In an age of options, less feels like more. While Netflix has 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. There are the Academy Awards classics like Terms of Endearment and Rocky, the arthouse darlings like Babel and The Hunt, and the pure entertainment gems like Raiders of the Lost Ark and Goon.
Hulu keeps it simple and offers something for everybody. Here are the 25 best movies that you can watch on Hulu right now.
Related: Netflix Originals You Didn’t Know Were Coming In 2018
Before we start, first a disclaimer. modern streaming libraries are like carousels, always moving and always changing. The films in this list are available on Netflix at the time of writing. We’ll be updating this top 25 list frequently, so keep an eye out for Hulu’s latest and greatest offerings.
25. Detroit
While it slipped through awards season without much hype, Detroit remains one of 2017’s best films. Rotten Tomatoes awarded it an 84% for its “gut-wrenching dramatization of a tragic chapter” in American history. Director Kathryn Bigelow tackles the 1967 incident in Motor City with aplomb, deftly guiding a sprawling cast (led by John Boyega and Will Poulter) through a maze of tension, bigotry, and survival. Detroit streams exclusively on Hulu.
Read More: Detroit: Differences Between The Movie And True Story
24. Iron Man
It’s the movie that started the MCU as we know it. Without director Jon Favreau’s Iron Man, Avengers: Infinity War might not even be a reality. Sitting at a juicy 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, there’s no denying the genre-defining influence of Iron Man and its titular hero, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.). Speaking of Infinity War, many expect Stark to get snuffed out in the mayhem. Now might be a good time to revisit his maiden cinematic voyage.
23. Arrival
Director Denis Villeneuve solidified his reputation with Arrival, perhaps the most intimate science fiction movie in recent years. Critics awarded it a 94% Rotten Tomatoes score, and domestic fans boosted its box office to over $100 million. Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, and Forest Whitaker help ground this mind-bending adventure. Should you have any questions about that ending, we’ve got you covered.
22. Spectre
It’s not the best Bond movie of all time, and it’s not even the better of the two flicks helmed by Sam Mendes. With the exciting news that Danny Boyle will direct Bond 25, however, Spectre is required viewing for 007 fans. Unfairly panned for revisiting Connery-era tropes and humor (after complaints that Daniel Craig’s Bond was too surly), Spectre has more to offer than fans admitted upon its release in 2015.
Read More: Danny Boyle Can Rescue Daniel Craig’s James Bond
21. Sicario
Just before helming Arrival, Denis Villeneuve piloted the unforgettable thriller, Sicario (93% on Rotten Tomatoes). While movies about drug cartels are a dime a dozen, Sicario upends the genre. Filmed to perfection by cinematographer Roger Deakins, this pulse-pounding movie unites a powerhouse cast that includes Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, and Jon Bernthal. This is a must watch, especially considering the sequel, Soldado.
20. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is considerably longer than the F. Scott Fitzgerald short story that inspired it. Clocking in at a whopping 166-minute run-time (and a 72% Rotten Tomatoes score), David Fincher’s epic returns your time with a surfeit of emotion. If you like Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett and the imagination of the guy who wrote The Great Gatsby, you won’t want to miss this one.
19. Silence
While it took director Martin Scorsese 25 years to make Silence, his commitment and passion are fully evident in every frame of the movie. As the title suggests, this is a quiet and interior film, a study of faith and persecution set in 17th Century Japan. Silence is a deeply transporting experience fueled by actors Andrew Garfield, Liam Neeson, and Adam Driver. Though largely ignored by the Oscars, Silence garnered an 84% Rotten Tomatoes score.
18. Terms of Endearment
Perhaps the finest dramedy of the 1980’s, Terms of Endearment packs an emotional punch. It also features the start of Jeff Daniels’ career, earned three Oscars for director James Brooks (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay), Academy Awards for Shirley MacLaine and Jack Nicholson, and an 88% Rotten Tomatoes score. Debra Winger leads the story about a dysfunctional family in a film that will stay with you long after the credits roll.
17. The French Connection
There are realistic movies, and then there are movies by William Friedkin (The Exorcist, also currently on Hulu). The French Connection lands smack in the middle of Friedkin’s filmography, but it ranks among his very best movies (earning a cool 98% on Rotten Tomatoes). It’s a gritty nail-biter that ranks among the best of the ‘70s, thanks in no small part to the central performances of Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider.
16. Frank
To some, Michael Fassbender is a young Magneto. To others, he’s a two-time Academy Award nominee. To a select few, he’s the gonzo pop musician and eponymous hero in Frank, the offbeat artist who became more famous for his oversized paper-mâché mask than his music. Directed by Lenny Abrahamson (Room), Frank earned a 92% Rotten Tomatoes score and remains a cult classic to adventurous viewers looking for a changeup in their visual diet.
15. Goon
If you’re a hockey fan and have ever laughed at National Lampoon movies, Goon deserves to be on your roster. Directed by Michael Dowse and penned by Jay Baruchel and Evan Goldberg, this slapstick comedy is packed with laughs, action, and memorable one-liners. Seann William Scott leads the fray with Eugene Levy, Kim Coates, Alison Pill and Live Schreiber in this Rotten Tomatoes 82%-fresh comedy.
14. The Hunt
Foreign films are in short supply on Hulu, but director Thomas Vinterberg’s The Hunt closes the gap. Mads Mikkelsen stars in the haunting drama that earned him the Best Actor Award at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival (and a 94% Rotten Tomatoes score for the movie). The Hunt is perhaps more relevant than ever, asking questions about the power of accusation and mass hysteria.
13. Babel
The final act of director Alejandro González Iñárritu’s “Death Trilogy,” Babel weaves a complicated story into a compelling drama. The narrative unfolds when a random act of violence in the Middle East gets an American tourist (Cate Blanchett) wounded. As her husband (Brad Pitt) seeks medical attention, the event makes international headlines and interlinks additional narratives in Japan, the United States, and Mexico. Released in the middle of a war-ravaged 2006, Babel earned a 69% Rotten Tomatoes score and a bundle of Academy Awards nominations.
12. Capote
Daniel Day-Lewis may be the best-regarded actor of his generation, but once you see Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote, you may rethink that ranking. Directed by Bennett Miller (Moneyball, Foxcatcher), this 2005 Oscar winner focuses on the genesis of Truman Capote’s most enduring work, In Cold Blood. Hoffman deservingly won the Oscar for his uncanny performance of the bon vivant author.
11. Zodiac
It may be less violent than Se7en, but David Fincher’s Zodiac is no less disturbing. At over 2 hours and 30 minutes in length, this study of the famed serial killer demands your fullest attention. Fronted by Jake Gyllenhaal and Mark Ruffalo, Zodiac is a slow-burn thriller that gets creepier by the minute. While it didn’t make an impact at the box office, Zodiac earned a solid 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
10. Blazing Saddles
When all is said and done, Blazing Saddles may be remembered as director Mel Brooks’ crowning achievement. Featuring a host of absurdities, anachronisms, and cultural analysis, this spoof lampoons everything from the wild west to Hollywood and everything in between. The Mel Brooks and Richard Pryor-penned script has a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and features a barrel of jokes that would never see the light of day in 2018.
9. Raiders of the Lost Ark
When Raiders of the Lost Ark is streaming, it’s hard to resist. If not Steven Spielberg’s best movie ever, Raiders certainly ranks among his most entertaining. It features a fascinating myth, Harrison Ford in his prime, breakneck action, and a priceless score by John Williams. It’s no wonder Raiders sits at 94% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Read More: Indiana Jones 5: Every Update You Need To Know
8. Reservoir Dogs
Filmed on a shoe-string budget, Reservoir Dogs boldly introduced the twisted genius of Quentin Tarantino. Pulpy dialogue, brutal violence, and unrelenting pace turned Reservoir Dogs into a classic (earning a 91% rating on RT). If you have yet to see it, now is the time. And if it has been a few years, it’s worth revisiting the movie that launched Tarantino’s career.
7. Dirty Dancing
An icon of ‘80s cinema, Dirty Dancing has enjoyed a rich 30-year legacy. While the movie has grown in popularity over the years, it was a certified hit on arrival, netting over $200 million on a $6 budget. Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey became veritable stars, while “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” earned an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Director Emile Ardolino helmed the picture, which currently sits at 72% on Rotten Tomatoes.
6. 25th Hour
Long before he tackled the Game of Thrones adaptation for HBO, David Benioff penned the novel and subsequent screenplay for 25th Hour. Though a lesser-known Spike Lee film, 25th Hour is an engrossing tale about a drug dealer’s final day of freedom before prison. The cast features Edward Norton and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
5. Rocky
If you’re down on your luck and need a boost, Rocky is here for you. Directed by John G. Avildsen (The Karate Kid), Rocky includes Sly in his career-defining role, Talia Shire, Burt Young and Carl Weathers. Considering it won the Oscar for Best Picture and Best Director in 1977, you should need little more convincing (although a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes may help).
Read More: Rocky and the Greatest Retcon of All Time
4. Goldeneye
Hulu’s James Bond channel is one of the network’s best features. Several Pierce Brosnan films are currently streaming, but Goldeneye is the one to watch. Directed by Martin Campbell (who also shepherded the Casino Royale reboot), this 1995 classic re-launched James Bond with a fresh supporting cast that includes Judi Dench, Famke Janssen, and Sean Bean (whose fate you might be able to guess). Rotten Tomatoes acknowledges that Goldeneye is Brosnan’s best Bond, with a 78% consensus. Don’t make the mistake and keep watching all the way to Die Another Day, though.
3. Glengarry Glenn Ross
Adaptations can be tricky, but Glengarry Glenn Ross nails the stage-to-screen transition. David Mamet’s pugilistic script comes to life through the mouths of Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Alec Baldwin, Ed Harris, and Kevin Spacey. Filmed in just a handful of locations, the tour de force performances make director James Foley’s film feel like a war zone. Though Al Pacino received the movie’s only Academy Award nomination, Rotten Tomatoes critics gave it a 94% rating.
2. Superbad
Coming of age movies are a Hollywood staple, but Superbad ranks highest among them (with 87% on Rotten Tomatoes). For all of the laughs packed into Greg Motolla’s movie (penned by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg), Superbad doesn’t skimp on authenticity. Thanks to the note-perfect performances of Jonah Hill, Michael Era, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Superbad will take you straight back to the awkward desperation of adolescence.
1. The Queen
If you enjoyed The Crown, you owe it to yourself to watch The Queen. Palace intrigue is eternal, and Stephen Frear’s 2006 movie centers on the royal family fallout after Princess Diana’s death. Dame Helen Mirren takes on Queen Elizabeth with great wit and gravitas, for which she won the Academy Award.
Next: 10 Best Shows You Didn’t Know Were On Hulu
We will continue to update this list as new movies become available on Hulu, so be sure to check back soon!
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