So, you’re looking for a comedy — but not just any funny movie. You want something campy, a dark social satire or flat-out insane. Allow me to introduce you to Tubi. Instead of going the Netflix or Amazon Prime Video route, this option won’t put a dent in your wallet. The Fox-owned streamer is one of many free platforms out there, but when it comes to cult comedies, its library is fully stocked and ready to laugh your pants off.
Yes, you read me right — it’s free. And Tubi’s selection is pretty impressive to boot. The streamer’s programming slate is ripe with comedies. But the platform’s cult section isn’t anything to scoff at, either. Looking through the titles took me back to an era when perusing a video store’s shelves was a regular pastime. Ah, the nostalgia.
The titles in my rundown below include classics like Weird Al’s UHF and the generation-defining dark comedy Heathers. But I’m merely scratching the surface here. You’ll see.
Of course, it’s worth noting that to embrace these cult comedies, you’ll need to sit through some ad breaks. But that’s a small price to pay for not actually paying a price to watch any of these flicks. If you ask me, that’s a pretty cool trade-off.
Read more: Best Free Streaming TV Services: Tubi, Pluto TV and More
It’s safe to say that UHF is a movie way ahead of its time. Weird Al Yankovich plays an unemployed man named George who happens to get the keys to the proverbial castle when he’s put in charge of a failing television station. His creative guidance puts an assortment of unhinged and satirical programming on the air, leading the business to unexpected success.
Just One of the Guys follows Terry, a high school student who wants to be a journalist but isn’t taken seriously because she’s a girl. To prove she can hold her own with the boys at school, she creates an alter-ego and goes undercover as a boy herself. In the process, she falls in love with the only guy she could befriend. This movie has not aged well, but that doesn’t mean it’s not fun to watch.
Goon is a movie about a man whose knack for punching people leads to his acceptance in the world of minor league hockey. Seann William Scott stars in this comedy, which has a surprising amount of heart. The movie is loosely based on the true story of hockey enforcer Doug “The Hammer” Smith, making it even more entertaining to watch.
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark
What’s not to love about Elvira: Mistress of the Dark? It’s the only movie starring Cassandra Peterson as the iconic horror hostess she made famous. Is it campy? Absolutely. If you’re looking for something high-brow, keep scrolling. But if you want a cheesy movie that follows Elvira as she takes over an abandoned mansion and turns a small town upside down, this is the one for you.
If Teen Wolf hadn’t been a hit, would Teen Witch have ever been greenlit? It’s a question worth pondering when you dive into this quirky comedy starring Robyn Lively, about a girl who uses her witch powers to become — you guessed it — popular at school. Come for the outdated high school drama, stay for the famously awkward musical number.
In the year 2033, the world is a post-apocalyptic, waterless hellscape. It sounds awful, but this is where Tank Girl thrives. Lori Petty brought to life the comic book character in her only big-screen adaptation, which sort of tanked at the box office. Since then, the flick, in all its over-the-top, kitschy, girl-power goodness, has built up a sturdy fandom. It sure is a wild movie, but it’s fun.
Before he brought the sketch comedy series In Living Colour to television, Keenen Ivory Wayans paid homage to 1970s blacksploitation movies with I’m Gonna Git You Sucka. The story follows a wannabe vigilante who brings Black heroes like Isaac Hayes’ Hammer and Jim Brown’s Slammer together to bring justice to the streets. Also worth noting is that young Chris Rock appeared in the film in a hilarious scene about ribs. I mean one rib. Just one rib.
Winona Ryder and Christian Slater star as Veronica Sawyer and Jason “J.D.” Dean in Heathers, a fantastic dark comedy about teen nihilism, peer pressure and high school life. The gist here is simple: Veronica’s friends with a group of popular girls at school (all named Heather), but she disapproves of Heather Chandler’s mean behavior to others. And then she dies, leading Veronica and J.D. to frame it as a suicide. Then more students die. J.D. turns out to be a psycho. And somehow, it’s all wonderfully poignant and hilarious.
