6 Best Stand-Up Comedian Movies

By Vlad Zakh · May 31, 2026

Chasing the perfect joke is grueling and obsessive. Funny People has a famous, ill comedian taking a struggling young comic under his wing, Obvious Child has a stand-up navigating an unplanned pregnancy, and Sleepwalk with Me has a comic mining his crumbling relationship for material. Man on the Moon, The King of Comedy and Punchline round out the six.

Funny People (2009)

TMDB ★ 6.4

A famous but lonely comedian facing a serious illness takes a struggling young comic under his wing.

Directed by Judd Apatow · 2h 26m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Starz Apple TV channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Obvious Child (2014)

TMDB ★ 6.5

A struggling stand-up comedian navigates an unplanned pregnancy after a one-night stand with a kind stranger.

Directed by Gillian Robespierre · 1h 25m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Sleepwalk with Me (2012)

TMDB ★ 6.5

A struggling stand-up comedian mines his own crumbling relationship for material while sleepwalking.

Directed by Mike Birbiglia · 1h 21m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, Sundance Now · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Man on the Moon (1999)

TMDB ★ 7.1

The bizarre, boundary-pushing career of an unconventional comedian confounds audiences and colleagues alike.

Directed by Miloš Forman · 1h 58m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The King of Comedy (1982)

TMDB ★ 7.7

An obsessive aspiring comedian goes to increasingly desperate lengths to get his big break on a talk show.

Directed by Martin Scorsese · 1h 49m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Punchline (1988)

TMDB ★ 6.5

An aspiring stand-up comic and a manic, self-destructive comedy genius form an unlikely mentorship.

Directed by David Seltzer · 2h 03m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, 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. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Stand-Up Comedian Movies

Funny People (2009)

Obvious Child (2014)

Sleepwalk with Me (2012)

Man on the Moon (1999)

The King of Comedy (1982)

Punchline (1988)

You might also like

8 Best Movies of 1982

6 Best Talk Show and Television Satire Movies

6 Best Talent Agent and Showbiz Movies

Jim Carrey – 10 Best Movies

9 Best Aubrey Plaza Movies

11 Best Kenyan Movies to Watch