Best Movies on Hulu Right Now

There are so many good movies on Hulu, from side-splitting comedies like Fire Island to passionate romances like Palm Springs to terrifying horror films like The Babadook. There are so many good ones, in fact, that it can be hard to wade through everything to find the cream of the crop. Never fear: We’ve compiled a list of the best movies on Hulu so you can find new and old favorites alike.

 

‘Poor Things’ (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | IMDb: 8.0/10

Oscar winner Emma Stone captivates in Poor Things, a uniquely fantastical story of self-discovery from Yorgos Lanthimos (The Favourite). Stone plays Bella Baxter, a science experiment hatched by an unorthodox scientist, Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe), determined to explore the world into which she was brought. Supporting Stone and Dafoe are Mark Ruffalo and Ramy Youssef, rounding out the impressive cast in the peculiar tale. Based on Alasdair Gray’s novel, Poor Things showcases an alternative Victorian London, blending a variety of genres highlighted by steampunk elements and Lanthimos’ signature comedic style.

Stone’s performance as a woman with a brain transplant whose body and mind are not synchronized is somehow charming, hilarious, and endearing all at the same time, grounding the whirlwind adventure, which could so easily fly off the rails due to the absurd plot.

‘Dune’ (2021)

Rotten Tomatoes: 83% | IMDb: 8.0/10

In an absolutely stunning cinematic feat, Dune is part one of the epic science-fiction saga from director Denis Villeneuve. Based on Frank Herbert’s legendary novel, Dune stars Timothée Chalamet (Bones and All) alongside Rebecca Ferguson (Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One) in the political allegory.

Highlighted by large-scale gorgeous scenescapes, vividly intricate costuming, and truly heroic stunt performances, Dune is a slow-burn narrative with a feast for the eyes. With the first installment ending without a conclusive resolution, Dune charmingly ensures audiences and Herbert fans are left eager for more. – Yael Tygiel

‘Romeo + Juliet’ (1996)

IMDb: 6.7/10

Directed by Baz Luhrmann (Elvis), 1996’s adaptation of Romeo + Juliet tells the classic Shakespearian tale of lovers from feuding families but with a twist: it’s a modernized version. Even though it’s a modern setting, the film uses Shakespearian English. When it premiered, Romeo + Juliet was a box office hit, earning $147 million and being praised by critics for its inventiveness and visual aesthetic. The film is often used in schools as an accessible way to introduce students to Shakespeare while keeping a modern-looking visual.

The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio (Killers of the Flower Moon) as Romeo and Claire Danes (Homeland) as Juliet, also co-starring John Leguizamo (Moulin Rouge!), Harold Perrineau (The Edge), Lupita Ochoa, and Pete Postlethwaite (The Usual Suspects). It was nominated for Best Art Direction at the 69th Academy Awards and won multiple awards at the British Academy Film Awards, the Berlin International Film Festival, and the London Film Critics Circle Awards. – Emily Cappello

‘The Creator’ (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 67% | IMDb: 6.8/10

2023’s The Creator comes at an interesting time. With the discussion of humans versus Artificial Intelligence more prevalent than ever, Gareth Edwards’ latest film puts that debate on display. The film tells the story of Joshua (John David Washington) as he fights against “The Creator,” an AI possessing a weapon that could end the entire human race. The twist: this weapon, which is the key to destroying The Creator, is an AI that looks, talks, and acts like a child (Madeleine Yuna Voyles). The film co-stars Gemma Chan (Eternals) and Academy Award winner Allison Janney (I, Tonya).

Director Gareth Edwards’s previous work includes Rogue One, a film that was a massive success when it premiered in 2016 and grossed over a billion dollars. While The Creator didn’t bring in major box office bucks, it was praised by critics, who highlighted the film’s visual effects, action sequences, and the great direction done by Edwards. – Emily Cappello

‘Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood’ (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes: 85% | IMDb: 7.6/10

Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 film Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood has a lot packed into its almost three-hour-long runtime. One of those features is its incredible (and very large) ensemble cast, made up of Brad Pitt (Ocean’s Eleven), Leonardo DiCaprio (Killers of the Flower Moon), Margot Robbie (Barbie), Emile Hirsch (Into the Wild), Al Pacino (The Godfather), Dakota Fanning (War of the Worlds), Austin Butler (Elvis), and the late Luke Perry (Beverly Hills, 90210), just to name a few. This heavy-hitting cast of characters tells a reimagined story of the life and (almost) death of Sharon Tate (Robbie) as she related to Charles Manson in the late 1960s. The story is told through the lens of the fictional Rick Dalton (DiCaprio) and his stunt double Cliff Booth (Pitt), both of whom are experiencing the effects of Dalton’s fading career.

The film won two Oscars for Production Design and Best Supporting Actor for Brad Pitt. Tarantino ended up turning the film into a full-length novel of the same name, which was published in 2021 with HarperCollins publishers. In the novel, Tarantino added extra background information on fans’ favorite characters, including Rick Dalton and Cliff Booth. – Emily Cappello

‘How to Blow Up a Pipeline’ (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | IMDb: 7.0/10

Director Daniel Goldhaber explores environmental justice through the use of property damage in the gripping drama How to Blow Up a Pipeline. Centering on eight young people who unite to take extreme actions to fight the climate crisis, How to Blow Up a Pipeline is an intensely thrilling, heart-pumping action film. Starring Ariela Barer (Runaways), who co-wrote the screenplay with Goldhaber and Jordan Sjol, the movie features a truly incredible cast alongside Barer, including Lukas Gage, Sasha Lane, Jayme Lawson, Marcus Scribner (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power), Jake Weary, and Forrest Goodluck.

Highlighted by powerhouse performances and a fascinatingly raw investigation into social justice and activism, How to Blow Up a Pipeline showcases talent without neglecting an unapologetically genuine story confronting harsh realities. – Yael Tygiel

‘Personal Shopper’ (2016)

Rotten Tomatoes: 81% | 6.1/10

The 2016 Cannes Film Festival winner for Best Direction by Olivier Assayas, Personal Shopper tells the story of a young woman named Maureen (Kristen Stewart) in Paris who won’t leave the city until she finds contact with her twin brother, Lewis, who died three months prior. She and her brother had a pact before he died that they would contact one another from beyond, and she is battling her grief, waiting for that message. Working as a personal shopper to a celebrity, Maureen and Lewis are/were mediums and have spiritual connections to the world around them and each other. Adding to the drama is the fact that Maureen is suddenly receiving text messages from a mysterious sender, unsure of what is real and what isn’t.

The film was also written by Assayas and was considered a box office success, as with its limited release, it still earned $2.2 million against its $1 million budget. However, the film’s ending was booed at the Cannes Film Festival, which didn’t bother Assayas, who still won the Best Director prize. Despite the controversial conclusion, it was listed as one of Time magazine’s top 10 films of 2017. – Emily Cappello

‘Alien’ (1979)

Rotten Tomatoes: 98% | IMDb: 8.5/10

I tried to re-create the infamous Alien scene where a creature comes out of someone’s stomach for a film project in college, and the best I could come up with was having my Stitch doll from Lilo & Stitch come out of my brother’s button-up shirt while he pretended to scream. My inspiration came from the 1979 horror-sci-fi classic Alien, directed by Ridley Scott and written by Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett. With an epic score by Jerry Goldsmith and brilliant performances from its cast, the film was a box office smash, earning $106 million worldwide. The story follows the crew of a spacecraft as they meet a deadly alien while investigating a transmission. When the crew attempts to hurt the creature, it oozes a corrosive acid. As they try to warn the rest of the world about this danger, they must also try to save themselves.

The cast is made up of Tom Skerritt (Top Gun), Sigourney Weaver (Avatar), Veronica Cartwright (The Witches of Eastwick), Harry Dean Stanton (Repo Man), John Hurt (1984), Ian Holm (The Lord of the Rings), Yaphet Kotto (Live and Let Die), and Bolaji Badeji as the Alien. The film received an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects and was nominated for Best Set Direction. It was also nominated for a Grammy for Best Original Score and a Golden Globe for the same category. It ushered in a new era for the genre and has had eight sequels, with a rumored television series on the way. With directors like Scott, James Cameron (The Terminator), David Fincher (Zodiac), and Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Amelie), the films have continued their legendary status. – Emily Cappello

‘The Heathers’ (1989)

Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | IMDb: 7.2/10

Plaid. Croquet. Murder. Heathers has it all. The 80s dark comedy follows the story of the three most popular girls in an Ohio high school, all of whom are named Heather. Enter Veronica (Winona Ryder), whose master plan is to murder each of the Heathers and frame those murders as suicides. She finds an unlikely confidante in Jason (Christian Slater), who helps Veronica with her scheme. “The Heathers” are made up of Shannen Doherty (Beverly Hills, 90210), Lisanne Falk (Less Than Zero), and Kim Walker (Say Anything), the last of which was cast in place of another actress, who passed it up because her parents disapproved of the film. Walker took on the role, as she was dating Slater at the time. Filming took only 33 days exclusively in Los Angeles and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 1989. It is now considered one of the best coming-of-age films of all time.

Heathers has been turned into both a musical and a TV series of the same name. The musical ran on and off in different locations from 2010 through 2023, spending time in New York, Los Angeles, the West End of London, Brazil, Ireland, and Buenos Aires. The TV series had one season in 2018, airing on HBO in Europe and the Paramount Network in the US. Although the film is hailed as a cult classic today, when it premiered, it only earned $1 million against its $3 million budget, making it a huge flop. Some speculate that it went strongly against the warm, fuzzy world John Hughes had brought about with films like The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, and Pretty in Pink. No matter what your take on the film, it’s sure to make you have a sudden urge to play croquet. – Emily Cappello

‘The Babadook’ (2014)

Rotten Tomatoes: 90% | IMDb: 6.8/10

Based on the 2005 short film Monster, The Babadook crept its way into theaters in 2014, delivering a slow-burn psychological thriller that generated the scream heard ‘round the world. Written and directed by Jennifer Kent, the film was Kent’s feature directorial debut, and boy, was it a good one. The story follows Amelia (Essie Davis), a newly widowed mother to son Samuel (Noah Wiseman), as she unknowingly welcomes a sinister presence into their home by reading Samuel a book that shows up on her doorstep. To add to that insanity, Amelia’s grief and Samuel’s misbehavior are making it seemingly impossible for her to accept him as he is. As Samuel’s fear and paranoia of The Babadook grows, so does Amelia’s, and soon, the two are unsure what is real and what is coming from their terrified minds.

The film was met with fantastic reviews and grossed $10 million against its tiny budget of $2 million, which is impressive for a film that only had a limited release. What critics raved most about in the film is its deeper message, as it wasn’t just an “empty” horror riding only on jump scares. Instead, it contained a layered story that tackled grief, single parenthood, and the exhaustion that comes with both. If the real Babadook film is too scary for you, there’s always “The Pookadook,” The Simpsons parody featured on their 34th Treehouse of Horror special. Well, even the Pookadook made me cover my eyes, so maybe just choose a comedy if you’re easily frightened. – Emily Cappello

‘Theater Camp’ (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 85% | IMDb: 7.0/10

A poignant allegory for the post-pandemic financial struggles of the arts industry, Theater Camp follows run-down upstate New York theater camp AdirondACTS and the group of superstar wannabes that attend. After the founder of the camp, Joan (Amy Sedaris), sadly falls into a coma, the day-to-day running of the business is given to her son Troy (Jimmy Tatro), a man with no experience or interest in the arts. A story of zero to hero, Troy must battle a frustrated group of passionate attendees and a crippling financial burden in order to keep his mother’s dream alive.

Despite the plot suggesting AdirondACTS is a camp for amateurs, the actual cast of characters is a treat for the senses, starring Broadway star Ben Platt. Funny and touching, the narrative lures you in with its endearing humor before emotionally gripping you, thanks to some tender dramatic moments. Bags of fun and energy, it is impossible to find a moment’s boredom with Theater Camp — something that can also be said for the sort of organizations the film showcases… so make sure to support local theater. – Jake Hodges

‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 96% | IMDb: 7.7/10

This Academy Award-winning tale is set against the backdrop of the Irish Civil War and follows lifelong buddies Padraic (Colin Farrell) and Colm (Brendan Gleeson). On one seemingly ordinary day, Colm suddenly decides to end their friendship, leading to an in-denial Padraic refusing to let the truth sink in. With his persistence pushing Colm to madness, Padraic’s life is turned upside down when the feud turns violent and a final ultimatum from Colm reveals shocking twisted consequences.

A whirlwind narrative from writer/director Martin McDonagh, The Banshees of Inisherin is a pensive, thought-provoking tale with a unique sense of tension. Despite its seemingly remote setting, the film feels huge in its concept, with the backdrop of a Civil War only adding to the sense of scale. Both Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell are incredible and have electric on-screen chemistry with a performance as captivating as their work on In Bruges. Dramatic and gruesome, the plot still finds moments to breathe thanks to a genuinely funny script that provides a sense of comedic irony during some of the film’s toughest scenes. – Jake Hodges

‘No One Will Save You’ (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 81% | IMDb: 6.3/10

This unique horror tale from Brian Duffield follows Brynn (Kaitlyn Dever), a woman who lives alone following the deaths of her loved ones and is shunned by the community around her. One fateful day, an alien invades her home, and after accidentally killing it, a venture into her town reveals that she is not the only one under attack. Now charged with defending her home as the invasion grows, can Brynn survive on her own?

A shining example of ‘show, don’t tell’ filmmaking, No One Will Save You has just five words in its entire runtime, meaning that Kaitlyn Dever’s lead performance is more pivotal than ever. Luckily, she excels with a script from Brian Duffield that finds tension at every turn. Despite the aliens invading, it is still perhaps the people around her that are the most villainous, with a message of human cruelty akin to that in 28 Days Later. Brooding and creepy, No One Will Save You is a great exponent of the recent trend of finding new ways of making horror. – Jake Hodges

‘The Quiet Girl’ (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 97% | IMDb: 7.7/10

The Academy Award-nominated The Quiet Girl begins in rural 1981 Ireland and follows young Cáit (Catherine Clinch) after she is sent away from her family to live with foster parents for a summer. After being dismissed and neglected by her family for so long, Cáit grows under the care of Seán (Andrew Bennett) and Eibhlín Cinnsealach (Carrie Crowley) as she blossoms into the carefree child her previous life had disallowed her to be. However, the caring front of this doting couple contains one simple rule: there will never be any secrets. When Cáit discovers a hidden truth as her foster couple becomes more attached to her, what will the consequences be?

Poignant, pretty, and playful, The Quiet Girl is a delight that transcends both the public and critics, with it rightfully becoming the first ever Gaelic-language film to be nominated for an Academy Award. Catherine Clinch, among a sea of great performances, steals the show as the titular Quiet Girl as her life beautifully transitions from downbeat into magical and wonderous once she realizes life can be good. Director Colm Bairéad understands how to sensitively pace such a fragile narrative, creating a careful story full of stunning details that take its time to develop. – Jake Hodges

‘Prey’ (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 94% | IMDb: 7.1/10

This action-adventure film from director Dan Trachtenberg follows the journey of Naru (Amber Midthunder) some 300 years ago. Set in the Comanche Nation, Naru has lived her life surrounded by highly-trained warriors, with her absorption of their lifestyle creating a fiery, talented warrior in her, too. When their lives become threatened by strange creatures, Naru takes it upon herself to fight back, with their terrifying foe unexpectedly a highly-evolved monster. As she stalks the titular prey, it is clear that this mission, even for a woman of her abilities, will require precision and perhaps a bit of luck.

Set in the immersive wilderness, Prey is a delight for many reasons, with one of those certainly its cinematography from DP Jeff Cutter. Sarah Schachner’s atmospheric score perfectly balances the on-screen action as the narrative twists and turns toward a dramatic finale. Well-paced, the movie doesn’t hold back as it hurtles through neatly choreographed action. Just like the prey its protagonist is trained to capture, from minute one, this movie hooks its audience and keeps them gripped until the end. – Jake Hodges

‘Rye Lane’ (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 98% | IMDb: 7.2/10

Set in South London and named after the real-life Rye Lane Market, Rye Lane follows David Jonsson’s Dom and Vivian Oparah’s Yas as, on one completely unassuming day, the two meet unexpectedly and begin to get to know each other. After realizing that they both share recent heartbreak in common, their time together displays even more similarities. As their day together progresses, it is clear a love may be blossoming, but how easy is it to simply forget your heartache for someone new?

A sweet romantic comedy, Rye Lane has received a plethora of praise since its debut at the Sundance Film Festival, with almost every aspect of the movie having been gushed over. Despite its well-trodden genre, Rye Lane really is a breath of fresh air, with the chemistry from the lead couple keeping eyes transfixed on every on-screen detail. Unlike other rom-coms of this nature, the nuances of human emotion are explored with maturity, with both of the protagonists making questionable choices but never losing their appeal. Simply put, Rye Lane is a joy to watch. – Jake Hodges

‘Triangle of Sadness’ (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 72% | IMDb: 7.3/10

A winner of the coveted Palme d’Or prize at Cannes, Triangle of Sadness follows celebrity model couple Carl (Harris Dickinson) and Yaya (Charlbi Dean) after they are unexpectedly invited on a yacht with some of the richest people in the world. Promised a luxurious getaway full of social media content opportunities, the couple instead find Woody Harrelson’s strange boat captain and a voyage destined for disaster as they end up stranded with no hope on a desert island.

A satirical examination of social hierarchy, Triangle of Sadness moves with comedy, its underlying message providing a biting view of the entitlement of the mega-rich. Although overt in its critique, the film is both satisfying in its delivery and, in places, quite heartfelt, with our central couple finding moments of nuance despite all their flaws. Full of energy, the plot, like the yacht, rocks and crashes until each of the undesirables meets their deserved fate. – Jake Hodges

‘Bruiser’ (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 6.1/10

Co-written and directed by Miles Warren, Bruiser follows the story of 14-year-old Darious (Jalyn Hall), who, surrounded by a world of contrasting views from his faith to toxic masculinity, fights to find his place. Bullied at private school, Darious, searching for answers, rebels against his strict regimen of life by befriending a much older stranger. In a twist of fate, this stranger turns out to be Darious’s biological father, a man from which his mother had kept him hidden for fear that his violent tendencies would be passed down to her son.

A story split down the middle in both its style and substance, Bruiser is, in fact, based on Miles Warren’s own experience as an adolescent, making the nuanced drama all the more impactful. Incredibly relevant, Bruiser sacrifices the flashier aspects of cinema in favor of telling a genuinely heartfelt story — one that almost transcends the medium with which it is told. Thanks to a truthful script and Jalyn Hall’s magnificent performance, Bruiser is a piece of media that serves as both entertainment and, in some respects, social education. – Jake Hodges

‘Fire Island’ (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 94% | IMDb: 6.7/10

Both written by and starring Joel Kim Booster, Fire Island, inspired by Pride and Prejudice, follows a group of gay friends who decide to get away and let their proverbial hair down one summer. What ensues is a recipe for romantic success, as each of their lives is changed thanks to blossoming romances, philosophical epiphanies, and plenty of cheap booze.

A zeitgeisty take on today’s youth, Fire Island leaves no stone unturned in its pursuit of representing the underrepresented. From social media trends to drugs and body dysmorphia, Fire Island thrives thanks to the diverse nature of its plot, which neatly encapsulates the hopes and fears of a modern generation. Andrew Ahn’s direction makes sure to capture a sense of realism but never loses a frame of fun in this wild ride of an adventure. Much like the attitudes of the people it is trying to represent, the movie flows between a yearning for self-confidence and the sometimes flawed attempts to always do what’s right. – Jake Hodges