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Stop me if this sounds familiar: It’s a Friday night, you’re in the mood for a movie, you’ve fired up Hulu…and now you’ve spent 40 minutes racked with indecision, just trying to decide which of the endless options in front of you feels right for right now. Well, we can’t tell you what your heart wants. But we can tell you what our hearts want — what movies we love the most, which ones we never get sick of, which ones we still think about, which ones we’d happily recommend to anyone asking. Like, you know, yourself. Here are the best films on Hulu.
1. Romeo + Juliet
Countless filmmakers have tried to modernize Shakespeare for the big screen, but for our money, few have managed to do it more memorably than Baz Luhrmann with Romeo + Juliet. His is an adaptation that goes way over the top on every single level, and then keeps going several more miles for good measure: Everything, from the flamboyantly colorful costumes (by Catherine Martin), to the unimpeachably cool soundtrack, to the tongue-twisting delivery of the Bard’s best lines, seems to be taking a more-is-more approach. What grounds it is the believably raw passion between its star-crossed lovers, played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes at the respective heights of their teen-idol powers. Is it maybe a bit cheesy? Yes. Do we fall for it every single time? Also yes.
How to watch: Romeo + Juliet is streaming on Hulu.
Love a romance with a killer soundtrack? Julie Taymor’s Beatles musical Across the Universe is also streaming on Hulu.
2. Fast Color
Julia Hart’s Fast Color is set in a dystopian, drought-struck near future, and centers on a family with special powers: Ruth (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), her mother Bo (Lorraine Toussaint), and her young daughter Lila (Saniyya Sidney). But it’s not your typical sci-fi superhero movie. It’s less interested in explosive action or intricate mythology than in nuanced character work, charting the family’s emotional journeys as they work to heal the bonds between them and learn to harness their gifts for good. The results are thoughtful, moving, and — in a sea of same-y blockbusters about great powers and great responsibility — refreshingly unique.
How to watch: Fast Color is streaming on Hulu.
Looking for more grounded, emotional sci-fi? Arrival is also streaming on Hulu.
3. Parasite
Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite is a shapeshifter: Just when you think you’ve finally got a handle on the thing, it has a way of slipping through your fingers and transforming into something else entirely. It’s a heist film, a black comedy, a thriller, a horror, a satire, a tragedy, and part of the fun is simply sitting back to see what new shades it might take on next.
Through all these turns, though, the one thing that’s never in doubt is that we’re in the hands of a master. Every frame, every line, and every twist of Parasite feels considered and deliberate, and yet it never feels clinical or contrived, because the twin engines driving the whole thing forward are empathy and rage — specifically, class rage, directed not so much at the 1% (though they do get a healthy skewering) as at the entire rotten system that makes a story like this plausible in the first place. Parasite is one of the most entertaining movies in recent memory, and one of the cleverest, and one of the most deeply affecting. Simply put, it’s the best.*
How to watch: Parasite is streaming on Hulu.
Want more where that came from? The Host, also by Bong, is also streaming on Hulu.
6. Palm Springs
When Palm Springs arrived in 2020, most movie releases had been postponed because of the pandemic — yet here was a movie, a new movie, a festival darling, about people going quietly insane with monotony and losing grip on time itself.
Max Barbakow’s film showcases a cheerfully nihilistic Andy Samberg, along with Cristin Milioti in her best work to date as his increasingly frenzied companion, in “one of those infinite time loop situations you might have heard of.” Their chemistry makes Andy Siara’s script soar, leaving ample room for J.K. Simmons’ sinister interludes and just the right amount of time travel interrogation. It’s a sharp, original comedy worth revisiting again, and again, and again.* — Proma Khosla, Entertainment Reporter
How to watch:Palm Springs is streaming on Hulu.
7. Jennifer’s Body
Jennifer’s Body may have received a chilly reception upon its release in 2009, but as it turns out, it wasn’t so much a bad movie as one that was ahead of its time. Directed by Karyn Kusama and written by Diablo Cody, the feminist cult classic stars Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried as teenage BFFs whose lives are ripped apart when the former becomes possessed by a demon and starts killing local boys. Alternately creepy and hilarious (“You’re killing people!” / “No, I’m killing boys” will never not be funny), but shot through with an undercurrent of heartbreak, Jennifer’s Body speaks volumes about sexual abuse, female friendships, and the hell that is a teenage girl.
How to watch:Jennifer’s Body is streaming on Hulu.
8. Fargo
25 years after its release, Joel and Ethan Coen’s Fargo remains so beloved, there’s a whole TV series that keeps trying to recapture its magic. But there’s still nothing like the original, with its mix of bleak humor, unexpected warmth, and “Minnesota nice.” Frances McDormand leads Fargo as Marge Gunderson, a small-town police chief investigating a spectacularly bungled kidnapping perpetrated by a desperate used car salesman (William H. Macy) and two career criminals (Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare). You’ll groan at the grisly kills (one involves a wood chipper), laugh at the awkward details, and maybe come away realizing that Marge is right — there is more to life than a little money.
How to watch:Fargo is streaming on Hulu.
11. All of Us Strangers
Watching All of Us Strangers on Hulu in the comfort of your own home is a good choice, as this film is bound to evoke audible sobs. Andrew Haigh’s poignant romantic drama features a melancholic Andrew Scott as a screenwriter facing writer’s block. In an attempt to reignite his creative flame, he revisits his childhood home, only to encounter his deceased parents, portrayed by Claire Foy and Jamie Bell. He starts visiting them regularly, updating them on his life, while simultaneously developing feelings for his haunted neighbor, played by Paul Mescal.
All of Us Strangers may incorporate fantastical elements, but the emotions depicted in the film feel completely genuine. It is a beautifully crafted movie that delves into themes of grief and the importance of opening up to others after experiencing tragedy. Each intertwined storyline is sure to tug at your heartstrings, leaving you emotionally wrecked in the best way possible. — K.M.
How to watch: All of Us Strangers is now streaming on Hulu.
12. Heat
Michael Mann’s crime thriller Heat is famously known for bringing Al Pacino and Robert De Niro together on screen for the first time, albeit for just a few minutes of the nearly three-hour film. What sets Heat apart is its ensemble cast of talented actors, well-developed characters, a captivating script that remains a standout in its genre, and Mann’s skilled direction.
In the hands of another filmmaker, the story of a seasoned police lieutenant (Pacino) trying to thwart a career thief (De Niro) from pulling off one last heist might feel cliché. However, Mann and his cast manage to create a cinematic masterpiece, earning praise from film enthusiasts of all ages. The film moves with the swiftness and intensity of a professional getaway car, driven by Mann himself. — K.M.
How to watch: Heat is now streaming on Hulu.
13. Prey
Prey revitalizes the iconic Predator series by setting the stage for an epic showdown between 18th-century humans and advanced alien beings. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, this prequel offers a fresh take on the franchise, presenting a Comanche warrior (Amber Midthunder) on a quest to confront a deadly creature threatening her tribe.
Prey delivers brutal horror sequences and impressive fight choreography, catering to fans of both horror and sci-fi action genres. In addition to the thrilling action, the film surprises with its intelligence, appealing to long-time fans of the series and newcomers alike. Hulu even offers a Comanche-language dub version of the film, a unique viewing experience. — K.M.
How to watch: Prey is now streaming on Hulu.
Hüller is predictably great (see also The Zone of Interest and Toni Erdmann), but her two youngest co-stars, child actor Milo Machado-Graner and adorable Border Collie Messi, are equally deserving of notice. Anatomy of a Fall is smart, slippery cinema, likely to leave you with plenty of lingering questions — and its oft-used funky instrumental cover of 50 Cent’s “P.I.M.P.” stuck in your head. — K.M.
How to watch: Anatomy of a Fall is now streaming on Hulu.
The Descent
My pick for one of the most terrifying films ever, Neil Marshall’s utter nightmare of a horror movie follows a group of women as they’re stuck in an unexplored cave system in the Appalachian mountains. If that isn’t enough to make you squirm (you’re braver than I am), you’ll quickly learn that they aren’t alone amidst the ever-narrowing crevices and tunnels — and their company isn’t exactly excited to see them.
There’s something to scare everyone in The Descent, whether you’re claustrophobic, rattled by monstrous underground creatures, or simply worried about being betrayed by your best friends when you need them most. There’s an all-timer of a jump scare that gets me with every subsequent viewing, but the movie isn’t only aiming to make you leap out of your seat. It earns its R rating with truly grisly gore and a bleak outlook on the world. Horror nerds note: Hulu features the American version of the film, whose ending is a bit milder than the original but will still make you sleep with the lights on and skip any future invites to go spelunking. — K.M.
How to watch: The Descent is now streaming on Hulu.
Pig
This entry in Nicolas Cage’s filmography is often mentioned in the same breath as Mandy as being one of the better films the Oscar winner has done in his get-a-paycheck era. However, the two films couldn’t be more different — well, other than that they both center on a laconic Cage character’s journey after losing the love of his life. Pig was marketed like a John Wick knock-off, with a plot about an isolated widower who reveals his fighting skills in his quest to rescue his beloved truffle-hunting pig after it was kidnapped (pignapped?). However, this is a more meditative film than that description implies. Pig does have thriller elements, but it often leans toward more of a humane, character-driven drama with Cage doing career-best work. Food lovers will also find much to chew on here with the film’s celebration of the marvels of good meals, prepared simply with the best ingredients and with care, just like Pig itself. — K.M.
How to watch: Pig is now streaming on Hulu.
The Big Lebowski: A Comedy Classic
This Coen Brothers comedy classic is one of the most eminently quotable and endlessly rewatchable movies of the ’90s. The Big Lebowski casts Jeff Bridges as Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski, an unemployed, unmotivated LA loser mistaken for a millionaire who happens to share his name. Beginning with this mix-up, the enjoyably discursive plot features a stolen rug, a ransom for a kidnapped wife, run-ins with nihilists, and many, many frames of bowling. Joel and Ethan Coen use film noir tropes as their blueprint, turning the Dude into a slovenly Sam Spade who has been drawn into a mystery, but he just wants to drink his White Russians and relax, man.
Dynamic Cast and Filmmaking Genius
The Coens surround Bridges with a wildly talented cast, including John Goodman as the gruff Vietnam vet Walter Sobchak, Steve Buscemi as the out-of-his-element buddy Donny, and Julianne Moore as the aggressive artist Maude Lebowski. Yet Philip Seymour Hoffman might be my favorite as Brandt, the other Jeffrey Lebowski’s eager-to-please assistant. With this cast and these filmmakers at the helm, it’s impossible not to get giggly at the movie’s comic genius, whether you’ve enjoyed some of the Dude’s drug of choice or not. — K.M.
How to watch: The Big Lebowski is now streaming on Hulu.
