Uplifting Oscar winners and endless time loops are a few of the experiences in store in this list of comedy films that are mustwatch. The 16 best comedy movies on Hulu Uplifting Oscar winners and endless time loops are a few of the experiences in store in this list of comedy films that are mustwatch. By Kevin Jacobsen and Andrew Walsh on February 4, 2026 8:52 a.m. ET :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/thelmajunesquibbquizladyawkwafinapalmspringsawkwafina0114253224820aed784bc5918f1815e088b9e9.

Uplifting Oscar winners and endless time loops are a few of the experiences in store in this list of comedy films that are must-watch.

The 16 best comedy movies on Hulu

Uplifting Oscar winners and endless time loops are a few of the experiences in store in this list of comedy films that are must-watch.

By Kevin Jacobsen

and Andrew Walsh

on February 4, 2026 8:52 a.m. ET

June Squibb as Thelma Post in 'Thelma'; Awkwafina as Anne Yum in 'Quiz Lady'; Andy Samberg as Nyles in 'Palm Springs'. Credit:

Magnolia Pictures; Michele K Short/20th Century Studios; Jessica Perez/Hulu/Courtesy Everett Collection

Life is hard, and we could all use a mental vacation sometimes. From reveling in the raunchy gags of *No Hard Feelings* (2023) to enjoying the heartfelt laughs of *Thelma* (2024), we've got your comedy needs covered from coast to coast, with a variety of genre destinations in between.

Here are the best comedy movies streaming on Hulu.

Anora (2024)

Mark Eydelshteyn as Ivan 'Vanya' Zakharov and Mikey Madison as Anora 'Ani' Mikheeva in 'Anora'.

Courtesy of Neon

Much like the journey its title character goes on, *Anora* is a wild ride of emotions, part screwball comedy, part meditation on the American class system, and part absorbing character study. Tying it all together is Mikey Madison, who plays a stripper/sex worker living in Brooklyn's Brighton Beach who meets and soon marries the son of a Russian oligarch. Things take a turn for the worse when her new husband's family learns of the marriage and makes great efforts to tear them apart. Madison is an utter revelation in a role that won her an Oscar — of which the film won four others, including Best Picture. —*Kevin Jacobsen*

Where to watch *Anora*: Hulu

**EW grade:** B+

**Director:** Sean Baker

**Cast:** Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Yura Borisov, Karren Karagulian, Vache Tovmasyan

Fire Island (2022)

(From left to right) Bowen Yang as Howie, Joel Kim Booster as Noah (sitting), Tomás Matos as Keegan, Matt Rogers as Luke, Margaret Cho as Erin (sitting), and Torian Miller as Max in 'Fire Island'. Jeong Park/Searchlight Pictures

Jane Austen's novel *Pride and Prejudice* gets a queer, Millennial makeover in *Fire Island*, the debut film from comedic multihyphenate Joel Kim Booster. Booster stars as Noah, a broke thirtysomething with a longstanding tradition of vacationing with his friends on Fire Island. When the group learns their house mother (Margaret Cho) plans to sell her home, the friends are forced to confront their love lives and class issues during their last week together. *Fire Island *also stars *Saturday Night Live*'s Bowen Yang as Howie, Noah's neurotic best friend. A clutch casting choice, Yang imbues the film with some of its most memorable comic sequences.

EW's critic writes, "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a very small swimsuit must be in want of a rom-com to call his own; *Fire Island* sets the stage, messy and sweet, and lets its freak flag fly." —*Andrew Walsh*

Where to watch *Fire Island*: Hulu

**EW grade: **B

**Director: **Max Barbakow

**Cast: **Joel Kim Booster, Bowen Yang, Conrad Ricamora,, Margaret Cho, Matt Rogers******

Happiest Season (2020)

Kristen Stewart as Abby and Mackenzie Davis as Harper in 'Happiest Season'. Lacey Terrell/TriStar Pictures

In 2020, actress, writer, and director Clea DuVall pulled us out of our collective pandemic funk with the gift of *Happiest Season,* a queer holiday rom-com released on Hulu. Co-written with actress Mary Holland and directed by DuVall, *Happiest Season* follows Abby (Kristen Stewart) as she goes to meet her girlfriend Harper's (Mackenzie Davis) parents and spend Christmas at their family's home. The visit is only slightly complicated by the fact that Harper's conservative family — including her perfectionistic mother Tipper (Mary Steenburgen) and her mayoral candidate father (Victor Garber) — don't know she's gay...or that she's dating Abby. Hijinks ensue, feelings are hurt, and the city of Pittsburgh has never looked more inviting.

With a monster cast that includes Alison Brie and Holland as Harper's eccentric sisters, Aubrey Plaza as her ex, and Dan Levy as Abby's best friend, *Happiest Season *manages to be, as EW's critic puts it, "a smart, heartfelt comedy whose small flaws are easily blotted out by bigger charms." —*A.W.*

Where to watch *Happiest Season*: Hulu

**EW grade: **B+

**Director: **Clea DuVall

**Cast: **Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza, Dan Levy********

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

(Clockwise from top left): Mary Lynn Rajskub as Pageant Assistant Pam, Greg Kinnear as Richard Hoover, Paul Dano as Dwayne Hoover, Tony Collette as Sheryl Hoover, and Abigail Breslin as Olive Hoover in 'Little Miss Sunshine'. Fox Searchlight/Courtesy Everett Collection

This little Sundance-darling-that-could is as quirky and charming as the yellow Volkswagen van the Hoovers use for their road trip to California. The film centers on a chaotic family as they drive from New Mexico to bring young Olive (Abigail Breslin) to a child beauty pageant, in which she desperately wishes to compete. Plenty of dysfunction occurs along the way, including persistent van troubles, which only compounds the stress for mother Sheryl (Toni Collette), workaholic father Richard (Greg Kinnear), and Sheryl's brother Frank (Steve Carell), who is struggling with depression. And that's not even taking into account Olive's older brother Dwayne (Paul Dano), who has taken a vow of silence, and Olive's beloved grandpa Edwin (Alan Arkin), who has a heroin addiction. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Little Miss Sunshine*: Hulu

**Directors:** Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris

**Cast:** Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Paul Dano, Abigail Breslin, Alan Arkin

A Nice Indian Boy (2025)

Karan Soni as Naveen Gavaskar and Jonathan Groff as Jay Kurundkar in 'A Nice Indian Boy'.

Courtesy of Levantine Films

The pressure to have your parents accept you for who you are is a common struggle — especially when you're gay and come from a traditional family. As this sweet romantic comedy explores, Naveen Gavaskar (Kanan Sonik) knows this feeling all too well, fretting over having to introduce his white fiancé, Jay (Jonathan Groff), to his family. While things don't entirely go as planned and their relationship is put to the test, Naveen gradually becomes more comfortable in his skin and learns to reconcile these two important areas of his life. While *A Nice Indian Boy* may have its formulaic moments, the chemistry between Sonik and Groff makes it a total joy. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *A Nice Indian Boy*: Hulu

**Director:** Roshan Sethi

**Cast:** Karan Sonik, Jonathan Groff, Sunita Mani, Zarna Garg, Harish Patel

Nightbitch (2024)

Amy Adams as Mother in 'Nightbitch'.

Searchlight Pictures

In this dark comedy, an overstressed stay-at-home mom (Amy Adams) fears she may be turning into a dog. Yes, seriously. While the concept makes it sound like a farce directed by the Farrelly brothers in the early-2000s, *Nightbitch* is, in reality, a clever, surprisingly tender examination of motherhood that gives Adams her best role in years. Horrified yet fascinated by her sudden transformation, Adams' character, credited only as "Mother," gradually begins to embrace her new identity. EW's critic calls *Nightbitch* "a frank dissection of female rage and post-pawrtum (sorry, not sorry) fracture." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Nightbitch*: Hulu

**EW grade:** A–

**Director:** Marielle Heller

**Cast:** Amy Adams, Scoot McNairy, Arleigh Snowden, Emmett Snowden, Zoë Chao

No Hard Feelings (2023)

Andrew Barth Feldman as Percy Becker and Jennifer Lawrence as Maddie Barker in 'No Hard Feelings'. Macall Polay/Columbia Pictures

While *No Hard Feelings* may have been sold as a raunchy comedy, the film has an underlying sweetness that makes for a well-rounded experience. But don't get us wrong, the film's setup certainly provides plenty of broad, laugh-out-loud humor: Jennifer Lawrence stars as Maddie, a 32-year-old Uber driver desperate for money. She finds a Craigslist ad from a wealthy couple hoping to hire a woman to date (and perhaps do more with) their inexperienced 19-year-old son, Percy (Andrew Barth Feldman), before he goes to college. Maddie's attempts to court Percy lead to hilarious results, though they soon come to appreciate each other over the course of the summer.

The film proves Lawrence's adeptness as a comedic star, fully committing to even the most ludicrous of scenes. "*No Hard Feelings* is a welcome addition to a dwindling genre," writes EW's critic, "and a reminder that Lawrence is one [of] Hollywood's best (and funniest) leads." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *No Hard Feelings*: Hulu

**EW grade:** B

**Director:** Gene Stupnitsky

**Cast:** Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman, Laura Benanti, Natalie Morales, Matthew Broderick**

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)

Chris Thomas King as Tommy Johnson, Tim Blake Nelson as Delmar O'Donnell, George Clooney as Ulysses Everett McGill, and John Turturro as Pete in 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?'.

Buena Vista/Courtesy Everett Collection

The Coen brothers transport Homer's totemic poem *The Odyssey* from the Mediterranean coast to 1930s Mississippi in this highly entertaining musical dramedy. The episodic journey begins with three convicts, led by Ulysses Everett McGill (George Clooney), who escape prison in search of buried treasure. Their quest sees them encountering a blind seer who helps them on their path, a river baptism, and a radio station where they record a hit song, with numerous hiccups along the way. Featuring a soundtrack so exceptional it won the Grammy for Album of the Year, *O Brother, Where Art Thou?* is a quirky, visually striking romp from two of our best working directors. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *O Brother, Where Art Thou?*: Hulu

**Directors:** Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

**Cast:** George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, John Goodman, Holly Hunter**

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On the Count of Three (2022)

Christopher Abbott as Kevin and Jerrod Carmichael as Val in 'On the Count of Three'. United Artists

Jerrod Carmichael made his feature directorial debut with this dark comedy in which he stars alongside *Girls* alum Christopher Abbott. The duo play friends who make a suicide pact, but decide to spend one last day doing whatever they want and resolving prior issues. Despite its dark premise, Carmichael finds the right tone to deliver an authentic portrait of friendship as his Val and Abbott's Kevin are able to find simple joys in life, even through the pain. "The movie settles into the blackest kind of buddy comedy," EW's critic writes in the review, "a lacerating slice of nihilism rooted in real despair, and real I-love-you-man tenderness, too." Plus, the film's expert use of Papa Roach's "Last Resort" certainly leaves an impact. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *On the Count of Three*: Hulu

**EW grade: **B+

**Director: **Jerrod Carmichael

**Cast: **Jerrod Carmichael, Christopher Abbott, Tiffany Haddish, J.B. Smoove, Lavell Crawford

Palm Springs (2020)

Cristin Milioti as Sarah Wilder and Andy Samberg as Nyles in 'Palm Springs'. Jessica Perez/Hulu

Nyles (Andy Samberg) and Sarah (Cristin Milioti) are stuck at a Palm Springs wedding that will literally never end. While Nyles is resigned to his fate, Sarah — the maid of honor — is desperate to escape this desert hell. Directed by Max Barbakow with a script from Andy Siara, *Palm Springs* adds a trippy time loop twist to the rom-com genre. This existential comedy — which broke Sundance sales records by 69 cents (nice) — uses its sci-fi hook to explore what it really means to forgive yourself and let go of the past. Then there's the standout performance from J.K. Simmons as deranged wedding guest Roy, who manages to be inspiring, terrifying, and hilarious all at once. Still, it's the budding romance between Milioti and Samberg that will make you want to revisit *Palm Springs* again and again. —*A.W.*

Where to watch *Palm Springs*: Hulu

**EW grade: **B+

**Director: **Max Barbakow

**Cast: **Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, J.K. Simmons******

Quiz Lady (2023)

Awkwafina as Anne Yum in 'Quiz Lady'.

20th Century Studios/Courtesy Everett Collection

Part of the appeal of this charming, Emmy-winning TV movie from Jessica Yu is in seeing its stars stretch beyond their typical roles. Awkwafina, often cast as the brazen comic relief, plays anxious game-show aficionado Anne, while the typically hyper-competent Sandra Oh plays Anne's messy older sister Jenny. They are reunited after their mother flees the country on a gambling streak, and after a loan shark comes out of the woodwork, the sisters come up with a scheme for Anne to go on her favorite game show to get enough money to pay him back. Awkwafina and especially Oh excel in their against-type roles, creating a believable chemistry that goes beyond silly antics; their bonding allows them to confront old traumas and get to a more hopeful place as sisters. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Quiz Lady*: Hulu

**Director:** Jessica Yu

**Cast:** Awkwafina, Sandra Oh, Will Ferrell, Jason Schwartzman, Holland Taylor

Rye Lane (2023)

David Jonsson as Dom and Vivian Oparah as Yas in 'Rye Lane'. Everett Collection

Fresh off a splashy, well-received premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, this British rom-com centers on Dom (David Jonsson) and Yas (Vivian Oparah), who meet in a gender-neutral bathroom and bond over their recent breakups. Walking around Rye Lane Market in South London, they discuss life and love as their bond inevitably grows closer. While rom-coms of this variety have existed for decades and decades, critics were universal in their praise of *Rye Lane* as an invigorating addition to the genre. There is a warmth and vibrancy to the film, with first-time feature director Raine Allen-Miller infusing her South London setting with specificity and genuine affection, and Jonsson and Oparah have the kind of complementary energies that make such films so magical. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Rye Lane*: Hulu

**Director: **Raine Allen-Miller

**Cast: **David Jonsson, Vivian Oparah

Thelma (2024)

Richard Roundtree as Ben and June Squibb as Thelma Post in 'Thelma'.

Courtesy of Sundance Institute; Photo by David Bolen

Hell hath no fury like Thelma Post (June Squibb) scorned. After being duped by a phone scam, 93-year-old Thelma goes on the warpath to find those involved and get back her money. Of course, it's not easy for her to navigate the streets of Los Angeles (having lost her driving privileges), so she takes an old pal across town via motor scooter to help her hunt down the culprits. Hilarious and quietly moving in equal measure, *Thelma* provides Squibb with the first leading role of her career and she makes the absolute most of it, delivering a complex performance as a woman who refuses to let age slow her down. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Thelma*: Hulu

**EW grade:** B+

**Director:** Josh Margolin

**Cast:** June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Richard Roundtree, Parker Posey, Malcolm McDowell

Triangle of Sadness (2022)

Charlbi Dean as Yaya and Harris Dickinson as Carl in 'Triangle of Sadness'. Neon

*Triangle of Sadness* comes after a slew of similarly delicious "eat the rich" satires in recent years, from *Parasite* (2019) to *The White Lotus* to *The Menu* (2022). Ruben Östlund, whose previous class commentaries include *Force Majeure* (2014) and *The Square* (2017), won the Palme d'Or for writing and directing this audacious comedy about a pair of dating models who set sail on a luxury cruise that ends in disaster. (Think *Titanic*, but with a lot more bodily fluids.) As EW's critic raves in the review, *Triangle of Sadness* is "not the funhouse mirror we need for these ridiculous times, maybe, but one we deserve."

Östlund's film went on to score Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay, though curiously not nominated was Dolly de Leon, whose forceful presence in the film's third act makes for a wildly unpredictable ending. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Triangle of Sadness*: Hulu

**EW grade: **B+

**Director: **Ruben Östlund

**Cast: **Harris Dickinson, Charlbi Dean, Dolly de Leon, Woody Harrelson, Zlatko Burić

When Harry Met Sally (1989)

Meg Ryan as Sally Albright and Billy Crystal as Harry Burns in 'When Harry Met Sally'. Everett Collection

Writer Nora Ephron and director Rob Reiner have tragically passed, but this seminal romantic comedy will live on forever. Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan star as platonic friends who bump into each other at various points over the course of a decade and gradually fall in love. Starting with the question of whether heterosexual men and women can be friends without sex getting in the way, the film cleverly explores gender dynamics and evolving priorities, serving as a gold standard for rom-coms for decades to come. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *When Harry Met Sally*: Hulu

**Director:** Rob Reiner

**Cast:** Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher, Bruno Kirby

Wicked Little Letters (2023)

Olivia Colman as Edith Swan and Gemma Jones as Victoria Swan in 'Wicked Little Letters'.

Sony Pictures Classics

This British mystery comedy, based on true events, is as deliciously naughty as its title suggests. Olivia Colman stars as Edith Swan, a repressed, religious Englishwoman who lives with her parents in 1920s Britain. After receiving a series of profane letters in the mail, her family seeks answers and accuses their Irish neighbor — a single mother named Rose (Jessie Buckley) — causing a scandal around their seaside town of Littlehampton. Yes, it's comparatively low stakes compared to other films on this list, but it's good, cheeky fun, ideally watched on a lazy Sunday afternoon. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Wicked Little Letters*: Hulu

**Director:** Thea Sharrock

**Cast:** Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Anjana Vasan, Joanna Scanlan, Gemma Jones

- Movie Reviews & Recommendations

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The frequent Christopher Guest collaborator died last week at age 71, with the dog show tributing the star with a nod to her work in the beloved comedy about a dog competition. Westminster Dog Show honors Catherine O'Hara's Best in Show role with sweet tribute during live competition The frequent Christopher Guest collaborator died last week at age 71, with the dog show tributing the star with a nod to her work in the beloved comedy about a dog competition. :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/JoeyNolfiauthorphotoba4923fec03a4027868306485696ef41.jpg) Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at .

The frequent Christopher Guest collaborator died last week at age 71, with the dog show tributing the star with a nod to her work in the beloved comedy about a dog competition.

Westminster Dog Show honors Catherine O'Hara's Best in Show role with sweet tribute during live competition

The frequent Christopher Guest collaborator died last week at age 71, with the dog show tributing the star with a nod to her work in the beloved comedy about a dog competition.

Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at *. *Since 2016, his work at EW includes *RuPaul's Drag Race* video interviews, Oscars predictions, and more.

EW's editorial guidelines

February 4, 2026 10:59 a.m. ET

Catherine O'Hara in 'Best in Show'. Credit:

Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection

The Westminster Dog Show just unleashed a sweet tribute to the late Catherine O'Hara's Cookie Fleck.

Days after the legendary comedic actress died at age 71, the dog competition honored O'Hara's role in the beloved 2000 Christopher Guest comedy *Best in Show* — a mockumentary revolving around a dog competition — with a mid-show commemoration.

In footage captured and shared to Instagram Tuesday night by actor Michael Judson Berry, the Westminster Dog Show cued up a video montage featuring clips from O'Hara's roles, particularly *Best in Show*, in which O'Hara played one half of a dog-owning couple (also including her longtime friend Eugene Levy) whose Norwich terrier, Winky, overcomes insurmountable odds to win the Mayflower Kennel Club Dog Show.

Westminster Dog Show honors Catherine O'Hara with 'Best In Show' tribute.

Michael Judson Berry/Instagram

After the clips played on the monitor inside New York City's Madison Square Garden venue, text appeared on screen announcing O'Hara's birth year and death year, and a message that read, "A true legend, timeless talent, and icon."

The moment occurred during the real Norwich terrier breed judging section of the Westminster presentation.

*Best in Show* marked one of many beloved collaborations between O'Hara, Guest, and Levy, who often worked together in major ensemble comedies over the years. Their big-screen projects also included hits like *Waiting for Guffman*, *A Mighty Wind*, and *For Your Consideration. *

Remembering the final 'Schitt's Creek' reunion before Catherine O'Hara's death

Martin Short and Steve Martin give touching toast to former costar Catherine O'Hara at comedy show after her death: 'The greatest'

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter*.****

Levy and O'Hara would additionally go on to co-lead the popular sitcom *Schitt's Creek*, which would win them both Emmys.

After O'Hara's death was announced on Friday, Levy shared a statement with ** honoring his friend and collaborator.

Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara in 'Best In Show'.

Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection

"Words seem inadequate to express the loss I feel today," Levy said. "I had the honor of knowing and working with the great Catherine O'Hara for over 50 years. From our beginnings on the Second City stage, to *SCTV*, to the movies we did with Chris Guest, to our six glorious years on *Schitt's Creek*, I cherished our working relationship, but most of all our friendship."

He then expressed adoration for O'Hara's husband, production designer Bo Welch, as well as the couple's two sons. "I will miss her," he continued. "My heart goes out to Bo, Matthew, Luke, and the entire O'Hara family."

See the Westminster Dog Show's tribute to O'Hara in the image above.

- Celebrities & Creators

- Celebrity Death Tributes

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Giannis Antetokounmpo says he would love to stay with Bucks, but sees writing on the wall: 'I want to be here to win' Chris CwikFebruary 5, 2026 at 4:19 AM 0 Giannis Antetokounmpo may have already played his final game with the Milwaukee Bucks. After years of sticking with the franchise, Antetokounmpo seems likely to be traded before the Thursday deadline. Over the years, Antetokounmpo has shown incredible loyalty to the organization, resigning multiple times when many expected he would leave and join a franchise with more superstar talent.

- - Giannis Antetokounmpo says he would love to stay with Bucks, but sees writing on the wall: 'I want to be here to win'

Chris CwikFebruary 5, 2026 at 4:19 AM

0

Giannis Antetokounmpo may have already played his final game with the Milwaukee Bucks. After years of sticking with the franchise, Antetokounmpo seems likely to be traded before the Thursday deadline.

Over the years, Antetokounmpo has shown incredible loyalty to the organization, re-signing multiple times when many expected he would leave and join a franchise with more superstar talent. Every time he's asked, Antetokounmpo always expresses his commitment to both the team and city.

But he also sees the writing on the wall.

With the trade deadline fast approaching, Antetokounmpo gave multiple interviews to local reporters reiterating his feeling toward the city of Milwaukee while also acknowledging that it's probably time for him to be shipped off to another franchise.

Antetokounmpo spoke to both the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and The Athletic ahead of the deadline, providing similar quotes to both outlets about his current situation.

When asked about leaving the Bucks, Antetokounmpo laid out all the reasons why he doesn't want to leave Milwaukee. He mentioned that his children were born in the city, his dad was buried in the city and his mom owns a house in the city. "On what planet, on what Earth, would somebody want to leave this," Antetokounmpo expressed.

When asked what he would prefer moving forward, Antetokounmpo said he wanted to remain a Buck for the rest of his life ... but with a significant caveat: The team needs to be able to win a championship.

With the team sitting at 19-29 entering play Wednesday, Antetokounmpo knows that's not a possibility.

"Brother, if you ask me deep down what I want today, I want to be a Milwaukee Buck for the rest of my career," Antetokounmpo said. "I want to win here, another championship. And if you can tell me that's possible, let's just hang up the phone.

"You know basketball. You see basketball. You understand basketball. You've been around greatness. You've been around a championship team. You've been around a good culture. You've been around when the popcorn was popping. You were around; you saw it. If you tell me that that's possible, we can hang up the phone and keep on moving with our day."

It's not the first time this season Antetokounmpo has been critical of the team's play. In January, he called out teammates, saying the Bucks were being "selfish" on the court.

And while Antetokounmpo has still never officially requested a trade away from the Bucks, he made it clear he doesn't want to play for a team where he's "fighting for my life to make the playoffs."

That's a good description of the Bucks this season. If Antetokounmpo stuck it out, the Bucks would still be in a tough spot the rest of the way. And if the team rallied down the stretch to make the postseason, it likely wouldn't be seeded high. Barring an incredible turnaround and a superhuman effort from Antetokounmpo, it's tough to see the Bucks winning multiple playoff series against higher-rated teams in that scenario.

For that reason, it seems likely Antetokounmpo is on his way out. He not only seems open to the deal, but it might be the best thing for the Bucks' franchise at this point. Milwaukee stands to gain a number of draft picks or talented, young players in an Antetokounmpo trade. That could help the team rebuild much faster.

Still, it would be a sad end for Antetokounmpo and the team. No player has defined loyalty in this era more than Antetokounmpo. Seeing him leave the Bucks feels wrong, even if it's the best thing for both sides at this point.

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Leon Draisaitl is Germany's flag bearer for opening ceremony before his Olympic debut February 5, 2026 at 4:11 AM 0 Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl celebrates a goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the second period of an NHL game, in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) () MILAN (AP) — Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl was named Wednesday as one of Germany's flagbearers for the Milan Cortina opening ceremony in a sign of recognition for one of the NHL's biggest stars as the league returns to the Winter Olympics.

- - Leon Draisaitl is Germany's flag bearer for opening ceremony before his Olympic debut

February 5, 2026 at 4:11 AM

0

Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl celebrates a goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the second period of an NHL game, in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) ()

MILAN (AP) — Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl was named Wednesday as one of Germany's flagbearers for the Milan Cortina opening ceremony in a sign of recognition for one of the NHL's biggest stars as the league returns to the Winter Olympics.

In a rare honor for a first-time Olympian, Draisaitl and ski jumper Katharina Schmid will carry the German flag in Friday's ceremony after they won both an internal poll of German athletes and a public vote. More than 135,000 people took part, the German Olympic committee said.

Draisaitl's opponents in the vote for male flagbearer were Tobias Wendl, who has won six career Olympic gold medals in luge since 2014, winning every Olympic event he's entered, and Nordic combined skier Johannes Rydzek, who's heading into his fifth Olympics and won two gold medals in 2018.

When it shortlisted Draisaitl for the vote, the German Olympic committee said its criteria for a flagbearer included a history of sporting success and being a popular role model for fairness in sports.

The main ceremony is in Milan. There will be other ceremonies and athlete parades in the Italian cities of Predazzo, Livigno and Cortina d'Ampezzo.

Schmid is heading into her fourth Olympics and won silver medals in 2018 and 2022. She will carry the German flag in Predazzo and Draisaitl will be in Milan.

The last time the NHL took part in the Winter Olympics in 2014, Draisaitl was an 18-year-old playing junior hockey in Canada. He was drafted by the Oilers later that year.

Draisaitl was the NHL MVP in the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season, when he led the league in scoring with 110 points. He was the leading goal-scorer last season before he and longtime teammate Connor McDavid helped Edmonton make a second consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Final. ___

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Why a 2026 World Cup boycott is unlikely to be successful Kevin BaxterFebruary 4, 2026 at 11:00 PM 0 FIFA President Gianni Infantino gives President Donald Trump the FIFA Peace Prize at the Kennedy Center on Dec. 5. (Chris Carlson / ) Calls for a Europeanled World Cup boycott have grown louder and louder in recent weeks. Yet the possibility one could happen is "slim to none," said Alan Rothenberg, a man who knows a little bit about both World Cups and boycotts. Rothenberg organized the soccer tournament at the 1984 L.A. Games, which was boycotted by 19 countries.

- - Why a 2026 World Cup boycott is unlikely to be successful

Kevin BaxterFebruary 4, 2026 at 11:00 PM

0

FIFA President Gianni Infantino gives President Donald Trump the FIFA Peace Prize at the Kennedy Center on Dec. 5. (Chris Carlson / )

Calls for a European-led World Cup boycott have grown louder and louder in recent weeks. Yet the possibility one could happen is "slim to none," said Alan Rothenberg, a man who knows a little bit about both World Cups and boycotts.

Rothenberg organized the soccer tournament at the 1984 L.A. Games, which was boycotted by 19 countries. Ten years later, he led the organization that put on the 1994 World Cup, the first held in the U.S. and still the best-attended in history.

So while politicians and soccer officials in several key European countries — Germany, France, Denmark and the United Kingdom, among others — have raised the idea of skipping this summer's World Cup, largely in response to President Trump's demands that Denmark hand over Greenland, Rothenberg knows that talk is all bluster.

A boycott is not likely to happen for a number of reasons.

Read more:German soccer leader adds to calls for boycott of World Cup matches in United States

For starters the World Cup is run by the same organization, FIFA, which sanctions virtually every level of soccer globally, from the men's and women's World Cups, to confederation competitions including the UEFA Championships and the Copa América, to most major age-group tournaments. And since it both writes and enforces its own laws, it can ban a federation — and, by extension, its national teams — from any and all competitions.

So imagine the price a single country, say Spain, would pay for refusing to play World Cup games in the U.S. FIFA could ban its national team from the Euros and its women's team from next summer's World Cup, costing the federation millions of dollars in revenue. It could also prohibit Spanish youth teams from participating in age-group competitions and cut Spain off from any FIFA funding.

Consider the case of Russia. After that country invaded neighboring Ukraine in the winter of 2022, FIFA — under enormous international pressure — banned Russia from international soccer completely, barring it from competing in qualifying for the 2022 and 2026 World Cups and keeping it out of the 2024 Euros.

As a result, Russia has not played in a competitive match since November 2021.

U.S. President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian prime minister Mark Carney stand on stage with IOC President Gianni Infantino at the Kennedy Center in December, (Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images)

(FIFA's penalties can be arbitrary and maddeningly inconsistent, however. In 2014, four days after the Winter Games in Sochi, Russia invaded Ukraine the first time, annexing Crimea. Yet less than four months later Russia played in the World Cup and four years later it hosted the tournament, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino sitting beside Vladimir Putin, who ordered both the 2014 and 2022 invasions. Now Infantino is pushing to lift the sanctions on Russia completely despite the fact Putin has stepped up the war, bombing civilians and resisting calls for peace.)

No country has boycotted a World Cup since World War II, though Olympic boycotts have been more frequent with coalitions of as many as five dozen countries refusing to take part in the Summer Games four times between 1956 and 1984.

Those protests were largely coordinated by politicians, not athletes or their federations. President Carter led the largest boycott, rallying more than 60 nations to skip the 1980 Moscow Olympics following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Four years later, a group of mostly Soviet Bloc countries stayed home from the L.A. Olympics in response.

No World Cup boycott could hope to succeed without a similar coalition and that's unlikely to happen. But that hasn't stopped people from talking about one just the same.

Read more:California lawmakers flag concerns about World Cup visas, ban threats and ticket prices

In Germany, Oke Gottlich, one of the German soccer federation's 11 vice presidents, said last month that it's time to "seriously consider a boycott." Bernd Neuendorf, the federation president, said the idea was not "a major debate at all," calling it "completely misguided."

Last Saturday, Germany officially ruled out a boycott.

In France, where politicians have discussed a boycott, sports minister Marina Ferrari and Philippe Diallo, president of the country's soccer federation, both dismissed such talk out of hand.

Still, the idea isn't completely dead. Mogens Jensen, who serves in the Danish parliament, said a World Cup boycott was "one of the last tools in the toolbox" and said if the U.S. were to instigate a real conflict, then a "boycott discussion in very, very relevant."

Still, as improbable as a boycott may be, keeping alive the possibility may be just as effective as actually following through with it. Talk of some sort of World Cup protest, for example, may have played a part in Trump's decision to back off his threats of invading Greenland, the issue that has most angered Europeans.

But that's not the only issue. Coverage of immigration raids in Minnesota and threats by Trump — the host of the U.S. portion of the World Cup — to bomb Iran (a World Cup qualifier) after using the military to extract the president of Venezuela have created a vision of violence and chaos in the U.S. that has frightened and appalled many in Europe.

"I don't know what things are going to look like in June," said Andrew Bertoli, an assistant professor at IE University in Segovia, Spain, and an expert on the social and political effects of sports. "But the perceptions right now are the United States is in a very volatile political situation and it's very unusual."

If national soccer federations feel trapped between a rock and the World Cup, however, there's nothing to keep fans from voting with their wallets and electing to stay home.

Others have opted to attend matches only in Mexico or Canada, which are sharing hosting duties with the U.S., while some have changed their mind about coming to the tournament at all and have reportedly begun reselling their tickets. FIFA will benefit from the change in plans, gaining a 15% fee from the seller and a 15% fee from the buyer of resold tickets.

"I absolutely think that could prevent tourists from going to the United States," said Bertoli, the Segovia professor.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change. Studentathletes as employees? Deion Sanders' program a 'big flashing light' in debate Brent Schrotenboer, USA TODAYFebruary 4, 2026 at 8:31 PM 1 Studentathletes as employees? Deion Sanders' program a 'big flashing light' in debate A heated debate about college sports recently has been raging in Congress and the federal court system: Should college athletes be considered employees who should be provided hourly wages and labor rights? The NCAA and Republican Sen.

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Student-athletes as employees? Deion Sanders' program a 'big flashing light' in debate

Brent Schrotenboer, USA TODAYFebruary 4, 2026 at 8:31 PM

1

Student-athletes as employees? Deion Sanders' program a 'big flashing light' in debate

A heated debate about college sports recently has been raging in Congress and the federal court system: Should college athletes be considered employees who should be provided hourly wages and labor rights?

The NCAA and Republican Sen. Ted Cruz say definitely not.

But player advocates say yes, they should. And there's one team they can hold up as the poster case for how players are treated as employees under the control of a pro-style program — Colorado with football coach Deion Sanders.

Sanders, 58, has been unabashed about it, most recently with an NFL-style disciplinary system in which players are fined for team rules violations, including $500 for being late to practice.

"Viewed in a broader context, what Sanders is doing is an extension of longstanding control tactics by NCAA coaches," Illinois law professor Michael LeRoy told USA TODAY Sports. "They set schedules, manage work, expect performance, push out or cut deficient players, recruit better ones. But Sanders' approach strips any remaining veneer from the idea that his players are not employees."

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The way he operates and markets his program takes the debate to a different level, complete with dozens of annual free-agent signings and a de facto waiver wire for players who have fallen out of favor.

"At the end of the day, man, this is an NFL-based program," Colorado receiver Sincere Brown said in September. "It's like a mini-NFL program."

What's at stake in this debate about college athletes as employees?

It's about more money and rights for players. Those who oppose college athletes as employees generally say it would be too expensive for colleges that already are struggling to come up with the money to pay players under the revenue-sharing terms of the House vs. NCAA legal settlement.

One pending lawsuit, Johnson vs. the NCAA, wants college athletes classified as employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act so they can be entitled to wages for services they provided unrelated to academics. That case is still active in federal court after being filed by plaintiffs attorney Paul McDonald in 2019.

"Certainly, what's going on in Colorado is a big flashing light kind of thing," McDonald told USA TODAY Sports.

But to McDonald and his case, the issue is much simpler: Why can regular college students earn employee wages for selling popcorn at games in a work-study program but not student-athletes for playing in the games? He's pushing for an answer in court.

The political football of college athletes as employees

Separately, under the National Labor Relations Act, players as employees could unionize and reach a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with private schools or conferences for more money and benefits. In exchange, they would make tradeoffs in a CBA, such as a cap on the number of times a player can transfer to a new school.

In 2021, the then-general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board, Jennifer Abruzzo, issued a memo that said she considered college athletes to be employees under the NLRA.

"Under common law, an employee includes a person 'who perform(s) services for another and (is) subject to the other's control or right of control,'" the memo stated. The memo said payment for services "is strongly indicative of employee status."

The Trump Administration rescinded that memo in 2025. Now the U.S. Congress is in conflict about the issue as it considers legislation to regulate college sports. Democrats don't want to forbid employment status for college athletes while Cruz recently told ESPN it was "absolutely critical" to clarify "that student athletes are not employees."

2003: Deion Sanders and family celebrate Kids Day at the New York Knicks vs. New Orleans Hornets NBA game at Madison Square Garden in New York, on Nov. 29, 2003.

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2003: Deion Sanders and family celebrate Kids Day at the New York Knicks vs. New Orleans Hornets NBA game at Madison Square Garden in New York, on Nov. 29, 2003.

">2003: Deion Sanders and family celebrate Kids Day at the New York Knicks vs. New Orleans Hornets NBA game at Madison Square Garden in New York, on Nov. 29, 2003.

" src=https://ift.tt/ghywjU1 class=caas-img>2000: Washington's Deion Sanders jukes the Detroit Lions' Brock Olivo at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, on Sept. 10, 2000.

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2000: Washington's Deion Sanders jukes the Detroit Lions' Brock Olivo at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, on Sept. 10, 2000.

">2000: Washington's Deion Sanders jukes the Detroit Lions' Brock Olivo at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, on Sept. 10, 2000.

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1997: Deion Sanders at the plate for the Cincinnati Reds during the 1997 season. The Reds were among four different MLB teams that Sanders played for during a nine-season career.

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1997: Deion Sanders at the plate for the Cincinnati Reds during the 1997 season. The Reds were among four different MLB teams that Sanders played for during a nine-season career.

">1997: Deion Sanders at the plate for the Cincinnati Reds during the 1997 season. The Reds were among four different MLB teams that Sanders played for during a nine-season career.

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1 / 34See Deion Sanders' 'Prime Time' career in football, baseball and coachingHead coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes walks the sideline during the first quarter against the Wyoming Cowboys at Folsom Field on Sept. 20, 2025 in Boulder, Colo.The 'mini-NFL program' under Deion Sanders

To be sure, Sanders promotes classwork and education at Colorado. He has said he wants to develop his players as young men, not just football players.

At the same time, probably no other major college sports program in America is a better example of a college team treating players like employees in a setting that advertises itself as a pro development operation. Here are some examples below.

Deion Sanders issues fines for rules violations

Colorado players are fined for infractions like in the NFL — $400 for being late to a meeting and up to $5,000 for "social media misconduct."

This isn't the first time a college program has tried this. In 2015, the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Virginia reported Virginia Tech had a system for fining players, including $100 for drawing a personal foul penalty. The newspaper said Virginia Tech's athletic director "had no idea" about it and discontinued it immediately.

"The fact that the players are required to follow specific rules and are subject to consequences for violating them is a level of control often seen in the employment context," Abruzzo told USA TODAY Sports. "This conduct seems to be similar to an employer taking action against a worker for a handbook rule infraction. But, rather than suspend the worker, thus making them unavailable for work (games), for example, he assesses fines."

Deion Sanders' pro-style roster control

Sanders pioneered the practice of signing dozens of free-agent transfers every year, even more so than NFL teams. This year, he's signing players for money under the national revenue-sharing rules that started last July. He also has used the transfer portal as a pro-style waiver wire as an escape hatch for players who underperform. He's not the only coach who controls roster spots like this, but he's been the most famous example of it. He's said he had to "get rid of" the mess he inherited.

"Those of you we don't run off, we're gonna make you quit," Sanders told his inherited Colorado players at his first team meeting in December 2022.

Deion Sanders 'wanted pros' for pro development

Sanders has advertised his program as a pro-development program filled with former NFL players and coaches. Last year, three Pro Football Hall of Famers were on staff. His offensive coordinator last year, Pat Shurmur, previously was the head coach of the NFL's Cleveland Browns and New York Giants.

"We have two new coordinators that are wonderful, that combined I believe they have over 35 years of NFL experience, because I wanted pros," Sanders said in 2024. "It's like a navigational system. You can't tell me where to go unless you've been there (the NFL)."

Online classes and reality TV at Colorado

His players previously signed releases or agreements to appear in a reality show featuring Sanders on Amazon Prime Video, including for compensation.

Many of his players don't attend classes in-person and do their college classwork online instead. His quarterback son Shedeur Sanders said he attended only one in-person class in his time at Colorado. This isn't unique to Colorado and isn't unusual for athletes after the pandemic of 2020, but it doesn't exactly contribute to the notion players are living the campus life as "student-athletes." Instead, it adds to the notion these players are separated from the rest of the student body while "working" on a separate revenue-generating mission.

"The rules, the perhaps implied coercion to appear on and promote the reality TV shows for his financial gain, and the lack of taking in-person classes if as a consequence of scheduling conflicts related to games, traveling, practice (and) training where academics is forced to take a second seat to athletics, all together suggest that the player is more akin to an employee than a student," Abruzzo said.

'Pro Day' at Colorado on NFL Network

Sanders hosted a massive "pro day" event last April, in which NFL scouts, coaches, executives and media came to campus to measure his players and watch them work out before the NFL draft. Other schools have "pro days," too, but this was televised on the NFL Network — the kind of marketing and publicity that other programs want but few can get.

Sanders called it "a tremendous boost for our program and what we're trying to accomplish here at CU."

'Focused on the NFL' at Colorado

To legal experts, it's a matter of control and compensation in exchange for services provided, not marketing. In the Johnson vs. NCAA case, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal set up a test to determine whether minimum-wage law applies to college athletes.

The court said they may be considered employees in this context if they "perform services for another party, that are "necessarily and primarily for the (other party's) benefit," under that party's control or right of control and in return for "express" or "implied" compensation or "in-kind benefits."

"My view has long been that the football and basketball players in the Power 5 conferences easily meet the definition of employee," said Marc Edelman, law professor at Baruch College in New York. "So while Deion Sanders adding fines to compensated athletes marks another obvious indicia of employment status, this decision just seems to be indicative of a far broader scope of control over athletes, extending from control over what they wear to control over their social media."

Sanders has never tried to hide what he's been trying to build. At his introductory news conference in December 2022, he said he wanted his players focused on more than making money from their names, images and likenesses (NIL).

"I'm not crazy about the NILs, but I understand the NILs," Sanders said then. "But I would rather our kids be focused on the NFL, not just the NIL."

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: [email protected]

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Colorado's Deion Sanders fuels labor debate over college players

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