Some of Hollywood’s most provocative and gifted comedians have set the stage on fire with sidesplitting and electrifying stand-up specials. The streaming giant Netflix has amassed an impressive and colorful library jam-packed with both modern day and classic comedians' material, and in 2017 even released one stand up comedy special every week.

The streaming platform is credited with giving new life to comedians' previously recorded routines, as well as introducing the masses to some of the comedy world’s best and brightest newcomers like Hannah Gadsby. Netflix is home to epic specials from legendary comedians like Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor to contemporary marvels such as Bill Burr and Ali Wong. Their catalog of comedians is sure to satisfy whatever comedy you’re craving.

Audiences can easily get lost searching through the countless content that Netflix has to offer, sifting through these comedians in an effort to find comfort and joy in the hilarious stories these stand-ups present. From opinions on gun control to sexting, feminism to cancel culture, you’re sure to find the perfect special that will tickle your funny bone and leave you with a smile. These are some of the best stand-up comedy specials on Netflix.

9 Jim Jefferies: Bare

The foul-mouthed Australian Jim Jefferies once again lays it all out on stage when he tackles the often taboo topic of gun control, ripping into America’s overall lack of reform for the touchy subject. The crude and in-your-face Jefferies effortlessly jumps from one hilarious topic to the next, such as the mother of his child, his sexual exploits and auditioning disabled actors for his FXX show Legit. He’s not afraid to bare it all, having first achieved international fame in 2007 when he was attacked on stage during a routine; the funnyman cheekily incorporated the footage into his 2008 Contraband act. The Netflix special is the comedian’s fifth stand-up event, and nothing is off limits for Jefferies and his unique brand of satire and black comedy.

8 Bo Burnham: Inside

Recorded in the guest house of his Los Angeles home during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bo Burnham’s musical comedy special Inside includes an assortment of sketches and songs about his everyday life in lockdown and deteriorating mental health. He addresses heavy topics like climate change, social movements, and performativity while intertwining them with more playful and amusing segments such as sexting, Instagram and calling his mom on FaceTime. Burnham’s Inside garnered critical acclaim, with the comedian earning praise for having written, directed, edited, filmed and performed the special all on his own. For his impressive feat, Burnham nabbed three Emmy Awards including Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special.

Related: Explained: How Bo Burnham's Inside Captured the COVID Era

7 Wanda Sykes: Not Normal

The always hilarious and sharp-witted Wanda Sykes discusses and critiques a myriad of hot button topics in her 2019 Netflix special Not Normal. The comedian holds nothing back when tackling the state of the world, sharing her perspective on her contemporary political and cultural climate, reality TV, aging, racism, and former President Trump. Sykes has never been afraid to tell it like it is, and she gets hilariously candid sharing what she finds not normal, both in the entertainment industry and her personal life. The no-holds-barred special features her refreshing and lively insight that gets presented in a thoughtful and carefully-crafted manner that is sure to entertain.

6 Bill Burr: Paper Tiger

The bold and brash Bill Burr comes out with guns blazing for his stand-up special Paper Tiger, diving headfirst into subjects such as cancel culture, feminism, and the #MeToo Movement. Burr performed the blistering routine at the Royal Albert Hall in London, delivering laugh after laugh as he jovially discusses cultural appropriation, robot sex and misandry. The comedian also isn’t afraid to get personal as he bluntly examines his own anger issues, how his personality affects his marriage, and his intense distaste for taking baths. The Washington Post lauded Paper Tiger as “thoughtful, surprising, introspective” and the special was nominated for Best Comedy Album at the 2021 Grammy Awards.

5 Richard Pryor: Live in Concert

Widely regarded as one of the greatest and most-influential stand-up comedians of all time, the daring and fearless Richard Pryor released countless hard-hitting and memorable comedy specials during his impressive career. 1979’s Richard Pryor: Live in Concert showcases the legend as he offers his scathing opinion on subjects like race, police violence, sex, and family, serving up his signature brand of obscenities and sidesplitting facial expressions and imitations. The New Yorker proclaimed the special to be, “Probably the greatest of all recorded-performance films. Pryor had characters and voices bursting out of him…Watching this mysteriously original physical comedian you can’t account for his gift and everything he does seems to be for the first time.” Richard Pryor: Live in Concert is a beloved stand-up special from one of the most equally beloved comedians, and one that was selected for preservation in the United States Film Registry in 2021.

4 Ricky Gervais: Humanity

English comedian, actor, writer and director Ricky Gervais performed his first Netflix exclusive Humanity in 2018, taking the stage in London’s Eventim Apollo for his first special in seven years. Gervais utilizes his trademark snark to discuss his thoughts on celebrities, aging, his decision to not have children, and the pitfalls of social media. He also offers his biting opinion on society being overly sensitive, commanding the stage as he covers controversial and uncomfortable topics while showcasing his own humaneness. The Telegraph called the stand-up special “a timely confirmation of Gervais’ rare aptitude as a breeze-shooter: a winning combination of straight-talking pub philosopher, wind-up merchant and incorrigible class-clown.”

Related: Ricky Gervais' After Life Debuts New Trailer for Third and Final Season

3 Sarah Silverman: A Speck of Dust

In her first comedy special following her health-scare with epiglottis, Sarah Silverman offers her sharp and insightful perspective on topics like the surrealism of shooting network TV shows, the death of her beloved dog Duck, and her life-threatening medical incident. The intimate and relaxed performance features a self-assured and mature Silverman, who speaks with the audience in a conversational tone that hits all the right notes. The special showcases the many facets of the comedian, as she reveals an amusing combination of fun facts and sad truths that produce genuine and astute responses. Time lauded the routine, writing, “Silverman manages to pull off a balancing act between a call for bipartisan understanding and some bizarre musings.”

2 Ali Wong: Hard Knock Wife

After the immense success of her 2016 first Netflix special Baby Cobra, the fearless and equally hilarious Ali Wong is more pregnant than ever as she dishes on the uproarious realities of motherhood and marriage. Hard Knock Wife is Wong’s second special and is jam-packed full of her raunchy and endearing comedy that touches on topics like the challenges of breastfeeding, the balancing act of having a career and family, and her searing take on maternity leave. The incredibly funny and charming Wong is without-a-doubt at her finest in Hard Knock Wife, and further cements her status as one of the most gifted comedians out there.

1 Eddie Murphy: Raw

Legendary comedian and acting great Eddie Murphy’s 1987 stand-up comedy special Raw is the highest-grossing stand-up comedy concert film of all time, and contains both his on-stage routine and laughter-inducing sketch segments. The iconic special focuses on the gifted stand up comic as he riffs on fellow black comedians, sex and marriage, racial and ethnic stereotypes, and even a remembrance of his mom’s hamburgers. Chalked full of his unapologetic use of expletives, spot on celebrity impersonations, and larger-than-life onstage persona, Eddie Murphy’s Raw remains one of comedies finest and most renowned stand-ups. The Washington Post perfectly summed up the essence of Raw, having said, “Murphy’s material, which trades on racial and sexual stereotypes even as it skewers them, may be offensive to some, but for others he remains a hell of a good yuck.” Comedians have studied this comedy special ever since.