Hulu is primarily known for its massive library of TV shows, including a large slate of fantastic originals and exclusives. The service also plays host to a library of movies that is more than large enough to be daunting. We dug through the entire list to find the best movies Hulu has to offer, across a bunch of genres and categories, so all you have to do is sit back and click play.
Two of Us (2019): Best Modern LGBT Love Story
Nina (Barbara Sukowa) and Madeleine (Martine Chevallie) have kept their deep love for one another a secret for many years, but as they grow older, it becomes harder and harder to carry on a clandestine romance. Eventually, they and everyone else are going to have to accept the truth.
IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
Two of Us (released as Deux in France) was the French nominee for the Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards. Good romance stories about older couples are rare, especially LGBT ones, so Two of Us feels refreshingly original.
Four Good Days (2021): Best Story About Healing From Addiction
Margaret (Mila Kunis) says she’s ready to give up drugs and go back to rehab, but her mother Deb (Glenn Close) isn’t ready to let her daughter back into her life. Having nowhere else to go as she awaits treatment, Margaret begins camping outside her Mom’s house.
IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
Four Good Days belongs to the same genre as movies like Ben is Back and Beautiful Boy, which both focus on relationships between parents and their addicted children. It’s not original, but it’s still a moving story about a real-life problem that affects too many Americans.
The Ultimate Playlist of Noise (2021): Saddest Coming-of-Age Teen Romance
Like the films The Fault in Our Stars and Clouds, The Ultimate Playlist of Noise fits into the tragic teenage romance genre. Devastated with facing the possibility of losing his hearing, music-loving Marcus (Keean Johnson) goes on a journey with aspiring musician Wendy (Madeline Brewer) to record the ultimate bucket playlist.
IMDb Rating: 6.4/10
The Ultimate Playlist of Noise falters in its handling of deafness, and it’s not particularly original. Still, the story is sweet enough to satisfy hopeless romantics and the young at heart. If you’ve watched other Hulu originals, you know what to expect in terms of the acting and production quality.
Stalker (2020): Creepiest Social Media Scary Story
Seeking a fresh start, recently single Andy (Vincent Van Horn) moves to Los Angeles, where he quickly hits it off with new friends Roger (Michael Lee Joplin) and Sam (Christine Ko). However, as Andy and Sam grow closer, Roger is left on the sidelines seething with jealousy.
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Stalker starts as a predictable thriller, but the story takes several unexpected turns as it unfolds. With its pessimistic outlook on life in the digital age, this film will make you think twice about what you post on social media.
Little Fish (2020): Best Pandemic Love Story
Jude (Jack O’Connell) and Emma (Olivia Cooke) have built a life together, but it suddenly starts to fall apart when they both get infected by a virus that slowly erases their memories. To survive, the couple must reassemble the pieces of their relationship and remember why they fell in love.
IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
There are a lot of sci-fi romance movies coming out these days, and this one hits particularly close to home since it takes place during a pandemic. If you’re into the sci-fi romance genre, you definitely don’t want to skip Little Fish.
Mother/Android (2021): Darkest Dystopian Disaster Survival Story
In the not-so-distant future, robots become self-aware and start eradicating humans from the planet. As they anticipate the birth of their child, Georgia (Chloë Grace Moretz) and Sam (Algee Smith) are in a race against time to find refuge in one of the few remaining human shelters.
IMDb Rating: 4.5/10
The premise is far from original, but the main focus of Mother/Android is less on the dystopian sci-fi world and more about the survival of its lead characters. Overall, it’s a solid action flick that makes the most of its straight-to-streaming budget.
Felix and the Hidden Treasure (2021): Best Original Kid’s Adventure Movie
After his father goes missing at sea, Young Felix (Elias Harger) sets out to find him. Along the way, he is joined by a friendly fisherman named Tom (Guy Nadon), a one-legged parrot, and a cat who thinks he’s a dog. Together, they discover a secret underground world controlled by a mad ruler named Morgäa (Karine Vanasse).
IMDb Rating: 5.7/10
Original ideas in movies are rare these days, but Felix and the Hidden Treasure delivers enough creative twists to keep children and adults entertained. Exceptional animation and voice acting make this light-hearted kid’s flick a delightful watch.
Spirit Untamed (2021): Best Long Awaited Sequel to a DreamWorks Classic
While adjusting to her new home in the country, Lucky Prescott (Isabela Merced) befriends a wild stallion who is trying to evade capture. Along with her new human companions, Lucky decides to help her equestrian pal free his herd from a group of wranglers.
IMDb Rating: 5.4/10
Spirit Untamed is a follow-up to the 2002 DreamWorks animated film Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, and it’s set in the same world as the spin-off TV show Spirit Riding Free. In other words, if your kids like it, there’s plenty more from this universe to keep them entertained.
Cryptozoo (2021): Weirdest Sci-Fi Animated Movie for Adults
In a fantasy world where humans co-exist with magical creatures called Cryptids, a Cryptozookeeper named Lauren (Lake Bell) embarks on a mission to rescue a wild, dream-eating beast before it falls into the hands of the military.
Cryptozoo is directed by graphic novelist Dash Shaw, and his distinct visual style shines through the intentionally crude hand-drawn animation. Despite the inviting visuals, Cryptozoo is for adult eyes only.
Pig (2021): Most Emotional Drama About the Unbreakable Bond Between Man and Swine
A hermit living in the Oregon wilderness is driven out of self-imposed exile when his prized truffle pig gets snatched by bandits. To get her back, he must return to a world he wished to leave behind.
A movie like Pig can only work with an actor like Nicolas Cage. The concept could easily be turned into a comedy, but Cage brings such sincerity to the role that you might find yourself sobbing over the fate of a fictional pig.
The Year of the Everlasting Storm (2021): Best Pandemic-Era International Anthology
The Year of the Everlasting Storm is perhaps the best thing to come out of 2021. Seven short stories from different directors around the globe showcase how the coronavirus pandemic has brought people together in unexpected ways.
IMDb Rating: 5.8/10
A truly international film, The Year of the Everlasting Storm takes place in Chile, China, Iran, U.S., and Thailand. You might enjoy some segments better than others, but the themes are universal, and the stories are relatable.
Stop and Go (2021): Darkest Pandemic-era Road Trip Comedy
When sisters Blake (Mallory Everton) and Jamie (Whitney Call) learn about a COVID outbreak at their grandmother’s nursing home, they drop everything and drive across the country to bring her home. Meanwhile, their other sister is on a cruise, seemingly oblivious to the pandemic.
IMDb Rating: 5.6/10
Stop and Go hits home for everyone. Although some of the jokes wear thin, the characters are relatable enough to carry this road-trip COVID comedy to a satisfying end.
Summer of Soul (2021): Best Musical Documentary About Black Artists
Through digitally restored footage, DJ Questlove presents the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival in astonishing detail. Taking place in Marcus Garvey Park over a six-week period, the performances by Nina Simone, Mahalia Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and other contemporary black artists were thought to be lost until now.
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
After sitting in a basement for decades, video and audio recordings of the event were painstakingly reconstructed and edited together for this historical documentary. Before dropping on Hulu, Summer of Soul won both the Audience Award and Grand Jury Prize at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.
MLK/FBI (2021): Best Historical Exposé About the American Civil Rights Movement
Before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was celebrated as an American hero, he was the target of an elaborate government surveillance plot to undermine the civil rights movement for racial equality. This film elucidates newly declassified documents about the FBI’s intimidation campaign against the legendary activist.
Through archival footage, MLK/FBI chronicles King’s involvement with the civil rights movement leading up to his assassination in 1968. Like Judas and the Black Messiah, an Academy Award-winning film about Black Panther leader Fred Hampton released a year earlier, MLK/FBI tells the uncomfortable truth about the US government’s role in sabotaging civil rights leaders.
Parasite (2019): Best Comedy Turned Thriller Drama
Parasite opens as a fairly standard paint-by-numbers comedy/drama, as the destitute Kim family starts to insinuate itself into the lives of the well-off Park family. Ki-woo (Woo-sik Choi) first gains employment as a tutor, paving the way for sister Ki-Jung (So-dam Park) to move in as well. Father Ki-taek (Kang-ho Song) and mother Chung-sook (Hye-jin Jang) both enter the employment of the Parks under dubious circumstances.
IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
Once fully insinuated into the lives of the wealthy park Family, the Kims begin to assume the wealth as their own. That’s where things go off the rails, and the movie shifts from comedy to thriller. Bong Joon-ho navigates these waters flawlessly, taking home Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director, among numerous other accolades.
Nomadland (2020): Best Road Trip Movie Based on a Nonfiction Book
After her employer of many years shuts down, Fern moves into a van and leaves her hometown to find work. She eventually ends up at the Rubber Tramp Rendezvous, a gathering of fellow nomads where she learns how to survive life on the road.
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Nomadland is inspired by Jessica Bruder’s nonfiction book Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century, which documents the real struggles of Americans traveling in search of stability in the wake of the Great Recession. Many of the characters from the book play themselves in the film.
All Light, Everywhere (2021): Darkest Documentary About the Surveillance State
All Light, Everywhere examines the unprecedented proliferation of cameras in our society. Who makes them, who is using them, and are they really making us safer? You might not like all the answers.
IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
If you’re a fan of Werner Herzog documentaries like Lo and Behold, which explores the history and social influence of the internet, you’ll probably enjoy All Light, Everywhere. You also won’t be surprised to hear that director Theo Anthony is Herzog’s protégé.
Jacinta (2021): Most Inspiring Story About Recovery and Redemption
This critically acclaimed documentary follows two women, Jacinta and her mother Rosemary, who are both imprisoned at the Maine Correctional Center. Upon her release, Jacinta struggles to adjust to life without Rosemary as she sets out to reconcile with her own daughter.
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
Jacinta offers an unflinching look at the difficulties prisoners in the U.S. often face when reintegrating into society. Unlike a lot of sensationalized prison documentaries, this film delivers a message of hope and redemption.
False Positive (2021): Scariest Pregnancy Story
Lucy (Ilana Glazer) and Adrian (Justin Theroux) are finally going to be parents thanks to the fertility clinic of Dr. Hindle (Pierce Brosnan). Dr. Hindle seems like a savior at first, but the further along she gets, the more suspicious Lucy becomes of his intentions.
IMDb Rating: 5.9/10
This Hulu exclusive is clearly inspired by films like Rosemary’s Baby, another horror classic about a terrifying pregnancy. Under the scary surface, there’s some interesting commentary about the social pressures that come with being an expectant parent.
Small Engine Repair (2021): Funniest Adaptation of a Dramatic Dark Comedy
Frankie (John Pollono) invites his old buddies Swaino (Jon Bernthal) and Packie (Shea Wigham) over for a night of drinking and catching up. Why are they really there? It’s better to find out for yourself.
IMDb Rating: 6.6/10
Small Engine Repair is based on a play by the show’s writer and star John Pollono, which won multiple rewards on and off-broadway. It walks a fine line between thriller and comedy, and the line gets blurrier the deeper the plot gets.
Madagascar: A Little Wild Holiday Goose Chase (2021)—Best New Animated Christmas Short
When a Canadian goose named Hank (Mark Whitten) gets lost while trying to fly south for the winter, he ends up at the Central Park Zoo with Melman the giraffe (Luke Lowe) and the rest of the Madagascar crew, who take it upon themselves to help Hank reunite with his family.
Animated Christmas shorts are a staple of the holidays, so add Holiday Goose Chase to your annual watchlist. If you like the special, you can also catch every episode of Madagascar: A Little Wild on Hulu.
Run (2020): Most Tense Psychological Thriller About an Overbearing Mother
Diane (Sarah Paulson) is an overprotective mother. She homeschools her daughter Chloe (Kiera Allen) and adamantly shields her from the supposed horrors of the world. As it turns out, she’s hiding a secret that is more horrifying than anything outside their home.
IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
The claustrophobic mood and Paulson’s imposing acting make Run a tense little thriller. While not particularly original, it’s both scary and fun. Run was originally planned to debut in theaters on Mother’s Day 2020 before being released digitally in November.
American Night (2021): Hottest Heist Movie About Art
Master art forger John Kaplan (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) successfully balances his love of art, money, and beautiful conservator Sarah Flores (Paz Vega). However, when a famous Andy Warhol painting goes missing, it threatens the foundations of his illegal enterprise.
American Night divided critics and general audiences. While it got a lot of bad reviews, art aficionados and fans of the gangster genre praised it. When American Night debuted at the Venice Film Festival, it accompanied an exhibit of famous art from the film.
Farewell Amor (2020): Most Touching Film About Immigration in America
Seventeen years after coming to America from Angola, Walter (Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine) has finally saved enough money for his wife Esther (Zainab Jah) and their daughter Sylvia (Jayme Lawson) to join him. Although they are at first elated by their reunion, all three eventually struggle with adjusting to their new life.
Farewell Armor is neither a celebration nor a critique of the American Dream; rather, it’s a candid story about one family’s immigration experience from three different perspectives. Things aren’t perfect, but the enduring bonds of love and family make life worth living.
The Binge (2020): Best Drug-Fueled Parody of the Purge
Instead of violent crime being legal for a day, the premise behind The Binge is that all drugs are legal, and excessive use is considered your patriotic duty.
While The Binge didn’t receive favorable reviews when it was released in August 2020, it provides enough laughs to justify watching, if you’re into irreverent comedies. Needless to say, the humor is for adults only.
Vacation Friends (2021): Funniest Summer Comedy You Can Only Watch on Hulu
Making new friends is one of the best parts of going on vacation. Unfortunately, Marcus (Lil Rel Howery) and Emily (Yvonne Orji) get more than they bargained for when they meet fun-loving couple Ron (John Cena) and Kyla (Meredith Hagner) during their trip to Mexico.
IMDb Rating: 6.1/10
John Cena shines like he usually does as the comedic lead, and the rest of the cast is equally charming. Vacation Friends is exclusive to Hulu, so you can’t stream it anywhere else.
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