The 30 Best Movies On Hulu (August 2024)

Summary

• Hulu offers a curated collection of high-quality movies, providing a slimmer but excellent selection for viewers.
• From comedies like
  Idiocracy
  to dramas like
  Saint Omer
  , Hulu offers a diverse range of top films.
• Some standout movies on Hulu include
  Bad Boys For Life
  and
  Pig
  , which received critical acclaim and feature stellar performances.

Thanks to its affiliation with Disney, the best movies on Hulu include some of the most popular and sought-after content on any streaming service. While competitors like 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 across several genres. Never leaving subscribers overwhelmed for choice, Hulu instead recreates a local video rental store feel by offering a slimmer but high-quality carefully picked selection of top-tier viewing.

From cult comedy gems like Idiocracy to Hulu original thrillers like Prey, Hulu’s top films right now offer something for everyone. Modern streaming libraries are like carousels, always moving and always changing. The films released and available on Hulu’s streaming library today are subject to change, so subscribers would make sure to add the best movies on Hulu to their watch lists right away. Here are 30 great options to enjoy in August 2024.

Best Comedy Movies On Hulu

Idiocracy (2006)

The 2006 Mike Judge sci-fi comedy Idiocracy is not only hilarious, but it was become — worryingly — more poignant over time. It’s a film whose premise alone sparks intrigue, and has also led it to become considered something of a cult classic. The movie centers on Joe (Luke Wilson), an unremarkable army librarian who volunteers for a suspended animation program in 2005. He awakens 500 years later after the facility he’s stored in is hit by a garbage avalanche to discover that, due to gradually declining intelligence over the centuries, he is now the smartest man in the United States.

Its satirical take on the trajectory of society seems to only grow sharper with each passing year.

Due to the collective stupidity of the populace (from which Idiocracy draws its name), Joe is quickly hired to work for the White House thanks to knowing facts like sports drinks not being suitable for watering crops. Wilson is joined in the cast by Maya Rudolph and Terry Crews as serving president and former adult movie star Dwayne Camacho. It’s truly one of the most unique movies currently available on Hulu, and its satirical take on the trajectory of society seems to only grow sharper with each passing year.

Quiz Lady (2023)

Whether it’s her Golden Globe-winning performance in the heartfelt The Farewell or being the hilarious comic relief in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Awkwafina has been taking Hollywood by storm, and in Quiz Lady, she teams up with the legendary Sandra Oh. The film centers on the game show-obsessed, high-strung Anne (Awkwafina) and her reckless older sister Jenny (Oh). The mismatched siblings are forced to team up and hit the road to get the cash needed to pay their mother’s gambling debts and rescue Mr. Linguini, Anne’s dog who was kidnapped by a loan shark.

Sandra Oh and Awkwafina have impeccable onscreen chemistry, and their Odd Couple sisters dynamic is as heartfelt as it is hilarious. Quiz Lady is one of the funniest road movies in recent years, and it’s all thanks to their stellar performances and Jessica Yu’s skilled direction.

Quiz Lady
won Best Movie Made for Television at the 2024 Critics Choice Awards.

Best Drama Movies On Hulu

Fight Club (1999)

David Fincher’s 1999 cult-hit Fight Club is considered to be a highlight of not only the director’s career, but also of stars Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter. While it wasn’t a critical success when it released, Fight Club almost immediately became considered by fans as a phenomenal critique of modern capitalist culture, and in the decades since has establish a legacy that sees it regularly dissected and discussed (especially thanks to the incredible twist ending).

Fight Club was nominated for a handful of awards in 1999 when it released, and stands as a prime example of movies that were underappreciated when they released in comparison to their contemporary fame. Many critics now list Fight Club in their top movie lists, and Hulu subscribers can now find out why the controversial film remains so widely discussed decades after it released.

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2019)

Quentin Tarantino is one of the most recognizable names among directors still working today, and he’s left an impressive mark on filmmaking that will last for decades to come. While Tarantino’s movies have been studied by cinephiles for years, he’s also one himself, and in 2019 celebrated his love of movies with the comedy-drama Once Upon a Time in Hollywood — a movie about making movies that comes with all the signature Quentin Tarantino style Hulu subscribers could ask for. Set in 1969, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood captures the drug-fueled chaos of the industry at the time.

The impressive ensemble cast is led by Leonard DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie, though they’re far from the only names present. What’s more, many A-Listers of today portray fictionalized versions of the household names of yesteryear, such as Damian Lewis as Steve McQueen, Timothy Olyphant as James Stacy, Mike Moh as Bruce Lee, and Rafal Zawierucha as Roman Polanski. As cutting and edgy as any Quentin Tarantino movie ought to be, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood easily earns its place among the best movies currently on Hulu.

Saint Omer (2022)

A powerful contemporary drama that mirrors the classical Greek tragedy Medea, Saint Omer is inspired by a heartbreaking true story of infanticide. Pregnant novelist named Rama (Kayjie Kagame) attends the trial of Laurence Coly (Malanda), a Senegalese mother accused of allowing her baby to be swept away by the ocean.

Based on the true story of Fabienne Kabou, director Alice Diop carefully toes the line between horror and sympathy, weaving a complex, thought-provoking narrative. Saint Omer was recognized as the Best International Film by the African-American Film Critics Association, the Best First Film by the Cesar Awards, and has over a dozen more international accolades.

Saint Omer
is French filmmaker Alice Diop’s first feature film. However, her documentaries stretching back to 2005 have received multiple awards and accolades, highlighting both her talent and versatility.

Pig (2021)

Pig
won several critics’ awards and earned a high 97% Rotten Tomatoes score.

Nicolas Cage has taken on some unique roles, but few have generated the hype or acclaim of 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. However, when someone steals his beloved truffle-hunting pig, he sets out to find who kidnapped his animal companion and ends up on a journey of reflection and self-discovery.

While it was a limited release and looked on paper like a typically bombastic Cage revenge thriller, Pig won several critics’ awards and earned a high 97% Rotten Tomatoes score.

The many awards for
Pig
include an Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay for Vanessa Block and Michael Sarnoski.

Fire Island (2022)

Some of the best rom-coms are modern retellings of Jane Austen novels, from Bridget Jones’s Diary to Clueless, and Fire Island is squarely among their ranks. Inspired by Pride and Prejudice, the movie sees a pair of gay best friends get together for a weekend vacation on Fire Island, where they deal with their issues and possibly find love in the process.

Fire Island was universally praised for its entirely LGBTQ+ cast and its depiction of layered queer characters that never fall into stereotype or over/undersexualization. And beyond its progressiveness, Fire Island is just wildly fun and one of the best movies on Hulu.

Good Luck To You, Leo Grande (2022)

A heartfelt examination of life and love after grief,Good Luck to You, Leo Grande is both poignant and hilarious. Emma Thompson stars as Nancy, a woman who, following the death of her husband, hires a sex worker named Leo (Daryl McCormack) in an effort to experience her first orgasm. Although the relationship begins purely physical, the pair form a more intimate emotional bond that enables them to heal and work through their different traumas.

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande was acclaimed upon release, while Emma Thompson won the Most Daring Performance Award from the Alliance of Women Film Journalists.

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande
was a breakout role for Daryle McCormack, whoe most prominent previous roles included recurring parts on
Peaky Blinders
and
The Wheel of Time.
However, he held his own alongside Hollywood heavyweight Emma Thompson, and can next be seen
in 2024’s
Twisters.

Happiest Season (2020)

Happiest Season arrived in 2020 as a Hulu original, cementing the service’s status as a content producer as well as a host for licensed titles. 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 not told her parents she is gay and asks Abby to pretend to be her friend.

The movie on Hulu has positive critical reviews for its nuanced examination of young relationships, and it won a GLAAD Award for its smart and sensitive approach to the material. As such, Happiest Season forms part of a wealth of great LGBTQ+ content on Hulu.

Palm Springs (2020)

Another Hulu original, Palm Springs is an innovative science fiction comedy about two strangers who meet at a wedding in Palm Springs and end up stuck in a time loop. Starring Andy Samberg as Nyles and Cristin Milioti as Sarah, Palm Springs‘ time-hopping narrative helped mean that more people watched the movie in its first three days than any other in the service’s history (viaIndieWire). As an original take on the classic sci-fi trope, the movie also secured rave reviews from critics.

Best Action & Adventure Movies On Hulu

Bad Boys For Life (2020)

Few franchises manage to straddle the line between action and comedy as seamlessly as the Bad Boys movies. Bad Boys: Ride of Die arrived to continue the buddy-cop series in 2024, revitalizing interest, and Hulu subscribers can catch what many to consider the best Bad Boys movie of all — 2020’s Bad Boys For Life. Releasing almost two decades of 2003’s Bad Boys II, Bad Boys For Life was the triumphant return of Will Smith and Martin Lawrence as detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett.

The plot of Bad Boys For Life sees Marcus forced out of retirement to help his old partner. The movie was regarded as a perfect example of how to successfully revise a franchise. Rather than feeling like a tired cash-in after so many years since the previous installment, Bad Boys For Life felt just as fresh as the previous entries, and this is arguably why the fourth movie got optioned at all.

Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle (2017)

On the surface, a sequel to the classic 1995 adventure movie Jumanji 20 years after the fact didn’t seem like a guaranteed winner. However, thanks to an inventive update to the source material, Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle delivered above and beyond expectations. Whereas the Robin Williams original revolved around a board game, the 2017 update reimagined Jumanji as a videogame, sucking characters into a virtual world. Add in the unparalleled chemistry between all four cast members, and Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle becomes a refreshingly funny action adventure for all the family.

A fourth
Jumanji
movie has been in development for some time, however the project might have possibly stalled — despite demand for a sequel to
Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle
remaining high.

Akira (1988)

One of the most popular and acclaimed anime features of all time, Akira is a landmark achievement both for its mainstream impact and its furiously energetic storytelling style. Set in an alternate 2019 Tokyo, the film centers on the leader of a biker gang whose childhood friend acquires incredible telekinetic abilities following an accident. This brings the pair into conflict with the military, with spectacularly explosive results. The film’s lovingly hand-drawn animation style set the new standard for the genre, and Akira ranks among the best animated action movies ever made.

Despite its significant cultural impact, Akira’s only notable award is the 1992 Silver Scream Award at the Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival. This is an incredible juxtaposition to how often it appears on many critics’ lists of essential animated movies — and demonstrates the increased regard animation is seen with in the 21st century.

Best Thriller Movies On Hulu

Split (2016)

It’s unsurprising that the master of twist endings, writer-director M. Night Shyamalan, helmed one of the best thriller movies currently available on Hulu — and 2016’s Split is a nailbiting watch throughout. Though it’s the middle entry in Shyamalan’s Unbreakable trilogy, Hulu subscribers shouldn’t be put off if they’ve not seen Unbreakable, as Split exists and was marketed as a standalone movie. Split stars James McAvoy as Kevin, a man struggling with Dissociative Identity Disorder which, unfortunately, leads to the kidnap of three young women due to the wishes of his various other personalities.

While the cast of Split also includes Anya Taylor-Joy, Betty Buckley, Haley Lu Richardson, and Jessica Sula, it’s McAvoy who steals the show. Dennis has 23 distinct personalities, ranging from the mischievous 9-year-old boy Hedwig, the sophisticated British woman Patricia, and a teenaged girl named Jade. James McAvoy plays each of these personalities to perfection, and this combined with Shyamalan’s incredibly impressive directing make Split a movie Hulu subscribers won’t want to miss.

No One Will Save You (2023)

A thriller with plenty of sci-fi and horror elements, 2023’s No One Will Save You created many conversations when it arrived for three main reasons. First, the distinct lack of dialogue throughout most of the movie. Second, the outstanding performance of Kaityln Dever as Brynn, a young woman who lives alone and finds herself at the center of an alien invasion. Finally, No One Will Save You was immediately noticed when it arrived on Hulu thanks to just how tense the movie manages to be.

No One Will Save You is the second movie directed by Brian Duffield after 2020’s Spontaneous, and once again the Quarantine and The Babysitter screenwriter showed he’s more than adept in the directors’ chair. No One Will Save You was largely overlooked when it came to accolades and awards, but it was the most streamed movie in the US during the week it debuted(via The Wrap). Hulu subscribers seeking a subtle-yet-nailbiting thriller with a unique feel will find this one of the best options currently available on the platform.

How To Blow Up A Pipeline (2022)

Taking inspiration from Andreas Malm’s non-fiction book of the same name, How to Blow Up a Pipeline is as explosive and incendiary as its title suggests. The film follows a group of young eco-terrorists as they plot to destroy an oil pipeline in West Texas. Despite their violent plan, the movie raises thought-provoking questions about to what extent such actions are justifiable, given the existential nature of the climate emergency. Powerful and provocative, How to Blow Up a Pipeline is a considered thriller that never shies away from the complexity of its themes.

American Murderer (2022)

A true-crime story that expertly blends history with narrative license,American Murderer chronicles the real-life murderer, robber, and fugitive Jason Derek Brown, played by Tom Pelphrey. Jason is a charismatic conman using a series of scams to fund his decadent lifestyle – while being pursued by FBI special agent Lance Leising (Ryan Philippe).

For his portrayal of Jason Derek Brown, Tom Pelphrey won the Best Actor award at the Boston Film Festival. Meanwhile, the San Diego International Film Festival gave Matthew Gentile the Artistic Director’s Award, and the Fayette Film Festival handed him the Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature.

Best Sci-Fi Movies On Hulu

Independence Day (1996)

There have been no shortage of disaster movies focusing on a global alien invasion, though full have pulled off the premise quite as effectively as Roland Emmerich’s Independence Day. Released in 1996, Independence Day was an instant success both at the box office and with many critics. While the Academy only acknowledged it with an Oscar nomination for Best Sound and a win for Best Visual Effects, both the case and the movie itself were beloved by audiences (especially Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum, who at least received a Saturn Award nomination for Best Actor).

The plot of Independence Day is incredibly straightforward — aliens invade and destroy a swathe of landmarks and cities across the globe. Humanity must then fight back, with characters like Will Smith’s Captain Steve Hiller and Bill Pullman’s President Whitmore pulling out all the stops to free humankind from their would-be exterminators. While Independence Day may not be a cerebral or incredibly deep movie, few on Hulu can match it in terms of action and spectacle.

The Planet Of The Apes Reboot Trilogy (2011-2017)

With Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, the latest movie in the franchise, having arrived in 2024, interest in Planet of the Apes is once again high — and Hulu subscribers can catch the first 3 movies in the reboot series from the comfort of their living room. 2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes, 2014’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and 2017’s War for the Planet of the Apes are all currently available on Hulu.

The sci-fi trilogy stands as one of the best on the platform, and makes for a perfect watch before viewing Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Each is set several decades prior to the most recent Planet of the Apes movie, with Rise of the Planet of the Apes taking place in 2011 when apes first gain sentience and the deadly Simian Flu virus is first released into the human populace. From Rise through to War, the modern Planet of the Apes movies are critically acclaimed and make it easy to see why anticipation for 2024’s Kingdom was so high.

Alien (1979)

When it comes to classic sci-fi (and, for that matter, horror) movies on Hulu, few options are as iconic or critically acclaimed as Ridley Scott’s Alien, the 1979 hit that introduced the world to the terrifying Xenomorphs. Alien stars Sigourney Weaver as the now-widely-recognized action heroine Ellen Ripley, one of several crew members on doomed spaceship the Nostromo. While investigating a planet, the Nostromo picks up a deadly stowaway — a horrifying alien creature that hitches a ride on one of the crew when an egg opens and it impregnates him via his face.

Once the fully-gestated creature bursts from his chest aboard the ship, Alien becomes a slasher movie set in space. The crew are picked off one-by-one by the deadly Xenomorph lurking in the shadows. Alien perhaps has more iconic shots and moments than it’s capabale to list, and Hulu subscribers will see after a single viewing why it ended up spawning a franchise which still continues to this day.

The Creator (2023)

With AI at the forefront of conversation in the 2020s, the Gareth Edwards sci-fi movie The Creator feels incredibly timely. Set in 2065, this sci-fi film on Hulu finds the world reeling from a tragedy — a rogue AI detonating a nuclear warhead above L.A. This kick-starts a war between humanity and the machines. However, The Creator leans much more toward franchises like The Matrix than The Terminator, as war is really a narrative vehicle to explore philosophical questions like what it really means to exist, and whether AI truly counts as “life”.

While The Creator wasn’t the box office smash many had hoped it would be, it still found its footing and received generally favorable reviews from critics schooled in the genre. It also won and has been nominated for many lesser-known but still prestigious awards, with its grassroots popularity helping it slowly but surely amass a following. The cast all deliver solid performances, especially John David Washington in the lead role of Joshua Taylor.

Prey (2022)

After a string of sub-par sequels, the Predator franchise was in dire need of restitution. Thankfully, Dan Trachtenberg’s Prey restored the Predator series to its former greatness. Taking place in 1719, the Hulu movie pits a young Comanche woman against the terrifying alien hunter, restoring Predator to its roots with a brutally efficient premise.

The movie was a huge success, becoming not only one of the best movies in the franchise, but one of the best Hulu movies in general. Prey has a 93% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with new star Amber Midthunder winning plaudits for her performance.

Infinity Pool (2023)

Surreal and sinister, Brandon Cronenberg’s Infinity Pool is an intricate blend of science-fiction and horror. Centering on James Foster, a struggling writer in search of inspiration, the movie takes place in a picture-perfect resort with something ugly bubbling below the surface. After he’s embroiled in a car accident, James discovers an underground hedonistic cabal who commits horrific acts, only to create clones and have their doubles punished in their place. Praised by critics for its unsettling visuals and style, Infinity Pool cements Cronenberg’s status as a major player in modern horror.

Best Horror Movies On Hulu

Bone Tomahawk (2015)

Directed and written by S. Craig Zahler, Bone Tomahawk is a Western horror whose premise betrays just how cerebral and well-made it actually is. While there are many somewhat tacky horror movies that feature groups of cannibals, Bone Tomahawk manages to take the idea and turn it into a surprisingly cerebral character study and period drama with some amazing landscape shots and a solid performance from the cast throughout.

The movie stars Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox, to name a few members of the ensemble cast. The 1890 setting is also explored incredibly well, especially for a horror movie, which explains why Bone Tomahawk went down incredibly well with critics. Of course, it also executed its horror elements incredibly successfully too, and it’s this balance of considered storytelling alongside some incredibly visceral and brutal sequences that elevates Bone Tomahawk to one of the best horror movies on Hulu.

The First Omen (2024)

There is no shortage of great horror movies on Hulu, and the streaming service definitely caters well to fans of the genre when it comes to fresh releases. While the movie only came out in April 2024, The First Omen has already arrived on the platform for subscribers to enjoy. The First Omen is the sixth movie in the franchise overall, but is a prequel to the 1976 original. Directed by Arkasha Stevenson, The First Omen delivers everything that fans of the original have come to love.

It features a dose of creepyness that is beyond healthy, and continues to mix horror and religious ideas for a truly sinister tale. Set in 1971, The First Omen creates new foundations for the rest of the franchise, with the ending setting the stage for the coming of the Antichrist, Damien, in The Omen. Critics and audiences alike found the movie to be genuinely terrifying, and unlike some recent attempts to modernize existing horror franchises from yesteryear, The First Omen managed to breath fresh life into the Satanic property.

Poor Things (2023)

Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Emma Stone in an Oscar-winning lead role as Bella Baxter, 2023’s Poor Things is a subversive black comedy/horror movie that stormed the 2024 Academy Awards, with nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor (for Mark Ruffalo) alongside its multiple wins. In Poor Things, Emma Stone’s Baxter is a deceased woman brought back to life by a deranged scientist in 19th century London. However, in a dark horror twist, Bella’s brain and mind are in fact that of the fetus the woman was pregnant with, giving her a childlike personality.

While the resurrection and brain-swap give the award-winning movie many horror undertones, it is at its heart a story about sexual liberation and self-discovery. This doesn’t mean that it’s a wholesome tale, however, as Bella is subjected to an incredible amount of torment and trauma, especially toward the end of the movie. Stone is joined in the Poor Things cast by the likes of Mark Ruffalo and Willem Dafoe. The entirety of the movie is dripping in Lanthimos’ inimitable directoral style, and — as the many, many awards it’s won prove — few recent movies currently on Hulu can match it.

The Boogeyman (2023)

Stephen King adaptations will forever be a staple of horror cinema, and 2023 offers The Boogeyman, an adaptation of King’s 1973 short story of the same name, shows why. It centers on sisters Sadie (Sophie Thatcher) and Sawyer Harper (Vivien Lyra Blair), two sisters grieving the loss of their mother with no emotional support from their father, Will (Chris Messina). The Harpers’ tragedy takes a horrifying turn when a mysterious man shows up at the house and leaves behind a supernatural entity who terrorizes the family.

The Boogeyman isn’t destined to reach the legacy of iconic King adaptations like Carrie (1976) or The Shining, and it does rely a little too heavily on jump scares, but the cast’s strong performances and the themes of grief and loss make this film a memorable story worth a watch. Just be sure to have a death-grip on the popcorn.

Fresh (2022)

A brutal parable about the perils of modern dating,Fresh was a welcome addition to the modern canon of so-called “elevated horror” when it released in 2020. Daisy Esgar-Jones stars 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 Noa is his latest conquest. The movie is rightly recognized as one of the best Hulu horror movies, as well as one of its most-watched originals.

Hellraiser (2022)

After a succession of sub-par releases went a long way towards ruining the franchise’s reputation, Hellraiser (2022) was a welcome return to form. Just like earlier entries, the movie revolves around a mysterious puzzle box that has the power to summon sinister and terrifying demons.

However, where other Hellraiser movies have ignored plot and character for the sake of gore, Hellraiser (2022) explores themes of addiction and trauma in order to bring its story to life. The result is a horror that, while not quite on a par with original, is certainly one of the better entries in the series.

Skinamarink (2023)

Highly experimental and utterly disturbing despite not showing much, Skinamarink is one of the most unsettling psychological horrors of the past decade. The movie follows two children who awake in their house to find their father missing. To make matters worse, the building’s doors and windows slowly start to vanish, leaving them trapped.

Skinamarink has a nightmarish quality, and was even inspired by a recurring dream from the director. Shot on a minuscule budget, the movie is deliberately paced and extremely atmospheric, marking it out in a saturated horror market.