There’s a lot of competition out there in the streaming world, and it can be hard to shuffle through the services to find a great flick to watch. Though Netflix and Amazon still have the platform beat in terms of overall quality, many of the films available on Hulu can’t be streamed anywhere else. The best movies on Hulu can be gritty, family-friendly, and even sci-fi oriented. So if you’re looking to expand your binge-watching horizons, we’ve found the best movies to watch on Hulu right now.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
105m
Genre
Thriller, Action, Drama, Science Fiction
Stars
James Franco, Andy Serkis, Freida Pinto
Directed by
Rupert Wyatt
A reboot of the original Planet of the Apes franchise from the 1970s, Rise of the Planet of the Apes uses incredible CGI graphics and solid acting from James Franco, John Lithgow, and Andy Serkis to bring this classic story back to life. Caesar is a chimpanzee who uses his human-like intelligence to revolt against oppression with the help of other captured apes. The movie makes audiences question themes such as animal abuse, chimpanzee intelligence, racism, and scientific intervention.
Palm Springs (2020)
90m
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Stars
Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, J.K. Simmons
Directed by
Max Barbakow
Hulu’s latest romantic comedy, Palm Springs, is hard not to enjoy. The story follows a seemingly carefree Nyles (Andy Samberg) and a maid of honor (Cristin Milioti) as they navigate her sister’s wedding. Unfortunately, both of them are caught in a time loop with seemingly no way of escape. As simultaneously surprising new-age sci-fi, it’s arguably one of the must-watch sci-fi movies of the new era.
Read more: Best Sci-fi Movies on Netflix
Nomadland (2021)
108m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Frances McDormand, David Strathairn, Linda May
Directed by
Chloé Zhao
From celebrated rookie film genius Chloé Zhao comes Nomadland, a beautiful and wary tale of humanism and the American experience. When Fern (Frances McDormand) loses her home — and her husband not too long after — she takes to the road, living wherever she ends up at night and meeting some interesting people along the way. Nominated for six 2021 Academy Awards, the film took home Oscars for best actress, for Zhao’s directing, and as the year’s best picture.
Akira (1988)
124m
Genre
Animation, Science Fiction, Action
Stars
Mitsuo Iwata, Nozomu Sasaki, Mami Koyama
Directed by
Katsuhiro Otomo
Arguably one of the best anime movies of all time, Akira is a crazy sci-fi adventure you’ll want to stream on Hulu. The story begins in Neo-Tokyo 31 years after being destroyed during World War III. Though the city has become a thriving metropolis, a secret military project has transformed a biker gang member into a rampaging psychic psychopath who threatens to destroy Neo-Tokyo once more. That is unless two teenagers and a group of psychics can stop him.
Love & Mercy (2015)
120m
Genre
Drama, Music, History
Stars
Erin Darke, John Cusack, Joanna Going
Directed by
Bill Pohlad
In a masterful music movie biopic of the great Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys and one of the best John Cusack movies, Cusack and Paul Dano team up to embody the early and late stages of his life, full of turmoil and mental overhaul. Switching between timelines, we witness an adaptation of a younger Brian Wilson as he quits touring to produce the timeless album Pet Sounds, slipping as he does so slowly and steadily into psychosis. Cutting to the future, Cusack plays an older and broken Wilson, psychologically limited and trapped under the controversial 24-hour therapy tactics of the infamous Dr. Eugene Landy. Beautiful and tragic, we witness the many shattered pieces of Wilson’s psyche as he single-handedly competes with the world-famous Beatles to discover new and experimental music.
Another Round (2020)
117m
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Stars
Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Lars Ranthe
Directed by
Thomas Vinterberg
A genuine, comical, and original film from nominated director Thomas Vinterberg comes Another Round, an alcohol-fueled confirmation of life that will teach everyone something. Four high school teachers decide to test a theory akin to Hemingway’s lifestyle: maintain a certain blood-alcohol level while you work. This is all done in hopes that their overall lives will be improved until they get a little too excited. Winner of the best international feature film, this film is a cautionary tale to those who may enjoy the effects of alcohol a bit too much.
Collective (2019)
109m
Genre
Documentary, Crime
Stars
Liviu Iolu, Razvan Lutac, Mirela Neag
Directed by
Alexander Nanau
Nominated for best international feature film and best documentary feature, Collective investigates a tragic accident that reveals much more institutionally wrong. After a nightclub fire in Bucharest, Romania, in 2015, journalists discovered health care fraud that led to excess deaths of surviving patients multiple weeks after the incident. Something that rings true to many countries where their authorities have abandoned them, the phrase “everything underneath is rotten” can summarize the unrest felt by those impacted.
Read more: Best Food Documentaries
Big Time Adolescence (2020)
91m
Genre
Comedy
Stars
Griffin Gluck, Pete Davidson, Jon Cryer
Directed by
Jason Orley
A suburban teenager named Mo (Griffin Gluck) comes of age under the self-destructive guidance of his best friend — who just so happens to be a college dropout. As Mo tries to navigate high school, he receives rather unconventional lessons in drug dealing, partying, and dating. It may not be one of the best comedy movies of all time, but it’s still worth a watch.
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