Joan Rivers Films Streaming on Netflix

By Stacy Lambe

September 5, 2014 / 8:00 PM

Joan Rivers

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Joan Rivers

Fans were definitely saddened by the news of Joan Rivers’ death following a week in a medically induced coma and stay in Intensive Care. The comedian and actress had a long career of cracking jokes, making people laugh, and sometimes making people cringe. While many younger fans mainly remember Rivers for her work on the red carpet at the Academy Awards or as a style critic and host of E!'s Fashion Police, the comedian also spent a lot of time doing standup and even appeared in several cult classic comedies.

Thankfully some of her best work can be found on Netflix Instant. Those who want to celebrate Rivers’ life have several options to choose from this weekend:

Joan Rivers: Don’t Start with Me (2012)

Filmed during her 2012 tour, Rivers proved that at 78 she still had the same fierce comedic bite that made her a huge hit. The standup special is also a reminder that Rivers wasn’t just always a red carpet talking head, she was a laugh-making machine.

(Also available on Hulu+)

Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (2010)

One film that any new or old Rivers fan should watch is this 2010 documentary, which dove deep into the life and career of the comedian at 76. Over the course of 14 months, cameras followed Rivers, peeling away the “mask” and showing the truth behind her joke-filled curtain. It was easily one of the best documentaries of that year and was sadly overlooked by the Oscars. Had it been nominated, we would have seen Rivers walking down the red carpet instead of critiquing it.

Intern (2000)

Starring Rivers, Kathy Griffin, and Peggy Lipton, The Intern was a satire of the fashion media industry that also poked fun at Rivers’ herself. While the film wasn’t a runaway success, it's great for all its cameos, which are the who’s who of Hollywood and fashion.

Spaceballs (1987)

In 1987, Mel Brooks released a sci-fi parody that made jokes at the expense of Star Wars, Star Trek, Alien, and Planet of the Apes. In the comedic space opera, Rivers starred as Dot Matrix, a sassy C3P0-type droid of honor. Although Rivers was never seen on screen, her familiar snarl could be heard throughout the movie. While the film initially received mixed reviews, it went on to become a cult classic getting passed around on VHS.

The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)

By the time the Muppets released their third theatrical film, it became commonplace for celebrities to make cameo appearances sharing laughs with the marionette creatures. Rivers appeared as Eileen in one of the Muppets’ best big screen runs. It’s a small role, but Rivers could hardly be overlooked.

If that's not enough, fans can also find some of Rivers' other work on other streaming platforms. Don't Start With Me is also available on Hulu+ as are clips from her E! series, Fashion Police. Amazon Prime subscribers can watch all three seasons of That Show With Joan Rivers. And Comedy Central is currently streaming her 2009 Roast in its entirety.

[Photos: IFC Films, Getty, MGM, TriStar Pictures]