NEON is home to a bunch of hilarious Hollywood classics, and even a few locally made laugh-riots: Katie Parker has handpicked the best of ’em for you below.
See also
* Best new movies & TV series on NEON
* All new streaming movies & series
The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)
Watch on NEONMaking a comedy star of Steve Carrell in the same year the US version of The Office premiered, Judd Apatow’s directorial debut is among his most likeable films, with so much heart that the even the most adolescent moments are imbued with a sweetness and charm that can be hard to come by in the sex comedy. The story of a man’s bid to lose his V-card late in life, The 40 Year Old Virgin is nearly 20 years old and as fun and adorable as ever.
Best In Show (2000)
Watch on NEONChristopher Guest’s 2000 mockumentary following the behind the scenes drama of the prestigious Mayflower Dog Show is easily one of the greatest comedies of our time, a cult classic and a favourite of pop star Ariana Grande who dressed as Jennifer Coolidge’s character for Halloween in 2022. With the kind of ensemble comedy cast dreams are made of and a relentlessly hilarious script, Best In Show is comedy royalty.
Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
Watch on NEONFeaturing some of the hottest young up-and-comers in Hollywood, Halina Reijn’s comedy-slasher film was one of the freshest and funniest releases of 2022. Starring Amandla Stenberg, Rachel Sennott, Lee Pace, and Pete Davidson among others, this Gen Z send-up follows a group of 20 somethings whose hurricane party goes badly wrong when they realise a killer is in their midst. The blackest of black comedy ensues, culminating in one of the best twists in recent movie history.
Bros (2022)
Watch on NEONUnfortunately overshadowed by off-putting talk of box office numbers on its release, Bros deserves a reevaluation now that it has made its way to streaming. In one of the first gay romantic comedies to be released by a major studio, Billy Eichner stars as Bobby, a commitment-phobic man who finds himself embroiled in an increasingly serious romance with the equally flighty Aaron (Luke Macfarlane). Charming, self-aware and far more than mere discourse fodder, don’t sleep on Bros.
Love Actually (2003)
Watch on NEONYes, it’s a Christmas movie. Yes, you’ve seen it 50,000 times. Yes, it’s often needlessly grim. But Love Actually, which in the 20 years since it came out has become all but sacred in the hearts of many, is still to this day a very funny comedy. At its best when following Bill Nighy’s washed up pop star making a last-ditch cash grab with a Christmas jingle, Love Actually perfects pithy English comedy to earn its cult status.
Millie Lies Low (2021)
Watch on NEONStarring up and coming Kiwi star Ana Scotney, this local comedy gem sees a lie spiral out of control when a neurotic young social media obsessive misses her plane from Wellington to New York. Unable to accept the shame of fumbling the bag, she uses her online profile to pretend that the trip went ahead and that she’s living out her dreams in the big apple—but finds faking it is harder than it seems.
A Simple Favour (2018)
Watch on NEONOn the surface yet another melodramatic domestic thriller, Paul Feig’s gleefully silly 2018 black comedy turns the usually somber genre on its head. Following a widowed mummy-blogger (Anna Kendrick) who becomes obsessed with the mysterious disappearance of a glamorous new friend (Blake Lively), the increasingly bonkers twists come thick and fast in this deliciously twisted and delightfully campy flick.
This guide is regularly updated to reflect changes in NEON’s catalogue. For a list of capsule reviews that have been removed from this page because they are no longer available on the platform, visit here.
