Thus far this year, we could all use a little something that will lighten our moods. Thankfully, we can count on being able to escape to the cinema to laugh at all of the exciting comedy movies on the way. And a lot is coming soon—from heartwarming rom-coms to long-awaited sequels and reboots to original satires featuring stacked casts. So whatever scratches your funny bone, there’s likely something in store.
Below, we’re rounding up all of the best comedy movies of 2025, including what’s out now, coming to theaters and streaming soon, or releasing later in the year. (And if you’re looking for something to watch right now, check out our recommendations for the best comedies of 2024.)
'One of Them Days'
Release date: January 24
Starring: Keke Palmer, SZA, Maude Apatow, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Keyla Monterroso Mejia, and Katt Williams
Why it’s worth watching: It’s SZA’s acting debut, and she’s starring opposite Keke Palmer. Need we say more? On top of that, it’s produced by Issa Rae, so if you weren’t already convinced you’re in for a good time, that should seal the deal. The two superstars play besties who get into a hijinks-filled day when an annoying boyfriend runs off with their rent money, and they do whatever they can to earn enough cash and not face eviction.
'You're Cordially Invited'
Release date: January 30 on Prime Video
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Will Ferrell, Meredith Hagner, Geraldine Viswanathan, and Timmy Tatro
Why it’s worth watching: Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell are fronting big studio comedies again, so all is right in the world. They go toe-to-toe in this Hello Sunshine-produced film as the sister of a bride-to-be and the father of a different bride who discovers their destination wedding venue has accidentally booked them.
'Companion'
Release date: January 31
Starring: Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, and Harvey Guillén
Why it’s worth watching: The team behind the 2022 hit horror movie Barbarian produced this wickedly funny thriller, written and directed by Drew Hancock. Much of the plot is kept hush-hush, but it centers around a twisted love story and a weekend away gone very wrong.
'Heart Eyes'
Release date: February 7
Starring: Olivia Holt, Mason Gooding, Gigi Zumbado, Michaela Watkins, Devon Sawa, and Jordana Brewster
Why it’s worth watching: This horror-comedy comes just in time for Valentine’s Day so you can laugh and hide in the arms of your funny valentine. The genre-bending serial killer movie centers on a pair of coworkers working late on February 14 and being mistaken for a couple by the sadistic, romance-hating Heart Eyes Killer.
'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy'
Release date: February 13 on Peacock
Starring: Renée Zellweger, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Leo Woodall, Jim Broadbent, Gemma Jones, Isla Fisher, and with Colin Firth and Hugh Grant
Why it’s worth watching: Your Galentines Day plans have arrived. Everyone’s favorite, relatable rom-com heroine returns with more adventures in motherhood and love to juggle. Recently widowed (maybe keep tissues in tow for this one!), she navigates single motherhood and dating for the first time in years, including online (gasp!) and with younger men (another gasp!). We’re stoked to have our girl back!
'Paddington in Peru'
Release date: February 14
Starring: Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, Hugh Bonneville, Olivia Colman, and Antonio Banderas
Why it’s worth watching: Are the Paddington movies some of the greatest art of our time? Maybe! The first movie about the beloved children’s book character captured our hearts with its quirky, twee sensibilities, and, well, Paddington 2 is among the highest-rated films of all time on Rotten Tomatoes. The upcoming third movie in the franchise has a tough act to follow, but it’s sure to charm, as the titular talking bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw) is set to bring his British-found family, the Browns, to his home in Peru. It’s said to be inspired by Werner Herzog’s films Aguirre, the Wrath of God and Fitzcarraldo, so do with that information what you will.
'My Dead Friend Zoe'
Release date: February 28
Starring: Sonequa Martin-Green, Natalie Morales, Ed Harris, Morgan Freeman, and Utkarsh Ambudkar
Why it’s worth watching: This film from Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, marking his feature directorial debut and based on his short Merit x Zoe, was a hit at SXSW 2024, taking home the Audience Award. The moving comedy centers on veteran Merit (Sonequa Martin-Green) who keeps being visited by the ghost of her best friend who died in combat (Zoe) and takes it upon herself to become the caretaker for her estranged grandfather (Ed Harris) when he’s diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
'Death of a Unicorn'
Release date: March 28
Starring: Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, Will Poulter, Téa Leoni, and Richard E. Grant
Why it’s worth watching: All hail the continuance of Jenna Ortega’s scream queen era! She stars opposite Paul Rudd as a father-daughter duo in this feature debut from Alex Scharfman about the disaster that ensues when they hit a unicorn with their car. (Yes, the title is quite literal.) When they bring the creature to the dad's company retreat, his boss (Richard E. Grant) tries to harness its magical properties to dangerous results.
'The Friend'
Release date: March 28
Starring: Naomi Watts, Bill Murray, Sarah Pidgeon, Carla Gugino, Constance Wu, and Ann Dowd
Why it’s worth watching: A book-to-movie adaptation of Sigrid Nunez’s beloved, National Book Award-winning novel of the same name, The Friend follows a woman (Naomi Watts) who inherits her friend/mentor’s (Bill Murray) Great Dane named Apollo when he dies, much to her frustration. As she grows closer to the dog, her life changes in unforeseen ways—a.k.a., this is a comedy with heart and might just be a major tearjerker.
'A Nice Indian Boy'
Release date: April 4
Starring: Karan Soni, Jonathan Groff, Sunita Mani, Zarna Garg, and Harish Patel
Why it’s worth watching: Who doesn’t love a wedding hijinks rom-com? This one, based on a play by Madhuri Shekar, sees an Indian family coming to accept their son’s love for a white man and help plan a celebration that pleases everyone involved. We bet this one will be heartwarming and swoon-worthy, especially with Boadway darling Jonathan Groff as the charming love interest.
'Sacramento'
Release date: April 11
Starring: Michael Angarano, Michael Cera, Kristen Stewart, and Maya Erskine
Why it’s worth watching: We couldn’t be more obsessed with this cast. Actor/filmmaker Michael Angarano stars and directed/co-wrote this humble road movie (which happens to be a family affair, as his wife Maya Erskine also stars). He plays a directionless man named Rickey who convinces his friend (Michael Cera), who’s more settled into his adult life (and intentionally trying to distance himself from Rickey), to go on a road trip with him from L.A. to Sacramento. It's heartfelt and will put all your own anxieties about growing up or ambivalence around parenting at ease.
'Magic Farm'
Release date: April 25
Starring: Chloë Sevigny, Amalia Ulman, Alex Wolff, Joe Apollonio, Simon Rex, Guillermo Jacubowicz, Camila del Campo, and Valeria Lois
Why it’s worth watching: Amalia Ulman is an indie filmmaker to watch—her 2021 debut El Planeta was an instant mother-daughter movie classic—and her latest is an absurdist satire. The indie follows a group of documentarians who travel to a remote town in Argentina for a project, and when plans go awry, they fake their documentary. Resonant of Documentary Now!, it’s a silly look at missing what can be right in front of us and full of wonderfully weird notes.
'Another Simple Favor'
Release date: May 1 on Prime Video
Starring: Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively
Why it’s worth watching: Pour out a dirty martini because there’s a sequel to A Simple Favor on the way. Paul Feig, who directed the 2018 adaptation of the bestselling mystery-thriller novel, helms the follow-up, which takes its complicated besties Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) and Emily (Blake Lively) to a destination wedding in Italy. We can’t see what chaos follows them (and what incredible pantsuits Lively wears next).
'Clown in a Cornfield'
Release date: May 9
Starring: Katie Douglas, Aaron Abrams, Carson MacCormac, Kevin Durand, and Will Sasso
Why it’s worth watching: This may be a horror-comedy, but we’re going to take a wild guess that the titular clown is freakier than he is funny. Based on Adam Cesare’s YA horror novel, Clown in a Cornfield is a teen scream about the re-emergence of Frendo the clown in a small rural Midwestern town. Once a symbol of the town’s success, now he’s a terrifying force whose back and ready to wreak havoc on local high schoolers.
'Friendship'
Release date: May 9
Starring: Tim Robinson, Paul Rudd, Kate Mara, Jack Dylan Grazer, Josh Segarra, and Billy Bryk
Why it’s worth watching: Early reviews of Friendship at the Toronto International Film Festival called it the next great cringe comedy and said they had never laughed so hard. The A24 project from Andrew DeYoung is centered around the question of whether men should have friends (kidding but not kidding, we assume), following a man (Tim Robinson) who becomes obsessed with becoming besties with his new weatherman neighbor (Paul Rudd). With notes of Robinson’s cult-loved Netflix sketch series I Think You Should Leave, we’d bet this will make you shield your eyes from secondhand embarrassment and crack up all the same.
'The Phoenician Scheme'
Release date: May 30
Starring: Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Riz Ahmed, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Rupert Friend, Hope Davis, Imad Mardnli and Benedict Cumberbatch
Why it’s worth watching: Lovers of A-list ensembles, pastels, perfectly symmetrical production design, witty dialogue, and deeply heartfelt storytelling, assmel: A new Wes Anderson movie is coming to theaters soon. The cult-loved filmmaker’s latest is a comedic spy movie he co-wrote with his frequent collaborator Roman Coppola about a wealthy arms dealer (del Toro) who requests the help of his estranged nun daughter (Threapleton) as a part of a larger plot.
'I Don't Understand You'
Release date: June 6
Starring: Nick Kroll, Andrew Rannells, Morgan Spector, Eleonora Romandini, and Amanda Seyfried
Why it’s worth watching: I Don’t Understand You is the latest entry in the vacation-gone-wrong subgenre. The very funny pairing of Nick Kroll and Andrew Rannells star as a couple on the brink of adoption who travel to Italy to celebrate their 10th anniversary before the newborn arrives. With a language barrier between them and the locals of the remote town they visit and one mishap after enough, their dream vacay turns into a nightmare.
'The Materialists'
Release date: June 13
Starring: Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal
Why it’s worth seeing: Celine Song’s Past Lives absolutely wrecked us in 2023, so we’re all in on her sophomore feature. More of a dramedy and a muted, contemporary take on the rom-com, the film follows a matchmaker to the ultrawealthy (Dakota Johnson) who ends up in a whirlwind romance with one of her clients (Pedro Pascal) while simultaneously reconnecting with a man from her past (Chris Evans).
'M3GAN 2.0'
Release date: June 27
Starring: Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Amie Donald, Jenna Davis, Brian Jordan Alvarez, Jen Van Epps, Ivanna Sakhno, Timm Sharp, Aristotle Athari, and Jemaine Clement
Why it’s worth watching: We couldn’t be more excited to be back in the cold embrace of everyone’s favorite killer robot doll! A sequel for this Blumhouse horror-comedy was greenlit shortly after it slayed at the box office in early 2022. Though her tech was deactivated at the end of the original, we know she’ll be back in the new version, and we can’t wait to see what witticisms and dance moves she busts out next.
'Happy Gilmore 2'
Release date: July 25 on Netflix
Starring: Adam Sandler, Julie Bowen, Dennis Dugan, Christopher McDonald, Ben Stiller, Bad Bunny, Margaret Qualley, Kym Whitley, and Benny Safdie
Why it’s worth watching: Get ready to tee up! After nearly 30 years, a Happy Gilmore sequel is being released. The Sandman will reprise his role as the titular hockey player turned golf star, and several other OG cast members will return, as well. The follow-up will see him get back into the swing after losing his spark on the golf course and not playing for over 25 years.
'The Naked Gun'
Release date: August 1
Starring: Liam Neeson, Kevin Durand, Paul Walter Hauser, Danny Huston, Pamela Anderson, and Liza Koshy
Why it’s worth watching: The members of Saturday Night Live’s The Lonely Island have seemingly taken on a lot of childhood wish-fulfillment-type projects over the years, and this seems like it could be Akiva Schaffer’s latest. He’s directing this spin-off of the beloved cop comedy franchise The Naked Gun. Liam Neeson will take on Detective Frank Drebin, famously first portrayed by deadpan icon Leslie Nielsen, so you can bet he’ll be tapping into his action blockbuster leading man persona and his own humorous spin.
'Freakier Friday'
Release date: August 8
Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Jamie Lee Curtis, Chad Michael Murray, Manny Jacinto, Mark Harmon, Julia Butters, and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan
Why it’s worth watching: After 22 years, we’re finally getting a sequel to one of the most beloved ‘00s films. LiLo and Jamie Lee are back as the hilarious mother-daughter duo Anna and Tess. It’s unclear if they’ll go for body swap round two, or if somebody else will do the swapping, but the film is said to find Anna as she’s a mom and soon-to-be stepmom dealing with “the challenges that come when two families merge.” Thankfully, what matters most has already been confirmed: It will see a reunion of Anna’s band Pink Slip.
'Spinal Tap II: The End Continues'
Release date: September 12
Starring: Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Rob Reiner, Fran Drescher,
Why it’s worth watching: Are you ready to rock? The classic 1984 mockumentary about a fictional heavy metal band, This Is Spinal Tap, will release its long-awaited sequel this fall. The original cast reprises their roles as the band sets out on a reunion tour after going on hiatus for 15 years.
'Animal Friends'
Release date: October 10
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Aubrey Plaza, Jason Momoa, Dan Levy, Lil Rel Howery, Vince Vaughn, and Addison Rae
Why it’s worth watching: Ignore the cutesy title: This is a rated-R romp. However, there are animals involved. Plot and character details are under wraps, but the Ryan Reynolds-produced-and-starring animated/live-action hybrid movie follows two unlikely animal friends on a road trip. Based on the A-list cast, we’d guess this one will be very LOL-worthy.
'Bugonia'
Release date: November 7
Starring: Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Alicia Silverstone
Why it’s worth watching: Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos are back at it. For their fourth collaboration, they’re adapting the iconic 2003 South Korean film Save the Green Planet! into English. The plot follows two conspiracy theorists who kidnap the CEO of a major company (Stone), convinced that she’s an alien. It's time to put on our tin foil hats and lock in!
'Atropia'
Release date: TBD, premiered at Sundance
Starring: Alia Shawkat, Callum Turner, Chloë Sevigny, and Tim Heidecker
Why it’s worth watching: Luca Guadagnino is among the producers of filmmaker Hailey Gates’s full-length adaptation of her short Shako Mako. Alia Shawkat led the short and returns for the feature, playing an aspiring actress named Fayruz working at a U.S. military base in the fictional country Atropia. The synopsis reads: “When she meets Abu Dice, an experienced soldier playing the role of an insurgent, their romance quickly threatens their respective ambitions and questions their allegiance to the military and Atropia’s purpose. Set on the eve of Bush’s “surge,” the bloodiest year of the war, Atropia is a comedic love story cast against a uniquely absurd American backdrop.”
'Bubble & Squeak'
Release date: TBD, premiered at Sundance
Starring: Himesh Patel, Sarah Goldberg, Steven Yeun, Dave Franco, Matt Berry
Why it’s worth watching: After Evan Twohy’s screenplay ended up on the Hollywood Black List, or the list of the best unproduced screenplays, in 2020, it got picked up and will mark his directorial debut. Set in a world where cabbages are banned, a couple (Himesh Patel and Sarah Goldberg) is accused of smuggling them across the border, leading them to confront the issues in their relationship.
'Eddington'
Release Date: TBD, premiering at Cannes Film Festival in May
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, Luke Grimes, Austin Butler, Deirdre O'Connell, Micheal Ward, and Clifton Collins Jr.
Why it’s worth seeing: Eddington might be Ari Aster’s (Hereditary, Midsommar) biggest film to date. The auteur who became a name for himself in the horror genre ventured into cringe comedy with 2023’s Beau is Afraid, and he’s continuing his black comedy streak (and collaboration with Joaquin Phoenix). Little is known about the ensemble film’s plot, aside from it being a Western centered around “a small-town New Mexico sheriff has higher aspirations.” Yeehaw!
'Fantasy Life'
Release date: TBD, premiered at SXSW
Starring: Matthew Shear, Amanda Peet, Alessandro Nivola, Judd Hirsch, Bob Balaban, Andrea Martin, Zosia Mamet, Jessica Harper, Holland Taylor and Sheng Wang
Why it’s worth watching: If you’ve missed seeing Amanda Peet on screen, look no further than Fantasy Life, which was called both her comeback role and best performance to date out of early SXSW reviews. The film is the directorial debut of actor-turned-filmmaker Matthew Shear (The Boy Downstairs, Mistress America) and said to be a sensitive comedy about a 30something who loses his paralegal job and takes to babysitting his psychiatrist’s granddaughters, only to develop a crush on their mother (Peet).
'Oh, Hi!'
Release date: TBD, premiered at Sundance
Starring: Molly Gordon, Logan Lerman, Geraldine Viswanathan, and John Reynolds
Why it’s worth watching: If you’re still reeling with the trauma from a situationship, Oh, Hi! will catch you in all the feels. The latest from Sophie Brooks is set over a couple’s first weekend away together and the shocking turns that ensue when it comes out that they’re on different pages in terms of how serious their relationship is. So, Misery for the dating app generation—with the internet’s boyfriend Logan Lerman as the lead—count us very much in.
'Slanted'
Release date: TBD, premiered at SXSW
Starring: Shirley Chen, Mckenna Grace, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, and Amelie Zilber
Why it’s worth watching: Amy Wang’s Slanted is a cunning racial satire about a Chinese-American high school girl (Shirley Chen) who undergoes an “ethnic modification surgery” in hopes of appearing white and securing the prom queen crown. The film is Wang’s directorial debut, and we’re stoked to see what unapologetic send-up of racism and self-acceptance she’s crafted.
'The Threesome'
Release date: TBD, premiered at SXSW
Starring: Zoey Deutch, Jonah Hauer-King, and Ruby Cruz
Why it’s worth watching: What does the rom-com look like in 2025? Perhaps The Threesome. While it sounds like a potentially erotic drama, this indie film that received raves out of SXSW is more about the fallout of a hook-up that a woman (Zoey Deutch) orchestrates between herself, her boyfriend (Jonah Hauer-King), and a woman she notices him flirting with (Ruby Cruz) and she also proceeds to seduce. Expect to gasp more than a few times.
'Twinless'
Release date: TBD, premiered at Sundance
Starring: Dylan O’Brien, James Sweeney, Lauren Graham
Why it’s worth watching: Dylan O’Brien pulls double weight here (well, really triple because he produced the film), playing a set of twins. It follows the “bromance” that develops between two young men who connect in a twin bereavement support group.
'Knives Out: Wake Up Dead Man'
Release date: TBD
Starring: Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor, Cailee Spaeny, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church
Why it’s worth watching: Netflix will release the third Knives Out movie in 2025, with Daniel Craig slipping back into his New Orleans drawl as detective Benoit Blanc. As usual, the cast of suspects in the murder mystery is stacked, and it’s already been teased as revolving around the “most dangerous” investigation yet. We’re ready to pull out our deerstalker cap and magnifying glasses to get on the case
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