The 50 highest-rated comedy specials of the 2010s (as at 1 January 2020).
To be included, the specials had to be performance-based in nature, i.e. stand-up/stage-based non-narrative for the most part (with limited sketch or documentary segments allowed), released between 1/1/2010 and 12/31/2019, 45 minutes or longer, and have a 500-view minimum on Letterboxd. We're allowing Oh, Hello On Broadway for example, but not John Mulaney's Sack Lunch Bunch.
Fun fact: twelve specials were from 2017, which is double the next most represented year (six from 2018).
Un-fun fact: Only five comedy women here.
More Statistics of Interest
Highest Rated by Year:
2010: Louis C.K.: Hilarious
2011: Louis C.K.: Live at the Beacon Theater
2012: John Mulaney: New in Town…
The 50 highest-rated comedy specials of the 2010s (as at 1 January 2020).
To be included, the specials had to be performance-based in nature, i.e. stand-up/stage-based non-narrative for the most part (with limited sketch or documentary segments allowed), released between 1/1/2010 and 12/31/2019, 45 minutes or longer, and have a 500-view minimum on Letterboxd. We're allowing Oh, Hello On Broadway for example, but not John Mulaney's Sack Lunch Bunch.
Fun fact: twelve specials were from 2017, which is double the next most represented year (six from 2018).
Un-fun fact: Only five comedy women here.
More Statistics of Interest
Highest Rated by Year:
2010: Louis C.K.: Hilarious
2011: Louis C.K.: Live at the Beacon Theater
2012: John Mulaney: New in Town
2013: Bo Burnham: what.
2014: Bill Burr: I'm Sorry You Feel That Way
2015: John Mulaney: The Comeback Kid
2016: Bo Burnham: Make Happy
2017: Chris Gethard: Career Suicide
2018: Hannah Gadsby: Nanette
2019: My Favorite Shapes by Julio Torres
Most Represented Comedians:
Dave Chappelle: 4 (all from 2017)
Louis C.K.: 4
John Mulaney: 4 (including Oh Hello)
Mike Birbiglia: 3
Bo Burnham: 3
Bill Burr: 3
Jim Jefferies: 2
Patton Oswalt: 2
Tom Segura: 2
These nine comedy artists take up over half the list.
Comedians Who Just Missed the Cut (because although they rated highly, they weren’t watched by enough members):
Stewart Lee (whose three specials from the 2010s rated high enough), Kyle Kinane, Daniel Sloss, Simon Amstell, Joe Lycett, Paul F. Tompkins, Greg Davies (who all had two highly-rated specials each in this decade), Carmen Esposito, Tim Minchin, Dara Ó Briain, Kathy Griffin, Hari Kondabolu, Lee Evans and Pete Holmes.
For more stand-up and comedy specials, check out this comprehensive list.