The 25 Best Movies on Hulu Right Now
Hulu offers thousands of movies to stream, but it can be hard to figure out what's worth streaming. Here are the 25 best movies to watch right now.
The streaming service Hulu has a lot of great programming — here are the 25 best movies on Hulu right now. In an age of options, less feels like more. While Netflix has an ever-expanding library, Hulu offers a more focused collection of great movies. Because volume isn’t the objective, Hulu succeeds in curating a batch of excellent films.
This list features iconic classics like Julia Roberts' My Best Friend's Wedding and John Hughes' 80s favorite The Breakfast Club, the arthouse darlings like the terrifying The House that Jack Built and Black Swan, and the pure entertainment gems like The Devil Wears Prada and Hustlers. Hulu keeps it simple and offers something for everybody. Here are the 25 best movies on Hulu right now.
Before we start, first a disclaimer. Modern streaming libraries are like carousels, always moving and always changing. The films in this list are released and available on Hulu's streaming service at the time of writing. We’ll be updating this top 25 list frequently, so keep an eye out for Hulu’s latest and greatest offerings. Also, the list isn't ranked from worst to best, so a lower position is not meant to denote higher quality. It's just the 25 best movies on Hulu, straight up.
The House That Jack Built
The House that Jack Built is a terror-filled and stomach-turning suspense ride, and it's one of director Lars Von Trier's more shocking films. One of Hulu's best movies polarized critics so much that it was named as one of the most extreme and controversial horror films of 2018. Matt Dillon takes on a serious villain role as Jack, a serial killer inspired by Ted Bundy. The House That Jack Built follows Jack throughout his murderous spree with unyielding brutality. Starring other indie darlings like Uma Thurman and Siobhan Fallon Hogan, viewers are taken into the mind of the killer as he narrates his exploits.
Watchmen
Out of Zack Snyder's superhero movie catalog, Watchmen is one of the best. This pick from Hulu's best movies is based on the 1986-87 DC comic limited series of the same name. The film has a breakout ensemble cast, in the form of Malin Åkerman, The Conjuring's Patrick Wilson, Billy Crudup, Carla Gugino, and more. Watchmen follows a now-partially defunct group of superheroes all the way from 1939 to the leadup of the Cold War. The ending features a huge twist that won't be spoiled here. Any superhero movie aficionados would be seriously lacking a classic if this film isn't already on a watchlist.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
2008's Forgetting Sarah Marshall is one of the best comedy movies on Hulu right now. With tons of laughs and even more heart, Sarah Marshall follows Peter (Jason Segel) after his breakup with TV star Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell). He goes to Hawaii to forget his woes when it turns out she's there too — with her new boyfriend Aldous Snow (Russell Brand). The hilarious ensemble cast also features That 70's Show's Mila Kunis and a ton of other recognizable faces. Anyone is sure to laugh and cry, as this highly relatable movie explores the wreckage of a breakup and the redemption in moving on.
Run
The next film on the list of Hulu's best movies is the Hulu original movie Run. This psychological thriller follows in a similar fashion to the story of the famed true crime case of Gypsy Rose Blanchard. Starring American Horror Story's Sarah Paulson and Kiera Allen as Diane and Chloe Sherman, respectively, Run chronicles the experiences of a young girl with a slew of illnesses navigating everyday life. She finds out that one of the pills her mother gives her only aids in her paralysis, and that everything isn't as it seems. Run is by far one of the best Hulu originals and delivers a shocking thrill ride from beginning to end.
Taken
A true trailblazer on the list is the prolific Liam Neeson action/thriller Taken. The movie that launched a thousand memes (and ripoffs) is one for the books, as it showcases Neeson's real talent as an action movie star. Taken is about a father, with a very "special set of skills", whose daughter is taken while attending a concert in Paris. Neeson's Bryan Mills must fight tooth and nail to get his daughter back from her captors and bring her home. Taken is a nail-biting adventure from the get-go, and the movie definitively lives up to the meme's hype.
The Princess Bride
The Princess Bride is based on a book and is subsequently told as a Grandfather reading a story to his son. The story-within-a-story structure works well with the narrative, as Grandpa (Peter Falk) regales Westley's (Cary Elwes) acts of heroism to his son (Ben Savage). Westley must save Buttercup (Robin Wright) from marrying the evil Prince Humperdink (Chris Sarandon) and he gathers a band of misfits that help in his quest. One of Hulu's best movies makes for an interesting blend of fantasy and comedy as Westley meets plenty of unique characters along the way. The Princess Bride features an all-star cast and has maintained its beloved status for 35 years.
Funny People
Judd Apatow's Funny People follows a group of comedians, particularly George Simmons (Adam Sandler) and Ira Wright (Seth Rogen), as they deal with much more serious subjects like a terminal illness. One of the best movies on Hulu right now, Funny People is arguably one of Judd Apatow's most overlooked comedies. The film has a great ensemble cast that includes Aubrey Plaza, Jonah Hill, and Leslie Mann. In its opening weekend, Funny People came out as number one at the box office.
Dazed And Confused
The cult classic Dazed and Confused spawned the single most quotable Matthew McConnaughey line of all time: "Alright, alright, alright..." Richard Linklater helms the coming-of-age comedy, with a group of ensemble stars that would later become A-listers. While this Hulu pick bombed at the box office, Dazed and Confused has since achieved cult status and is included on Quentin Tarantino's top ten greatest films of all-time list. The movie follows a group of senior high school students, and their many exploits, on the last day of school.
Parasite
The 2020 winner for Best Picture at the Oscars, the South Korean film Parasite is a truly remarkable creation, and it's now one of the best movies on Hulu. A special black and white version of Parasite was released after the movie won the Best Picture Oscar. Directed by Bong Joon-ho, Parasite focuses on the Kims, a poor family willing to do just about anything for financial status. When one of the Kims gets hired to tutor the daughter of a rich family, the Parks, the Kims use that opportunity to get as much cash as they can for as long as they can. Unfortunately, their scheme goes awry, heading toward Parasite's dark ending.
Let the Right One In
Released in a decade when vampire cinema was dominated by the sparkly Twilight vampires, director Tomas Alfredson's Swedish hit Let the Right One In was exactly what the classic creature needed to remind audiences that despite their affliction, vampire movies don't have to suck. Lina Leandersson stars as Eli, an ageless vampire with the appearance of a child, and Kare Hedebrant plays Oskar, the bullied young boy she enters into an unexpectedly sweet relationship with. The film was later adapted stateside by Matt Reeves, with Chloë Grace Moretz in the Eli role.
Fright Night
The second vampire movie to make the list of Hulu's best movies right now is the Fright Night remake starring Anton Yelchin, Colin Farrell, and Toni Collette. This horror-comedy zeroes in on Charlie Brewster (Yelchin), who believes that his neighbor Jerry (Farrell) is a vampire. This inspires an all-out war between the two that leads to hilarious, and bloody, consequences. 2011's Fright Night opened to generally positive reviews and made $7 million in its box office weekend.
The Devil Wears Prada
Though cheesy in its own right, The Devil Wears Prada is a great movie with a talented cast, which is why it's one of the best films on Hulu right now. The Devil Wears Prada is based on a book of the same name by Lauren Weisberger. The film adaptation follows young fashion assistant Andrea Sachs (Anne Hathaway), as she gets a job under the ruthless fashion editor Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep). It's rare that one gets to see Streep in a villainous role, but like everything she does, the actress completely nails the cruelty and callousness necessary for the part. Reviews for the movie praise Meryl Streep's performance in particular, and The Devil Wears Prada gives a peek into the cutthroat world of the fashion industry.
The Breakfast Club
John Hughes' 1985 coming-of-age dramedy The Breakfast Club follows a rag-tag group of students, each from differing social circles, as they are forced to attend a Saturday detention. Over the course of their incarceration, the group manages to find some common threads, forming tentative relationships along the way. The film stars 80s favorites like Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Emilio Estevez, and Ally Sheedy in the main cast. For those that haven't already seen The Breakfast Club, it's a film that's definitely worth the run time. This Hulu top 25 pick grossed $51.5 million in the '80s against a $1 million budget. The Breakfast Club was digitally remastered in 2015 and opened again to select screenings, earning the status of a cult classic.
Cyrus
Cyrus is a British/American dramedy about a boy who doesn't like his mom's new boyfriend. Talented star John C. Reilly plays John, is pitted against his girlfriend Molly's (Marisa Tomei) son and must fight off Cyrus' (Jonah Hill) numerous attempts to break the pair up. Reilly and Hill provide some delightful verbal sparring throughout the comedy film, which, at its heart, is about a boy who is afraid of losing his mother. With directors Mark and Jay Duplass at the helm, Cyrus was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award and is an indie favorite of film critic Peter Travers.
The King's Man
The King's Man is the third movie of the British Kingsman series. Rather than follow in chronological order, The King's Man acts as a prequel to Kingsman: The Secret Service. Ralph Fiennes plays the main role of Orlando Oxford, the Duke of Oxford, and a spy network leader in the action/spy movie. While the film opened to rather mixed reviews, it's a great installment to the Kingsman series, and it's a particular treat to see the talented Tom Hollander take on four respective roles in the movie.
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Dodgeball
While not a particularly smart or poignant film, Dodgeball is a barrel of laughs in its own right. This Hulu top 25 movie is about slacker Peter LaFleur (Vince Vaughn) who forms a team of misfits to compete in a dodgeball tournament. He does this to save his gym from White Goodman (Ben Stiller), who threatens to take it over with his monster company Globo Gym. The comedy features a great ensemble cast, like Christine Taylor and Justin Long, who only aid in boosting the film's fun factor. Dodgeball opened to mostly positive reviews and grossed $168.4 million against a $20 million budget.
Hustlers
Hustlers stars Constance Wu as the main character in an ensemble cast of women who steal money from unwitting stockbrokers. The film is inspired by a New York magazine article titled The Hustlers at Scores. One of the best movies on Hulu right now, Hustlers takes a no-holds-barred approach to the world of sex workers, and how to hustle. The film follows a group of strippers, played by the likes of Cardi B., Lizzo, Constance Wu, KeKe Palmer, and Lili Reinhart, as they drug stockbrokers and take their money. Hustlers opened to positive reviews from critics, and Jennifer Lopez's performance as veteran hustler Ramona Vega is a particular highlight of the film.
Willy's Wonderland
While it didn't perform amazingly by critical standards, Willy's Wonderland is a lesson in the world of camp. Starring Nicholas Cage as the protagonist The Janitor, he is tasked with cleaning the derelict attraction/restaurant Willy's Wonderland in exchange for a hefty payment - that is, if he can survive the night. Animatronics gone wild have reached some popularity with horror videogames and the like, and Willy's Wonderland takes full advantage of that. One of the most interesting parts of the movie: Nicholas Cage doesn't utter a single line. This Hulu best movie pick also features an ensemble cast and the familiar face of Beth Grant as Sheriff Lund. It's a fun watch for fans of the campy horror/comedy genre.
My Best Friend's Wedding
The 90's classic dramedy My Best Friend's Wedding shows Julia Roberts in her prime acting days and at the height of her popularity as an A-list star. One of the best movies on Hulu right now, the film follows food critic Jules Potter (Roberts) as she chases down her best friend Michael O'Neil (Dermot Mulroney), to stop him from getting married to Kimmy Wallace (Cameron Diaz). While at times painful to watch as Jules tries her best to humiliate Kimmy, the film has plenty of warm-and-fuzzy moments, coupled with heartbreak and acceptance. My Best Friend's Wedding was a box-office smash and received nominations for an Academy Award in the Best Original Musical or Comedy Score categories.
Resident Evil
The very first Resident Evil movie is now available on Hulu. Based on the wildly popular video game series, Resident Evil is about Alice (Milla Jovovich) and a special military unit as she fights against a supercomputer gone rogue and a team of scientists that have transformed into zombie-like creatures. The 2002 Hulu pick also stars Michelle Rodriguez (The Fast & The Furious) as Rain and Ryan McCluskey as Mr. Grey. This sci-fi horror movie has plenty of mind-blowing action sequences and jump-scares that mirror the famous video games. It's a necessary watch for any sci-fi aficionados and players of the prolific game series.
Vice
A biopic about former U.S. vice president Dick Cheney was always going to be a controversial, divisive prospect, especially one directed by Adam McKay with a sharp satirical edge. In the end, 2018's Vice ended up earning mostly praise from critics, and multiple Oscar nominations, including one for Christian Bale's eerily accurate performance as Cheney. Bale famously put on lots of weight for the role and is almost unrecognizable at a glance. Vice's all-star cast also includes Amy Adams, Steve Carell, Sam Rockwell, and more. Vice is worth a stream on Hulu, especially during these current politically-charged times.
Crank
Action superstar Jason Statham and 90's darling Amy Smart both star in one of the best movies on Hulu right now: Crank. The 2006 action flick follows British hitman Chev Chelios (Statham). The long and short of it is that he's poisoned and must keep his adrenaline up to save his own life. This leads to plenty of high-flying stunts, car chases, and incredible action sequences that are sure to thrill any viewer, and it's all jam-packed into 90 minutes. Though it opened to mixed reviews, Crank and Crank 2 are necessary viewing for any casual action watcher and Jason Statham's wild performance is one in a million.
Billy Madison
Billy Madison is an Adam Sandler classic, and it features the SNL comedian during his heyday. One of the best movies on Hulu right now, Billy Madison is about a spoiled and childish heir, who will one day own a massive chain of hotels. The man-child is sentenced to go back to school by his father, to prove that he's competent enough the run the business. Like all Adam Sandler movies, it features a bunch of slapstick, crude, and obnoxious comedy that the comedian is known for. Nonetheless, any comedy head would be remiss if they missed out on Billy Madison.
Black Swan
Darren Aronofsky's turbulent and beautiful Black Swan is now available to watch and remains one of the best movies on Hulu. Black Swan chronicles the life of the young ballerina Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman), as she's selected to be the Prima Ballerina in the company's upcoming rendition of Swan Lake. As the movie progresses, Nina falls deeper and deeper into her role and develops an odd fascination with fellow ballerina Lily (Mila Kunis). Black Swan is at times difficult to watch, as it occasionally toes the line between psychological thriller and body horror. Nevertheless, the film received a standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival and was featured as one of AFI's top ten movies of the year for 2010.
Demolition Man
Demolition Man combines cryogenic freezing, time travel, and the talents of Sylvester Stallone, making it one of the best movies on Hulu right now. Demolition Man is about a cop named John (Stallone) and an evil crime lord named Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes). Both men are cryogenically frozen and wake up in a distant future where society has become non-violent. With the help of Lieutenant Lenina Huxley (Sandra Bullock), John must chase down Phoenix before he causes any further destruction. Demolition Man debuted as number 1 at the box office in 1993, and the sci-fi/action movie shows Stallone at his very best. Interestingly enough, Stallone's loan-out company sued Warner Bros. in 2017 over how profits were disbursed from the film. Either way, Demolition Man is a must-watch for casual sci-fi viewers, and Stallone's performance is a sight to behold.
