From Bill Burr to Robin Williams, these specials have stood the test of time and continue to rank high on IMDb.
Despite the fact that stand-up comedy only became popular in the 70s, it is believed that it began many decades ago. The earliest performances can be traced to 20th century British comedians performing in music halls. Since then, the genre has evolved significantly.
Updated January 3, 2021 by Kristen Palamara: Stand-up comedy continues to be a fascinating art as comedians take the stage and try their best to make viewers laugh. While many of the top-rated stand-up comedy shows premiered decades ago, they are still wildly popular today, and for good reason. These iconic stand-up shows are among the top rated programs, while more recent programs have also made up the top ratings. Comedy fans looking to spend time in a hilarious mood should start with this episode, as these are arguably the best stand-up specials in history.
15. John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous At Radio City (8.0)
Kid Gorgeous is John Mulaney's last stand-up show on Netflix in 2018, in which he consistently tries to perfect his humor style on stage. Mulaney has a recognizable style and cadence of his jokes that summarize the humor of millennials in his more modern special.
He touches on topics such as priorities during the American Civil War, computers that check to see if a user is a robot, and American politics without cleverly naming them.
14. Chris Rock: Bring The Pain (8.2)
This 1996 HBO special caught Chris Rock at the height of his popularity. By the time the special was released, Chris Rock had already become famous in the movies, but many fans agree that it was "Bring The Pain" that made him a superstar.
In the special, Rock spoke on a variety of topics, including the controversial Mayor of Washington, Marion Barry, and the murder of O. J. Simpson. He also talked about dating and marriage (two topics he loves to touch on), as well as the different types of black people you might encounter.
13. Eddie Murphy: Delirious (8.2)
The film Delirious gained wide popularity in the 80s, but it's safe to say that much of what was written in it has not survived. Murphy used homophobic insults, for which he apologized many years later in 1997 with a lengthy statement in which one of the lines read: "I deeply regret any pain this has caused."
The 70-minute HBO Special was Eddie Murphy's first stand-up performance. He was also quite obscene, as he ended up using a total of 501 swear words. However, "Delirious" was highly acclaimed by fans and critics alike. After the release of the film, the comedian continued a successful film career.
12. Richard Pryor: Live in Concert (8.2)
Richard Pryor is considered by many to be the greatest stand-up comedian of all time. Both Comedy Central and Rolling Stone have put him at the top of their lists of Greatest Stand-Up Comedians. For his comedic work, Pryor won an Emmy in 1973 and five Grammy awards.
On Richard Pryor: Live in Concert, he did what he does best - imitate people. He imitated dogs, children, and even himself after a heart attack. He also talked about race, his difficult childhood and how his mother abandoned him in a brothel. There was not a single joke in the special that was not met with laughter.
11. John Mulaney: New In Town (8.3)
John Mulaney's first comedy show on Netflix was New In Town, and he had a unique and hilarious voice in his first show. He told stories of his life, from strange fears associated with quicksand as a child, to going to the doctor as an adult to get a cure for anxiety, and trying to fly on a Delta plane.
He is insightful and, oddly enough, is sympathetic, even if the audience has not been in the situations he describes.
10. Bill Burr: I'm Sorry You Feel That Way (8.4)
I'm Sorry You Feel That Way "is a 2014 Netflix exclusive comedy stand-up. The special was filmed at the Tabernacle Theater in Atlanta, Georgia, in the summer of that year. was filmed entirely in black and white, which has never been the case in modern times.
On “Sorry You Feel This Way,” Bill Burr continued to provide unfiltered comments on topics such as sex, religion, the disadvantages of hugging children, and the wisdom of Lutherans who believe there is no afterlife after death. He also talked about marital problems such as driving his wife out of bed.
9. Robin Williams: An Evening At The Met (8.4)
It was one of the last comedy programs for Robin Williams in the 80s as he switched from stand-up to acting. In it, he touched on many topics, such as the return of Jesus, the tenure of President Reagan, the impact of marijuana, and pregnancy and childbirth.
The album with this special in 1988 received a Grammy award in the category "Best Comedy Performance - Single or Album, Spoken or Musical." Williams performed at the crowded Lincoln Center in what has been hailed as one of his finest works.
8. James Acaster: Repertoire (8.4)
The James Acaster Repertoire compilation brings together four stand-up shows from the British comedian on Netflix for his debut in America, where he continues to receive great reviews. Although Acaster is better known in England, he still stands out in America for his observant humor, making him an easily recognizable comedian.
This episode is not as popular or well-known, but is definitely worth watching on Netflix for anyone who enjoys clear observational humor.
7. Dylan Moran: Monster (8.5)
Dylan Moran is an Irish comedian best known for his starring role in the British comedy Black Books and his stand-up show Monster.
He is mostly known for his dry humor and wit, which are fully evident in this humorous special when he holds a glass of wine and a cigarette in his hands. This is a great special show for anyone who appreciates dry and sometimes self-deprecating humor, and the fact that this show received the highest rating means that the approach was successful.
6. Bo Burnham: what. (8.5)
Bo Burnham is a comedian, musician and filmmaker who uses his outside skills to bring his comedy special "What ..." to exciting new heights.
The cinematic footage is impressive, and Burnham uses his musical skills in his performance to make his jokes even funnier. His style is hilariously dispassionate and easily recognizable, while catchy melodies can make something as hilarious as getting your hand stuck in a Pringles can.
5. Louis C.K .: Chewed Up (8.6)
The highly acclaimed hour-long special was filmed at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston. It is dedicated to George Carlin, who also filmed his special on the same evening as CK and died shortly thereafter.
In Chewed Up, the controversial comedian tackles topics such as white privilege, weight loss, the use of offensive language, terrorist attacks, parenting difficulties, age-related setbacks, and awkward doctor visits. The 2008 special was released on DVD only.
4. George Carlin ... It's Bad for Ya! (8.6)
It's Bad for Ya "was George Carlin's 19th and final special. Four months after its release, he died of heart failure. He was 71 at the time. The stage was unique in that it was framed like a glamorous living room.
Interestingly, one of the topics that Karlin touched on was the words people say when someone dies. The HBO Special was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Pop, Music, or Comedy Program.His accompanying comedy album also received a Grammy for Best Comedy Album. The award was presented posthumously.
3. Eddie Izzard: Dress to Kill (8.7)
The special edition, which was recorded in San Francisco, was mainly about religion and history. Throughout his speech, he was able to retell the history of Great Britain, from Stonehenge to the Reformation.
He also imitated French and Italian accents and then went on to talk about the Pope and the Church of England. Izzard also talked about his struggles as a transvestite and how it ended his dream of serving in the army, stating that there should be a first battalion of transvestite brigades in the country.
2. Bill Hicks: Relentless (8.7)
Relentless was Hicks' last special show before he died of pancreatic cancer. He performed at the Centaur Theater in Montreal, Quebec, Canada during the annual Just for Laughs Comedy Festival.
The performance was distinguished by his trademark long pauses before delivering a line. He touched on endless topics such as right-wing religious institutions and criticism of the Gulf War. This is not only his best work, but also the most daring special of all time.
1.Dave Chappelle: Killin 'Them Softly (8.8)
The show "Killin 'Them Softly" was the first of many one-hour specials from Chapelle. It aired on July 26, 2000 and featured the comedian on a variety of topics including police brutality, racism and drug use.
In 2015, Rolling Stone magazine ranked "Dave Chappelle: Killin 'Them Softly" at # 6 on the list of "The 25 Best Stand-Up Performances of All Time." This special issue is also the highest rated of all Chapelle's works. However, a few years after its release, the comedian retired for a long time, returning only in the late 2010s.
