Best of the Best (2026): Is Hasan Minhaj's Netflix Comedy Good?
In short: Best of the Best (Netflix, September 18, 2026) is a Bollywood-fusion college dance comedy directed by Lena Khan and written by Hasan Minhaj and Prashanth Venkataramanujam. Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and Priyanka Kedia play childhood best friends who join UCLA's dance team. Critics mostly liked it (79% on Rotten Tomatoes from 24 reviews); audiences were cooler (61%). The leads and the first half are the draw; the more dramatic second half is where most complaints land.
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- Released: September 18, 2026, on Netflix.
- Director: Lena Khan (The Tiger Hunter, Flora & Ulysses).
- Writers: Hasan Minhaj and Prashanth Venkataramanujam, his writing partner from Patriot Act.
- Runtime and rating: 1 hour 52 minutes, PG-13.
- Reception: 79% from critics and 61% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, as of early October 2026.
What it's about
Maya (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) and Anjali (Priyanka Kedia), best friends since childhood, arrive at UCLA and make the university's competitive Bollywood-fusion dance team, Agni. As the team chases a national championship, the friends' ambitions, a romance and an argument over what the team's dancing should be pull them apart. One thread asks whether Agni should stick to familiar Bollywood routines or bring in less-seen South Asian dance forms, and Maya's Tamil background is part of that story.
Who's in it
- Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Maya. Best known as Devi in Never Have I Ever.
- Priyanka Kedia as Anjali.
- Ankur Rathee, Chaneil Kular and Janina Gavankar in supporting roles.
- Hasan Minhaj as Professor Latif.
The choreography is by Joya Kazi.
What critics said
Most praise goes to the two leads. IndieWire said Ramakrishnan and Kedia "dazzle," and The A.V. Club gave it a B+, calling it a rare South Asian American coming-of-age story and a worthy follow-up for Ramakrishnan after Never Have I Ever. What's on Netflix called her a true leading lady.
The criticism is consistent too. Several reviews found the second half, which turns from team comedy to drama between Maya and Anjali, flatter than the first. RogerEbert.com said the film "misses a few steps," The Globe and Mail said it barely earns a passing grade, and some critics found the dance sequences less exciting than the genre's best. The A.V. Club wanted more from the mother-daughter relationships.
Why audiences are cooler than critics
A gap of about 18 points between critics and audiences is common for streaming comedies, and the reviews suggest why here: anyone expecting a nonstop dance movie gets a familiar underdog plot with a slower, heavier back half. If you go in for the friendship and the cast, the gap matters less.
Our verdict
Worth watching if you liked Never Have I Ever, Bend It Like Beckham or the Step Up and Bring It On films, and especially if you've wanted a dance movie built around South Asian dance and diaspora life. It's predictable, and the first hour is better than the last, but the leads carry it. If dance movies aren't your thing, this won't convert you.
Frequently asked questions
Is Best of the Best based on a true story? No. It's an original screenplay by Hasan Minhaj and Prashanth Venkataramanujam, set in the real world of college Bollywood-fusion dance competitions.
Is Hasan Minhaj the lead in Best of the Best? No. He co-wrote it and plays a supporting role, Professor Latif. The leads are Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and Priyanka Kedia.
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