Watch Comedies Online in Australia
With 2020 being a little slow for releases it was easy to stay on top of the year’s limited releases, but now thanks to the reopening of productions and surge of releases, we have so much to keep us laughing. 2020 comedies were a fantastic way to keep the optimism going, and now it continues to roll with streaming services constantly putting out latest releases. The biggest new comedy films are only a click away and we’re going to help you navigate to the right place for your movie streaming needs.
What’s in this guide
Seemingly with each new month that passes, there are talks of new streaming services to follow. We have countless platforms like Netflix, Stan, Foxtel Now, BINGE, Amazon Prime Video and so many more. No matter whether you like romantic comedies, dark comedy or black comedy, action comedy, drama comedy or even horror comedy – there’s a streaming service out there to tickle your funny bone.
If you want to see your favourite writer, director or even cast member there are an abundance of free trials for these services. You can enjoy your favourite Judd Apatow comedy whether it is starring Seth Rogen or maybe Melissa McCarthy or perhaps something a little more quirky like the razor sharp wit of Wes Anderson or Joel & Ethan Coen. Either way, the very best performances and funniest characters are all pretty much at home online these days, and we’re going to show you how to find them.
Best comedies to watch
With the massive blockbuster budgets that streaming services invest into making films these days, you’re guaranteed to see a few gems pop up on your platform of choice. There are so many, it is hard to know where to start – there is the Prime Video original (and long awaited sequel) Coming 2 America starring Eddie Murphy, or the hilarious I Care a Lot, even the Andy Samberg romantic comedy Palm Springs. We weren’t kidding when we said Prime Video had some of the best comedy out there.
This is not to discredit other services as they have their own lineups, like the incredibly funny Netflix original Bad Trip starring Eric Andre and Tiffany Haddish. We can’t go past the new Netflix comedy film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga starring the hilarious Will Ferrell.
When it comes to good comedy, no matter where you look there are going to be absolute side splitters. Check out our list below to see what comedy hits you may be missing out on.
What comedies are on BINGE
BINGE has Foxtel to thank for its massive range of funny content. This means that you can watch the latest comedy series or movie from HBO, BBC, MTV and more. Try your hand with the Rian Johnson directed comedy Knives Out or something a little nostalgic like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off starring Matthew Broderick.
As well as those industry giants, there are plenty of classics like Friends (and the exclusive reunion special), Seinfeld, Frasier, Sex and the City, The Big Bang Theory and so much more. Find more out about what’s on BINGE.
What comedies are on Foxtel Now
Foxtel Now service shares much of the library that its sibling BINGE has, with the addition of live streaming programs. There’s no need for any sort of satellite or cable connection with Foxtel Now, just grab your phone, laptop or TV hub and get watching.
The Foxtel Now Essentials pack should cover any comedy lover’s needs with multiple channels dedicated to funny broadcasting. Catch some of your favourites like the Judd Apatow produced classic Bridesmaids starring Kristen Wiig or the hilarious high school comedy Breakfast Club. Have a look to see if you’re into what’s on Foxtel Now.
What comedies are on Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video has become the gold standard for funny movies and shows. On top of their massive list of classic movies they have many Amazon Prime original films and series, with some solid entries in the comedy genre.
They have given a home to Eddie Murphy and his long awaited return to New York in Coming 2 America as well as the Joel & Ethan Coen classic Burn After Reading starring Frances McDormand. No matter what your taste is, there will be something on Prime to make you burst at the seams. If you’re interested in what may be on offer, have a further read of what you can watch on Amazon Prime.
What comedies are on Disney Plus
Disney Plus has easily the most iconic library, spanning 100 years of Disney film. They’ve got the undisputed best family fun films with the world’s most beloved characters and performances, but there was something missing for the older crowd.
Now with Disney Plus Star, the comedy range is great for older audiences and includes movies like Die Hard, Deadpool or the romantic comedy 10 Things I Hate About You. You can also catch star cameo performances from your favourite cast like Bill Murray in the Wes Anderson classic Fantastic Mr. Fox or Keanu Reeves’ surprise appearance in Toy Story 4. Find out more of what’s on Disney Plus.
What comedies are on Netflix
While Netflix is seemingly the veteran in on demand streaming media, they are far from king of the on demand comedy world. They still have literally thousands of comedy TV show episodes and movies available to watch and stream instantly, as well as countless standup comedy specials which are hilariously laugh out loud.
The classic crossover film of the 90s Space Jam starring NBA legend Michael Jordan is available to watch ahead of the sequel which stars LeBron James as well as all the beloved Looney Toons characters. When it comes to the classics, Netflix has them all. Enjoy your favourite performances from everyone like Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Andy Samberg to Bill Murray, Matthew Broderick and Eddie Murphy. To see what else is on offer, have a read of the titles you can find on Netflix.
Best comedy movies streaming providers
When it comes to the best comedy movies, there are a million streaming services to choose from and each have their own originals and their own exclusives or licensing deals. Regardless of their claim to fame, these selected few have enough credibility to stand alone. These platforms like Netflix and Prime Video have a solid library of comedy movies, a reasonable monthly subscription price, a user friendly service and a good reputation. If they didn’t we wouldn’t be showcasing them.
BINGE
BINGE has a huge library of comedy for you to choose from and it starts at a very low monthly price. There is a 14 day free trial for all new BINGE customers, so you can try before you buy. BINGE has the rights to all HBO content so you can find the funniest dark comedy with all that extra spice at home on BINGE.
The BINGE basic plan starts at $10 per month giving you the option of one simultaneous stream in standard definition. From there, the standard plan at $14 per month kicks in offering two screens in high definition. Lastly, there is the premium package which settles at $18 per month and features up to three simultaneous streams in glorious high definition. None of these plans force any commitment and can all be cancelled free of charge at any time.
Foxtel Now
Foxtel has a similar library to BINGE as they own the streaming service, but with their proprietary service Foxtel Now offering customisable channel packs and live TV streaming, you’re in for a more unique experience. Foxtel Now offers a 10 day free trial to all new customers which opens up all channel packs to users so you can correctly sample before landing on the right pack for you. Once the free trial ends, you have the base Essentials pack at $25 per month, and any additional packs can be added for their respective price.
For our comedy fans, the Essentials pack should be more than satisfactory with the inclusion of Fox8, the Comedy Channel and Fox Funny, but for the best comedy movies you may need to consider adding the movies pack for $20 per month on top. Foxtel Now can be utilised to watch live comedy movies as they are broadcasted or catch up on demand at any time from any device.
Amazon Prime Video
Prime Video is far and away the best platform for keeping up to date with the latest comedy movies. Not only does an Amazon Prime subscription get you access to the TV & movie platform, but also free express shipping on their marketplace, Amazon Music streaming, access to their Prime Gaming streaming platform and exclusive sales on Amazon.
Prime Video comes with a whopping 30 day free trial and only costs $6.99 per month. There are no tiers, so for the one price you get everything the service has to offer. On top of that, Prime Video doubles as a film marketplace where you can rent or purchase most new release films before they get a home release.
BINGE from Telstra
We don’t want to give too much away, but there are some fantastic deals hidden with these streaming services. BINGE from Telstra is one of those hot deals, but it’s only just the beginning. While this offer does not give you any sort of free trial, eligible Telstra customers can receive the first three months free when signing up for twelve months.
The BINGE from Telstra deal limits you to either the standard or premium plans at $14 per month and $18 per month respectively, but the value pays for itself very quickly. Users have no limits and can access any of the best comedy movies BINGE has to offer. This offer is eligible for new and existing Telstra mobile or Telstra Broadband customers.
Foxtel Now from Telstra
We told you there were more hot deals to come. Foxtel Now from Telstra is similar to the previous offer in there being a free first month when you sign up to a twelve month deal through any eligible Telstra account. Access any and all of the comedy movies that Foxtel offers across their channels with this discounted offer.
The offer includes the base Essentials pack but movies can be added for an additional $20 per month. Watch your favourite comedy starring the best cast and performances live or on demand on up to five devices. Make sure to check out Foxtel Now from Telstra now.
Disney Plus
When it comes to hilarious family fun, Disney cannot be beaten. Disney Plus is the gateway to some of the world’s favourite characters like Woody and Buzz or maybe Han and Chewie or even Spider-man and Iron Man. Disney Plus does not currently have a free trial but their monthly $11.99 plan can be paid up annually at the discounted rate of $119.99, giving you two months for free. It is the same method as some of the other discounted offers, but just presented differently. A two month trial sounds a lot more valuable than 14 days in our books.
Disney Plus is the home of everything Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, Fox, and much much more. Enjoy the best comedies on up to four devices at once all in marvellous high definition. The app is incredibly well suited for users and ensures the best parental control settings so parents can manage their the comedy their kids can see.
Telstra TV Box Office
Telstra TV Box Office is an online marketplace like iTunes, Google or Amazon. It’s a great way to watch the latest comedy movies before they’re available on streaming services, which can often be a long time depending on the studio behind it, or the film’s success. There is no membership or subscription fee, simply pay per view with the comedy rental and purchases.
Telstra TV Box Office requires an existing Telstra account before you can start to watch and stream. Once you have this, simply log in and stream your favourite comedy movies, or perhaps the latest and greatest. If you are a Telstra Plus member, you can use any Telstra Plus points you may have to purchase or rent films or even just lower the price of one. All charges will be billed directly to your Telstra account, or you can use Telstra Plus points.
Netflix
Netflix is one of the biggest players in the streaming service world and they know what they’re doing when it comes to their originals. While comedy isn’t necessarily the biggest part of the Netflix culture, it is still massive and plays a significant role in making the service great.
There are no free trials for Netflix, but if you’re happy to watch standard definition programming on one screen at a time, the $10.99 basic plan will be perfect for you. From there, you have the $15.99 allowing up to two screens at a time, both in high definition. Lastly, Netflix have their premium plan at $19.99 per month which offers you four simultaneous streams in glorious 4K ultra high definition.
Stan
For many Australians, Stan is the home of classic comedy. A list of the best homegrown favourites can be found exclusively on this app as well as some pretty fantastic exclusives. While Stan is less on the cutting edge for new release comedy movies, you can find the best classic comedies like British comedy and a tonne of classic rom com hits.
Stan offer a huge 30 day free trial for all new subscribers which should not be missed. Once you’re in the gates, there are a few plans to choose from. The three plans range from $10 to $14 to $19 a month respectively and entail their own benefits. The basic plan offers standard definition on one screen at a time, while the next two offer high definition on up to two. The premium tier offers 4k ultra high definition, but is otherwise the same plan.
How to watch comedy movies online
As helpful as it is to know who has what and for how much, as well as some insider opinions on the services, there’s still a few more details. Before you get started streaming there are a couple of things you’ll need to ensure you have a seamless experience when you watch your favourites.
Compatible streaming devices
Starting off with a streaming provider begins with the right hardware. There are a huge range of mobile devices (tablet, PC, android smartphone) compatible to use with streaming apps, as well as dedicated TV hub devices. A good quality connection is also essential if you want to watch premium TV in HD quality. Make sure to check on the provider pages to see if your device is compatible before signing up.
Streaming films can use up big chunks of data, especially when you’re on a cellular connection. So, make sure you have access to a high, if not unlimited, data plan from your mobile or broadband provider if you watch movies online.
Internet suited for streaming
Telstra’s latest NBN plans are a smart way to watch and stream TV without worrying about how much data you use. A 500GB Data ($75/mth) plan will give you speeds of up to 25Mbps, whilst the more complete Premium Internet + Unlimited Data (from $90/mth) plan provides speeds up to 100Mbps.
New and switching customers signing up for the Telstra Broadband service today find big savings when signing up online, as the standard $99 connection fee is waived. Once you’ve signed up you can tailor your plan by choosing the option that works for the picture quality you desire.
