The Best Movies On Hulu Right Now, Ranked
Universal
Last Updated: February 14th
While it may live in the shadow of other better-known streaming services, Hulu, once regarded simply as “that TV thing,” has managed to maintain itself as a viable competitor in terms of offering a great variety of content online. This includes an impressive selection of quality movies, but it’s not always easy to browse through their catalog if you don’t know what you’re looking for. Which begs the question: What is the best movie on Hulu right now? From iconic classics to contemporary indie fare, here’s a look at the 30 best films available to stream, ranked.
Related: The Best Hulu Original Series Right Now, Ranked
Paramount
1. Chinatown (1974)
Run Time: 130 min | IMDb: 8.2/10
Faye Dunaway and Jack Nicholson star in this neo-noir about a private investigator who becomes entangled in a government scheme. Nicholson plays Jake Gittes, a P.I. hired by Evelyn Malwray (Dunaway) to follow her husband and report on his dealings. It turns out, Mr. Malwray was at the center of a government cover-up as the local water authority was trying to run people off their land by drying up their water source. There’s a lot going on here — corruption, a twisted family secret, romance, and plenty of violence — but watching Nicholson confusedly sort through it all is most of the fun.
Buena Vista Pictures
2. Tombstone (1993)
Run Time: 130 min | IMDb: 7.5/10
What do you get when you pair Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Bill Paxton, and Sam Elliot with a handful of sharpshooters, horses, and ten-gallon hats? A dusty ’90s Western that revels in lawlessness, violence, and betrayal. Tombstone attempts to recreate some of Wyatt Earp’s most notorious exploits as the U.S. marshal tracks down a gang known as The Cowboys, criminals responsible for massacring an entire town and killing one of Wyatt’s brothers. Russell has a hell of a time playing Earp, a wild-eyed gunslinger with good intentions, but the real draw here is the chemistry of the cast … and the shootouts.
Magnet
3. Let The Right One In (2008)
Run Time: 115 min | IMDb: 7.9/10
Director Tomas Alfredson shrugged off the conventions of vampire movies when he crafted a disarmingly charming tale that focuses on the unusual friendship that develops between a bullied young boy, Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant) and a vampire girl Eli (Lina Leandersson). Based on the novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist (who also penned the screenplay) the film received near-universal acclaim, winning multiple awards across the globe. It was remade in 2010 as Let Me In, which managed to be considered a successful endeavor that stayed true to the original while differentiating itself enough to stand on its own.
Neon
4. I, Tonya (2017)
Run Time: 120 min | IMDb: 7.5/10
As flashy and over-the-top as the sequin-spandex numbers that graced the ice back in the ’80s, I, Tonya manages to straddle a thin line. It’s both a biopic of one of the most notorious female athletes in the history of figure skating and a raucous comedy intent on mocking everything troubling about American culture at the time. Margot Robbie is brilliant in her role – playing a woman tortured by talent and her inability to capitalize on it – and you can literally hear Allison Janney chewing every scene she’s in as Harding’s narcissistic, chain-smoking mother. Plus that parrot bite is as funny as you could hope.
Fox Searchlight
5. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Run Time: 101 min | IMDb: 7.8/10
Family road trips are a comedy gold mine, and there are few that nail the frustration and humiliation they can bring quite like this flick starring Toni Collette, Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, Alan Arkin, Paul Dano, and a young Abigail Bresnan. The movie follows the Hoover family as they shuttle their youngest, a chubby, spirited girl named Olive (Bresnan) to a beauty competition in California. Sheryl Hoover (Collette) is an overworked mother, her husband Richard (Kinnear) is an aspiring motivational speaker, and together they look after their children, Olive and angst-ridden teen Dwayne (Dano) along with Richard’s aging, heroin-addicted father Edwin (a brilliant Arkin) and Sheryl’s gay, suicidal brother Frank (Carell). Stuffing a bunch of flawed, problematic characters in a broken down Volkswagon and forcing them to drive 800 miles across the desert happens to be one of the best vehicles for a dark-comedy commentary on the bonds of family. Who knew?
Universal Pictures
6. Apollo 13 (1995)
Run Time: 140 min, IMDb: 7.3/10
Ron Howard’s docudrama stars a slew of A-listers including Tom Hanks, Ed Harris, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, and Gary Sinise, but it’s the incredible true story off which the film is based that’s the real draw here. The Apollo 13 is infamous for becoming yet another failed mission to the moon, but it’s the story of the survival of the crew against impossible odds, along with the fickle nature of space travel, that feels especially relevant.
Focus Features
7. Moonrise Kingdom (2012) (requires Showtime)
Run Time: 94 min, IMDb: 7.8/10
What initially resembles puppy love between a pair of precocious children slowly, tenderly reveals itself to be something far more sophisticated and complex. Sam and Suzy (Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward, a pair of prodigies) both carry adult pain within their tiny hearts, and the solace they find in one another carries accordingly heavy emotional weight. As director Wes Anderson stages some of his most awe-inspiring sequences — the climactic flood like something out of F.W. Murnau’s wildest dreams, Suzy and Sam’s homemade Eden on the beach — a story about wayward adults and children grasping at their last chance for sanity expands until it fills the entire island.
Paramount
8. Arrival (2016)
Run Time: 116 min | IMDb: 7.9/10
A methodic, thoughtful approach to an alien invasion story, Arrival follows linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams) as she struggles to figure out a way to communicate with two creatures that have inexplicably shown up in Montana. While Louise tries to buy more time in understanding the visitors, she butts heads with the military side of the operation who keep pressuring her for quick answers. After its release, it exceeded expectations at the box office, grossing more than $200 million worldwide. That year it was nominated for seven Academy Awards, winning one for Best Sound Editing.
PARAMOUNT
9. Shutter Island (2010)
Run Time: 138 min | IMDb: 8.1/10
DiCaprio and Scorsese team up again, this time for a dramatic thriller that feels different from their normal fare but still just as intense. DiCaprio plays a detective drawn to a mysterious island that houses a psychiatric facility for the criminally insane. He’s investigating the case of an escaped convict, but a conveniently-timed storm, a hostile staff, and some strange happenings lead him down a rather dark and dangerous rabbit hole. There’s a twist ending here worthy of its build-up, and DiCaprio shares the screen with some notable talents including Mark Ruffalo, Michelle Williams, Sir Ben Kingsley, and Emily Mortimer.
Annapurna
10. Sorry to Bother You (2018)
Run Time: 111 min | IMDb: 7/10
Boots Riley’s directorial debut comes courtesy of this dark, absurdist comedy that manages to weave themes of class and capitalism into a bonkers tale about a telemarketer living in Oakland who figures out a way to use his “white voice” to make sales. As he moves up the ladder, selling while hiding his identity, he’s pulled into a conspiracy that forces him to choose between cashing in at humanity’s expense or joining his friends in a rebellion against the system. Lakeith Stanfield gives a riveting turn as Cassius Green, Cash, the kid at the center of this bizarre story, and Tessa Thompson gives a commendable performance as Cash’s radical feminist girlfriend, Detroit.
Getty Image
11. The Beatles: Eight Days A Week – The Touring Years (2016)
Run Time: 137 min | IMDb: 7.8/10
Set during the touring years of The Beatles’ career, from 1962-1966, director Ron Howard crafts an intimate portrayal of the world’s most popular band with the help of both Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, along with widows Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison. Featuring 4K restorations of some of the band’s most memorable concerts, this documentary is a must for any film lover, Beatles fan or otherwise.
Marvel
12. Iron Man 2 (2010)
Run Time: 124 min | IMDb: 7/10
There’s a lot to love about the return of Downey Jr. to the role of Tony Stark in Iron Man 2. We meet Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow, we’re treated to a hellishly-fun villain in Sam Rockwell, and the look of the film is worlds above its predecessor. In the grand scheme of the Marvel universe, this flick isn’t a stand-out, but it’s an enjoyable watch, thanks to Downey Jr.’s complete comfortableness in the role of the billionaire-playboy-philanthropist-superhero.
Open Road Films
13. Spotlight (2015) (requires Showtime)
Run Time: 129 min | IMDb: 8.1/10
Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, and Mark Ruffalo star in this revelatory biographical drama from Tom McCarthy. The film charts the true story of The Boston Globes’ “Spotlight” team, the oldest, most prestigious investigative journalism unit in the United States, and their exposé on abuses within the Catholic Church in the Boston area. McAdams and Ruffalo play a pair of reporters who uncover a monstrous secret kept hidden by powerful religious figures in the community and along with their editor, Keaton, the trio works to out members of the church who sexually abused young children in their care. It’s a tough, often frustrating watch considering this is still an issue around the globe but Ruffalo and McAdams put in a pair of stand-out performances that deserve to be seen.
Touchstone
14. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
Run Time: 110 min | IMDb: 7.6/10
This absurdist dramedy about a dysfunctional family reuniting after their absentee father claims to be stricken with a terminal illness is classic Wes Anderson fare. It’s quirky, offbeat, and revels in showcasing people doing terrible things for heartwarming reasons. Gene Hackman plays Royal Tenenbaum, a man who abandoned his family years earlier but returns with a false cancer diagnosis in order to win back the love of his children, Chas (Ben Stiller), Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow), and Richie (Luke Wilson). The kids peaked too soon and, as adults, are suffering through psychotic breaks, failed marriages, and lackluster careers something Royal tries to right while continuing to lie to them about his life expectancy. It’s a great watch, especially if you’re of fan of Anderson brand of humor.
Paramount
15. Fences (2016)
Run Time: 139 min | IMDb: 7.2/10
Directed by and starring Denzel Washington, this period family drama was adapted from the play by the late August Wilson, who’d completed a screenplay prior to his death. Washington reprised his role of Troy Maxson, who he played on Broadway back in 2010. The film was released on Christmas of 2016, and was a huge critical success, and ended up nominated for four Academy Awards. Viola Davis took home the trophy that year for Best Supporting Actress.
New World Pictures
16. Heathers (1988)
Run Time: 103 mins, IMDb: 7.3/10
Helping to close out a decade of memorable teen films on a dark note, Heathers is a savagely funny deconstruction of the frivolousness of popular cliques that helped set the tone of many dark comedies that would follow in its wake. The plot involves a popular group of girls known as The Heathers who invite Veronica Sawyer (Winona Ryder) to join them, guaranteeing that she would gain popularity by association. Eventually, Veronica finds herself teaming up with a dangerous sociopath (Christian Slater) in an attempt to break the Heathers’ tyrannical hold on the school.
Toho
17. Akira (1988)
Run Time: 124 min | IMDb: 8.1/10
Loosely based on the ground-breaking manga of the same name, Akira is considered a landmark in Japanese animation, as well as one of the best animated films ever produced. Set in a dystopian future in 2019, a teenager named Tetsuo gains tremendous telekinetic powers after a motorcycle crash, eventually going mad with power before bringing the military-industrial complex to its knees. A live action adaptation has been in the works in some form since 2002, but remains in development purgatory for the time being.
Lionsgate
18. Stronger (2017)
Run Time: 119 min | IMDb: 7/10
Jake Gyllenhaal and Tatiana Maslany star in this biographical drama about Boston Marathon bombing survivor Jeff Bauman. Bauman lost both his legs during the terrorist attack as he cheered on his girlfriend who was competing in the race. Gyllenhaal brings the man’s inspiring true story of resilience and recovery to the screen, fully immersing himself in the role and showing the painful aftermath of trauma. There are bits about the terrorists and the coordinated manhunt for them, but the film shines when it focuses on Gyllenhaal.
20th Century Fox
19. 9 to 5 (1980)
Run Time: 109 min | IMDb: 6.8/10
Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton join forces in this workplace comedy that feels eons before its time. The flick follows the three women, all employees of the same company, as they find a way to get even with their sexist boss, a man who propositions them, refuses to pay them their male colleagues’ salaries, and even holds them at gunpoint. It’s a messy, hilarious romp, one made watchable thanks to the chemistry of the three leads, all women who could carry their own feature easily.
Magnolia Pictures
20. Melancholia (2011)
Run Time: 137 min | IMDb: 7.1/10
Merging high art and science fiction, director Lars Von Trier found inspiration for his story after suffering a depressive episode. Focused on two sisters with a strained relationship, they must now face the reality of a rogue planet set to collide with Earth. It premiered at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, where Kristen Dunst was given the Best Actress Award, and the following year the British Film Institute named it one of the greatest films of all time — a rare honor for any film made in the 21st century.
Magnet
21. Bronson (2009)
Run Time: 92 min | IMDb: 7.1/10
The role that basically put Tom Hardy on the map, Bronson, is a strange, enthralling look at the criminally insane mastermind that’s become a bit of an enigma. Michael Peterson became one of the U.K.’s most dangerous criminals, who spent most of his time behind bars in solitary confinement. Hardy is bewitching in the role, and the film teeters between the surreal and the factual in a nonlinear fashion that can make it hard to keep up. Whether you know what’s really going on or not, though, you’ll have a damn good time watching Hardy brawl his way through prison guards, give one-man vaudeville performances, and pretend to be insane.
Oscilloscope Pictures
22. We Need To Talk About Kevin (2011)
Run Time: 112 min | IMDb: 7.5/10
Eva Khatchadourian (Tilda Swinton), who’s unwilling and unable to properly care for her troubled son Kevin, watches her life unravel as her husband (John C. Reilly) ignores their problems and Kevin grows more and more sociopathic and violent. The story jumps around in time, showing Swinton’s character as both a new mother who blames her son for ruining her life and as a woman who eventually blames herself for what becomes of her son. Swinton proves once again that she’s the actress that indie movies need for complex characters that live their lives in grey areas. At its core, We Need To Talk is about the importance of proper parenting, communication, and probably therapy. And it’s not for the faint of heart.
Showbox
23. The Host (2006)
Run Time: 119 min | IMDb: 7.0/10
Korean director Bong Joon-ho’s monster-run-amock movie was first inspired by reports of a fish with an S-shaped spine being caught in the Han River. For The Host, he made the creature significantly more menacing, as it eventually emerges from the Han River and causes immense havoc. Local snack bar vendor Park Gang-du (Song Kang-ho) tries to escape with his daughter, before realizing he’s escaped with the wrong girl. Soon, the U.S. military arrives and quarantines all those who’ve come into contact with the creature, making Park Gang-du’s attempts to rescuing his daughter from the creature’s lair significantly more difficult.
Paramount
24. Annihilation (2018)
Run Time: 115 min | IMDb: 6.9/10
Natalie Portman leads this cast of badass women investigating a natural phenomenon that is slowly invading Earth. Portman plays Lena, a biologist who leads a team of women consisting of a psychologist (Jennifer Jason Leigh), a scientist (Tessa Thompson), and a paramedic (Gina Rodriguez) into “The Shimmer,” a quarantined zone mutated by alien DNA that seems to be transforming matter at will and spreading further each day. Past teams, including one led by Lena’s husband (Oscar Isaac), have disappeared in The Shimmer and Lena goes searching for a clue as to what happened to them and how she can save her husband — who returned changed from his mission. The entire journey is filled with bizarre happenings tied to meta-commentary about evolution and the human condition but honestly, the coolest thing about this movie is its cast and the kick-ass characters they play
Magnet Releasing
25. 13 Assassins (2011)
Run Time: 141 min | IMDb: 7.6/10
Controversial director Takashi Miike’s remake of a 1963 film starts as a slow burn and builds to one of the longest, most elaborate sword battles you’ll ever see, complete with weaponized burning bulls. When the psychotic half-brother of the Shogun edges ever closer to assuming too much power in 1840s Japan, a group of samurai band together to assassinate him, shirking their honor for the good of the people. Despite being slightly based on true events, 13 Assassins retains Miike’s trademark uncompromising and slightly stylized brutality, but this is certainly more accessible than some of his well-known works like Ichi The Killer. Like the dying-out warriors of the time, they don’t make samurai films like this anymore.
Tribeca
26. Hunt For The Wilderpeople (2016)
Run Time: 101 min | IMDb: 7.9/10
A charming, unconventional story about what it means to be a family, Hunt for the Wilderpeople follows a juvenile delinquent named Ricky (Julian Dennison), who is adopted by a couple living on a farm in a remote region of New Zealand. After Ricky fakes his suicide and escapes into the bush, his (reluctantly) adopted father Hec (Sam Neill) goes looking for him, and after a series of mishaps, the two are forced to survive in the woods together for months. It was released during SXSW in 2016 (you can read our review here), and after rave reviews from critics the world over, it’s gone on to become the highest-grossing film in New Zealand history.
IFC
27. Super (2010)
Run Time: 96 min | IMDb: 6.8/10
The Office funnyman Rainn Wilson dons a spandex suit and a poorly-made mask for this superhero comedy that follows a regular Joe-turned-crime-fighting-vigilante. What sets Super apart from basically every other legit genre offering is the fact that the hero sucks at saving the day. Wilson’s character has good intentions — to clean up the streets and save his wife from drug dealers — but he lacks the know-how to get the job done.
Oscilloscope
28. Coherence (2014)
Run Time: 89 min | IMDb: 7.2/10
Coherence is one of those low-budget sci-fi stories that is extremely tough to explain without either giving too much away or requiring an extended entry. Essentially, a group of friends sifts through their own issues and insecurities during a mind-bending paradoxical experience. Taking place almost entirely in the same room on a single night, the characters struggle to find answers just as much as the viewer. It’s a challenging yet enthralling film, perfect for those who love to overthink things.
Magnolia
29. The Square (2017)
Run Time: 142 min | IMDb: 7.3/10
This Oscar nominee for Best Foreign Language Film follows Christian, an art curator whose life starts to unravel after he’s robbed and a new controversial piece opens at his exhibit. Co-starring Elisabeth Moss, Dominic West, and an aggressive man-ape artist, the movie shifts seamlessly from an awkward and bitingly funny satire to a dramatic examination of life. Despite a running time of 150 minutes, it never seems to lag, jumping from extremely tense moments to eccentric characters while being undercut with haunting music. Like a work of modern art, it’s very much left open to interpretation.
Neon
30. Colossal (2017)
Run Time: 109 min | IMDb: 6.2/10
A decidedly unusual twist on the giant monster movie, Nacho Vigolando’s Colossal follows Gloria (Anne Hathaway), an unemployed writer who moves back to her hometown after her boyfriend Tim (Dan Stevens) breaks up with her. After moving into her childhood home, Gloria’s heavy drinking starts to take a toll on her before she starts to realize that she may have a significant connection with a towering monster that spontaneously appears over Seoul, South Korea.
Recent Changes Through February 2019:
Removed: Reservoir Dogs
Added: The Royal Tenenbaums
from UPROXX https://uproxx.com/movies/what-is-the-best-movie-on-hulu-right-now/
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