Movies on Hulu
Searching for your next great movie night doesn't have to mean endless scrolling through Hulu's vast library. Whether you're in the mood for a groundbreaking sci-fi thriller, an intimate coming-of-age story, or a powerful documentary that captures pivotal moments in history, Hulu offers an impressive collection of the highest-rated films spanning decades of cinema. Our carefully curated selection of 21 movies on Hulu brings together timeless classics from the late 20th century alongside acclaimed modern masterpieces and brand-new releases, ensuring there's something exceptional for every type of film lover. From French indie gems to landmark documentaries that shaped cultural conversations, these aren't just good movies—they're the best films streaming on Hulu right now based on critical acclaim and audience ratings. We've done the hard work of sorting through hundreds of titles to spotlight only the most worthwhile films available on the platform, regularly updating our recommendations as Hulu's library evolves. Skip the decision fatigue and dive into quality cinema that's ready to stream whenever you are.
Peyman Moadi and Leila Hatami deliver masterful performances as Nader and Simin, a married couple whose divorce proceedings set off an increasingly complex chain of moral dilemmas in this extraordinary Iranian drama. Director Asghar Farhadi crafts a riveting exploration of truth, class, and justice as a seemingly simple domestic dispute spirals into a legal and ethical labyrinth that challenges every character's integrity. What makes this film so remarkable is how it refuses easy answers—each perspective feels justified, each decision understandable yet flawed. The tension builds with such precision that you'll find yourself constantly reconsidering your allegiances. Sarina Farhadi shines as the couple's daughter caught in the middle, adding emotional weight to an already devastating situation. This is essential cinema that demonstrates the power of thoughtful storytelling.
This nature documentary series finds legendary broadcaster David Attenborough returning to his signature subject with renewed urgency and breathtaking cinematography that redefines what audiences expect from marine films. Utilizing cutting-edge filming technology, the production captures never-before-seen behaviors and underwater ecosystems with stunning clarity, from the deepest trenches to coral reefs teeming with life. Attenborough's narration remains as captivating as ever, balancing scientific insight with poetic observation while addressing the critical threats facing our oceans. The series doesn't shy away from environmental realities, yet it maintains a sense of wonder that reminds viewers why these ecosystems matter so profoundly. Each episode builds a compelling case for ocean conservation without resorting to heavy-handed messaging, trusting instead in the power of simply showing these magnificent creatures and habitats in all their complexity.
This Pixar masterpiece proves that animation can achieve true sophistication without sacrificing heart or humor. Director Brad Bird tells the story of Remy, a rat with refined culinary aspirations who forms an unlikely partnership with Linguini, a hapless garbage boy at a prestigious Parisian restaurant. The premise could easily be silly, but Bird and his team treat it with such sincerity and intelligence that you're completely swept up in Remy's journey. The animation is absolutely gorgeous—the food looks delicious enough to taste, and Paris is rendered with romantic authenticity. Patton Oswalt voices Remy with earnest passion, while Peter O'Toole brings gravitas to the fearsome food critic Anton Ego. Michael Giacchino's score perfectly captures the French setting. The film celebrates creativity, perseverance, and the idea that greatness can come from unexpected places. That final scene with Ego's review is genuinely moving, elevating this beyond typical family fare into something profound. It's Pixar at the absolute height of its powers.
When a boy's toys come to life the moment he leaves the room, an entire world of personality, jealousy, and adventure unfolds in Toy Story. Pixar's groundbreaking first feature introduced audiences to Woody, a pull-string cowboy voiced by Tom Hanks, whose status as favorite toy is threatened by the arrival of Buzz Lightyear, a delusional space ranger voiced by Tim Allen. What could have been a simple rivalry instead becomes a brilliantly crafted buddy adventure as the two must work together to reunite with their owner. Director John Lasseter and his team created something truly revolutionary—not just technically as the first fully computer-animated feature, but emotionally, proving that digital animation could deliver genuine heart. Randy Newman's songs and the clever script work for both kids and adults, making this an absolute masterpiece that launched an entire animation renaissance.
In the summer of 1969, while Woodstock grabbed headlines, another monumental music festival unfolded in Harlem's Mount Morris Park, drawing 300,000 attendees over six weeks—and then disappeared from cultural memory for fifty years. Questlove's directorial debut unearths this lost treasure, presenting astonishing footage of Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sly and the Family Stone, Mahalia Jackson, and many more at the peak of their powers. The performances alone would justify celebration, but the film goes deeper, contextualizing the Harlem Cultural Festival within the Civil Rights movement, Black Power era, and the moon landing that summer. Interviews with attendees reveal what this gathering meant to a community asserting joy and excellence amid turbulent times. The restoration is pristine, the music transcendent, and the historical reclamation profound. This isn't just a concert film—it's a vital correction to the historical record and an electrifying testament to Black cultural achievement.
Barry Jenkins crafts an absolutely stunning meditation on identity, masculinity, and human connection that follows Chiron through three defining chapters of his life growing up Black and gay in Miami. This is filmmaking at its most intimate and poetic—Jenkins and cinematographer James Laxton create images of breathtaking beauty while never losing sight of the raw emotional truth at the story's core. The three actors portraying Chiron at different ages (Alex Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, and Trevante Rhodes) create a seamless, heartbreaking portrayal of a man learning to exist in his own skin. Mahershala Ali and Naomie Harris deliver powerhouse performances as the drug dealer who becomes an unlikely father figure and Chiron's struggling mother. Every frame pulses with empathy and understanding, making this one of the most essential films about the American experience in recent memory.
This extraordinary documentary from director Bing Liu follows three young men in Rockford, Illinois, who bond over skateboarding while navigating adolescence, economic hardship, and cycles of domestic violence. What begins as a project capturing the freedom and camaraderie of skate culture gradually deepens into something far more profound as Liu, who also appears as one of the subjects, explores how masculinity, trauma, and class intersect in the lives of him and his friends. The film's intimacy is remarkable—Liu spent years filming, creating a level of trust and access that allows for brutally honest conversations about abuse, fatherhood, and broken dreams. The skateboarding footage is beautifully shot, capturing both the artistry and escape it provides, but the real power comes from watching these young men struggle toward self-awareness and accountability. This is documentary filmmaking at its finest: deeply personal yet universally resonant, ultimately hopeful despite confronting painful truths about the damage we inherit and perpetuate.
Warm, vibrant, and brimming with life, this adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's beloved novel feels utterly fresh while honoring its source material. Director Greta Gerwig crafts a non-linear narrative that draws fascinating parallels between the March sisters' artistic ambitions and the constraints of their era. Saoirse Ronan leads an exceptional ensemble cast including Florence Pugh, Emma Watson, and Eliza Scanlen, each bringing depth and individuality to their roles. What makes this version so special is how it sharpens the story's feminist themes—particularly through Jo's struggle between artistic integrity and commercial necessity. Timothée Chalamet captures Laurie's boyish charm and eventual heartbreak beautifully. The costume design and cinematography create a painterly aesthetic that draws you completely into the world. Gerwig has achieved something remarkable here: a classic story reimagined with such intelligence and heart that it feels simultaneously timeless and urgently contemporary.
When a cautious clownfish must traverse the entire ocean to rescue his son from captivity, the journey becomes both a thrilling adventure and a touching story about overcoming fear and letting go. Andrew Stanton directs Pixar's underwater masterpiece with remarkable imagination, creating a vibrant oceanic world teeming with memorable characters and genuine danger. Albert Brooks voices Marlin with perfect anxious energy, while Ellen DeGeneres steals the film as Dory, the friendly but memory-challenged blue tang who becomes his unlikely companion. The animation remains stunning, from the coral reef's colors to the deep ocean's mysteries. The film works on multiple levels—exciting enough for children, emotionally complex enough for adults—and delivers important messages about disability, parenting, and perseverance without ever feeling preachy. This is Pixar storytelling at its most affecting.
Emotionally profound and visually breathtaking, Christopher Nolan's space epic reaches for the stars while keeping its heart firmly grounded in human connection. Matthew McConaughey leads as Cooper, a former pilot turned farmer who must leave his children behind to join a desperate mission through a wormhole in search of humanity's new home. What distinguishes this ambitious science fiction film is its commitment to both scientific accuracy and raw emotion—the space exploration feels plausible while the father-daughter relationship provides devastating emotional weight. Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, and Michael Caine deliver strong supporting performances, while Hans Zimmer's powerful score heightens every moment. Nolan tackles complex concepts involving relativity and time dilation, making them accessible without dumbing them down. The stunning visuals, particularly the black hole sequence, showcase practical effects combined with cutting-edge CGI. This is thoughtful, adult science fiction that trusts its audience's intelligence while delivering genuine spectacle and heartfelt performances.
Starting from the end and working backward, this Los Angeles-set psychological thriller revolutionizes narrative structure while telling an intensely gripping mystery. Christopher Nolan directs Guy Pearce as Leonard Shelby, a man with short-term memory loss hunting for his wife's killer using only Polaroid photographs and tattooed notes on his body. The film's reverse chronology puts viewers in Leonard's fragmented mental state—we discover information just as he loses it, creating unbearable tension and paranoia. Carrie-Anne Moss and Joe Pantoliano deliver perfectly ambiguous performances as people who may or may not be helping Leonard in his quest. The ingenious structure isn't just a gimmick; it's fundamental to understanding the nature of memory, identity, and truth. This is filmmaking that demands your complete attention and delivers an intellectually satisfying payoff that will have you immediately wanting to watch it again.
In contemporary Antwerp, a Syrian refugee and a Belgian woman form an unexpected connection while working to recover a stolen painting that holds deep personal significance for both of them. Director Joachim Lafosse crafts an intimate two-hander that uses the art heist premise as framework for exploring displacement, identity, and the objects we invest with meaning. Éric Caravaca and Lubna Azabal deliver deeply felt performances as two people carrying private griefs, finding in each other's company temporary refuge from their respective losses. The film unfolds in real time over several days, allowing relationships and revelations to develop at a naturalistic pace. Lafosse avoids melodrama, trusting his actors and audience to find emotional resonance in small moments and unspoken understanding. The Antwerp setting provides atmospheric backdrop without calling excessive attention to itself. This is patient, mature filmmaking that rewards attention with genuine insight into how we carry our pasts into uncertain futures.
In this Argentine masterpiece, a retired legal counselor becomes obsessed with a decades-old rape and murder case that was never properly solved, writing a novel about the investigation while confronting his own unresolved feelings for his former colleague. Juan José Campanella's film seamlessly weaves together crime thriller, romance, and historical drama, moving fluidly between past and present as Ricardo Darín's Benjamín Espósito revisits the case that haunted his career. What begins as a procedural gradually reveals itself as an exploration of love, obsession, and how unresolved trauma echoes through decades. Darín and Soledad Villamil create palpable tension as former colleagues circling around feelings they never quite expressed, while the investigation itself builds to genuinely shocking revelations. Campanella's direction finds poetry in mundane settings—a provincial train station becomes the site of the film's breathtaking extended chase sequence. The film won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film and absolutely deserved it, crafting a mystery that's ultimately less about who committed the crime than about how we live with the things we cannot change or forget.
Richard Kelly announces himself as a visionary filmmaker with this mind-bending psychological thriller that has captivated and puzzled audiences for over two decades. Jake Gyllenhaal gives a mesmerizing early-career performance as Donnie, a troubled teenager who begins experiencing bizarre visions of a sinister six-foot rabbit named Frank who warns him that the world will end in 28 days. Kelly weaves together teenage angst, time travel paradoxes, and suburban malaise into a haunting narrative that rewards deep analysis and repeated viewings. The supporting cast—including Jena Malone, Drew Barrymore, and Mary McDonnell—grounds the surreal elements in believable relationships. The 1980s setting is perfectly captured through both production design and an evocative soundtrack featuring Tears for Fears and Echo and the Bunnymen. The film's ambiguity has sparked endless debates about its true meaning, but that's part of its enduring appeal. Kelly crafts something genuinely original here—a dark, unsettling, and ultimately moving exploration of sacrifice and destiny.
The Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert) have created an absolute marvel of imagination and heart that juggles infinite universes while telling a deeply human story about family and self-acceptance. Michelle Yeoh stars as Evelyn Wang, a laundromat owner drowning in mundane problems who suddenly must connect with parallel versions of herself to save reality itself. What could have been chaotic nonsense instead becomes a brilliantly coherent exploration of choices, regret, and love, anchored by Yeoh's phenomenal performance and equally outstanding work from Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu, and Jamie Lee Curtis. The film fearlessly leaps between wildly different genres and tones—kung fu action, absurdist comedy, tender drama—while maintaining emotional clarity throughout. Its inventive visual effects and editing create genuinely original sequences that expand what's possible in cinema. This is bold, ambitious filmmaking that succeeds spectacularly on every level.
Alex Honnold, the world's premier free solo climber, attempts the seemingly impossible in this breathtaking documentary: scaling Yosemite's 3,000-foot El Capitan without ropes or safety equipment. Directors Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin capture not just the death-defying climb itself but also Honnold's meticulous preparation, psychological makeup, and relationships affected by his dangerous passion. The cinematography is absolutely stunning, with camera operators who are themselves expert climbers capturing angles that convey both the route's technical difficulty and the nauseating exposure. What makes the film transcendent is how it explores the drive for perfection and the question of whether pursuing ultimate achievement justifies the risks. Honnold emerges as fascinating and complex rather than merely reckless. The final climb sequence is almost unbearably tense even knowing the outcome, a testament to the filmmakers' craft.
At its core, this is a profound meditation on faith, doubt, and the weight of moral conviction in a world of impossible choices. Director Amir Toodehroosta crafts an intense character study that follows individuals grappling with their deepest beliefs when confronted with life-altering dilemmas. The film refuses easy answers, instead creating a nuanced exploration of how religious faith and human ethics intersect, clash, and sometimes illuminate each other. The performances are uniformly excellent, bringing depth and authenticity to characters who could easily have become one-dimensional representatives of ideological positions. Toodehroosta's direction favors long takes and intimate framing that forces viewers to sit with the characters' discomfort and uncertainty. The screenplay balances philosophical inquiry with genuine emotional stakes, making abstract theological questions feel urgently personal. This is thoughtful, challenging cinema that respects its audience's intelligence while never becoming cold or academic. It lingers in the mind long after viewing, prompting reflection on our own moral frameworks.
In a fantastical Victorian London that feels both period and timeless, Bella Baxter is brought back to life by an eccentric surgeon who replaced her brain with that of her unborn child. Director Yorgos Lanthimos crafts his most visually stunning and thematically rich film yet, following Bella's journey from infant consciousness to liberated woman with his signature blend of dark humor and formal precision. Emma Stone delivers a fearless, utterly committed performance as Bella discovers the world—and her own desires—without the social conditioning that constrains other women. Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, and Ramy Youssef all bring distinct energy to this bizarre, brilliant fairy tale about bodily autonomy and self-determination. The production design is magnificently strange, creating a steampunk world that serves the story's themes perfectly. This is bold, uncompromising filmmaking that rewards adventurous viewers.
Malik Bendjelloul directs this extraordinary documentary that unravels one of music's most fascinating mysteries: whatever happened to Sixto Rodriguez, the Detroit singer-songwriter who released two albums in the early 1970s that went nowhere in America but became anthemic in apartheid-era South Africa. The film follows two Cape Town fans who set out to discover the truth about Rodriguez, whom many believed had died tragically on stage. What they uncover is a story so improbable it barely seems real, yet Bendjelloul documents it with style and genuine emotion. The director's creative use of animation and archival footage, combined with Rodriguez's hauntingly beautiful music, creates something that transcends typical music documentary territory. It's a film about art, perseverance, and the unpredictable ways culture travels across borders and decades.
Pablo Berger crafts an absolutely stunning animated fable about friendship, loneliness, and what we leave behind in 1980s New York City. This dialogue-free film follows Dog, who lives alone in Manhattan, and his deepening bond with Robot after a chance encounter in the park. Berger's animation style—reminiscent of classic New Yorker illustrations—brings the city to life with meticulous detail and surprising emotional depth. The absence of dialogue forces the storytelling through pure visual expression, and the film succeeds brilliantly, conveying complex emotions through gesture, music, and beautifully composed scenes. What begins as a sweet friendship story evolves into something more profound about connection, separation, and the bittersweet nature of memories. The period setting adds nostalgic texture without overwhelming the timeless themes, and the film's patient pacing allows moments to breathe and resonate. This is animation at its most artful and affecting, proving that the medium's greatest power lies in showing rather than telling, creating something genuinely moving and unforgettable.
Andrew Scott delivers a haunting performance as Adam, a lonely screenwriter living in a nearly empty London high-rise who begins a tentative relationship with his mysterious neighbor Harry (Paul Mescal) while simultaneously encountering his deceased parents (Claire Foy and Jamie Bell) as they were in the 1980s. Director Andrew Haigh crafts an achingly beautiful meditation on grief, identity, and queer intimacy that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant. The film moves between Adam's present-day romance and surreal visits to his childhood home with a dreamlike fluidity that never feels gimmicky. Scott's vulnerable, lived-in performance anchors the emotional complexity, while the script explores how we carry our past selves and lost loved ones with us. It's a devastating, tender, and ultimately transcendent piece of filmmaking that lingers long after the credits roll.