These dark comedy TV shows are twisted, hilarious, and totally bingeable
These dark comedy TV shows are twisted, hilarious, and totally bingeable
From serial killers to toxic relationships, these shows find the funny in the darkest places.
Comedy has always been my thing — but I like it even better with a dark twist. The messier and more morally complicated, the better. Some of my favorite shows of all time are on this list, and honestly, a few of these have helped define what TV has looked like over the last decade. They’re sharp, funny, uncomfortable in all the right ways… and totally bingeable. If you’re into shows that tackle secrets, dysfunction, and satire with a side of emotional chaos, these are the seven best dark comedy TV series streaming right now.
Top 7 dark comedy TV shows on streaming right now:
No. 7: ‘Based on a True Story’ (2023) | Peacock
“Based on a True Story” has one of the best dark comedy setups in recent memory — a struggling couple starts a true crime podcast and secretly partners with a real-life serial killer. It’s twisted, clever, and the first season absolutely delivers on the premise. Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina play off each other perfectly, leaning into the absurdity while keeping the stakes just grounded enough.
It’s a shame the show got canceled after two seasons. Season one felt tight and fresh, but once that original podcast-meets-murderer angle wrapped up, the second season never quite found its footing. Still, that first season easily holds its own with any other dark comedy on this list. If you’re into true crime, relationship drama, and morally sketchy decisions, this one’s worth watching — just maybe don’t get too attached.
Based on a True Story
The lives of a realtor, a plumber and a former tennis star unexpectedly collide, exposing America’s obsession with true crime, murder and the slow-close toilet seat.
No. 6: ‘Dead to Me’ (2019) | Netflix
“Dead to Me” starts with a hit-and-run and spirals into one of the best dark comedies about grief, guilt, and totally toxic friendship. Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini are both incredible here — playing two women who meet at a grief support group and immediately start lying to each other (and themselves). It’s twisty, funny, sad, and full of moments where you want to scream at the screen.
The show leans into melodrama in the best way, but it’s always grounded by the sharp writing and the chemistry between its leads. Even when things get wild (and they do), the emotional core stays strong. If you’re into shows that mix deadpan humor with deep, messy feelings, this one nails the balance.
Dead to Me
A hotheaded widow searching for the hit-and-run driver who mowed down her husband befriends an eccentric optimist who isn’t quite what she seems.
No. 5: ‘Bad Sisters’ (2022) | Apple TV+
“Bad Sisters” was one of my absolute favorite shows of the year it dropped. It’s a darkly funny murder mystery about five sisters in Ireland, one of whom is married to the worst man alive — seriously, the worst. All the performances are great, but Claes Bang as John Paul totally steals the show. I hated this guy. Like, full-on hated him. And I felt genuinely guilty for how happy I was that he was dead.
The show does an amazing job hiding how it all went down until the very end — and when the truth finally comes out, it feels like exactly the right ending. It’s sharp, emotional, and weirdly satisfying in a way that most mystery shows don’t pull off. I haven’t started Season 2 yet, but it’s sitting high on my list.
Bad Sisters
The tight-knit Garvey sisters have always looked out for one another. But when the toxic brother-in-law they all wanted dead actually dies, it turns their lives upside down and tests their bond like nothing before.
No. 4: ‘You’re the Worst’ (2014) | Hulu
“You’re the Worst” is a show about two selfish, emotionally broken people who decide to try a relationship — and somehow, it ends up being one of the most honest and funny looks at love I’ve ever seen. It’s sharp, filthy, and brutally self-aware, with characters who do not care about being likable. Which is kind of what makes them great.
It’s also surprisingly deep. The show tackles depression, PTSD, and commitment in ways that actually hit hard — without ever losing its bite. It’s the kind of comedy that’ll make you laugh at something awful, then pause and think about why you’re laughing. If you’ve ever felt like love is a mess and people are terrible at it, this one’s for you.
You’re the Worst
Narcissistic, brash, and self-destructive Jimmy Shive-Overly thinks all relationships are doomed. Cynical, people-pleasing, and stubborn Gretchen Cutler knows that relationships aren’t for her. So when they meet at a wedding, it’s only natural that the two of them go home together.
No. 3: ‘Sirens’ (2025) | Netflix
“Sirens” is a rich-people-gone-wrong story that keeps things tense, twisty, and surprisingly funny. It all kicks off when Devon (Meghann Fahy) visits her sister Simone (Milly Alcock), who’s working for a mysterious billionaire named Michaela (Julianne Moore) at her insanely lavish estate. The setup seems simple enough — until secrets start piling up, alliances shift, and nobody’s being totally honest about what’s going on behind the scenes.
The whole thing plays like a strange mix of “The White Lotus” and “Gone Girl,” but with its own cool, stylish vibe. There’s a lot of sharp dialogue, uncomfortable family moments, and just the right amount of satire aimed at power and privilege. It’s only five episodes, but the show makes the most of every one — holding the mystery tight until the very end. If you’re into dark comedies with messy women, culty undertones, and killer vibes (literally), “Sirens” is worth the binge.
Sirens
Worried about her sister’s too-close relationship with her billionaire boss, a scrappy everywoman seeks answers at a lavish seaside estate.
No. 2: ‘Succession’ (2018) | HBO Max
It’s hard to say anything new about “Succession” — but that’s because it’s the dark comedy show of the last decade. It’s been endlessly quoted, memed, and dissected, and for good reason. This show isn’t just about power or money — it’s about broken families, desperate egos, and the deep, human need to be seen by your parents. It just happens to be set inside a billion-dollar media empire with private helicopters and absurd insults flying every two minutes.
It landed at No. 4 on my list of best shows of all time on Max, and honestly, it holds up even better on rewatch. The world-building is airtight, the writing is razor-sharp, and it somehow stays hilarious and emotionally brutal at the same time. Whether you’re watching for the family drama, the corporate backstabbing, or just to hear Roman say something completely unhinged, “Succession” delivers.
Succession
Follow the lives of the Roy family as they contemplate their future once their aging father begins to step back from the media and entertainment conglomerate they control.
No. 1: ‘The White Lotus’ (2021) | HBO Max
At No. 1 is “The White Lotus,” one of the smartest murder-mystery shows on TV right now — and a personal favorite. I love a classic whodunit, and this one flips it with a “whodied” twist. Every season starts with a body, but the fun is figuring out who it is, how it happened, and what kind of psychological chaos led to it. It’s part satire, part thriller, and always dripping in awkward tension and luxury resort vibes.
Season 3, set in Thailand, might actually be one of the strongest seasons yet — even if the ending jumps the shark a little bit, and that final twist is a little too obvious. Jennifer Coolidge’s Tanya remains iconic, Natasha Rothwell’s Belinda is back in the mix, and the show’s take on class, privilege, and vacation weirdness hasn’t lost a step. If you’re not already watching, fix that immediately.
The White Lotus
Follow the exploits of various guests and employees at an exclusive tropical resort over the span of a week as with each passing day, a darker complexity emerges in these picture-perfect travelers, the hotel’s cheerful employees and the idyllic locale itself.