Action comedy movies combine the best of both worlds. From The Other Guys, to Spenser Confidential, 6 Underground, and more — here are the best action comedy movies to stream on Netflix, Hulu, and elsewhere!

If all I could watch for the rest of my life were action movies, I’d be in heaven. Give me all the explosions and awesome fight choreography and shootouts you can find, and I’ll still want more. Bonus points if there’s a cheesy sci-fi element to it.

On the flip side, I’m not as big a fan of traditional comedies. It’s not that I don’t like to laugh — I just don’t find many comedies funny. Most of them are stressful. I just want to yell, “Maybe you wouldn’t be in this situation if you had just TOLD THE TRUTH FROM THE BEGINNING.”

I’m great at parties, I swear.

Not every action comedy movie is a winner, but I’ve seen more than my fair share, and I’m here to tell you there are some great action comedy movies out there. I love them because they have all the glitz and glamour of an action movie with plenty of laughs to keep your spirits high. It really is the perfect combination, especially if you can find the ones with sharp scripts and a killer cast.

P.S. I know there are some great older action comedies a la Rush Hour and Bad Boys, but I’m sticking with the newer ones here.

The following are a list of the best action comedy movies, and we’ve shared if they’re available on Netflix or elsewhere.

The best action comedies to stream on Netflix and elsewhere:

‘The Heat’

When this movie first came out, I was a huge Sandra Bullock fan but all I knew about Melissa McCarthy was that she was from Bridesmaids. I had no interest in seeing The Heat until my mom saw it and begged me to watch it with her. I knew if she was willing to see it again it had to be good, and boy was she right.

This might be the first comedy that made me laugh so hard I cried. That scene in the bar with the tape on their faces? Brilliant. Sandra Bullock’s character is kind of weird and unsettling, but in a sad, adorable kind of way. Meanwhile, Melissa McCarthy’s character is balls-to-the-wall aggressive and a little scary. It’s a perfect buddy cop combination, and both of these ladies prove how funny they are.

The Heat is available to stream on Prime Video, YouTube, and more!

‘The Spy Who Dumped Me’

As soon as I saw the trailer for this, I was ready to jump in without a second’s hesitation. It looked like a great comedy that didn’t have a stupid premise and featured two women in the lead. I love Kate McKinnon, so she was the real attraction here, but Mila Kunis is an incredible comedian and brought a lot to the table.

This is a fish-out-of-water tale, but instead of making both these women bumbling idiots, the script chooses to make them cunning and capable. They were thrown into the spy game on accident, but that doesn’t mean they should be underestimated. The movie is a fun time, made even better by an interesting plot that throws a few curveballs yours way.

The Spy Who Dumped Me is available to stream on Hulu, Prime Video, and more!

‘The Other Guys’

This is the closest movie to a stupid comedy you’ll find on this list. I had zero interest in ever seeing this film until someone threw it on in the background and all of a sudden I realized I had watched every minute of it. Then I saw it again, this time on purpose. It’s not going to be for everyone, but it’s another take on the buddy cop genre, and I think it does it pretty well.

Will Ferrell makes a lot of silly movies, and even though his character in The Other Guys is ridiculous, he’s both competent and kind. Mark Wahlberg plays a guy with serious anger issues. They should be like oil and water — and they are in the beginning, until they start learning to trust each other. Then, the magic happens and these two end up being a formidable team. I love a good comedy with some heart.

The Other Guys is available to stream on Netflix, Prime Video, and more!

‘Central Intelligence’

Speaking of heart, I wanted to see Central Intelligence the second I saw the tagline for this film: “Saving the world takes a little Hart and a big Johnson.” How perfect is that! Thankfully, the movie actually stood up to the trailer in huge part to the casting of these two actors.

The premise is pretty simple, and plays with the same trope as The Spy Who Dumped Me in that Kevin Hart’s character gets thrown into the middle of a battle between secret agents and shenanigans ensue. Normally this would bore me, but Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson plays an incredible character who looks like he could be the biggest, meanest, cockiest guy in any given room, but instead proves to be sensitive, generous, and kind. Their dynamic really makes this film, so if you’re a fan of either one of them, make sure you watch it!

Central Intelligence is available to stream on Prime Video, YouTube, and more!

‘Spy’

This is another movie I wasn’t too interested in seeing. I’ve since realized that, yes, I am a fan of Melissa McCarthy and I can just get over myself already. She’s great, and this movie proves she’s capable of doing more than just silly comedies. Her character already works at the CIA behind a desk, but what happens when she’s the only one who can go out into the field?

It has all the trademarks of a McCarthy comedy, with the addition of some pretty great action. This is helped in part by Jason Statham and Jude Law, but McCarthy brings a lot to the table herself. She gets right in on the action and shows us how good she is at keeping up during the fight sequences. I know there would normally be plenty of room to make her size the butt of many jokes, but they never seem to cross that line. That, at the very least, makes this a winner.

Spy is available to stream on Prime Video and more!

‘Deadpool’

Deadpool is one of the best examples of an amazing action comedy. It is full of incredible action sequences and legitimately laugh-out-loud humor. I feel like I don’t really need to pitch this one since most of us have probably seen it anyway, but I’ve got a job to do and I’m sure as hell not going to let you down.

There are several other superhero films that could also fill this slot (see: Ant-Man and Thor: Ragnarok), but Deadpool ramps up both the humor and the action in ways the other films couldn’t thanks to their PG-13 ratings. This one also isn’t going to be for everyone (my mom could only sit through about half of it before she made me turn it off), but if you’re looking for a good time, Deadpool can go the distance.

Deadpool is available to stream on Prime Video, YouTube, and more!

’21 Jump Street’

There’s a theme here, and it’s that I discount all action comedies until I actually see them and realize how great they are. Exhibit C is 21 Jump Street. I already loved Channing Tatum but I was still pretty hesitant on Jonah Hill, who I only knew from those other kinds of comedies I had no interest in watching.

Turns out this film is pretty great. It gets a lot of laughs, but it also has a lot of heart. You want to root for Channing and Jonah’s characters because they’re on their last legs, but you also get the fish-out-of-water story thanks to the fact that they’ve been thrown back into the high school circuit. Everyone knows how ridiculous this looks, but somehow it works anyway.

21 Jump Street is available to stream on Hulu, Prime Video, and more!

‘The Hitman’s Bodyguard’

This one is my all-time favorite movie on this list. The Hitman’s Bodyguard has a little something for everyone. It’s a buddy cop comedy with a twist, it’s got incredible action sequences, and Samuel L. Jackson’s infamous potty mouth. Oh, and Ryan Reynolds. Literally, where could you go wrong?

I love this one for a lot of different reasons. Ryan Reynolds plays a neurotic but accomplished bodyguard who has fallen from grace. Sam Jackson plays an assassin who makes a deal to turn on a very powerful man if his wife is freed from prison. If Reynolds can keep him alive, he’ll get his career (and maybe his girlfriend!) back in the process. The stunts are big and the laughs are even bigger. These two are a dream team.

The Hitman’s Bodyguard is available to stream on Prime Video, YouTube, and more!

‘Shazam’

I’m a Marvel girl through and through, but DC has been stepping up their game lately, and Shazam is one of the best movies they’ve produced. It really is fun for the whole family, with both a lot of kid humor and some really poingnant and emotional moments.

This film is uproariously funny while also being action-packed and full of heart. Even if superheroes aren’t normally your thing, I think there’s enough heft to this movie to keep you interested. Plus, you don’t have to worry about watching eight other movies just to know what’s going on in this one.

Shazam is available to stream on Prime Video, HBO, and more!

‘Spenser Confidential’

I’ll admit that Spenser Confidential didn’t quite live up to my expectations, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot to love here. Winston Duke and Mark Wahlberg both play their parts wonderfully.

This movie could easily turn into a franchise, and there’s clearly a setup for a second movie. If there is a sequel, I hope it hits a little harder than the first one, as I did feel like there was more room to discuss tougher subjects they didn’t touch the first time around.

Spenser Confidential is available to stream on Netflix!

‘6 Underground’

I love Ryan Reynolds, but I was still shocked by how much I enjoyed 6 Underground. The plot is, admittedly, a little convoluted, but this film has some of the best action sequences I’ve seen in a long time. That opening car chase is absolutely insane, and I loved every second of it.

Maybe it’s because his Deadpool is so iconic, but I feel like Reynolds brings a little bit of that character into many of his roles these days. A lot of the humor and one-liners have a Deadpool-esque vibe to them, but if that doesn’t bother you too much, then definitely check this one out.

6 Underground is available to stream on Netflix!

‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle’

Remember when they announced they would be rebooting Jumanji and we all hated them for the blasphemy? Remember when it actually turned out to be fantastic? I’ve watched this movie so many times I can’t even give you a number, and I still laugh at every joke.

The Rock, Kevin Hart, and Karen Gillan all bring a lot of action and comedy to their roles, but Jack Black is the one who really shines here. The sequel is also good, though I think this one has a little something special to it that can’t be replicated.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is available to stream on Prime Video, YouTube, and more!

‘Bad Boys for Life’

This is the only movie on this list that I have yet to see, but my colleague Kristen Kranz reviewed it for the site and gave Bad Boys for Life a solid rating. Will Smith is always a charmer, and his chemistry with Martin Lawrence is tangible.

I’m a huge fan of the original Bad Boys movie, and this one is definitely on my must watch list. A lot of fans have been so-so on some of the recent reboots and sequels to old franchises, but it sounds like For Life delivered nostalgia and comedy in equal measure. What more could you want?

Bad Boys for Life is available to stream on Prime Video, YouTube, and more!

‘Ghostbusters: Answer the Call’

I feel no shame in proclaiming how much I loved the Ghostbusters (2016) reboot. It featured some amazing ladies in the lead roles, and each of them provided us with a ton of laughs. Plus, there were some killer action sequences that made my heart sing. Holtzmann, amirite?

I know not everyone liked this film, so a good alternative would be to watch the original Ghostbusters and its sequel, which is just as good (maybe even better!?) than the first. Plus, Ghostbusters: Afterlife will be hitting theaters next year.

Ghostbusters: Answer the Call is available to stream on Prime Video and more!

‘Thor: Ragnarok’

I tried hard to stay away from genre movies because I know not everyone loves them. Even more, a lot of audiences find it difficult to hop on the Marvel bandwagon, especially if you’re talking about the third movie in a series.

But seriously. It’s Thor: Ragnarok. This is probably the funniest movie Marvel has put out to date, and it’s so smart and wonderful. We get to see a new side to Thor (and not just because of his haircut), as well as some truly wonderful settings and characters. Long live Korg!

Thor: Ragnarok is available to stream on Disney+, Prime Video, and more!

‘Red’

This is another one of my all-time favorite movies. It’s a little heavier on the action than the comedy, but there is still plenty to laugh at. The entire cast is made up of veteran actors, but that doesn’t mean they slow down for anyone.

Bruce Willis plays a mostly normal retired black-ops agent who is trying to live a quiet life. His entire plan is upended, however, when someone marks him and his old team for death. Helen Mirren is a gift, as always, and Morgan Freeman is very Morgan Freeman, but it’s John Malkovich who really stands out here. He’s absolutely insane, and I love him with my entire soul

Red is available to stream on Prime Video, YouTube, and more!

Honorable mentions:

Sadly, we can’t dive into all of the great action comedies out there. However, if you’re looking for more action comedies available to stream on Netflix we also suggest: Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse, The Lovebirds, Incredibles 2, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Mr. Right, Hancock, The Bounty Hunter, or The Do Over.

What are some of your favorite action comedies?