One hidden comedy movie to stream on every major platform this week
One hidden comedy movie to stream on every major platform this week
These seven comedy picks didn’t get the hype they deserved — now’s your chance to catch up.
There is a lot of content out there. So much that it’s easy to miss some seriously great movies and shows buried under the weekly avalanche of buzzy new releases. That’s where this list comes in. Each week, I’ll pick one under-the-radar genre gem from each of the major streamers — stuff you might’ve never heard of (and that’s exactly the point). This week’s theme? Comedy movies. Next week, it’ll be something totally different (I’m full of surprises). So let’s get to it — here are my favorite under-the-radar comedy movies to stream on every major platform right now.
7 under-the-radar comedy movies to stream this week (one per platform):
Peacock: ‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’ (2025)
I’ve always had a soft spot for contained indie comedies like “The Ballad of Wallis Island” — the kind that drops a handful of great characters into a gorgeous location and just lets the story breathe. This one’s about Charles (Tim Key), a socially awkward superfan who wins the lottery and uses the money to stage a private concert with his favorite folk duo, played by Carey Mulligan and Tom Basden. The catch? They haven’t spoken in years, and now they’re stuck on a remote Welsh island with the guy who idolizes them.
It’s a funny, surprisingly emotional story about creative burnout, old wounds, and the weird ways people try to reconnect. The island setting is absolutely stunning — windswept cliffs, wide open skies, and that kind of quiet that makes everything hit a little deeper. If you’re looking for something offbeat, heartfelt, and just plain lovely, this one’s a hidden gem on Peacock.
The Ballad of Wallis Island
An eccentric lottery winner who lives alone on a remote island tries to make his fantasies come true by getting his favourite musicians to perform at his home.
Apple TV+: ‘The Greatest Beer Run Ever’ (2022)
This movie is somehow both wild and weirdly sweet. “The Greatest Beer Run Ever” tells the (very real) story of a guy from New York named Chickie Donohue who decides to bring his buddies serving in Vietnam a cold beer — like, literally sneaks into a war zone just to hand-deliver them a drink. Zac Efron plays Chickie with this dopey charm that totally works, and the whole thing feels like a mix of a road trip comedy and a war drama.
It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s the kind of movie that sticks with you — not just because the premise is insane, but because underneath it all, it’s about loyalty, growing up, and realizing the world’s a lot more complicated than you thought. Definitely worth checking out if you want something a little different.
The Greatest Beer Run Ever
Chickie wants to support his friends fighting in Vietnam, so he does something wild—personally bring them American beer. What starts as a well-meaning journey quickly changes Chickie’s life and perspective.
HBO Max: ‘Sweethearts’ (2024)
I love rom-coms — the messier and the more chaotic the better — and “Sweethearts” fits that bill perfectly. It’s about two college best friends who make a pact to dump their high school partners over Thanksgiving break, only to spiral into one wild, very Gen Z night of chaos, awkward breakups, and emotional breakthroughs.
Kiernan Shipka and Nico Hiraga have great bestie chemistry, and while the plot definitely takes some weird turns, it’s still a sweet, funny ride about figuring out who you are once the training wheels of high school come off. Add in a standout subplot with their friend Palmer’s coming-out journey, and you’ve got a teen comedy that’s more heartfelt than it first lets on. If you’re like me and always down for a rom-com with a little edge, this one’s worth queuing up on HBO Max.
Sweethearts
Two college freshmen who decided to stick with their high school sweethearts have to pull a ‘Turkey Dump’ and break up with them over ‘Drunksgiving’ the one chaotic night before Thanksgiving in their hometown that puts their codependent friendship to the test.
Netflix: ‘Kinda Pregnant’ (2025)
People tend to have strong feelings about Amy Schumer — there’s not much middle ground. But I’ve always been in the love camp, and “Kinda Pregnant” is another big, chaotic swing that totally works for her. She plays Lainy, a woman who pretends to be pregnant just to stay in sync with her newly expecting best friend, and yeah… things spiral. What starts as a weird little lie turns into baby showers, awkward doctor visits, and a fake belly that gets her into more trouble than she bargained for.
The movie’s unhinged in all the right ways — that’s kind of the point — and Schumer leans into the absurdity with the kind of loud, messy confidence that’s made her polarizing and popular in equal measure. That said, I do think it missed a chance to dig deeper into the emotional truths that come with wanting to be a mother — there’s a richer layer under the surface that never quite gets explored. Still, it’s a Happy Madison production, so don’t go in expecting subtlety… just sit back and enjoy the chaos.
Kinda Pregnant
When Lainy’s plan to settle down and start a family falls apart, she puts on a fake baby bump, tells a lie — and accidentally falls for her dream guy.
Hulu: ‘Babes’ (2024)
My wife and I threw this on a few days after it dropped, and it ended up being exactly what we were in the mood for. We both love a good buddy-comedy, and “Babes” totally delivers. Ilana Glazer and Michelle Buteau are hilarious together — Glazer plays a carefree yoga instructor who finds out she’s pregnant after a one-night stand, and Buteau’s her best friend who’s already deep in mom life and trying to keep it all together.
The movie’s got big laughs, but it’s also surprisingly honest about how messy friendship, growing up, and figuring stuff out can be. It’s ridiculous and real in all the best ways, and honestly, one of the funniest things we’ve seen on Hulu in a while.
Babes
After getting pregnant from a one-night stand, a single woman leans on her married best friend and mother of two to guide her through gestation and beyond.
Prime Video: ‘My Old Ass’ (2024)
I got to see “My Old Ass” at a special screening at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, and then Aubrey Plaza came out afterward to talk about making the film. Just a heads up: she’s not the star (she’s only in about a quarter of the movie), but the real standout is Maisy Stella, who absolutely carries this thing. The story follows Elliott, a college-bound teen who, after a psychedelic mushroom trip, ends up meeting her older self, who warns her to avoid falling in love with a certain boy.
From that wild premise, you might expect something over-the-top, but it’s actually the opposite. The movie stays grounded and thoughtful the whole way through. It’s funny, emotionally smart, and has this quiet steadiness that really sticks with you. And the ending? Let’s just say, bring tissues.
My Old Ass
An 18th birthday mushroom trip brings free-spirited Elliott face-to-face with her wisecracking 39-year-old self. But when Elliott’s “old ass” starts handing out warnings about what her younger self should and shouldn’t do, Elliott realizes she has to rethink everything about family, love, and what’s becoming a transformative summer.
Paramount+: ‘Novocaine’ (2025)
Regal has this awesome Monday night “Mystery Movie” deal — $5 tickets, no idea what you’re about to watch — and last time my wife and I went, the surprise screening turned out to be “Novocaine.” I had already circled it on my release calendar, so when the title card hit, I was all in. And I’m happy to report: it’s incredible. Honestly, this movie is way too good to be on an “underrated comedy” list… but here we are. It didn’t get the attention I thought it would, so now I’m doing my part to fix that.
Jack Quaid plays a mild-mannered bank exec who literally can’t feel pain — like, at all. When a robbery goes sideways and a coworker gets taken hostage, he’s forced into hero mode, using his bizarre condition in some of the most absurd (and genius) ways possible. The action scenes are super inventive, the comedy lands, and the movie somehow manages to be both ridiculous and grounded. It’s one of my favorite films of the year — and if you missed it in theaters, it’s absolutely worth catching now on Paramount+.
Novocaine
When the girl of his dreams is kidnapped, everyman Nate turns his inability to feel pain into an unexpected strength in his fight to get her back.