Cartoon Network isa genius of animation and storytellingfor children by day, and a madcap, raunchy treasure by night. Declaring “all kids out of the pool,”Adult Swimtakes over the family-friendly Cartoon Network as its late-night, zany, experimental, and often surrealist alter-ego. The programming block includes reruns of universal favorites likeFamily GuyorFuturama, broadcasts great anime such asCowboy Bebop, and has put out a slew of original series that proceeded to become some of thebest animated shows for adultsever, even tapping into live-action on a channel devoted to cartoons.
Adult Swimis more than a niche television block, as its crude sense of humor, gonzo gags, and reverence for violence established a prominent presence in pop culture, influencing animation, comedy, and countless memes. So, let’s look at the list of thefunniest Adult Swim showsthat helped the alternative block become its own beloved network of sorts.
Updated August 22, 2025: This collection of Adult Swim’s funniest shows has been updated with additional entries and new information, including where to currently stream each show featured.
15Home Movies (1999–2004)
A surprisingly-relaxed portion of Adult Swim’s lineup has been a longtime favorite.Home Movieswas co-created by Brendon Small and Loren Bouchard, and features the former voicing a young boy of the same name. In it, Brendon Small spends his days making amateur films with his friends, Melissa (Melissa Bardin Galsky) and Jason (H. Jon Benjamin), while dealing with the everyday troubles that come with growing up.H. Jon Benjamin famously plays Coach McGuirk, a dejected soccer coach who somewhat serves as a father figure for Brendon.
A Fun Time for All
As one of Adult Swim’s least-raunchy shows, it’s no surprise thatHome Moviesdeveloped a devoted cult following long after its original run. Sharing numerous similarities to Loren Bouchard’s other successful shows — e.g.Bob’s Burgers—Home Moviescarries an improvisational, almost conversational tone that makes its numerous storylines all the more natural and fun to follow. It also helps that its individual characters, especially Coach McGuirk, all have infectiously memorable personalities. Despite its low episode count, it remains a fun time for most audiences whenever its reruns enter Adult Swim’s schedule.StreamHome Movieson Max.
Home Movies
14Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell (2013–2019)
Jean-Paul Sartre once said that “Hell is other people.” InYour Pretty Face Is Going to Hell, it’s more like an ordinary day at the office. A live-action office comedy,Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hellfollows the everyday exploits of Gary Bunda (Henry Zebrowski), a bumbling but well-meaning associate demon who’s desperate to climb the corporate ladder of Hell. However, his positivity and laziness ultimately get in the way more often than not. Matt Servitto, Craig Rowin, and Dana Snyder co-star.
A Hellish Day at the Office
Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hellis easily one of Adult Swim’s most unique series in terms of its presentation. Through a mix of painstakingly-crafted costumes and makeup, digital effects, and hilarious writing, this workplace comedy puts silly spins on just aboutevery facet of Hell you’re able to imagine. From competing for a glass of ice water, to bringing Cerberus back home after he ends up on Earth, the series oozed ambition as much as it oozed black comedy. The best thing, though, is that the series' production values noticeably improve with every subsequent season, allowing it to tell stories that are increasingly ludicrous.StreamYour Pretty Face Is Going to Hellon Adult Swim’s official website.
Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell
13Smiling Friends (2022–Present)
ArguablyAdult Swim’s biggest hit in recent years,Smiling Friendscomes from the minds of Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel. In this manic series, Charlie (Zach Hadel) and Pim (Michael Cusack) are two employees of the titular Smiling Friends charity organization, whose sole purpose is to bring a smile to those who truly need one. Unfortunately, the world they live in is one that seemingly defies all logic and reason, making such a simple task infinitely more difficult than it needs to be. Marc M. co-stars as the enigmatic boss of the Smiling Friends organization.
Internet Humor Brought to Television
WhateverSmiling Friendstends to do always seems to go viral on the internet, and for good reason. Full of high energy, non sequiturs, and guest stars from the farthest reaches of the internet,Smiling Friendsbrings a unique comedic sensibility to television that you’ll rarely if ever find elsewhere. Its frequent use of mixed-media animation also makes it an absolute treat to look at, showing a love for the medium that extends to its frenetic pacing and meme-worthy writing. The series even made up a significant portion of not one, but two separate April Fool’s Day pranks on Adult Swim.StreamSmiling Friendson Max.
Smiling Friends
12Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule (2010–2016)
Spawned from Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim’s comedic universe,Check it Out! with Dr. Steve Bruleis adorably obnoxious. This parody of a talk show in the visual style of an old public access program is hilarious and more than a little disturbing. It dives into the personal life of Steve Brule, played once more by John C. Reilly, as he discusses family issues, money, and health through a comedic lens. In addition, Brule interviews a number of individuals with different fields of expertise and, in return, offers his one-of-a-kind reactions.
A Low Budget Masterpiece
John C. Reilly has many brilliant performancesin his bag; however, he is, simply put, pitch-perfect as the titular character. His character’s quirky antics and complete ineptness come across as authentic, and John C. Reilly’s ingenious improvisation skills make him a genuine knee-slapper. The show has its own take on comedy, offering a fresh approach to making people laugh on a low budget. The production values are low, and the editing is basic, but it still manages to grip its viewers, showing that when comedy is done right, it’s enough to keep you watching.Buy or RentCheck It Out! with Dr. Steve Bruleon on Prime Video.
Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule
11Moral Orel (2005–2008)
Moral Orelwalked so that the other sad-coms, such asBoJack Horseman, Rick and Morty, andAnomalisa,could run. Set in the fictional state of Statesoda, Orel Puppington is an 11-year-old Christian boy who wants to do good in the world. However, his naivety towards his religion and misunderstanding of the teachings of the Bible have disastrous consequences. In the process, he exposes his dysfunctional family and the hypocrisy of his town. Appearing as a typical satire of Christian fundamentalism,Moral Orelgrew more somber in later seasons in a sincere attempt to bring up heavy themes like family dysfunction, depression, and addiction — which probably made itthe most heartbreaking cartoonof all time and eventually caused the series’ downfall.
Equally Heartbreaking and Hysterical
This stop-motion comedy-drama pioneered a new approach to adult animation. It’snot a raunchy dark comedyfull of hijinks and f-bombs, but it’s candid and funny in its own unique and heartbreaking ways. It also dares to discuss religion beyond the surface level and offers a fresh perspective on the way it affects our lives, be it for good or bad. It’s also highly relatable, as faith and religion are interpreted differently all around the world, with people leaving certain faiths, converting to certain religions, or not believing at all. Here, Orel is a character that is thoroughly developed throughout his quest to be a devoted Christian. Viewers and critics alike praised the religious satire and found it deeply original.StreamMoral Orelon Max.
Moral Orel
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10Metalocalypse (2006–2013)
Metalocalypseis like a satirical limerick ofheavy metal culturecrammed into a brutal and gory animated series. The show centers around Dethklok, the world’s most successful death metal band, who are dealing with the pressure of fame and an organization that sets out to destroy them. In the midst of these events, the show highlights heavy metal culture in a dark yet comedic way. After being controversially canceled back in 2013, a one-off film,Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar, served to provide a definitive conclusion to the series.
A Loving Tribute to Metal Music
Despite the parody, the show’s dedication to metal culture and attention to detail, with great artistry, is worth noting. The soundtrack is written by guitarist Brendon Small, who also serves as one of the show’s creative visionaries. The animation is faithfully synced to the music, and each shot crafted so that the fingers are positioned in the correct chord placements, adding to the authenticity of this fun homage to death metal. The fictional band from the show even toured, releasing several albums' worth of music in addition to collaborating with numerous prominent metal musicians throughout the series.Buy or RentMetalocalypseon Prime Video.
Metalocalypse
9Aqua Teen Hunger Force (2000–2023)
Aqua Teen Hunger Forcewas released in the first original Adult Swim lineup back in 2000. Despite its surreal setup, this bonkers malarkey of a show managed to lock in the much-desired 18-to-34-year-old viewership, asThe Guardiannotes. It follows a gang of anthropomorphic junk food people who are just hanging around New Jersey. This includes Frylock (Carey Means), Meatwad (Dave Willis), and Master Shake (Dana Snyder), who live together and (intentionally or not) harass their only neighbor, Carl.
An Adult Swim Staple
The early episodes had loose superhero/detective vibes, but later on,Aqua Teen Hunger Forcesettled in as a laid-back trip with a hot hip-hop soundtrack. Since it aired,Aqua Teen Hunger Forcehas been considered everything from comic gold to trash — but most importantly, an audience darling and the longest-running show on Adult Swim untilRobot Chickentook its place. Its uniqueness, randomness, and ability to still have the viewer follow through the hilarious chaos completely embodies the soul of Adult Swim. After abrief revival in 2023,Aqua TeenHunger Forcehas since reclaimed the title of being the longest-running Adult Swim series.StreamAqua Teen Hunger Forceon Max.
Aqua Teen Hunger Force
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8The Eric Andre Show (2012–2023)
A fever dream in a bottle,The Eric Andre Showbludgeons its viewers with a non-stop train of absurdist and gross skits — thesemoments are outrageousand revoltingly amusing at the same time. In the show, comedian Eric André invites guests on his show under the false pretense that he will interview them, only to prank them in the most bizarre ways. Originally a low-budget affair, the series evolved to take on a dramatic new flair with each season, ramping up the surreal editing choices and over-the-top pranks to an absurd degree.
A Talk Show from Hell
The Eric Andre Showhas been a perfect meme generator. Perhaps due to Eric Andre’s deranged off-hand charisma, this unsanitized punk-rock parody of a talk show catapulted from its niche to a mainstream satire of celebrity culture. It is also highly unpredictable, with the show going from scary to funny all the time. Andre does the opposite of what talk shows usually do, not caring the slightest about what he does and how he appears, which, a lot of times, reveals more about the guests than normal interviews. Some episodes follow a strict format, others are a nightmarish fever dream; you never really know what you’re going to get.StreamThe Eric Andre Showon Hulu.
The Eric Andre Show
7Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law (2000–2007)
Taken out of the Hanna-Barbera cartoonBirdman and the Galaxy Trio, ex-superhero Harvey T. Birdman finds himself as a defense attorney, and a pretty good one at that. However, inHarvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, he’ll have to put his expertise to the test as he battles foes both in and out of the courts, in addition to helping themany characters of the Hanna-Barbera universesolve their legal disputes. The series was co-created by Michael Ouweleen and Erik Richter, with the two later returning to create aspin-off series,Birdgirl, set in the same universe.
Nostalgic Characters Repurposed for a Cult Classic
Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law,is a masterclass in using nostalgia to lure in viewers without destroying the original characters. Familiar animated characters, like Fred Flintstone, Yogi Bear, The Jetsons, and Captain Caveman, are re-purposed into an unexpected, goofy setting resembling a modern world with modern problems. The series also features one of Stephen Colbert’s rare ventures into voice acting, playing the lovable and erratic Phil Ken Sebben throughout all four seasons.StreamHarvey Birdman, Attorney at Lawon Max.
Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law
6Rick and Morty (2013–Present)
What essentially started as aBack to the Futureparody,Rick and Mortybroke all viewing records at lightning speed and became Adult Swim’s number onemost-watched series, in addition to one of the most highly-rated shows in the history of TV. It follows the domestic family life of a mad scientist, Rick, and his grandson, Morty, as well as their adventures around the multiverse. From interdimensional cable television, to an entire council comprised of every Rick in existence, there’s no limit to the kinds of strange and existential shenanigans the duo can get up to.
An Instant Hit
Fan theories, breakdowns of episodes, explanations of gags, and hidden meanings have set YouTube and Reddit on fire. By playing this game of blink-and-you’ll-miss-it references and jokes,Rick and Mortybecomes a truly postmodern tale, the kind that quite literally invites the viewer to join the titular characters on their adventure. Not only are the episodes humorous and well-paced, they are deeply engaging and intelligent. It is not actually the sci-fi elements that made this show so well-loved, but rather thedark philosophy ofRick and Morty, which is a blend of existentialism, nihilism, and absurdism coupled with characters representative of different lines of thought. The series even spawned a brief anime spin-off set within its own universe.StreamRick and Mortyon Max.
Rick and Morty
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