The 25 best movies on Hulu (2024)

All of Us Strangers (2023)

A London writer finds meaning in love and loss in this heartbreaking fantasy drama from writer-director Andrew Haigh (Weekend, 45 Years). Andrew Scott stars as Adam, whose lonely life takes a turn when he meets Harry (Paul Mescal), a neighbor with whom he enters a tender relationship. Adam also returns to his childhood home where he is stunned to see his parents, who died 30 years prior.

Moody and captivating in equal measure, All of Us Strangers earns its emotional catharsis thanks in large part to Scott's vulnerable performance. As EW's critic writes, "It is in watching Scott slowly allow tenderness, intimacy, and love into Adam's life that makes the film settle onto your chest like a weighted blanket." —Kevin Jacobsen

Where to watch All of Us Strangers: Hulu

EW grade: A– (read the review)

Director: Andrew Haigh

Cast: Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Jamie Bell, Claire Foy

Anatomy of a Fall (2023)

Did she do it? This is the question at the heart of Anatomy of a Fall, Justine Triet's highly acclaimed French legal drama starring Sandra Hüller as Sandra, a writer who fights for her innocence in the death of her husband. The circumstances surrounding her husband falling out the window to his death are ambiguous: he may have been suicidal; he may have fallen on accident; she may have pushed him following a nasty argument.

Triet keeps you guessing as to the truth behind it all, and Hüller's performance is such that you're never quite sure, even by the end. The film won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival and earned five Oscar nominations, winning for Best Original Screenplay. —K.J.

Where to watch Anatomy of a Fall: Hulu

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Director: Justine Triet

Cast: Sandra Hüller, Swann Arlaud, Milo Machado-Graner, Antoine Reinartz, Samuel Theis, Jehnny Beth, Saadia Bentaieb, Camille Rutherford, Anne Rotger, Sophie Fillières

Barbarian (2022)

Zach Cregger's Barbarian unfolds like an Airbnb trip from hell. After a woman named Tess (Georgina Campbell) books a rental home while in town for a job interview, she is alarmed to discover she's not alone. A man named Keith (Bill Skarsgård) has also booked the house during her stay, but this proves to be the least of her concerns when she discovers what (and who) is hiding in the basement.

To tell you more would be to spoil the unhinged ride that follows, but suffice it to say, Barbarian earns its scares that should absolutely be watched with other people to get the full communal horror experience. "I've read a lot of horror scripts and I've done a few of those movies," costar Justin Long told EW in 2022, "so it's very rare to find something that breaks the convention and is that unique and original." —K.J.

Where to watch Barbarian: Hulu

Director: Zach Cregger

Cast: Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, Justin Long

Enys Men (2023)

Mark Jenkin, the British filmmaker who directed the similarly brilliant Bait (2019), helmed this experimental nightmare about a wildlife worker on the titular Cornish isle who begins to descend into madness under the specter of a long-ago shipwreck and a family tragedy. There are no easy answers in Enys Men, and it risks being outright frustrating, but Jenkin's masterful cinematography evokes the unsettling atmosphere of a lost piece of 1970s folk horror. —D.G.

Where to watch Enys Men: Hulu

Director: Mark Jenkin

Cast: Mary Woodvine, Edward Rowe, John Woodvine, Flo Crowe

Fresh (2022)

Sebastian Stan and Daisy Edgar-Jones star in this full-throttle psychothriller in which the less you know about the plot, the more effective the experience will be. Shot with a particularly daring eye with an inflection of dark humor and a solid soundtrack, Fresh takes a premise that could be terribly unpleasant and turns it into a slick piece of popcorn entertainment.

EW's critic calls the film "a clever, gory metaphor for the seemingly endless horrors of modern romance rooted in a plot twist just outrageous enough to plausibly be true." —D.G.

Where to watch Fresh: Hulu

EW grade: B (read the review)

Director: Mimi Cave

Cast: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Sebastian Stan, Jonica T. Gibbs, Charlotte Le Bon, Andrea Bang

Infinity Pool (2023)

Brandon Cronenberg's supremely weird and very, very kinky psychological horror/thriller stars Alexander Skarsgård as a never-was novelist who meets a pair of admirers (scream queen Mia Goth and Jalil Lespert) at a Croatian resort. There, they lead Skarsgård into a bizarre world of criminality, clones, and orgies.

You know you're in for a wild ride when there's a full-on money shot in the first 10 minutes, and the film, which EW's critic calls "slick" and "strenuously naughty," only gets exceedingly unhinged from there.—D.G.

Where to watch Infinity Pool: Hulu

EW grade: B (read the review)

Director: Brandon Cronenberg

Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Mia Goth, Jalil Lespert, Caroline Boulton, Cleopatra Coleman

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)

This fourth film in the Planet of the Apes reboot series is a thoughtful, visually stunning exploration of the world that Caesar built. Taking place many generations after the reign of Caesar, the revolutionary leader who established a new order for the ape world, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes centers on a young chimp named Noa (Owen Teague) as he goes on a quest to save his clan. Joined by a human (Freya Allan), Noa encounters a merciless king hellbent on attaining human technology from the Old World and tries to prevent him from using it for nefarious means.

Like the first three films in the reboot, Kingdom features remarkably lifelike effects that make you forget you're mostly watching CGI characters, as it tackles "big ideas about human (and ape) nature," writes EW's critic. —K.J.

Where to watch Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes: Hulu

EW grade: B (read the review)

Director: Wes Ball

Cast: Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, Peter Macon, William H. Macy

La La Land (2016)

Few modern musicals have shined so brightly as Damien Chazelle's vibrant comedy-drama about an actress and a jazz musician who fall in love against the backdrop of Los Angeles. Played with exuberance by Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, the pair attempt to achieve their dreams while maintaining their relationship, even if this balancing act proves difficult. Packed with musical sequences both dazzling and wistful, La La Land's strength lies in its embracing of old-school entertainment without being necessarily old-fashioned. Stone won the Best Actress Oscar for her performance, while the film famously almost won Best Picture. —K.J.

Where to watch La La Land: Hulu

EW grade: A (read the review)

Director: Damien Chazelle

Cast: Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, John Legend, J.K. Simmons, Rosemarie DeWitt, Finn Wittrock

The Last Duel (2021)

The tricky nature of perspective is at the heart of this thought-provoking medieval drama from director Ridley Scott. The action centers on a trio of real-life historical figures: Sir Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon), a knight; Jacques le Gris (Adam Driver), his squire; and Marguerite (Jodie Comer), Jean's wife. Jean challenges Jacques to a duel after Marguerite accuses Jacques of raping her, and we see how each member of the trio has a different version of events for what exactly happened. The film is split into three parts centering each person's point of view, with fascinating overlaps and divergences playing out.

While Damon, Driver, and a blond-haired, scene-stealing Ben Affleck put in fine work, it's Comer who emerges as best in show, delivering a nuanced performance of a woman caught in the middle of history. —K.J.

Where to watch The Last Duel: Hulu

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Director: Ridley Scott

Cast: Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Jodie Comer, Ben Affleck

Little Women (2019)

Greta Gerwig has become synonymous with depicting girlhood and women's stories with sensitivity and pinpoint accuracy, as exemplified by this adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's classic tale. Saoirse Ronan stars as Jo March, who comes of age alongside her sisters in 1860s New England as they experience love and loss. Presenting the story with a nonlinear timeline, Gerwig illustrates how Jo's childhood shapes her adulthood in profound ways.

"Her 2019 take is less a faithful rendering of the text than a sort of joyful reimaging," EW's critic writes, "a classic cleared of cobwebs." —K.J.

Where to watch Little Women: Hulu

EW grade: A– (read the review)

Director: Greta Gerwig

Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Timothée Chalamet, Meryl Streep, Tracy Letts, Bob Odenkirk, James Norton, Louis Garrel, Chris Cooper

Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

Mrs. Doubtfire tells the story of a divorced man who would rather pretend to be an elderly female housekeeper to see his kids than go to therapy. All joking aside, this Chris Columbus classic excels as a vehicle for Robin Williams' one-of-a-kind comic timing and vocal dexterity as his Daniel Hillard attempts to reintegrate with his family by way of heavy makeup and a silly voice. But the high-concept premise gives way to an earnest examination of divorce and how it impacts the lives of all involved, for better and for worse. Plus, the film features one of Sally Field's top-tier line deliveries when her character Miranda realizes Daniel was, in fact, Mrs. Doubtfire "the whole time." —K.J.

Where to watch Mrs. Doubtfire: Hulu

EW grade: B (read the review)

Director:Chris Columbus

Cast: Robin Williams, Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan, Harvey Fierstein, Robert Prosky

Nightmare Alley (2021)

This dark Oscar-nominated drama by Guillermo del Toro is an old-fashioned hair-raiser concerning a drifter (Bradley Cooper) who gets a job working as a cut-rate fortune teller for a traveling carnival. It's a devious tale of violence and greed done in a classical neo-noir style. Meanwhile, Cate Blanchett makes for one of this generation's greatest femme fatales, chewing the scenery in a key supporting role. While a close adaptation of the novel of the same name, this Nightmare Alley is unmistakably a del Toro joint.

No One Will Save You (2023)

This smart little Twilight Zone riff stars Kaitlyn Dever as a young woman who is under siege in her isolated country home by a group of alien invaders. The script is witty while the general conceit is executed with panache. It's practically a silent film, one that judges its running time perfectly, introducing fresh, thrilling elements right up until the credits roll.

"It was a character thing where this person really wants a community and doesn't think she's deserving of one," writer-director Brian Duffield told EW of the decision to make the film dialogue-free. "It felt like that device just amplified her character." —D.G.

Where to watch No One Will Save You: Hulu

Director: Brian Duffield

Cast: Kaitlyn Dever

Nomadland (2020)

Chloé Zhao's captivating journal of travelers living on the fringes of middle American society is a Best Picture Oscar winner that unequivocally deserves the honor. Using mostly non-actors to fill out the cast around star Frances McDormand, the film achieves a rare kind of authenticity that never strains yet always feels wholly, dramatically cinematic.

EW's critic praises of Zhao and McDormand's collaboration, "Together, they've managed to make that rare thing: a film that feels both necessary and sublime." —D.G.

Where to watch Nomadland: Hulu

EW grade: A (read the review)

Director: Chloé Zhao

Cast: Frances McDormand, David Strathairn, Linda May, Charlene Swankie, Tay Strathairn

Palm Springs (2020)

This Groundhog Day-inspired comedy stars Cristin Milioti and Andy Samberg as two wedding guests who develop a romance while stuck in a time loop. It's one of the better variations of a rich subgenre with a fairly high success rate. Millioti and Samberg prove to be a likable central pair, and the latter gets to show off some impressive dramatic skills.

"Samberg nimbly walks the line between slacker cartoon and actual frustrated human," EW's critic writes, but, "it's Cristin Milioti who feels most like the revelation here." —D.G.

Where to watch Palm Springs: Hulu

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Director: Max Barbakow

Cast: Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, J.K. Simmons, Meredith Hagner, Peter Gallagher

Perfect Days (2023)

This quietly moving, Oscar-nominated film from director Wim Wenders follows the ordinary life of a humble Japanese man. Hirayama's (Kōji Yakusho) days consist of a highly structured routine of simple pleasures: listening to music on cassette tapes; dutifully working as a toilet cleaner; enjoying nature; and reading. As we follow Hirayama's routine, we gain greater insight into what makes him tick, especially as he interacts with others.

EW's critic writes, "Between Kōji Yakusho's understated performance and the nostalgic soundtrack, this meditative story finds beauty in the mundane." —K.J.

Where to watch Perfect Days: Hulu

Director: Wim Wenders

Cast: Kōji Yakusho, Tokio Emoto, Arisa Nakano, Aoi Yamada, Yumi Asō, Sayuri Ishikawa, Tomokazu Miura, Min Tanaka

Plan B (2021)

This light and breezy dramedy about two friends embarking on a mission to obtain a morning-after pill hits many notes à la Booksmart. Natalie Morales' sophomore directing venture is a cozy, bite-sized version of teenage friendship that has a worthy message but doesn't sacrifice fun in order to convey it. Morales cites Schitt's Creek, Clueless, and silent film auteur Buster Keaton among her inspirations for the film. —D.G.

Where to watch Plan B: Hulu

Director: Natalie Morales

Cast: Victoria Moroles, Kuhoo Verma, Michael Provost, Mason Cook, Timothy Granaderos

Poor Things (2023)

This stylized odyssey from Yorgos Lanthimos features Emma Stone in one of her most daring performances yet. The actress plays Bella Baxter, a woman who is brought back to life by a scientist who implants her unborn baby's brain into her. Living with the mind of a child, Bella soon discovers the dangers lurking out in the world and matures into a woman with agency.

The visually stunning film features a strong ensemble of actors, including Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, and Ramy Youssef, but this is Stone's movie through and through, in a fully committed performance that won her her second Oscar for Best Actress. "Stone portrays Bella's vicissitudes with a fantastical fluidity," EW's critic writes, "a complete lack of vanity, and a deadpan, outrageous humor." —K.J.

Where to watch Poor Things: Hulu

EW grade: A– (read the review)

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

Cast: Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, Ramy Youssef, Christopher Abbott, Jerrod Carmichael

Prey (2022)

This excellent continuation of the Predator franchise is a super-powered, subversive reboot/sequel from director Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane). It takes all of the best elements of the series, and the things that make the central monster so frightening, without indulging in the hackneyed plotting or overly bullish military members of the previous installments. —D.G.

Where to watch Prey: Hulu

Director: Dan Trachtenberg

Cast: Amber Midthunder, Dakota Beavers, Dane DiLiegro, Sung Kang, Michelle Thrush

Rye Lane (2023)

This tremendously cineliterate rom-com takes a Before Sunset approach to its story of two heartbroken individuals (David Jonsson and Vivian Oparah) hashing out their remorse and looking ahead to a future (maybe together?) over one night in London. Rye Lane is the best kind of metatextual romance, the sort that unabashedly indulges in the genre's greatest tropes but is always in on its own joke. —D.G.

Where to watch Rye Lane: Hulu

Director: Raine Allen Miller

Cast: David Jonsson, Vivian Oparah

Sanctuary (2022)

Sanctuary is the polar opposite of Rye Lane. Margaret Qualley and Christopher Abbott star in this wild psychosexual thriller, which finds a dominatrix and a young heir engaging in a battle of wills over one night in a hotel room. Qualley is one of the most exciting actresses working now (so good Lana Del Rey sang about her), consistently taking on outré roles that defy what we've seen her do before. —D.G.

Where to watch Sanctuary: Hulu

Director: Zachary Wigon

Cast: Margaret Qualley, Christopher Abbott

Support the Girls (2018)

Regina Hall stars in this pitch-perfect comedy about women working at a franchise restaurant that prides itself on the good looks of its all-female staff. The film is exactly what you would want and expect from a Hall comedy, letting the actress go both as broad and as subtle as she is capable. Yet in its second half, it turns into a much deeper and ruminative story about America's under-represented workforce without ever losing sight of its good-time nature.

EW's critic writes, "To see a black female over 40 holding the center of a story about ordinary, unsung lives makesSupporta low-key pleasure." —D.G.

Where to watch Support the Girls: Hulu

EW grade: B (read the review)

Director: Andrew Bujalski

Cast: Regina Hall, Haley Lu Richardson, Dylan Gelula, AJ Michalka, James Le Gros

Triangle of Sadness (2022)

Ruben Östlund's Oscar-nominated masterwork, about the clients and crew of a lavish yacht, juggles a lot of plates with great aplomb. In the center of it all is Dolly de Leon, who put up a noble fight come awards season for her role as crew member turned top dog, Abigail. It's not subtle, but it is a rousing existential class comedy. "The movie is a bona-fide trip," EW's critic writes, "not the funhouse mirror we need for these ridiculous times, maybe, but one we deserve. —D.G.

Where to watch Triangle of Sadness: Hulu

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Director: Ruben Östlund

Cast: Harris Dickinson, Charlbi Dean, Dolly de Leon, Woody Harrelson, Sunnyi Mells

Waiting to Exhale (1995)

This '90s classic, adapted from Terry McMillan's novel of the same name, is a pure comfort watch with one of the best-assembled soundtracks of the decade. Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, and Lela Rochon star as a quartet of friends who each experience difficulties in finding love and happiness with the men in their lives. How each woman deals with their problems varies (we're partial to Bassett's Bernie and her method of literally burning her particular situation to the ground) but they can always lean on each other for moral support.

"Devoted fans of the book will heave a sigh of relief for thisExhale, since, despite its flaws, it remains an exhilarating blast," writes EW's critic. —K.J.

Where to watch Waiting to Exhale: Hulu

EW grade: N/A (read the review)

Director: Forest Whitaker

Cast: Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, Lela Rochon

The Woman King (2022)