‘Modern Family,’ ‘The Golden Girls,’ ‘How I Met Your Mother,’ and More of the Best Sitcoms of All Time Streaming on Hulu
March 15, 2024
There’s a reason why so many of our go-to comfort TV shows are sitcoms.
The familiar characters, consistent set locations, and comic relief are what keep us coming back for more.
Not to brag, but no one does TV like Hulu, and we’ve got some of the best sitcoms of all time in our streaming library waiting for you to press play. Check out the list below to discover your new favorite TV comedy.
What Is a Sitcom?
“Sitcom” is short for “situational comedy” — a genre of television that has most of the following characteristics:
- Comedic tone: Though there may be some undertones of other genres, such as drama or sci-fi, sitcoms generally have an obvious comedic overtone.
- Recurring characters: Typically, sitcoms surround a constant, core group of characters whose relationships are the foundation of the show.
- Episodic structure: Sitcoms are generally episodic rather than serial. This means you can tune in at any point in the season and understand what’s happening — even without seeing episodes prior. This is what makes sitcoms great for syndication.
- Consistent settings: Whether it’s the Dunphy family living room from Modern Family, the kitchen where The Golden Girls are known to share a cheesecake, or a workplace setting like Abbott Elementary School — sitcoms are known to take place in familiar settings that essentially become characters themselves.
- Episode length: Sitcoms are typically no more than a half hour per episode, including commercials. This short format is beneficial for comedic timing, viewer attention, production efficiency, and airing episodes in syndication.
40 Best Sitcoms on Hulu
Modern Family
Though the series ended in 2020, we still can’t get enough of Modern Family for its diverse cast and distinctive blend of humor and heart.
Laugh along with the Dunphys, Pritchetts, and Tuckers in all 11 seasons of Modern Family, streaming now on Hulu. Check out our Modern Family show guide to discover more shows and movies from the award-winning cast.
Watch: Modern Family
The Golden Girls
From its cultural impact to its progressive storylines, the late-1980s sitcom, The Golden Girls, has proven to be ahead of its time.
You don’t have to be in your golden years to laugh along with Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia — new generations are continuing to discover and fall in love with The Golden Girls. All seven seasons are streaming now on Hulu.
Watch: The Golden Girls
Friends
When it comes to iconic and influential television, few shows can hold a candle to the beloved sitcom series, Friends. Whether for nostalgia or the laughs, you can stream some of the series’ best episodes now with a Hulu + Live TV subscription.
Watch: Friends*
*Live TV plan required to watch live content on Hulu. Regional restrictions, blackouts, and additional terms apply.
The Office (U.K.)
Before Dunder Mifflin, there was Wernham Hogg — the struggling British paper company that sets the scene for the U.K. television show, The Office.
Considered to be the first “mockumentary”-style sitcom, this workplace comedy stars Ricky Gervais as David Brent, a mid-level manager who thinks he’s cooler, funnier, and more popular than he is.
All episodes of The Office (U.K.) are available to stream on-demand on Hulu.
Watch: The Office (U.K.)
How I Met Your Mother
Most sitcoms follow a linear narrative structure, but that’s where How I Met Your Mother breaks the mold — using flashbacks and flashforwards to tell the story of how Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor) first met the mother of his children.
Stream all nine seasons of HIMYM now on Hulu before checking out the Hulu Original spinoff sitcom, How I Met Your Father.
Watch: How I Met Your Mother
The Big Bang Theory
The key to a good sitcom is creating a uniquely distinguishable set of main characters, which is exactly what you’ll find in this group of seriously smart best friends (and Penny). You don’t have to be a physicist, Trekkie, or Dungeons and Dragons master to fall in love with The Big Bang Theory — select episodes are streaming now with a Hulu + Live TV subscription.
Watch: The Big Bang Theory*
*Live TV plan required to watch live content on Hulu. Regional restrictions, blackouts, and additional terms apply.
Full House
Wholesome and family-oriented, Full House broke the mold by becoming a truly family-friendly sitcom with storylines that still appeal across generations by blending classic sitcom humor with relatable lessons for any stage of life.
All eight seasons of Full House are streaming now on Hulu to pull at your heartstrings while tickling your funny bone.
Watch: Full House
New Girl
Kind of like the Los Angeles version of Friends, but a little more modern and a whole lot quirkier — New Girl, starring Zooey Deschanel, surrounds an unlikely group of roommates-turned-friends who intertwine themselves into each other’s lives, whether it’s welcomed or not.
Check out our New Girl show guide to learn more about the show, and stream all seven seasons now on Hulu.
Watch: New Girl
Schitt’s Creek
The once-wealthy Rose family are fish out of water in the quaint yet peculiar small town of Schitt’s Creek. Created and written by real-life father/son duo, Eugine and Dan Levy, this critically acclaimed series is “a little bit Alexis” and a whole lot of heart and humor.
Check out our Schitt’s Creek show guide for more from the cast, and stream all six seasons now on Hulu.
Watch: Schitt’s Creek
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
If you like sitcoms with a touch of dark comedy and satire, then you’ll love It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia — a non-traditional sitcom series about four amoral and self-centered friends who run a failing Irish bar in South Philly.
Watch all 15 seasons on Hulu as Charlie, Mac, Dee, Dennis, and Frank continue to make big plans that will inevitably blow up in their faces, and be sure to check out our Always Sunny show guide for more.
Watch: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Scripted satire and observational humor meets improvisation in Larry David’s long-running sitcom series, Curb Your Enthusiasm, where the comedian plays an over-the-top version of himself with a knack for getting in the middle of awkward social situations.
Get the Max® add-on to stream Curb Your Enthusiasm on Hulu.
Watch: Curb Your Enthusiasm*
*Curb Your Enthusiasm is available on Hulu with a Max® add-on subscription.
Seinfeld
Even if you’ve never watched an episode of Seinfeld before, there’s still a good chance you’re familiar with the sitcom and the cultural legacy it created after its premiere in 1989.
The series sets itself apart from other sitcoms by straying far away from sentimentality and moral lessons — and instead narrows in on irreverent and authentic observational humor in the way only Jerry Seinfeld can.
Start streaming the iconic sitcom, Seinfeld, on Hulu with a Live TV subscription.
Watch: Seinfeld*
*Live TV plan required to watch live content on Hulu. Regional restrictions, blackouts, and additional terms apply.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
More than an iconic theme song, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air became one of the most popular sitcoms of all time through Will Smith’s charismatic character, creating the perfect blend of humor and heart (and now, nostalgia).
The entire series is streaming now on Hulu — check out our Fresh Prince guide for everything you need to know about the show.
Watch: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Frasier
Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) has a taste for the finer things in life, which creates the perfect comedic juxtaposition with his new roommate — Frasier’s practical, blue-collar father, Martin Crane (John Mahoney).
Watch all 11 seasons of the Cheers spinoff series, Frasier, streaming now on Hulu.
Watch: Frasier
30 Rock
With a cast made up of comedy legends — including Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Alec Baldwin, Jack McBrayer, and Jane Krakowski — 30 Rock takes viewers behind the scenes at the iconic 30 Rockefeller Plaza building in New York City and shows us what it’s like to run a sketch comedy show.
Watch: 30 Rock
Community
Greendale Community College sets the scene for Community — an offbeat comedy series known for breaking the “rules” of traditional sitcoms by incorporating concept episodes, meta-humor, and self-awareness, often breaking the fourth wall to parody common television tropes.
Watch actors Joel McHale, Donald Glover, Chevy Chase, and Kim Jeong star in Community, available to stream on Hulu.
Watch: Community
Will & Grace
Will & Grace was more than just an iconic sitcom series in the late 90s and early 2000s — the show broke ground by setting the precedent for LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream television through the show’s openly gay main character, Will Truman (Eric McCormack).
Watch all eight seasons of Will & Grace, including the 2017 Will & Grace reboot, now on Hulu.
Watch: Will & Grace
Discover more LGBTQ+ shows & movies streaming now.
Home Improvement
Tim Allen stars as Tim “The Toolman” Taylor, a typical suburban family man and the host of Tool Time, the fictional TV show within the TV show. This 90s sitcom was popular among families for Tim Allen’s witty one-liners and the show’s relatable storylines that often incorporated lessons surrounding parenting, coming-of-age, and general family values.
Queue the nostalgia because all eight seasons of Home Improvement are available to stream on Hulu.
Watch: Home Improvement
Married… With Children
Before Ed O’Neill starred in the iconic sitcom Modern Family, he played the patriarch of another dysfunctional and chaotic family, the Bundys, in Married… With Children.
Stream all 11 seasons now on Hulu.
Watch: Married… With Children
Broad City
This is not your average sitcom. Comedy Central’s Broad City was co-created and co-written by Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson, who also happens to star in this bold, unfiltered, and unapologetic female-driven situational comedy.
Stream the entire series now on Hulu.
Watch: Broad City
The Conners
The popular 80s and 90s sitcom, Rosanne, continues with the spinoff series, The Conners. Everyone might be a bit older now, but two things remain — the Conner family’s witty one-liners and the love they have for each other (even if they don’t always get along).
Select episodes of The Connors are available to stream now on Hulu.
Watch: The Conners
Just Shoot Me
What do you get when you combine a business-minded fashion magazine owner, his ambitious yet estranged daughter, an overconfident assistant, a libido-driven ex-model, and an unbothered professional photographer in one office? You get the late ’90s/early 2000s sitcom, Just Shoot Me.
All seven seasons are streaming now on Hulu.
Watch: Just Shoot Me
My Wife and Kids
Michael Kyle (Damon Wayans) takes a unique approach to raising his three kids that usually involves unconventional wisdom and humor as a teaching tool. But don’t be fooled, his lighthearted approach to parenting doesn’t mean he can’t be overprotective at times.
Watch the complete series of My Wife and Kids now on Hulu.
Watch: My Wife and Kids
Everybody Hates Chris
You may know Chris Rock as the comedian behind some of your favorite Saturday Night Live sketches, stand-up comedy specials, and movies like Dogma (1999) and Grown Ups (2010) — but he wasn’t always the beloved comedian we know today.
Everybody Hates Chris is a sitcom created by Chris himself that chronicles true events from his own coming-of-age story, and you can stream all four seasons now on Hulu.
Watch: Everybody Hates Chris
Family Matters
Chances are, you know who Steve Urkel is without ever having seen a single episode of Family Matters — thanks to the sitcom’s popularity and cultural impact, creating longevity and success through diversity, representation, and cross-cultural appeal.
You could say it’s “Urkel time” on Hulu because all nine seasons of the classic sitcom, Family Matters, are streaming now.
Watch: Family Matters
My Name Is Earl
Do you ever reflect on the mistakes you’ve made in your life and think about how you would right those wrongs if given the chance? A near-death experience motivates Earl Hickey to take redemption into his own hands, but not all of his good deeds are met with open arms.
The complete four-season run of My Name Is Earl is available to stream now on Hulu.
Watch: My Name Is Earl
The Bernie Mac Show
Bernie Mac’s authenticity, big heart, and no-nonsense approach to life are what leave his beloved TV series a long-lasting legacy as a standout sitcom.
Laugh along to all five seasons of The Bernie Mac Show on Hulu.
Watch: The Bernie Mac Show
Malcolm in the Middle
While the concept of family-oriented sitcoms was nothing new by the time Malcolm in the Middle premiered in the year 2000, the show charted new territory by telling the stories of the Wilkerson family completely through the middle child, Malcolm (Frankie Muniz), and his point of view.
Watch young Frankie Muniz star alongside Bryan Cranston in all seven seasons of Malcolm in the Middle, streaming now on-demand.
Watch: Malcolm in the Middle
Sister, Sister
Coming-of-age stories make for sitcom gold, as proven by the beloved series, Sister, Sister, starring twin sisters Tia and Tamera Mowry. Add the perspective of parents, like Lisa Landry (Jackée Harry) and Ray Campbell (Tim Reid), and you’ve got a recipe for a sitcom the entire family can enjoy together.
All six seasons of Sister, Sister are streaming now on Hulu.
Watch: Sister, Sister
Black-ish
Andre Johnson is determined to establish a sense of cultural identity for his family. Using satire, wit, and fourth-wall-breaking, Black-ish was not only celebrated for its clever writing but also for its cultural representation and educational value.
The entire eight-season series is streaming now on Hulu, along with the spinoffs Grown-ish and Mixed-ish.
Watch: Black-ish
That’s So Raven
We love a coming-of-age sitcom that’s as captivating for young audiences as it is for their parents. That’s why the Disney Channel original series, That’s So Raven, is available to stream in its entirety on Hulu over 20 years after it first premiered. Do you think Raven saw that one coming?
Watch: That’s So Raven
Dave
Dave is a slightly neurotic 20-something who’s convinced he’s destined to become one of the most iconic rappers of all time. All he has to do is convince everyone else. The FX sitcom, Dave, is loosely based on the life of co-creator and star of the show, Dave Burd (aka rapper “Lil Dicky”).
Watch all three seasons of Dave streaming now on Hulu.
Watch: Dave
Letterkenny
As it turns out, rural Canada is a lot like the rural areas of the U.S. — only there’s much more hockey involved. Canadian sitcom Letterkenny has a little bit of everything, including fast-paced and witty banter, country folk dealing with small-town problems, and did we mention hockey?
All 12 seasons of the Hulu Original series, Letterkenny, are streaming now.
Watch: Letterkenny
Bob’s Burgers
The sitcom genre isn’t just for live-action shows — adult animation series like Bob’s Burgers also feature comedic elements, character-driven storytelling, and episodic plots typical of sitcoms.
Follow the misadventures of the Belcher family as they work together to keep their beloved family burger joint afloat by streaming all 14 seasons of Bob’s Burgers now on Hulu.
Watch: Bob’s Burgers
Discover more of the best adult animated shows on Hulu.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Though The Mary Tyler Moore Show wasn’t the first TV series to feature a career-driven, unmarried woman as the lead character when it premiered in 1970, the series did pioneer the template for workplace sitcoms and impacted the broadcasting industry forever by running with a female-led production team.
Step into the 1970s, and discover The Mary Tyler Moore Show — all seven seasons are streaming now on Hulu.
Watch: The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Family Guy
Throughout television history, animated sitcoms have made as much of a cultural impact as other genres and subgenres, with the ability to generate strong communities and fandoms — Family Guy is no exception.
With an extraordinary 22 seasons and counting, every episode of Family Guy is available to stream now on Hulu.
Watch: Family Guy
Experience the Animayhem on Hulu.
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Talking cats, magic spells, witty banter, high school drama, and nostalgic 90s fashion — need we say more?
All seven seasons of Melissa Joan Hart’s Sabrina The Teenage Witch are streaming now from Hulu’s on-demand library.
Watch: Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Scrubs
Not all medical dramas have to be serious. Take it from J.D. (Zach Braff) and Turk (Donald Faison) — college roommates who are now starting their first jobs together at Sacred Heart Hospital.
Humor and tragedy collide in all nine seasons of Scrubs, streaming now on Hulu.
Watch: Scrubs
Superstore
If you’ve ever worked a retail job, you know how frustrating and demanding it can be. Superstore brilliantly takes those classic retail moments and turns them into laugh-out-loud storylines that make working retail seem not so bad.
Laugh along with the employees of Cloud 9 department store by streaming all six seasons on Hulu.
Watch: Superstore
Workaholics
Blake, Adam, and Anders are adults with big-boy jobs at a local telemarketing agency, but their “adultness” ends there. As former college roommates, the three never really left dorm life behind.
All seven seasons of Workaholics are streaming now on Hulu.
Watch: Workaholics
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