Eddington

If you are after a comedy that actually makes you laugh out loud, Eddington is available in Australia on Netflix and BINGE, and in the US on HBO Max Amazon Channel and YouTube TV right now. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Joaquin Phoenix is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. Start it on Netflix whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Eddington earns its spot. The jokes in Eddington land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. In May of 2020, a standoff between a small-town sheriff and mayor sparks a powder keg as neighbor is pitted against neighbor in Eddington, New Mexico. Joaquin Phoenix and Deirdre O'Connell lead a cast with the timing to make it work. It was released in 2025. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and Eddington holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Eddington is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Joaquin Phoenix's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.