscar winner Kieran Culkin) as the trip goes on. Eisenberg and Culkin "make for an all-time comedic odd-couple," writes EW's critic, "with both actors showcasing their comedic and dramatic talents." Eisenberg, who also wrote and directed the film, infuses the plot with smart, observational humor and subtle notes of melancholy. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *A Real Pain*: Hulu

**EW grade:** B+ (read the review)

**Director:** Jesse Eisenberg

**Cast:** Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin, Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey, Kurt Egyiawan, Liza Sadovy, Daniel Oreskes

Rye Lane (2023)

David Jonsson as Dom and Vivian Oparah as Yas in 'Rye Lane'. Everett Collection

Fresh off a splashy, well-received premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, this British rom-com centers on Dom (David Jonsson) and Yas (Vivian Oparah), who meet in a gender-neutral bathroom and bond over their recent breakups. Walking around Rye Lane Market in South London, they discuss life and love as their bond grows inevitably closer. While rom-coms of this variety have existed for decades and decades, critics were universal in their praise of *Rye Lane* as an invigorating addition to the genre. There is a warmth and vibrancy to the film, with first-time feature director Raine Allen-Miller infusing her South London setting with specificity and genuine affection, and Jonsson and Oparah have the kind of complementary energies that make such films so magical. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Rye Lane*: Hulu

**Director: **Raine Allen-Miller

**Cast: **David Jonsson, Vivian Oparah

Sideways (2004)

Paul Giamatti as Miles Raymond and Thomas Haden Church as Jack Cole in 'Sideways'.

Everett Collection

Few films have been as beneficial to the wine industry as this indie favorite from Alexander Payne. Paul Giamatti stars as Miles, a middle-aged man with depression who goes with his actor friend Jack (Thomas Haden Church) on a weeklong trip through wine country in Santa Barbara, Calif. Both men get romantically involved with women on their jaunt, which only complicates matters as Jack is soon to be married. Arch and moving all at once, *Sideways* may be a couple of decades old now, but it only gets better with age, particularly in the performances by Giamatti, Church, Virginia Madsen (that monologue about wine remains a favorite), and Sandra Oh. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Sideways*: Hulu

**Director:** Alexander Payne

**Cast:** Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh

Thelma (2024)

Richard Roundtree as Ben and June Squibb as Thelma Post in 'Thelma'.

Courtesy of Sundance Institute; Photo by David Bolen

Hell hath no fury like Thelma Post (June Squibb) scorned. After being duped by a phone scam, 93-year-old Thelma goes on the warpath to find those involved and get back her money. Of course, it's not easy for her to navigate the streets of Los Angeles (having lost her driving privileges), so she takes an old pal across town via motor scooter to help her hunt down the culprits. Hilarious and quietly moving in equal measure, *Thelma* provides Squibb with the first leading role of her career and she makes the absolute most of it, delivering a complex performance as a woman who refuses to let age slow her down. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Thelma*: Hulu

**EW grade:** B+ (read the review)

**Director:** Josh Margolin

**Cast:** June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Richard Roundtree, Clark Gregg, Parker Posey, Malcolm McDowell

Triangle of Sadness (2022)

Charlbi Dean as Yaya and Harris Dickinson as Carl in 'Triangle of Sadness'. Neon

*Triangle of Sadness* comes after a slew of similarly delicious "eat the rich" satires in recent years, from *Parasite* (2019) to *The White Lotus* to *The Menu* (2022). Ruben Östlund, whose previous class commentaries include *Force Majeure* (2014) and *The Square* (2017), won the Palme d'Or for writing and directing this audacious comedy about a pair of dating models who set sail on a luxury cruise that ends in disaster. (Think *Titanic*, but with a lot more bodily fluids.) As EW's critic raves in the review, *Triangle of Sadness* is "not the funhouse mirror we need for these ridiculous times, maybe, but one we deserve."

Östlund's film went on to score Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay, though curiously not nominated was Dolly de Leon, whose forceful presence in the film's third act makes for a wildly unpredictable ending. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Triangle of Sadness*: Hulu

**EW grade: **B+ (read the review)

**Director: **Ruben Östlund

**Cast: **Harris Dickinson, Charlbi Dean, Dolly de Leon, Woody Harrelson, Zlatko Burić, Iris Berben, Vicki Berlin, Henrik Dorsin, Jean-Christophe Folly, Amanda Walker, Oliver Ford Davies, Sunnyi Melles

Working Girl (1988)

Melanie Griffith as Tess McGill and Harrison Ford as Jack Trainer in 'Working Girl'.

Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty

This quintessential '80s comedy is a rallying cry for the underdog. Melanie Griffith plays Tess McGill, a Staten Island secretary who longs to get ahead in the business world. After catching her boss (Sigourney Weaver) stealing her idea for a merger, Tess tries to negotiate for it behind her boss' back — and falls in love with the associate (Harrison Ford) who helps secure the deal. Satirizing corporate '80s culture, *Working Girl* is emblematic of its time while still holding up thanks to its wonderfully committed performances by Griffith, Weaver, Ford, and a scene-stealing Joan Cusack. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Working Girl*: Hulu

**Director:** Mike Nichols

**Cast:** Melanie Griffith, Harrison Ford, Sigourney Weaver, Alec Baldwin, Joan Cusack

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