The streaming service Hulu has a lot to offer, and the best 50 Hulu movies are more than enough to satisfy even the most ardent cinephiles. In an age of near-infinite streaming options, less feels like more. While Netflix and Amazon offer 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. Never leaving subscribers overwhelmed for choice, Hulu instead creates a local video rental store feel by offering a slimmer but high-quality carefully-picked selection of top-tier viewing.
From famous blockbusters like Michael Bay’s Pearl Harborand John Hughes’ 80s favoriteThe Breakfast Club, and the pure entertainment gems like The Bob’s Burgers Movie and Office Space, the 25 best movies on Hulu right now possess a little bit of something for everyone. Modern streaming libraries are like carousels, always moving and always changing. The films released and available on Hulu’s streaming service are subject to change, so subscribers would make sure to add the best movies on Hulu to their watch lists right away.
50 The King’s Man (2021)
- Directed by Matthew Vaughn
- Starring Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans, Matthew Goode, Djimon Hounsou
- Runtime: 2h 11m
- Genre: Spy Action
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. Harry Potter actor 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.
49 The Bob’s Burgers Movie (2022)
- Directed by Loren Bouchard, Bernard Derriman
- Starring H. Jon Benjamin, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, John Roberts, Khristen Schaal
- Runtime: 1h 42m
- Genre: Family Animation
Based on the animated television series of the same name, The Bob’s Burgers Movie is easily one of the best movies on Hulu right now. For those unfamiliar with it, the Bob’s Burgers series is about the Belcher family and their greasy burger restaurant at the seaside Wonder Wharf. The Bob’s Bugers Movie sees Bob and Linda having a hard time paying off their loan for the restaurant when a sinkhole opens right on their doorstep while the kids attempt to solve the mysterious murder of a carnie. The Bob’s Burgers Movie was the second most-watched film on all streaming platforms the week of its release and opened to extremely positive reviews.
48 History of the World: Part I (1981)
- Directed by Mel Brooks
- Starring Mel Brooks, Dom DeLuise, Madeline Kahn
- Runtime: 1h 32m
- Genre: Comedy
History of the World: Part II just hit Hulu as a new miniseries, but for fans who want to see the superior movie that started it all, one of the best Hulu movies on the service right now is History of the World: Part I. Directed by Mel Brooks, the movie is a parody of the historical epics and takes aim at just about every subgenre in that vein. The movie focuses chiefly on ancient Rome, the Spanish Inquisition, and the French Revolution. A cavalcade of late 70s/early 80s celebrity cameos are in History of the World: Part I, including narration by Orson Welles.
47 Bad Hair (2020)
- Directed by Justin Simien
- Starring Elle Lorraine, Jay Pharoah, Kelly Rowland, Laverne Cox
- Runtime: 1h 52m
- Genre: Comedy Horror
Bad Hair was one of the best Hulu movies when it comes to original output. The movie is a horror comedy that is based on the lore of a Black woman known as the “moss-haired girl” whose hair was harvested from an evil tree. Bad Hair shifts from its retelling of this urban myth to the present day when a woman is asked to change her hairdo for the TV network she works for, and when she does, it comes with deadly side effects based on the curse of the moss-haired girl. The movie premiered at Sundance before Hulu acquired it, and it has all the markings of a cult classic.
46 Fresh (2022)
- Directed by Mimi Cave
- Starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, Sebastian Stan
- Runtime: 1h 54m
- Genre: Horror
Fresh was a horror movie that arrived in 2022 and took the world by surprise thanks to its shocking and gory love story. The movie stars Daisy Esgar-Jones as a woman named Noa who is struggling in the dating world, but soon finds what she thinks is the perfect man in Sebastian Stan’s Steve. What she doesn’t realize is that Steve is a butcher of human meat and sells it to wealthy clients, and Noa is his latest conquest. However, this is also a love story and has some very disturbing twists and turns. The movie ended up as one of the best Hulu movies, as well as one of its most-watched originals.
45 The Mummy (1999)
- Directed by Stephen Sommers
- Starring Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah, Arnold Vosloo
- Runtime: 2h 5m
- Genre: Action-Adventure
One of the best Hulu movies is Stephen Sommers’ blockbuster hit The Mummy. The 1999 feature film features a stellar cast, including the likes of Brendan Fraser (The Whale), Rachel Weisz (Constantine), and Arnold Vosloo (Blood Diamond). The Mummy follows adventurer Rick O’Connell (Fraser) with his traveling companions, the librarian Evelyn (Weisz) and her brother Jonathan (John Hannah), to the City of the Dead in Egypt, where they inadvertently wake the high priest and mummy Imhotep (Vosloo). Full of both laughs and high-octane adventure, The Mummy was the number-one film in both the U.S. and Canada on its opening weekend and was nominated for a Best Sound Academy Award.
44 Spider-Man (2002)
- Directed by Sam Raimi
- Starring Tobey Maguire, Willem Defoe, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco
- Runtime: 2h 1m
- Genre: Superhero
There’s no better time to look back on the Sam Raimi movie that started it all: Spider-Man. The superhero origin story follows the titular comic book hero before the multiverse got involved, and stars Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker. Spider-Man tracks Parker’s story from the infamous spider bite to his first battle with the sinister Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe) and is one of the few superhero movies from the early 2000s that still holds up today. It became the first film to pass the $100 million mark on its opening weekend, beating out Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
43 The Proposal (2009)
- Directed by Anne Fletcher
- Starring Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds
- Runtime: 1h 48m
- Genre: Romantic Comedy
Anne Fletcher’s 2009 rom-com The Proposal is one of the best Hulu movies right now. Starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, The Proposal sees uptight Canadian executive Margaret Tate (Bullock) facing deportation from the U.S. unless she can convince her assistant Andrew Paxton (Reynolds) to pretend to be her fiancé. Reynolds and Bullock aren’t the only highlights of the movie, as The Proposal also stars the likes of Betty White, Oscar Nunez, Mary Steenburgen, and Malin Åckerman. When The Proposal opened in 2009 it became the highest-grossing film of the day, eventually beating out Year One, Up, and The Hangover.
42 Babyteeth (2019)
- Directed by Shannon Murphy
- Starring Eliza Scanlen, Toby Wallace, Essie Davis, Ben Mendelsohn
- Runtime: 2h 58m
- Genre: Coming-Of-Age Drama
The Australian drama Babyteeth is an unseen gem and one of the best Hulu movies right now. Babyteeth follows Eliza Scanlen’s (Sharp Objects) Milla, a terminally ill teenager, who falls in love with a 23-year-old drug addict named Moses (Toby Wallace), much to the chagrin of her affluent parents. Based on a stage play by Rita Kalnejais, director Shannon Murphy’s tragic tale debuted at the Venice Film Festival in 2019 to overwhelmingly positive results. In fact, Babyteeth was so highly regarded that it won nine AACTA awards, including one for Best Film, and was also nominated for a Best Direction BAFTA.
41 That Thing You Do! (1996)
- Directed by Tom Hanks
- Starring Tom Everett Scott, Liv Tyler, Tom Hanks, Ethan Embry, Steve Zahn
- Runtime: 1h 48m
- Genre: Comedy
Released in 1996, Tom Hanks stars in the comedy That Thing You Do!, which tells the story of a young band who wins a talent show and then ends up getting a record deal and hitting it big. Hanks is the manager of the band and the movie tracks their fast rise and even more sudden fall when none of the members are ready for their success. The movie’s title track ended up as a Billboard 200 hit and also picked up an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song.
40 Empire Records (1995)
- Directed by Allan Moyle
- StarringLiv Tyler, Renee Zellweger, Ethan Embry, Anthony LaPaglia, Rory Cochrane
- Runtime: 1h 30m
- Genre: Coming-Of-Age Comedy
Though quintessentially cheesy, Empire Records is a great movie with a talented cast, which is why it’s one of the best films on Hulu right now. A 90s classic, Allan Moyle’s coming-of-age-dramedy follows the teen staff of the Empire Records store over the course of Rex Manning Day, in which a washed-up 80s pop star plans to visit the store, while the owner simultaneously must save it from the conglomerate company Music Town’s planned takeover. Empire Records sees iconic 90s stars in their earliest elements, featuring names like Liv Tyler, Ethan Embry, Renee Zellweger, and Robin Tunney. With a stellar soundtrack, it’s a nostalgic teen comedy that can’t be missed.
39 Good Luck To You, Leo Grande (2022)
- Directed by Sophia Hyde
- Starring Emma Thompson, Daryl McCormack
- Runtime: 1h 37m
- Genre: Sex Comedy
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande remains one of the Best Hulu movies when it comes to originals on the streaming service. Emma Thompson stars as a woman who hires a male sex worker after her husband dies. She admits she never experienced an orgasm and hopes he can help her achieve her first one. The movie has the two discover more about each other through their sessions as they start to heal each other. The movie has a high 93% Rotten Tomatoes score and Thompson won the Most Daring Performance Award from the Alliance of Women Film Journalists.
38 The Prestige (2006)
- Directed by Christopher Nolan
- Starring Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, Michael Caine
- Runtime: 2h 10m
- Genre: Psychological Thriller
Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige is based on the eponymous 1995 novel by Christopher Priest. Set in Victorian London, The Prestige is about a rivalry between two magicians, Robert Angrier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) over the perceived perfect teleportation trick. With a twist that must be seen to be believed, The Prestige is a dazzling period piece that never once loses momentum, and its visual effects stand out as a particular highlight of the movie. The Prestige is famous for its twisty ending and was nominated for two Academy Awards, Best Cinematography, and Best Art Direction.
37 Glory (1989)
- Directed by Edward Zwick
- Starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes, Morgan Freeman
- Runtime: 2h 2m
- Genre: War Movie
In 1989, Edward Zwick directed the historical war drama Glory. The movie told the real-life story of the earlier African-American regiments in the American Civil War, showcasing their struggles against prejudice even when fighting for a government that claimed to want their freedom. The historical context of Glory is especially important, since it highlights that treatment of Black Americans in the North — despite their freedom — was still abhorrent. The movie featured a great cast with Matthew Broderick as the commanding officer and soldiers played by Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington. The movie picked up five Oscar nominations, winning three of them, including one for Washington.
36 The Ides Of March (2011)
- Directed by George Clooney
- Starring Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood
- Runtime: 1h 41m
- Genre: Political Drama
George Clooney directed the political drama The Ides of March in 2011. The movie saw Clooney as a governor who planned to run for U.S. President. However, that was a supporting role and the lead was Ryan Gosling as his junior campaign manager. Things get bad when he learns the governor had an affair and the person he cheated with ended up pregnant, which causes the entire campaign to start the spin cycle. Gosling picked up a Golden Globe nomination and Clooney earned an Oscar nomination for his screenplay.
35 Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
- Directed by Denis Villeneuve
- Starring Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Dave Bautista, Ana de Armas
- Runtime: 2h 43m
- Genre: Sci-Fi
Denis Villeneuve created a sequel to one of the most revered science fiction classics in cinema history. In 2017, he released Blade Runner 2049, which took place years after the original Blade Runner and focuses on Ryan Gosling’s new law enforcement official hunting down Replicants. He soon learns of a conspiracy and ends up finding Deckard (Harrison Ford), who has been in hiding, to attempt to expose the corruption. The movie hit several top 10 lists and earned five Oscar nominations, winning two.
34 Pearl Harbor (2001)
- Directed by Michael Bay
- Starring Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett, Kate Beckinsale, Tom Sizemore, Cuba Gooding Jr
- Runtime: 3h 3m
- Genre: Historical War Movie
Michael Bay’s epic romantic war-time drama Pearl Harbor revolves around the attack on Pearl Harbor during the Second World War and zeroes in on a love story between combat pilot Rafe McCawley (Ben Affleck) and nurse Lieutenant Evelyn Johnson (Kate Beckinsale), as well as the Doolittle Raid. While Pearl Harbor takes its creative historical liberties, the Ben Affleck film was praised in particular for Hans Zimmer’s iconic score and the movie’s visual effects, which were arguably after its time.
33 Happiest Season (2020)
- Directed by Clea DuVall
- Starring Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza
- Runtime: 1h 42m
- Genre: Romantic Comedy
When it comes to the best Hulu movies, Happiest Season arrived in 2020 as an original on the streaming service. Directed by Clea DuVall, the movie focuses on a young couple played by Kristen Stewart (Abby) and Mackenzie Davis (Harper). While they have been dating for over a year, Harper has never told her parents she was gay and asks Abby to pretend to be her friend. The movie has positive critical reviews, and it won a GLAAD Award for its smart and sensitive approach to the material.
32 Pig (2021)
- Directed by Michael Sarnoski
- Starring Nicolas Cage
- Runtime: 1h 32m
- Genre: Drama
Nicolas Cage has taken on some unique roles in recent years, but none really prepare the viewer for Pig. Released in 2021, Pig sees Cage as a former Portland chef who has become a recluse, living in a cabin deed in the Oregon forests. He hunts for truffles and has one friend — his prized foraging pig. However, when someone steals his pig, he sets out to find who took his pig and ends up on a journey of reflection and self-discovery. While it was a limited release and didn’t look like a quality movie, it won several critics’ awards and earned a high 97% Rotten Tomatoes score.
31 The Town (2010)
- Directed by Ben Affleck
- Starring Ben Affleck, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Chris Cooper, Rebecca Hall
- Runtime: 2h 4m
- Genre: Crime Drama
Ben Affleck’s second movie as a director was the 2010 crime drama The Town. The movie takes place in Affleck’s hometown of Boston where he stars as a part of a group of thieves. After he falls for the victim of one of their heists, his group decides on one last big heist of Fenway Park, which doesn’t quite go down as planned. The movie made several top 10 lists for critics and earned Jeremy Renner an Oscar nomination.