(Credit: Netflix)

If Netflix had its way, every day would be a laughter fest. Even in the darkest corners of Nevermore Academy, the streaming giant manages to pull a comedic rabbit out of its hat every time. But ahead of its woeful arrival this August, another comedy title on Netflix is rising through the ranks. It’s not a long-running series or a Netflix documentary, but a Kevin Hart and Will Ferrell-led laughter bonanza: Get Hard.

The 2015 crime-comedy film Get Hard is steadily moving up the global top ten movies Netflix chart, currently ranked sixth. The Hart and Ferrell starrer has earned 4.4million views alone this week, making it one of the cutthroat competitors on the chart. Directed by Etan Cohen in his directorial debut, the film follows James King, a rich hedge fund manager at Barrow Funds. The story picks up on the night of James’s engagement party when a special guest arrives.

But honestly, not the kind you would prefer. It’s the FBI, and the reason for their guest appearance? Fraud and embezzlement! Although James is not exactly the culprit, he is found guilty and sentenced to ten years in San Quentin State Prison. However, with the judge allotting him 30 days to get his ducks in a row, James seeks the help of Darnell Lewis to “get hard” enough to survive prison. Darnell is just a car wash owner.

James sought Darnell’s assistance, assuming he had already been to prison, since he’s Black. However, the reality is not so. Although Darnell takes up the job, in hopes of using the paycheck to put his daughter in a better school, the training unfortunately fails repeatedly. Get Hard ingeniously probes the what-ifs of life behind bars, offering a tongue-in-cheek guide on how to survive the unforgiving prison system.

However, the absurdity of it all unravels when the elaborate preparations are rendered moot because he’s not even the right guy. The crash course of survival adds a delicious comedic twist, transforming the film into a side-splitting romp. But why is the film trending now, exactly a decade later? Well, Ferrell and Hart’s comedic reputation, especially in the 2010s, was itself a golden combination. Although Get Hard earned mixed reviews at the time of release, the reason for its current popularity might be the lack of raunchy comedies in Hollywood.

Of course, comedy films are released. However, they have gone down in count in the last few years, making even A-listers lament. Studios have gotten far more wary of flops. But its streaming success on Netflix shows that the genre still has a cult following. Plus, Hart and Ferrell’s star appeal remains an undeniable factor behind the uprise of re-watches at the hour.

Get Hard might not be the comedy crown on the heads of Ferrell and Hart. But thanks to Netflix’s streaming sorcery, it’s getting a second shot at tickling the funny bones, and probably a few algorithmic high-fives. Additionally, with Hart turning Netflix into his laughter lab, churning out project after project, it’s also possible that a fresh wave of viewers stumbled into this chuckle chamber. As of now, it’s less of a hidden gem, more of a fitting relief in Netflix’s comedy toybox.