Kinds of Kindness

Right now you can watch Kinds of Kindness in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Hulu — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Watch it for Emma Stone — stay for everyone else around them. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Disney Plus.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Kinds of Kindness is worth clearing space for. Sharp writing and a well-matched ensemble are what separate Kinds of Kindness from the crowd. A triptych fable following a man without choice who tries to take control of his own life; a policeman who is alarmed that his wife who was missing-at-sea has returned and seems a different person; and a woman determined to find a specific someone with a special ability, who is destined to become a prodigious spiritual leader. The chemistry Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons bring to it does a lot of the heavy lifting. It was released in 2024. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and Kinds of Kindness holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, Kinds of Kindness respects your intelligence. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Emma Stone's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.