5 Must-Watch Documentaries About Comedians You Need to See Right Now

Not all comedy is born from a funny or humorous place. Sometimes the origins are pretty dark – or totally unrelated to anything amusing. No matter what, it’s always interesting to see how our favorite comedians got their start. We’ve had – and lost – so many good ones over the past 50 years. These documentaries serve a dual purpose. First they showcase the comedian themselves, then they look at their story, no matter how rough (or convoluted), behind the laughter.

Where to Start? 

We based our list on a few things. How deep did the documentary go? Did it serve its purpose in examining the hows and whys of where and when a comedian got their career start? Also, did it give another perspective into the comedian’s work? We’ve had quite a few documentaries and docuseries on comedians, but let’s check out some of the more captivating documentaries.

5 Must-Watch Docs on Comedians

1- “Hysterical” (2021, Directed by Andrea Blaugrund Nevins)

It’s a shame that we lost Nevin’s to cancer earlier this year. An incredibly creative force; she put together “Hysterical,” which examines the often hard fought journeys of several women comedians. Featured in this are Judy Gold, Margaret Cho, Nikki Glaser, Sherry Shepherd, and Kathy Griffin. Also included is archival footage of trailblazing female comedians like Joan Rivers, Wanda Sykes, and the late, great Phyllis Diller.  

2- “Misery Loves Comedy” (2015, Directed by Kevin Pollack) 

The multitalented Kevin Pollack, whom most people know as an actor, comedian, and podcaster, directed this film. There are interviews with comedians like Amy Schumer, Larry David, Steve Coogan, and actor Tom Hanks during the hour-and-a-half long documentary. Although this film has been often critiqued as a somewhat quasi-therapy session, this is interesting and features some of the best comedians of our time.

3- “Tig” (2015, Directed by Kristina Goolsby and Ashley York) 

“Tig” provides a personal look into comedian Tig Notaro. Notaro has been around for quite a while, acting, writing, performing voice work, and producing some of her own shows. “Tig” explores her start in the industry as well as her brave battle with breast cancer. It features later her marriage to actress Stephanie Allynne, and her twin boys, born via surrogacy. Tig Notaro is an inspiration to all creators and cancer survivors alike. 

4- “Comedian” (2002, Directed by Christian Charles) 

It’s no denying that comedian Jerry Seinfeld is a household name. With often irrelevant humor, Seinfeld, generally sticks to cleaner jokes – and often employs observational comedy. “Comedian” examines the backstage life of Seinfeld and another lesser known performer, Greg Giraldo. The documentary shows both the highs and lows of comedy. Also includes insightful commentary by Jay Leno, Chris Rock, Kevin Nealon, and Colin Quinn.  

5- “The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling” (2018, Directed by Judd Apatow)

Judd Apatow, a juggernaut of a writer, producer, and director – and comedian himself – explores the life of his mentor, Garry Shandling. “The Larry Sanders Show” was a hit in the 90’s, created by Shandling, which offered a satirical look into late night TV. Apatow captures the creativity, the humor, and the struggles which Shandling encountered. This two-part docuseries pays tribute to the late Garry Shandling and his incredible work.

A Couple of Honorable Mentions

What? You didn’t think we’d include a few here? There are a couple documentaries which need to be mentioned, as they’re absolutely worth the watch. 

• “Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work,” directed by Ricki Stern, follows Rivers over the course of a year, documenting her journey and struggles to becoming one of the top female comedians. 
• “Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind” (directed by Marina Zenovich) shows an insightful and often emotional perspective behind the masterful comedian’s life and his enormous success. A must-watch. 

A Few Last Lines

The comedians who made us laugh for so many years all have interesting backstories, often filled with no-so-funny occurrences. Their personal struggles, their problems, and their victories gave them the material they drew from – and inspired their success.