When you’re drained from the workweek and can’t take any more of the hullabaloo, there’s nothing like a bout of hysterical laughter to raise your spirits. And while you can always resort to a triedtand-true book of jokes or that silly film you’ve watched a million times, why not indulge in a stand-up comedy special for a change?
It’s an art form like no other, as stand-up comics have one goal: get on stage and get us laughing. But where can you find a good stand-up hour or two? Look no further than your Amazon Prime Video subscription. Not only does the streaming platform get you access to all kinds of movies and TV shows, but there are some pretty amazing stand-up specials in the Prime archive, too, and we’ve handpicked our very own collection of favorites to share with you. Here are all the best stand-up specials on Prime Video for July 2023.
Looking for even more laughs? Check out our other streaming guides, including the best stand-up comedy on Netflix, as well as the best comedies on Amazon Prime and the best comedies on Hulu.
Sebastian Live (2009)
Sebastian Maniscalco is the kind of comedic talent who isn’t afraid to shine a light on the many idiosyncrasies of humanity, and if his stand-up special Sebastian LIVE is to be believed, our species has plenty of quirks to poke fun at.
the special was filmed at the prestigious Paramount Theatre in St. Louis, and if you’re in the mood for the kind of observational humor that will have you rolling around on the floor in laughter, look no further than Mr. Maniscalco.
Jim Gaffigan: Noble Ape (2018)
You don’t get into our comedy roundup twice unless you’re really funny, but it should come as no surprise that Jim Gaffigan gets a second shout-out. In his 2018 special Jim Gaffigan: Noble Ape, the renowned talent (he starred in the wonderful Linoleum earlier this year) gets a bit more personal, incorporating his wife’s harrowing run-in with cancer into the show.
It’s a bold decision on Gaffigan’s behalf, but it’s a mature call that serves to remind us that life may throw a million wrenches our way, but sometimes all we can do is snicker as the projectiles fly toward us.
Jim Breuer: And Laughter for All (2013)
Jim Breuer is an unchained force to be reckoned with in the outrageous 2013 stand-up special, Jim Breuer: And Laughter for All. Originally produced for Epix, Jim ditches the Goat Boy threads in favor of something a bit more rooted but equally off-the-charts.
Exploring topics of fatherhood, modern suburbia, and teen-year antics, Breuer’s approach may be unrelenting, but fans of his style know exactly what they’re signing up for.
George Carlin: Life Is Worth Losing (2005)
One of the O.G. titans of stand-up, the late-great George Carlin left far more than your traditional mark on the entertainment world. A constantly called-upon influence for today’s leading comic legends, the man’s talents are on full-display in George Carlin: Life is Worth Losing. Jam-packed with Carlin’s rapid-fire and astute commentary on the continually-crumbling Planet Earth, this humorously bleak eulogizing remains as relevant today as the maestro’s words were nearly 20 years ago.
Iain Stirling Failing Upwards (2022)
Cocoa Brown: Famous Enough (2022)
Eddie Izzard: Wunderbar (2021)
George Carlin: You Are All Diseased (1999)
8.5/10Jimmy O. Yang: Good Deal (2020)
Brad Williams: Daddy Issues (2016)
Problem Child: Leslie Jones (2010)
Rhys Darby: Mystic Time Bird (2021)
Andrew Santino: Home Field Advantage (2017)
Maria Bamford: Weakness Is the Brand (2020)
Josh Blue: Broccoli (2020)
Jayde Adams: Serious Black Jumper (2020)
Jim Gaffigan: Quality Time (2019)
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