Summary

The good drollery specials of all clip highlight the lawful art form of standup comedy and the many talents in the industriousness . Determining the best standup special is a question that has never die to elicit public debate among long - time audiences . A lot of them come from what many consider to be comedy ’s Golden Age , the ' 70s - dominated by the the like of Richard Pryor , George Carlin , Andy Kaufman , Richard Lewis , and Lenny Bruce .

Although many of the good resist - up comedy special premiere decades ago , some of these figure stay popular today - despite the 21st century insert dozens of new competitor for stand up - up comedy ’s greatest of all time . Indeed , even Netflix andPrime Video ’s drollery lineups , which always develop to conciliate more and more comic , can hardly compete with the sheer need for unspoiled comedy . However , there are a few that brook out as the best stand - up clowning specials of all clip .

Humor is immanent but , from Airplane ! to Monty Python and the Holy Grail , there are some comedy pic that everyone concord are screaming .

best-comedy-movies

20John Mulaney: Baby J (2023)

Stream On Netflix

The latestNetflix special from John Mulaneyis also his most personal one to date . Though Mulaney had humorously bear upon on a wild yesteryear , his standup material was often very clean and gave him a interchangeable range of a function in the public eye . That image was shattered by the news of Mulaney yield to rehab for drug problems . InBaby J , Mulaney go on to be painfully and hilariously honest about his whole trial by ordeal , from the lengths he go to get his drugs to his star - studded intercession to have a call from Pete Davidson in rehab . Mulaney also address the fact that his look-alike has now changed dramatically , but it also proved he stay on one of the funniest comic working today .

19Norm MacDonald: Nothing Special (2022)

The death of Norm MacDonald shocked the comedy community as the dear comedian hid his Crab diagnosis from the world as well as many of his colleagues . However , in the calendar month that followed his tragical death , it was revealed thatMacDonald impart a leave-taking gift for his fanswith the standup specialNothing Special . ineffectual to perform in club due to the COVID restriction and his declining wellness . MacDonald put down his final carrying into action from his habitation without an audience . It is one of the most unequalled standup specials ever made , and while MacDonald does n’t address his own wellness , the subject explored show that he faced it with laughs as expected . The peculiar earned three Emmy Award nominations include Outstanding Variety Special .

18Paula Poundstone: Cats, Cops, And Stuff (1990)

Paula Poundstone is not quite a household with mainstream audiences but taking a look at her specialCats , Cops , and Stuffis enough grounds as to why she is a standup fable . What is so telling about Poundstone ’s work is how she is able to register the crowd so effectively . She is a master storyteller who nurse with personal and hilarious stories , is able-bodied to go on tan outdoors of her prepared work , even doing some terrific crowd work , and return spell back to her stuff . She controls the stage with such confidence and physicality that defecate her a true joy to watch .

17Eddie Murphy: Delirious (1983)

It is hard to understand just how swelled of astandup wiz Eddie Murphywas in the eighties . While he was a rising movie star with movies likeBeverly Hills Copand48 Hrs , he was also packing stadium for standup shows that felt more like John Rock concerts . While there are some incredible present moment in his iconicRawspecial , Deliriousis a glimpse of Murphy at the peak of his stardom and at summit perhaps no other comic has reached before or since . Murphy ’s energetic and screaming execution in the famous ice cream truck bit is alone a monitor that , even with his winner in movies and video , the endure - up stage is where Murphy is at his best . It pull ahead Best Comedy Album at the 1984 Grammys .

16Jerry Seinfeld: I’m Telling You For The Last Time (1998)

Jerry Seinfeld may have become a huge sitcom whiz , but he has always been a comedian at heart and quickly returned to the stagewhenSeinfeldended . I’m tell apart You For the Last Timeis a singular standup special that takes a look at Seinfeld ’s own original approach to the business . After culminate all of his undecomposed laugh into the perfect Seth over the eld , this exceptional finds him deliver them for the last time before hit the hay his good material forever and starting from scrape . He commit to use his incredible middle for experimental humor with his take on the Olympics , MacDonalds , and Halloween . Seinfeld was nominated for a 1999 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Comedy Album .

15John Mulaney: New In Town (2012)

John Mulaney ’s first Netflix funniness especial wasNew In Town , and in his first special , Mulaney established a unique and hilarious voice . He relayed stories about his lifetime from his odd anxiety like quicksand as a fry to going to the doctor as an adult to stress to get medication for his anxiety to attempt to make a flight on Delta Airlines . He ’s insightful and oddly relatable , even if the audience has n’t really been in situations he describes - the mark of a gross comic . Mulaney has also won a Peabody Award and multiple Emmys for his work onSNL .

14Maria Bamford: Old Baby (2017)

player and old hand amusing Maria Bamford , who also voices two fictional character in theHuman Resourcescast , makes full use of goods and services of her kinky talents inOld Baby . Effortlessly , Bamford launches into multi - character scenes , uproarious explanations of deeply dark subject matter , and ultimately poignant insights on family and everyday life . Apart from Bamford ’s unusual style , Old Babyhappens throughout a number of places - from inside and exterior of Bamford ’s habitation , to a bookstore , bowling skittle alley , and lastly a proper microscope stage . Old Babyis a must - see for long - sentence comedy dweeb look for actual alternative funniness . The Just for Laughs fete recognise Bamford for her unorthodox style when he was named 2016 ’s Breakout Comedy Star of the Year .

13Robin Williams: An Evening At The Met (1986)

Because of the sheer succeeder ofRobin Williams ' picture show , younger generations are hardly mindful that Williams made his bones in stand - up . InAn Evening at the Met , Williams afford with a slight against Imelda Marcos , the married woman of historical Filipino dictator and kleptocrat Ferdinand Marcos , and then proceeds to discuss the counter of Jesus , President Reagan ’s tenure , the effects of marijuana , and pregnancy and childbirth . His touch speedy - fire delivery tally an exhilarating feel to go along with the big laughs . An Evening at the Metreceived the 1988 Grammy Award for " Best Comedy Performance Single or Album , Spoken or Musical . "

12Taylor Tomlinson: Quarter-Life Crisis (2020)

One of the younger comics to release textile worthy of ranking among the sound stand - up clowning specials , Taylor Tomlinson is the mainstream voice of the youngest female Millennial comic strip . InQuarter - Life Crisis , Tomlinson dissects the problems of growing up in a strict Catholic household , her own romantic family relationship , and personal struggle with mental wellness - interspersed with pop culture consultation and societal commentary . Despite its frontal of immatureness , Taylor Tomlinson ’s Netflix specialQuarter - Life Crisisis a profoundly introspective and compelling comedy routine . Tomlinson was also Just for Laughs ' 2022 Breakout Comedy Star of the Year .

11Eddie Izzard: Dress To Kill (1999)

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Dress to Kill , which was recorded in San Francisco , mostly touched on religion and account . Throughout the performance , Izzard managed to retell British account right from Stonehenge all the way to the Reformation . She also mimicked French and Italian accents , then proceeded to talk about the pope and the Church Of England . Izzard also addressed the struggle as a transgender person and how it put an end to the dreaming of joining the war machine . Dress to Killwas the receiver of two separate Emmy Awards for outstanding performance and write in 1999 .

Star Wars Stormtrooper

Bella Ramsey as Ellie in the Last of us Season 2 Pointing a Gun in the basement of a hospital

Custom image of Chris Rock, Bo Burnham, and Ali Wong

John Mulaney performing stand-up on stage in Baby J comedy special

Norm MacDonald taking into the camera in Nothing Special

Paula Poundstone - Cats, Cops, and Stuff

Eddie Murphy pointing in Delirious

Jerry Seinfeld gesturing on stage in I’m Telling You For the Last Time

john mulaney new in town

Maria Bamford Old Baby

Robin Williams in An Evening At The Met

Taylor Tomlinson Quarter-Life Crisis

Eddie Izzard in Dress to Kill

Bo Burnham