35 Best Dark Comedy TV Shows of All Time, Ranked

This astounding dark comedy series tells the story of the Roy family (mainly the Roy siblings, played by Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin, and Alan Ruck), who operate the international media and entertainment conglomerate Waystar RoyCo and fight for control over the business in the aftermath of the family patriarch's (wonderfully played by Brian Cox) health slowly decays.

Armstrong's show is very much about how incredibly corrupting wild amounts of wealth can be, but Succession also shines a powerful light on dysfunctional families and the scars that these leave behind. Having reached an end after four fantastic seasons, it is safe to say that the satirical dark comedy-drama is a highly-regarded essential and assuredly among the best HBO shows ever made, and one of the greatest TV series of recent times.

This Phoebe Waller-Bridge-written, directed, and acted Amazon Prime show is all about grief and trauma. Viewers follow a sarcastic and witty narrator, only known as Fleabag, as she navigates through life and attempts to cope with tragedy and heal. The only problem is that, just like some of us, Fleabag instantly rejects anyone who makes an effort to help her.

Much like The White Lotus, Fleabag has been a solid, genius series from the get-go. Still, it is undeniable that the show's second chapter has caught many people's attention; Andrew Scott playing an attractive priest, also known as the protagonist's love interest, may have something to do with that. Through a highly well-executed premise and superb acting, the bittersweet dark comedy show Fleabag reflects on self-love and acceptance, "modern feminism," and unhappy marriages.

While The White Lotus​​​​​​​ kicks off strongly and endures a great series from the beginning, its popularity rose even further when the second season (arguably the best so far) dropped. The must-see anthology TV show by Mike White, which has spawned countless hilarious internet memes, chronicles a week in the life of the various guests and employees who are staying at an exclusive resort.

Featuring several familial faces, White's sharp social satire will not leave anyone indifferent. The White Lotus is provocative and realistic, and it sends out thought-provoking messages about power, morals, and wealth that play a huge part in what makes it so appealing. The Emmy-winning series is a must-watch, even if only for its theme song and incredible acting.

Starring Deadpool’s Zazie Beetz in her breakout role, this dark comedy satire show features amazing central performances. The plot focuses on Earn (Donald Glover) and his cousin Alfred (Brian Tyree Henry) as the two struggle to make it through Atlanta’s rap scene, attempting to make a name for themselves in the competitive industry.

Dealing with themes of economic issues, the so-called American Dream, identity, poverty, and race, the magical realist series Atlanta is a well-crafted show that benefits from sharp satire about Black social issues and three-dimensional characters that help bring its great story into focus. It’s far from being the most-watched dark comedy show ever, but it certainly deserves the attention and love audiences give to bigger shows.

With its last season premiere last year, this highly entertaining Bill Hader-led dark comedy is also a series you want to have on your watchlist if you're looking for great dark comedies. It follows a low-spirited hitman from the Midwest who ends up moving to Los Angeles for a job but ends up finding himself caught up in the city's theater arts scene.

Barry is a hilarious and similar amounts dramatic series by Alec Berg and Bill Hader. No doubt, it is a fun TV series that will make you cry from laughter. However, despite its comedic moments, Barry's very best episodes are also guaranteed to play on audiences' heartstrings. Although much like many shows that fit into the category, Barry does not take itself too seriously – it is a well-crafted character study that reflects on the everlasting desire to change.

The Boys is among the best dark comedy shows currently streaming, and it was so successful that it even originated an almost equally great spin-off: Gen V. The series is set in a superhero universe where individuals with superpowers are hailed as heroes by the public and owned by a powerful corporation that aggressively markets and monetizes them. However, behind their heroic facade, most of these often idolized personalities are arrogant and corrupt.

Providing a valuable social commentary and satire on how society is filled with power-abusing individuals, The Boys is not afraid to tackle controversial topics, frequently pushing boundaries for representation of human immorality and providing a cynical outlook on the world. It is a brilliant, fresh, and must-see take on the superhero genre with absorbing performances.

Following the wealthy but deeply dysfunctional Bluth family as their empire collapses and their patriarch is imprisoned for corporate crimes, Arrested Development is yet another sitcom that stands out among the rest. Starring Jason Bateman in the lead role, it strings together interconnected storylines tied by a deadpan narrator (Ron Howard) who observes the family's failures with sardonic commentary. In many ways, it resorts to dark comedy to expose the cruelty, hypocrisy, and moral bankruptcy of privilege.

If you're looking for a rewarding watch with plenty of running gags that evolve across entire seasons, Arrested Development might be your pick. With solid direction and a uniformly exceptional cast (including Will Arnett, Michael Cera, and Jessica Walter, among others), this 2003 show — often hailed as one of the best comedy shows of the 21st century — has defined the genre's ambitions, proving that comedy could be sophisticated, intellectually engaging, and innovative in structure (all while remaining hilarious).

Created by Rob McElhenney and Glenn Howerton, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia endures as a treasured comedy series almost twenty years later. The show centers on five friends (Danny DeVito, Charlie Day, Rob McElhenney, Kaitlin Olson, and Glenn Howerton) who own an Irish pub in Philadelphia, following their everyday lives.

With a plethora of incredible episodes, it is quite clear that the series' humor is dark as night; there is hardly any serious matter that the characters haven't joked about at some point, making it impossible not to wonder how it hasn't garnered more controversy. One thing's for sure: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is certainly not for everybody. Still, Always Sunny has managed to capture the attention of many, enduring as one of the most popular series of the genre. In fact, it holds the record for being the longest-running live-action sitcom to date.

Mostly set in Hollywood, Netflix's original surrealist masterpiece—equal parts funny and tragic—centers on the anthropomorphic horse named BoJack Horseman and voiced by Will Arnett. BoJack is a faded star of a 1990s sitcom who hopes to become relevant again by having a ghostwriter (Alison Brie) write his biography.

While Raphael Bob-Waksberg's surprisingly relatable series features a good fraction of comedic elements, it also counts on generous amounts of dramatic moments, as BoJack delves into important topics like depression and addiction. With that being said, it is certainly an animated series made for adults and likely not everyone's cup of tea. Still, BoJack Horseman unarguably and rightfully remains one of the most beloved dark humor shows, receiving three Primetime Emmy Awards nominations throughout its run.

This widely acclaimed British TV series kicks off by following two roommates in their 20s, Mark (David Mitchell) and Jez (Robert Webb), as they navigate through day-to-day life and attempt to cope with the fact that, besides their lives being far from normal, they have nothing else in common.

Regarded as one of the best dark comedies ever by many television enthusiasts, the Jesse Armstrong series is well worth checking, especially if you're a Succession fan (also a fantastic product from the mind of Armstrong). Featuring some well-known faces like Olivia Colman in one of her most memorable and earliest roles, Peep Show is surely very entertaining, well-written, and well-acted. What makes it stand out is how it captures the filthy realities of everyday life.

The Bear is one of the most favored shows currently streaming, with Jeremy Allen White's lead performance capturing the attention of critics and audiences alike. This Christopher Storer must-see show centers around a struggling, top-notch chef from the fine dining world who returns to Chicago to run his family's sandwich shop.

On top of addressing relevant issues such as familial trauma, grief, loss, and mental health, The Bear is an inspiring series that meditates on the importance of determination and resilience. While its premise is quite dramatic, Storer's dark comedy is also filled with fun bits and relationship dynamics. Each character feels three-dimensional and complex, and The Bear does a fantastic job of depicting their development throughout.

Following Larry David as a fictionalized version of himself — a semi-retired, wealthy TV writer and producer living in Los Angeles — as he navigates the social minefields of everyday existence, Curb Your Enthusiasm deviates from traditional sitcoms with manufactured plots and operates as a "day-in-the-life" doc where Larry encounters mundane situations, creating chaos through his inability or unwillingness to observe basic social conventions.

Curb compels audiences in its ability to explore taboo subjects freely and with unflinching amorality. The humor is rooted in cringe and discomfort, whether that's watching Larry consistently cause disasters through minor transgressions or through his obsession with trivial injustices. It's entertaining partly because it offers very little redemption, with disasters accumulating and the audience laughing given the fundamental absurdity of it all.

Starring, executed, and written by the talented Michaela Coel, I May Destroy You is a nine-time Emmy Award-nominated show that made it to the most critically acclaimed series of 2020. It focuses on young writer Arabella's struggles as she attempts to rebuild her life after being sexually assaulted, tackling themes of sexual consent in contemporary life and the dating scene.

With only 12 episodes, this confrontational, must-see British HBO miniseries is an excellent addition to the dark comedy genre, making for a thought-provoking watch on sexuality, gender, and race while also resorting to humor to face the effects of trauma. What adds to the series' powerful nature is the fact that Coel herself is a sexual assault survivor, and Arabella and her story are actually based on Coel's own experiences.

With sharp writing and memorable characters at its center, Killing Eve ranks high among the best dark comedy shows currently streaming. Starring the talented Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh in the lead roles, this critically acclaimed series sees the lives of a security operative and an assassin become interlinked in compelling ways.

Despite the show's disappointing finale, Killing Eve has received much praise through the years, and it is not hard to grasp the appeal of this British series. Witty and suspenseful—oftentimes blending absurdism with gripping tension—the visually pleasing series features many great assets. Added to this is its subtly humorous tone that redefines the genre while also highlighting the nature of desire and morality. Many agree that the chemistry between the two protagonists is also worth noting, as well as the impeccable, award-winning acting performances.

Veep follows Selina Meyer, the Vice President of the United States, and her dysfunctional team of aides as they navigate the Byzantine world of American politics. She becomes president midway through the series, only to discover that actual power brings neither fulfillment nor respect, only frustration and impossible compromises.

What's interesting about this great HBO original is how it weaponizes comedy to expose the "behind the scenes" of American politics. Unlike The West Wing, which offered an entirely different portrayal of the presidency as noble and purposeful, Veep treats politics as a war of all against all. Here, humor is derived from watching intelligent people behave absurdly, consistently pushing the boundaries of decency and suggesting that the political system itself is irredeemably broken. Anchored by Louis-Dreyfus' career-defining performance and with plenty of critical accolades under its belt, this is undeniably a show worth checking.

Loosely based on real Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, this 2014 show parodies the culture of the technology industry, exaggerating the tech world and offering audiences an incredibly entertaining narrative in the meantime. Thomas Middleditch's Richard Hendricks, a Silicon Valley engineer trying to build his own company called Pied Piper, is the protagonist in this fun John Altschulder series.

The tragicomedy Silicon Valley was very well-received from the moment of its release, gathering critical acclaim and widespread praise from worldwide audiences. Among the successful show's strongest aspects are the hilarious jokes it features and its humorous take on contemporary technology, resulting in a genuinely enjoyable and concise series that is, funnily enough, based on co-creator Mike Judge's real-life experience in the industry.

Seinfeld chronicles the quotidian lives of four 30-something friends navigating Manhattan: neurotic comedian Jerry, his best friend George Costanza (Jason Alexander), his ex-girlfriend Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), and his eccentric neighbor Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards).

Instead of pursuing grand narrative arcs, Seinfeld entertains with the way it mines comedy from the mundane frustrations of daily existence. While the show is often thought of as lighthearted, at its core, it is fundamentally nihilistic — and it doesn't shy away from unwatchable episodes. Unlike traditional sitcoms, where characters evolve (or moral lessons emerge), Seinfeld functions as a critique of unchanged and unsympathetic protagonists. This refusal to soften its characters is what makes it an interesting watch. In many ways, the series rewrote the sitcom template, proving that shows of the genre could succeed without resolutions or conventional narratives.

Focusing on two toxic and self-destructive individuals (Chris Geere and Aya Cash) who attempt to build a relationship after falling for each other, Stephan Falk's You're the Worst is a deeply engaging and frequently hilarious dark comedy, as well as the perfect pick for those who are into darker rom-coms.

Perfectly handling its sensitive themes and showcasing an accurate depiction of depression, this totally binge-worthy 2014 series is guaranteed to provide viewers with a generous amount of chuckles; that is, of course, while also shining a light on serious matters in a refreshing, innovative way. Although often overlooked, You're the Worst is certainly worth checking out, especially for its entertaining narrative and the way it handles love, happiness, and friendship.

Jemaine Clement's top-rated paranormal series introduces audiences, through a documentary style, to four unconventional vampires (Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Nastasia Demetriou, and Mark Proksch) as they struggle to deal with the mundane aspects of modern life. This is after they have all lived together for hundreds of years on Staten Island. The series is based on the feature film of the same name by Clement and Taika Waititi.

No doubt, the essential gothic television series What We Do in the Shadows and its equally great predecessor feature film are both incredibly engaging watches. What this 2019 vampire mockumentary does best is its hilarious, satirical take on the genre, featuring a layered, captivating screenplay that thoroughly examines the importance of finding acceptance.

Scott Ryan stars as Ray Shoesmith in this Australian crime TV show. Ray struggles to juggle a relationship, parental responsibilities, friendships, and a sick brother while earning a living. His occupation? To "take care" of people, including collecting debts, guns, drugs, and other illicit activities as a professional hitman.

With its dry humor and central morally ambiguous character, Mr. Inbetween has appealed to a wide range of black comedy enjoyers for its sharp writing and incredible central performance. It's also a standout for balancing dark themes with moments of laugh-out-loud humor, like plenty of other entries on this list. Among the interesting topics it delves into are toxic masculinity and identity. Ray often embodies traditional masculine stereotypes, frequently suppressing emotions and resorting to violence, viewing it as a legitimate way to handle conflicts.

Next up is Steve Conrad's Patriot, which blends the comedy, drama, and thriller genres with great results. The series follows intelligence officer John Tavner (Michael Dorman), who is tasked with a new assignment: to prevent Iran from going nuclear. To do this, he must assume a non-official cover of an employee at a Milwaukee industrial firm.

Patriot is cleverly written and absorbing, making for a great, binge-watchable dark comedy series that will keep boredom at bay. Despite its premature cancellation, Patriot is worth hitting the play button on, as it delivers a compellingly dark storyline. A fun fact about it is that although the storyline showcased in the series is merely fictional, Conrad admitted that he got the idea from the news.

Family drama enthusiasts are likely to enjoy Paul Abbott and John Wells' Shameless, a gripping dark comedy centering around a dysfunctional Chicago family. At its center are six siblings (five of them are under the responsibility of the elder sister, played by Emmy Rossum) who struggle to navigate through life while coping with their alcoholic father (William H. Macy).

Considering the accurate way it deals with poverty and addiction, the dark Shameless is a very touching and emotional show at times (hats off to its brilliant writing). However, there are also some great comedic moments featured—after all, it falls under the comedy, particularly dark comedy, genre. With memorable characters and a raw and real plot, the 2011 series has collected a cult following since its release, with a few audience members heavily relating to some mental health-related aspects.

Available to stream on Apple TV+, Bad Sisters is an often overlooked but just as great dark comedy centering around the Garvey sisters (including Sharon Horgan, Eve Hewson, Sarah Greene) who are bound together by the death of their parents and a promise to always protect one another.

Bad Sisters' heartfelt, resilience-driven story, combined with its dark humor make it a must-see in the genre, one especially fit for anyone who has a soft spot for family narratives. Furthermore, despite its satirical tone, the series does not shy away from tackling complicated themes (namely, domestic abuse) and provides audiences with powerful social commentary on the consequences of repression and trauma. It also emphasizes the importance of family and sisterhood.

Black Books follows Bernard Black, a profoundly misanthropic bookseller whose shop becomes an unlikely refuge for his broke employee Manny (Bill Bailey) and his ex-girlfriend Fran (Tamsin Greig). This Dylan Moran-led series teleports audiences to 2000s London with a simple premise: three damaged people sharing space among books, where books accumulate, and customers are treated as nuisances.

Featuring plenty of fun episodes, the show leans into Bernard's pathological misanthropy for comedic effect, and most would argue it works really well. In an era obsessed with self-improvement and redemption arcs, the show stages a rebellion that lies in normalizing emotional unavailability and social failure not just as acceptable, but as actually hilarious. For those who prefer comedy that refuses sentimentality — though there is quiet affection here, a kind of tenderness that coexists with contempt — this might be well worth giving a watch.

Starring Alex Lawther and Jessica Barden in the lead roles, The End of the F***ing World is based on the Charles Forsman graphic novel, providing audiences with an unconventional dark comedy while depicting the unlikely bond between two peculiar teenagers as they embark on a life-altering journey to find Alyssa's father.

While The End of the F***ng World was short-lived, featuring only two seasons, the Jonathan Entwistle dark comedy series is very much worthwhile. Like Derry Girls, it is an innovative coming-of-age drama with comical bits that elevate it to higher grounds. Dealing with serious themes like sexual abuse and generational trauma, The End of the F***ing World features an impeccable plot and stunning cinematography that helps make the viewing all the more enjoyable.

Catastrophe is the kind of show that maintains a consistent balance between dramatic and comedic elements, with its honest depiction of adult relationships captivating many viewers. The story centers around American Rob (Rob Delaney) and Irish Sharon (Sharon Horgan), who meet during a business trip and develop a casual, no-strings-attached connection only to learn that she is pregnant.

Although Catastrophe rose in popularity on both sides of the Atlantic, with viewership in the UK and the US, it was still canceled, to many's dismay. However, despite its premature ending, this engaging series is worth checking out for plenty of reasons, including the humorous yet thoughtful way it tackles serious issues like sickness, grief, and addiction.

Created by Lisa McGee, this essential Irish comedy show premiered on Channel 4 and was the channel's most successful comedy series since Father Ted. It focuses on a 16-year-old girl named Erin, played by Saoirse-Monica Jackson, who navigates her coming-of-age life in the early 1990s in Northern Ireland and illustrates her relationships with friends and family.

This utterly engaging teen sitcom is a solid pick when it comes to dark comedy TV shows; it delivers a solid coming-of-age tale and sends out thoughtful messages about the pains of growing up, especially as a young girl, through its hilarious comedic bits. Furthermore, the period piece Derry Girls is also said to accurately depict the Troubles of the 1990s and the violence that followed.

Featuring excellent acting performances by its two lead actors, A24's comedy series Beef was one of last year's most well-received television series. The intriguing limited show created by Lee Sung Jin counts on several good reviews, and understandably so. The series stars the talented Steven Yeun and Ali Wong as Danny Cho and Amy Lau, two struggling adults involved in a road rage incident with catastrophic consequences.

As critics would agree, this wild tale of mutual destruction truly feels like a breath of fresh air when the subject is recent pieces of television. With an innovative premise, Beef is equal parts hilarious, exhilarating, heartwarming, and completely heart-wrenching. Furthermore, the 2023 show also tackles many relevant themes with a comedic overlay, which include revenge, family, the complicated religious experience, and mental health.

Exploring grief and guilt, Liz Feldman's Dead to Me focuses on a powerful friendship that blossoms between a tightly wound widow, Jen Harding (Christina Applegate), and a witty, kind-hearted free spirit, Judy Hale (Linda Cardellini), with a shocking secret and a complicated past.

This Netflix comedy is a great pick because it blends raw portrayals of grief and trauma with the absurdity of its dark comedy elements and twists. Dead to Me incites audiences to laugh in the face of tragedy, featuring flawed central characters with complex backstories for audiences to resonate with. Part of what is so great about the series, too, is how it is not afraid to tackle uncomfortable truths and raise questions about loss and forgiveness.

Regarded as one of the best sitcoms of the 2020s so far, David Jenkins' Our Flag Means Death is guaranteed to provide audiences with a good dose of comedy, heart, and even LGBTQ+ representation. Met with incredibly positive reviews, this refreshing take on pirate stories follows pampered aristocrat Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby), who abandons a life of privilege to become a pirate in the early 18th century.

Our Flag Means Death is a captivating black comedy for plenty of reasons, with its cast—featuring Marvel director Taika Waititi—anchoring (no pun intended) the series' unique historical reimagining. Those fascinated by both New Zealand-style humor, positive representation of several racial groups and sexual orientations, and exploration of poignant themes such as toxic masculinity, identity, and the quest to find your place in the world, are surely going to enjoy Jenkins' show.

Fans of both historical dramas and dark comedies are likely going to enjoy The Great, as it blends the best of both worlds, resulting in a highly entertaining historical epic. In the series, a royal woman (Elle Fanning) living in rural Russia during the 18th century who marries an Emperor is forced to choose between her happiness and the future of Russia.

Even though, as expected, the show does take some liberties for dramatic purposes, The Great does a great job of capturing the absurdity of royal life as well as the power held by those who ruled. Through the way that it exposes the flaws of the monarchy, the critically acclaimed series ultimately also serves as a critique of modern society, highlighting not only the limitations imposed upon women but also the preposterous nature of power.

Netflix's sensation Baby Reindeer introduces audiences to the terrifying, genuinely touching real-life experience of its lead actor, Richard Gadd, and illustrates his relationship with a female stalker (very convincingly played by Jessica Gunning). Through the course of the series, Gadd reflects on the devastating impact their progressively stranger connection has on him while he’s facing his deep-buried trauma.

Anyone who’s looking to watch a dark comedy about a true story is probably going to enjoy binge-watching Baby Reindeer, which benefits from the small runtime of its half-hour-long episodes. Although a deeply disturbing show that may not be suitable for everyone due to its portrayal of triggering themes like sexual assault, Baby Reindeer's best episodes can keep viewers engaged and on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating what will happen next.

With a unique tone and style, this Pat Bishop, Matt Ingebretson, and Jake Weisman series delivers a bleak and nihilistic outlook on corporate life that sets it apart from traditional workplace comedy. Starring Matt Ingebretson and Jake Weisman in the lead roles, it illustrates the miserable lives of downtrodden employees.

Featuring amazing performances from its stellar cast, Corporate delivers a razor-sharp critique of modern corporate culture, exploring themes of existential dread and alienation as it follows the two deadpan characters. While it can be an appealing watch to nearly everybody who enjoys the genre, it is the kind of show that will entertain those familiar with office culture the most. Despite its cancellation, it remains a cult favorite, praised for its satire and engaging absurdism.

Possibly one of the lesser-known entries on this list, Sarah-Violet Bliss, Charles Rogers, and Michael Showalter's dark comedy centers around four self-absorbed young people (Alia Shawkat, John Reynolds, John Early, and Meredith Hagner), illustrating their struggles as they become entangled in a mystery when a former college acquaintance suddenly disappears.

Search Party is an intriguing, undoubtedly entertaining watch that blends dark humor with satire; it explores self-obsession and narcissism—with a focus on the millennial generation—in a quirky but also relentless way. Those keen on storylines that involve absurdist elements should be sure to give Search Party a watch, as it often sees situations spiraling into bizarre extremes and refreshingly explores existential dread—not only does Search Party feature clever and engaging writing, but also provides food for thought.

With a fresh take on the zombie genre, Victor Fresco's Santa Clarita Diet features Timothy Olyphant as a wholesome husband and Drew Barrymore as his wife, Sheila. The show illustrates the lives of the married real estate agents, which takes a wild turn when Sheila dies.

Elevated by the stellar, undeniably charming performances at its center, this genre-blending show combines elements of horror with romance with amazing results, maintaining strong character arcs and resorting to its fun concept to explore themes of suburban life and societal norms in the meantime. While it has also been canceled after three seasons, Santa Clarita Diet is still worthwhile—and its dedicated fanbase can certainly attest to it.