6 Best Silent Comedy Classics

By Vlad Zakh · June 17, 2026

The daring physical stunts and inventive visual gags of the silent era produced some of the most enduring and rewatchable comedies ever made. In Safety Last! (1923): A store clerk’s publicity stunt forces him into a death-defying climb up the side of a department store building. Another standout is Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928): A dandified college graduate tries to prove himself to his rough riverboat captain father during a catastrophic cyclone.

Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A dandified college graduate tries to prove himself to his rough riverboat captain father during a catastrophic cyclone.

Directed by Charles Reisner & Buster Keaton · 1h 10m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, TCM, IndieFlix, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel, Artiflix · Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

College (1927)

TMDB ★ 6.7

A bookish valedictorian attempts to master every sport to win the affection of an athletics-obsessed girl.

Directed by James W. Horne & Buster Keaton · 1h 05m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, MGM Plus, Pure Flix, Cohen Media Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Battling Butler (1926)

TMDB ★ 6.7

A pampered wealthy man pretends to be a champion boxer to impress a mountain girl he loves.

Directed by Buster Keaton · 1h 17m

Where to watch

Stream: IndieFlix, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel, FilmBox Live Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Seven Chances (1925)

TMDB ★ 7.5

A man who must marry by 7 p.m. to inherit a fortune is chased across town by an army of eager brides.

Directed by Buster Keaton · 0h 56m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: IndieFlix, Kino Film Collection, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel, FilmBox Live Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Navigator (1924)

TMDB ★ 7.1

Two pampered, helpless passengers find themselves stranded alone aboard an adrift ocean liner.

Directed by Buster Keaton & Donald Crisp · 1h 05m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: FilmBox Live Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Safety Last! (1923)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 97%

A store clerk's publicity stunt forces him into a death-defying climb up the side of a department store building.

Directed by Fred C. Newmeyer & Sam Taylor · 1h 13m · Rated NR

4 wins & 1 nomination

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, Philo, Fandor Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

6 Best Silent Comedy Classics

Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928)

College (1927)

Battling Butler (1926)

Seven Chances (1925)

The Navigator (1924)

Safety Last! (1923)

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