The Best Movies on Hulu Right Now

Hulu has a surprising number of movies. We found the best ones

Hulu is primarily known for its massive library of TV shows, including a large slate of fantastic originals and exclusives. The service also hosts 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 many genres and categories, so all you have to do is sit back and click play.

01
of 24

Run (2020): Most Tense Psychological Thriller About an Overbearing Mother

Sarah Paulson in Run

Hulu

IMDb Rating: 6.7/10

Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Starring: Sarah Paulson, Kiera Allen, Onalee Ames

Directed By: Aneesh Chaganty

Motion Picture Rating: PG-13

Running Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

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.

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.

02
of 24

Summer of Soul (2021): Best Musical Documentary About Black Artists

Summer of Soul on Hulu

Hulu

IMDb Rating: 8.3/10

Genre: Documentary, Music

Starring: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Chris Rock, Redd Foxx

Directed By: Questlove

Motion Picture Rating: PG-13

Running Time: 1 hour, 57 minutes

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.

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.

03
of 24

Mother/Android (2021): Darkest Dystopian Disaster Survival Story

Chloe Grace Moretz in Mother Android

Hulu

IMDb Rating: 4.5/10

Genre: Thriller, Sci-Fi, Drama

Starring: Chloë Grace Moretz, Algee Smith, Raúl Castillo

Directed By: Mattson Tomlin

Motion Picture Rating: R

Running Time: 1 hour, 50 minutes

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.

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.

04
of 24

Stop and Go (2021): Darkest Pandemic-era Road Trip Comedy

Whitney Call and Mallory Everton in Stop and Go

Hulu

IMDb Rating: 5.6/10

Genre: Comedy

Starring: Whitney Call, Mallory Everton, Julia Jolley

Directed By: Mallory Everton, Stephen Meek

Motion Picture Rating: NR

Running Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes

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.

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.

05
of 24

Small Engine Repair (2021): Funniest Adaptation of a Dramatic Dark Comedy

Small Engine Repair (2021)

Hulu

IMDb Rating: 6.6/10

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Thriller

Starring: Jon Bernthal, John Pollono, Jordana Spiro

Directed By: John Pollono

Motion Picture Rating: R

Running Time: 1 hour, 42 minutes

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.

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.

06
of 24

All Light, Everywhere (2021): Darkest Documentary About the Surveillance State

All Light Everywhere 2021 poster

Hulu

IMDb Rating: 6.8/10

Genre: Documentary

Starring: Theo Anthony, Keaver Brenai, Robert Cunniff

Directed By: Theo Anthony

Motion Picture Rating: R

Running Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes

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.

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.

07
of 24

Vacation Friends (2021): Funniest Summer Comedy You Can Only Watch on Hulu

The cast of Vacation Friends

Hulu

IMDb Rating: 6.1/10

Genre: Adventure, Comedy

Starring: John Cena, Meredith Hagner, Lil Rel Howery

Directed By: Clay Tarver

Motion Picture Rating: R

Running Time: 1 hour, 47 minutes

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.

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.

08
of 24

Two of Us (2019): Best Modern LGBT Love Story

Barbara Sukowa and Martine Chevallie in Two of Us

Hulu

IMDb Rating: 7.1/10

Genre: Drama, Romance

Starring: Barbara Sukowa, Martine Chevallie, Léa Drucker

Directed By: Filippo Meneghetti

Motion Picture Rating: R

Running Time: 1 hour, 39 minutes

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.

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.

09
of 24

Madagascar: A Little Wild Holiday Goose Chase (2021)—Best New Animated Christmas Short

The animated cast of Madagascar: A Little Wild Holiday Goose Chase

Hulu

IMDb Rating: 4.5/10

Genre: Animation, Family

Starring: Eric Petersen, Amir O'Neil, Tucker Chandler

Directed By: Tom McGrath, Eric Darnell

TV Rating: TV-G

Running Time: 23 minutes

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.

10
of 24

MLK/FBI (2021): Best Historical Exposé About the American Civil Rights Movement

Dr. Martin Luther King in MLK/FBI

Hulu

IMDb Rating: 6.9/10

Genre: Drama, Thriller

Starring: Martin Luther King Jr., J. Edgar Hoover, David Garrow

Directed By: Sam Pollard

Motion Picture Rating: TV-PG

Running Time: 1 hour, 44 minutes

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.

11
of 24

False Positive (2021): Scariest Pregnancy Story

Justin Theroux, Sophia Bush, and Pierce Brosnan in False Positive

Hulu

IMDb Rating: 5.9/10

Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Starring: Ilana Glazer, Justin Theroux, Pierce Brosnan

Directed By: John Lee

Motion Picture Rating: R

Running Time: 1 hour, 32 minutes

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.

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.

12
of 24

Little Fish (2020): Best Pandemic Love Story

Olivia Cooke and Jack O'Connell in Little Fish

Amazon

IMDb Rating: 6.9/10

Genre: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi

Starring: Olivia Cooke, Jack O'Connell, Soko

Directed By: Chad Hartigan

Motion Picture Rating: R

Running Time: 1 hour, 41 minutes

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.

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.

13
of 24

Four Good Days (2021): Best Story About Healing From Addiction

Glenn Close and Mila Kunis in Four Good Days

Amazon

IMDb Rating: 6.5/10

Genre: Drama

Starring: Glenn Close, Mila Kunis, Stephen Root

Directed By: Rodrigo García

Motion Picture Rating: R

Running Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes

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.

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.

14
of 24
Felix in Felix and the Hidden Treasure

Amazon

IMDb Rating: 5.7/10

Genre: Animation, Adventure, Family

Starring:  Elias Harger, Guy Nadon, Karine Vanasse

Directed By: Nicola Lemay

Motion Picture Rating: PG

Running Time: 1 hour, 25 minutes

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).

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.

15
of 24

The Ultimate Playlist of Noise (2021): Saddest Coming-of-Age Teen Romance

Keean Johnson in The Ultimate Playlist of Noise

Hulu

IMDb Rating: 6.4/10

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music

Starring: Keean Johnson, Madeline Brewer, Rya Kihlstedt

Directed By: Bennett Lasseter

Motion Picture Rating: TV-MA

Running Time: 1 hour, 39 minutes

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.

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.

16
of 24
Christine Ko and Vincent Van Horn in Stalker

Hulu

IMDb Rating: 7.7/10

Genre: Thriller

Starring: Christine Ko, Vincent Van Horn, Michael Lee Joplin

Directed By: Tyler Savage

Motion Picture Rating: R

Running Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

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.

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.

17
of 24

Jacinta (2021): Most Inspiring Story About Recovery and Redemption

Jacinta in ABC News documentary Jacinta

Hulu

IMDb Rating: 7.5/10

Genre: Documentary, Biography

Starring: Jacinta

Directed By: Jessica Earnshaw

TV Rating: TV-MA

Running Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes

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.

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.

18
of 24

Farewell Amor (2020): Most Touching Film About Immigration in America

Farewell Amor

Hulu

IMDb Rating: 6.9/10

Genre: Drama, Music, Romance

Starring: Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Zainab Jah, Jayme Lawson

Directed By: Ekwa Msangi

Motion Picture Rating: TV-MA

Running Time: 1 hour, 35 minutes

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.

19
of 24

American Night (2021): Hottest Heist Movie About Art

Jonathan Reese Meyers in American Night

Hulu

IMDb Rating: 5.6/10

Genre: Action, Thriller

Starring: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Emile Hirsch, Paz Vega

Directed By: Alessio Della Valle

Motion Picture Rating: R

Running Time: 2 hours, 3 minutes

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.

20
of 24

Cryptozoo (2021): Weirdest Sci-Fi Animated Movie for Adults

Cryptozoo

Hulu

IMDb Rating: 6.5/10

Genre: Animation, Sci-Fi

Starring: Lake Bell, Michael Cera, Emily Davis

Directed By: Dash Shaw

Motion Picture Rating: R

Running Time: 1 hour, 35 minutes

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.

21
of 24

The Year of the Everlasting Storm (2021): Best Pandemic-Era International Anthology

A masked woman leans on a car in The Year of the Everlasting Storm (2021)

Hulu

IMDb Rating: 5.8/10

Genre: Mystery, Anthology

Starring: Yay Yay Bobby Jones, Catherine Machovsky, Yu Zhang

Directed By: Anthony Chen, David Lowery, Jafar Panahi

Motion Picture Rating: TV-14

Running Time: 1 hour, 55 minutes

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.

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.

22
of 24

Pig (2021): Most Emotional Drama About the Unbreakable Bond Between Man and Swine

Nicolas Cage in The Pig

Hulu

IMDb Rating: 6.9/10

Genre: Drama, Thriller

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Alex Wolff, Adam Arkin

Directed By: Michael Sarnoski

Motion Picture Rating: R

Running Time: 1 hour, 32 minutes

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.

23
of 24

The Binge (2020): Best Drug-Fueled Parody of the Purge

Vince Vaughn in The Binge

Hulu

IMDb Rating: 6.7/10

Genre: Comedy

Starring: Vince Vaughn, Skyler Gisondo, Dexter Darden

Directed By: Jeremy Garelick

TV Rating: TV-MA

Running Time: 1 hour, 38 minutes

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.

24
of 24

Nomadland (2020): Best Road Trip Movie Based on a Nonfiction Book

Nomadland on Hulu

Hulu

IMDb Rating: 7.6/10

Genre: Drama

Starring: Frances McDormand, David Strathairn, Linda May

Directed By: Chloé Zhao

Motion Picture Rating: R

Running Time: 1 hour, 48 minutes

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.

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.

Was this page helpful?