In November 2013, “Aziz Ansari: Buried Alive” premiered on Netflix, marking the service’s inaugural exclusive stand-up comedy special. Although no other exclusive stand-up specials were released in 2014, Netflix soon became a popular destination for such content. By 2017, the platform was releasing new stand-up specials almost every week, and in 2025, it featured performances by icons such as Sarah Silverman, Mike Birbiglia, Gabriel Iglesias, among others.

With such a vast array of content, not all of Netflix’s stand-up specials are extraordinary. Yet, some have been celebrated by both comedy enthusiasts and critics. Remarkably, four of these specials have earned the distinction of being “Certified Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes with a perfect 100% rating. Despite numerous reviews, their distinguished status remains solid.

No magic formula guarantees a beloved stand-up comedy special. Often, it involves a humorous performer skillfully delivering jokes or using comedy to touch on profound truths many shy away from. Whatever made these four Netflix specials stand out, they merit applause for transforming Netflix into a hub for remarkable stand-up comedy.

In 2016, Ali Wong released her first solo comedy special, “Ali Wong: Baby Cobra.” Her comic timing and stage presence were praised, leading to her return in 2018 with “Ali Wong: Hard Knock Wife.” Like “Baby Cobra,” “Hard Knock Wife” featured Wong telling jokes to a packed audience during a pregnancy. Despite this recurring element, “Hard Knock Wife” wasn’t just a repeat. It showcased Wong’s unique personality, establishing it as one of Netflix’s most critically acclaimed specials.

Wong received acclaim for her candidness in her anecdotes and narratives. Her honesty about life, motherhood, marriage, and more infused “Hard Knock Wife” with stories and punchlines only she could deliver. Critics lauded her for addressing disquieting and unequal aspects of society while maintaining a comedic tone. Wong’s routine remained lively, even when discussing challenging disparities in daily life.

Considering Wong’s consistent career trajectory and subsequent specials following “Hard Knock Wife,” it’s evident that this 2018 special was a triumph. The enthusiastic reviews affirmed that “Hard Knock Wife” captured Wong’s top comedic talents.

While Netflix has made lots of money and generated tons of publicity from straightforward stand-up comedy specials, “Hannah Gadsby: Nanette” dropped on the platform in June 2018 as a challenger to this format. Through 69 minutes of material (directed by Madeleine Parry and Jon Olb), Gadsby uses “Nanette” as an opportunity to come clean about their earlier experiences of using self-hatred and cruel jokes to gain notoriety as a stand-up comic. The special also sees Gadsby exploring what modern stand-up comedy looks like and whether or not the format is just reinforcing harmful status quos.

“Nanette” received universal acclaim upon its debut. Subsequent years with no other stand-up specials trying similarly subversive structures and material have only enhanced its audacious reputation. Critics applauded Gadsby for smuggling a condemnation of the stand-up special marketplace into the medium’s traditional format, while the comic also received kudos for deftly weaving jokes into very heavy, personal anecdotes without weighing the material down. Gadsby’s willingness to guide viewers into such raw portions of their existence was lauded across the board.

Striking such a mesmerizing tonal balance made “Hannah Gadsby: Nanette” something incredibly unique that couldn’t fit nicely into a box. How fitting an accomplishment for a project that was all about restoring a person’s nuance and humanity. Even in the vast empire of Netflix stand-up comedy specials, there’s truly nothing else on the streamer quite like “Hannah Gadsby: Nanette.”

Chris Rock isn’t the only comic genius displaying his chops in “Chris Rock: Tamborine.” This 2018 special was directed by Bo Burnham, who started directing stand-up specials with “Jerrod Carmichael: 8” the previous year. While Burnham became a go-to comedy special director over the next few years, thanks to the sharp visual instincts on display in “Tamborine,” the program’s star was the main reason “Tamborine” was so acclaimed. Returning for his first stand-up comedy special in a long time, Chris Rock didn’t miss a beat in how he could work a crowd or nail the timing of a punchline.

Particular praise was directed at how Rock had a much more complicated relationship with his past, and especially past transgressions. For many, seeing displays of this man’s vulnerability was a gift that opened up new doors for what he could accomplish in a live performance. Those reflective moments also fascinatingly accentuated the complex tonal canvas of “Tamborine,” which also included the expected side-splitting anecdotes. A mixture of the familiar and the unpredictable drove “Tamborine” to compelling creative heights.

On top of all that, Rock’s comedic approach to handling hot-button political headlines circa 2018 also informed much of the euphoric critical reception for “Tamborine.” All in all, this was a tremendous accomplishment on all fronts, from Rock’s dynamic work to Burnham’s exceptional flourishes as a director.

Above all else, the acclaimed “John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City” is a hysterical display of John Mulaney’s comic mastery and witty wordplay. So many of the comedian’s most famous bits, such as his Mick Jagger story or the “street smarts” anecdote, came from this 2018 special. No wonder “Kid Gorgeous” was hailed as a comic masterpiece, considering it contained such classic Mulaney flights of fancy like his “horse in the hospital” metaphor. After years of stand-up, Mulaney had polished his act so thoroughly that he comes off like the pro he is all throughout “Kid Gorgeous.”

This is also just an incredibly radiant-looking production, with Mulaney constantly flanked by a vibrantly colorful backdrop, shimmering lighting, and striking architecture. A filmed version of this performance inherently lets viewers get closer to Mulaney and, by proxy, the set, which allows the finer details of the lighting and production design to shine. It’s also a testament to this man’s gifts that he’s still compelling even with such a resplendent background. Extravagant visuals don’t distract one iota from the endless charms of watching Mulaney stretch out a word just long enough to tickle your funny bone.

Though not the only remarkable stand-up comedy special Mulaney’s ever headlined, “Kid Gorgeous at Radio City” might be his magnum opus. In his catalogue of specials, it’s the most polished and the one with the most laughs per minute. All hail Mulaney, one of the modern kings of comedy.