10 Best Dave Chappelle StandUp Performances Ranked (According To IMDb)

10 Best Dave Chappelle Stand-Up Performances, Ranked (According To IMDb)

Dave Chappelle boasts one of the most impressive comedy careers in history. But what are the best Dave Chappelle stand-up specials and performances?

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Content Warning: The following article contains misogynistic language and discussions of homophobia, racism, and gun violence.

Dave Chappelle is one of the most popular and reliable comedians in the world. He makes it look so easy with his cool, effortless style, perfect execution, and a side-splitting, increasingly ruthless brand of comedy. As well as owning traditional stand-up, he’s charmed the world with multiple TV spots and cameos, Hollywood blockbusters (including rounding out a perfectly cast Con Air), his TV show of course, and more.

These days, he primarily focuses on stand-up, holding a mirror up to the bizarre post-2016 world, and his IMDb ratings remain consistent with the high bar he set for himself.

Updated on December 17th, 2021, by Hannah Saab: As Dave Chappelle keeps honing his craft as a comedian, his audience continues to grow. With more recent specials like 8:46 and The Closer proving just how controversial and powerful his art can be, it’s not surprising that Chappelle’s highest-rated performances have shifted on IMDb. The fact that he still manages to exceed his previous works underscores how his comedy is more relevant than ever before, which is why it’s worth revisiting the highlights of Chappelle’s career today.

10 Deep In The Heart Of Texas (2017) – 8.0

Also known as Dave Chappelle: Live at Austin City Limits. This Netflix special aired in March 2017 and served as much-needed therapy as the world started to spin out of control. The performance addressed the rise of racism with a series of anecdotes concerning awkward interracial encounters, before moving on to parents of today and the growing list of celebrity scandals.

It’s a show that highlights how Chappelle is one of the funniest Black comedians of his generation, as he unapologetically tackles serious topics like racially motivated police shootings and the threat of ISIS in a thought-provoking and hilarious way.

9 Saturday Night Live (2016) – 8.0

In the United States, no one can say they have truly made it as an actor or particularly as a comedian unless they’ve hosted SNL (or at least been offered and turned it down). Dave Chappelle got his long-awaited debut in 2016 and showed up his predecessors with his turn on the mic. The episode also featured a memorable sketch parodying The Walking Dead.

Among the audacious and much-needed jokes said on that stage tonight revolved around his shock that the Americans voted for an “internet troll” and the strange phrase he’s been hearing, “Blue Lives Matter.” It’s an unforgettable performance that united his fans and gave them hope during that chaotic time, which is part of what he does best.

8 The Age Of Spin (2017) – 8.1

The Age Of Spin – a.k.a Dave Chappelle: Live At The Hollywood Palladium – was released alongside Deep In The Heart Of Texas and featured a more focussed take on similar grounds. As well as addressing the mounting problems caused by his own generation, he made sure to hold a mirror up to the next, lest they end up crafting a similar hell for themselves.

The performance featured meditations on the rapid evolution of humanity and technology and his struggle to keep up, as well as his go-to icebreaker O.J. Simpson.

7 The Closer (2021) – 8.1

The Closer may be one of Chappelle’s best stand-up comedy specials, but it’s also among his most controversial. His critique of the LGBTQ+ community and the way that social media reacts to his shows likely only added fuel to the growing fire about his brand of comedy.

He doubles down and points out hypocrisy surrounding the “Me Too” movement, before defining himself as a proud feminist. Despite all of these audacious segments, the most powerful part of the special is undoubtedly his tear-jerking story about his friend and fellow comedian, Daphne Dorman. Seeing as it’s one of his latest performances, it truly underscores how much he understands and how comfortable he is with his craft, even if an increasing number of people aren’t.

6 8:46 (2020) – 8.2

Fans can’t be blamed for not knowing what to expect when Chappelle announced he would be doing a private outdoor show in June 2020. Just a few weeks after George Flloyd’s tragic death and a couple of months after the start of the pandemic, it was an uncertain and scary time. Chappelle acknowledges how strange the situation is during the slow start of his performance, but quickly reminds everyone why they’re watching a show called 8:46 – a reference to Floyd’s manner of death because of police brutality.

It’s an unconventional stand-up performance, with more moments of jarring seriousness interspersed with jokes to punctuate the absurdity, fear, and anger around racism and gun violence. It’s one of his most powerful performances to date, which says a lot considering the nature of his work.

5 Equanimity (2017) – 8.2

Equanimity was Chappelle’s final 2017 Netflix special. It was just as hilarious as the others and also a bit lighter and less controversial. He begins by shamelessly bragging that he’s simply too good at comedy writing and performing, before masterfully demonstrating these skills with the flawless “kicked” routine.

With the audience under his spell, he takes them through his childhood and his experiences with fake news and pissing off the transgender community. It’s a gut-busting performance that emphasizes the comedian’s wits and talent, leaving viewers crying from laughter all the way to its hilarious conclusion.

4 Sticks And Stones (2019) – 8.5

After Equanimity, Chappelle took a short break after joking about being suspicious of his growing success. He returned with a bang in 2019 with one of his best stand-up shows on Netflix. He then went about ticking off every subject of controversy available, taking no prisoners. He even had a go at audiences, stating he’d perform more often if he wasn’t worried about audiences trying to ruin him.

While he cut pretty close to the bone and caused quite a stir with the routine, that’s arguably a good thing, and the comedy was as slick as ever. Chappelle understands the value of biting satire and political humor, which, for those who get why they’re necessary, are more needed today than ever before.

3 For What It’s Worth (2004) – 8.6

2004’s For What It’s Worth was Chappelle’s second official stand-up, the long-awaited follow-up to his 2000 special with HBO. This full-length special aired on Showtime and was performed in front of a huge crowd at The Fillmore in San Francisco, during his TV show’s run.

He had already mastered the art of stand up and cemented his winning style by 2004, and as flawless as his modern routines are, his older routines where he actually had to try are among his greatest, and he works the auditorium as well as he works a crowd of 100 people as he goes into the intricacies of monkey-seduction.

2 Chappelle’s Show (2003 – 2006) – 8.7

Even with the recent burst of Netflix specials, the greatest wealth of Chappelle stand-up comes from Chappelle’s Show, which ran for three seasons from 2003-2006. Along with many iconic sketches and parodies, Chappelle would open the show to a live audience at Austin’s Moody Theatre every week as America tuned in to get his unique perspective on things.

Each one of Chappelle’s Show’s hilarious stand-up comedy episodes brought something new and unexpected, pushing the boundaries of the genre and arguably redefining it for years to come.

1 Killin’ Them Softly (2000) – 8.8

After nailing his half-hour spot with HBO in 1998, they gave him a well-deserved full-length special in 2000. Killin’ Them Softly was a heroic comic performance for the time, noting and working the multi-racial crowd before thoroughly exploring the more unspoken race divide of the time without rubbing anyone’s nose in it in a seamless hour of prime Chappelle stand-up.

Despite being gone for years, Chappelle obviously hasn’t lost his quick wits and incredible ability to cause a crowd to burst out in uproarious laughter at what some consider to be taboo topics. It would be easy to say it’s Chappelle at his best, but he continues to outdo himself and only time will tell how else the comedian will entertain and educate his fans.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/dave-chappelle-greatest-comedy-standup-specials-imdb/

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