Hulu got its start as the online streaming home for several television networks, and television is still its strong suit. You can find everything from fantastic exclusives, to current network hits, and decades-old fan favorites in its library. Here are the best shows Hulu has to offer in its massive catalog.
Genius (2017): The Lives of Some of Humanity’s Greatest Minds
This show from National Geographic details the lives of some of history’s greatest minds and talents. Season One had Geoffrey Rush give a fantastic performance as Albert Einstein, while Antonio Banderas impressively portrayed famed painter Pablo Picasso in Season Two.
IMDb rating: 8.4/10
The latest season has Cynthia Erivo breathing life into the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. The subject matter is sure to delight history nerds, while everyone else can learn a thing or two as well while taking in the show’s gorgeous cinematography and set pieces.
Letterkenny (2016): Best Comedy About Rural Canadian Life
Set in a rural Canadian town, This comedy show follows the lives of residents who are divided into three groups: the Hicks, the Skids, and the Hockey Players. All of them are constantly feuding and trading rapid-fire insults, puns, and occasional fists. Quirky and light-hearted, the show owes much of its charm to its wordplay and grounded characters.
IMDb rating: 8.6/10
Snowfall (2017): Best Depiction of 1980s Los Angeles
Now entering its fourth season, Snowfall tells the story of Los Angeles’ first crack epidemic in the 1980s and the effects it had on the city. Its intersecting narratives follow a young drug dealer, a Mexican luchador, a CIA operative, and a crime boss’ niece as they navigate both the criminal underworld and their personal lives.
IMDb rating: 8.1/10
Critics have praised the show for its highly-detailed depiction of the era, as well as the performances of its actors.
Solar Opposites (2020): A Funny Animated Sitcom About America
Solar Opposites is an animated sitcom by one of the co-creators of Rick & Morty. It’s about an alien family taking refuge in middle America who constantly bicker about the merits of their new home. Korvo (Justin Roiland) hates it and wants to leave, while Terry (Thomas Middleditch) is fascinated by humans. Not only does the show turn a hilariously critical eye toward American culture, but it also features a star-studded supporting cast that includes Alfred Molina, Christina Hendricks, Tiffany Haddish, and more. Fans of Rick & Morty’s adult humor will want to check this one out, but maybe wait until the little ones are asleep.
IMDb rating: 8.0/10
Top Chef (2006): The Granddaddy of Cooking Competitions
Top Chef’s latest season comes to Hulu in March. If you’re looking for a good reality television show to binge on, this one has seventeen (!) seasons. It will keep you busy for a long, long time. The cooking competition pits some of America’s finest chefs against each other in timed challenges designed to test their skills. Each week, one contestant is sent home. It’s a pleasure to watch the chefs create fabulous full-course meals each episode, and the occasional bits of drama keep things exciting.
IMDb rating: 7.6/10
The Handmaid’s Tale (2017): Rebellion Comes to Gilead
After two years away, The Handmaid’s Tale is back with a fourth season. Based on the classic novel by Margret Atwood, Offred (Elizabeth Moss) is a Handmaiden, one of a few fertile women forced into sexual servitude by the oppressive regime of Gilead so it can increase its dwindling population. She eventually escapes her captors and now leads a rebellion against them. The series is relentlessly grim and depressingly relevant, but it’s also a compelling watch, largely thanks to Moss’s performance.
Hip Hop Uncovered (2020): A Glimpse at the Music Genre’s Kingmakers
Hip Hop Uncovered is a new documentary about the people behind the scenes who helped hip hop flourish in the American music scene. The six-part series examines the relationship between the popular genre and the street culture that helped create it.
IMDb rating: 7.4/10
Gordon Ramsay’s American Road Trip: A Bromance for Foodies
This new travel and food documentary from Gordon Ramsay sees the celebrity chef embark on a road trip across America with his two best friends, chef Gino D’Acampo and maître d’hôtel Fred Sireix. The trio visit Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, and more. They ride dune buggies, spearfish, round up cattle. It’s all very masculine, but foodies may enjoy the bromance along with the drool-worthy dishes and scenery.
IMDb rating: 7.7/10
Animaniacs (2020): The Wacky, Beloved Cartoon Classic Returns
Yakko, Wakko, and Dot have returned for more zany animated adventures with an all-new season of Animaniacs. The beloved ’90s cartoon was a variety show featuring a large cast of colorful characters who lampooned popular culture, history, mythology, and more in a way that had both kids and their parents laughing. It’s responsible for a number of catchy musical numbers, as well as a successful animated spinoff Pinky & The Brain. A second season is already expected in 2021.
IMDb rating: 7.9/10
Fargo (2014): A Tale of Two Crime Syndicates
The Emmy-winning crime anthology Fargo’s fourth season stars Chris Rock and Jason Schwartzman as 1950s Kansas City mobsters vying for control of the city. The story explores issues of racism, assimilation, and how the promise of the American Dream remains unfulfilled for many. Other cast members this year include Jessie Buckley, Jack Huston, Ben Whishaw, and Timothy Olyphant.
IMDb rating: 8.9/10
The Hardy Boys (2020): Best New Mystery Series for Teens
Based on the beloved children’s mystery series, The Hardy Boys focuses on teen brothers who are amateur sleuths and solve crimes that stump the adults around them. During the debut season, Frank and Joe move to Bridgeport to stay with their aunt after a family tragedy. When they realize their dad is conducting a secret investigation, they decide to start one of their own. And everyone in town is a suspect.
IMDb rating: 6.8/10
Madagascar: A Little Wild (2019): Because Who Doesn’t Love Baby Zoo Animals?
Based on the DreamWorks line of animated films, it features four adorable animals—Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, and Gloria the Hippo—as their younger selves. Like the films it’s based on, the show has musical numbers and a heartwarming message about being yourself and pursuing your dreams, no matter the size.
IMDb rating: 6.2/10
Eater’s Guide to the World (2020): Epic Morsels to Make Your Tastebuds Sing
Foodies will want to check out Eater’s Guide to the World. Narrated by actress Maya Rudolph (Saturday Night Live, The Good Place), the series goes on a quest to find the most epic meals in the most unexpected places, including airport terminals, Costa Rican jungles, and the hood of a car in Los Angeles.
IMDb rating: 6.7/10
No Man’s Land (2020): A Fictional Look at the Syrian Civil War
No Man’s Land is the story of a French man named Antoine who teams up with a unit of Kurdish female fighters to search for his sister during the Syrian civil war. Through Antoine’s perspective, viewers get a look at the tragic events happening in the war-torn country and the way they affect the entire world. The show’s slower pace may turn off some viewers, but people who don’t mind a slow burn may enjoy this gritty thriller.
The Great (2020): Best Occasionally True Historical Satire
The Great tells the story of Catherine the Great’s (Elle Fanning) rise from a dewy-faced Prussian noble to the longest-reigning female ruler in Russia’s history. Over the course of the show’s first season, she marries Peter III (Nicholas Hoult), finds out he’s a debauched and sociopathic manchild, and begins a plot to overthrow him. The show is only loosely based on real events and instead weaves humorous historical satire with well-written characters backed by fine performances from the entire main cast.
Archer (2009): Best Spy Satire
FX’s animated spy spoof Archer is back for its 11th season. After numerous seasons reinventing itself as a detective noir, adventure, and sci-fi, the show is returning to its roots. Superspy Sterling Archer is finally awakening from his coma and getting back to work at ISIS.
Although the detours into other genres didn’t always land with fans, Archer remains a delightfully raunchy, irreverent show even after 11 years.
Ramy (2019): Best Glimpse Into the Modern Muslim American Family
The Emmy Award-nominated series Ramy tells the story of a first-generation Egyptian-American living in a politically divided New Jersey neighborhood. Focused mainly on the challenges of living in a Muslim community, critics have praised it for portraying Muslims with depth and sympathy. Its depiction of a young man trying to better himself is at times both profanely funny and thought-provoking.
PEN15 (2019): Best Awkward Adolescent Comedy
Emmy-nominated comedy PEN15 stars Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle as cringe-inducing versions of their 13-year-old selves. You need to suspend a little disbelief to watch two 30-somethings portray teenagers while surrounded by teenaged actors (fans of another weird comedy gem, Strangers with Candy, won’t find it a challenge), but once you do you’ll find this show a funny and sometimes tender look at adolescence and all of its trials and tribulations.
Mrs. America (2020): Best for Those Looking for a ‘Mad Men’ Style Fix
Mrs. America is a historical drama about the Equal Rights Amendment and the women who fought both for and against it. It features a large ensemble cast of strong performances, especially from Cate Blanchett, who plays conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly. American history buffs might also recognize notable figures like Gloria Steinem (Rose Byrne), Shirley Chisholm (Uzo Aduba), and Betty Friedan (Tracey Ullman). All of the women receive their moments in the spotlight. The show uses documentary-style filmmaking to great effect (handheld for the liberals, traditional shots for the conservatives), and features a zippy ’70s soundtrack.
What We Do in the Shadows (2019): Best Vampire Mockumentary
What We Do in the Shadows is a mockumentary-style comedy horror about vampire roommates in Staten Island. The show follows their nightly lives as they try to do mundane, mortal things like pay rent, accomplish chores, and resolve roommate conflicts.
IMDb rating: 8.5/10
The premise is absurd but clever and fun, and the leads are all great. Fans of shows like The Office, fans of vampires in general, or just anyone looking for a good laugh will enjoy this unusual show.
If you enjoy What We Do in the Shadows, also make sure to check out the 2014 film of the same name it’s based on.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005): Worst People Doing the Funniest Things
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is unique in that most TV shows have to present at least one likable character that the audience can identify with. There are no such characters here. The show is about a group of friends that run a bar, but virtually every episode revolves around them being terrible people and doing terrible things to each other, and the result is some of the funniest stuff on television.
IMDb rating: 8.8/10
Dennis Reynolds (Glenn Howertson) is a narcisistic sociopath who co-owns a bar with dim-witted Mac (Rob McElhenney). Their illiterate childhood friend Charlie (Charlie Day) and Dennis’ sister Dee (Kaitlynn Olson) both work at the bar. In season two, Danny DeVito joins the cast in what has to be the most bizarre role of his career. In one episode, he bursts naked from a leather couch. In another he eats trash while wearing a singlet.
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