As streaming libraries go, Hulu’s stable of original films is a bit less substantial than some of its competitors. Part of this is because Hulu has always been more focused on television, creating its own originals and offering next-day streaming for many network and cable series. The streamer primarily relies on licensing agreements to pad out its film library, often from its parent company Disney, but with plenty of other studios in the mix too. (For example, it is the streaming home of both 20th Century Studios and Searchlight Pictures.) That said, there are more than a few gems here that are worth your time. Here are our picks (in alphabetical order) for the Hulu original films you should watch.
Fire Island
Cast: Joel Kim Booster, Bowen Yang, Conrad Ricamora, Margaret Cho, Matt Rogers
A queer retelling of Pride & Prejudice, this fizzy film reimagines Jane Austen’s classic as a gay romantic comedy set among a group of friends during a vacation on New York’s famous Fire Island. Horny, hilarious, and emotional by turns, the film includes all the necessary beats of an Austen tale (class issues, social hierarchies, snappy wit) while centering fresh queer and Asian American perspectives that make it stand out in a crowded adaptation field.
Good Luck To You, Leo Grande
Cast: Emma Thompson, Daryl McCormack, Isabella Laughland
On paper, Good Luck To You, Leo Grande sounds like it should be a cringe comedy. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. The story of a retired teacher (Thompson) who hires an attractive young sex worker (McCormack) to help her finally experience the pleasures of physical intimacy, this film is actually a warm and thoughtful ode to self-acceptance and body positivity. Most of the film takes place in a single location (a hotel room) and relies primarily on dialogue and character moments to carry its story. Thompson has rarely been better, and the film
Minding The Gap
Cast: Kiere Johnson, Zack Mulligan
Bing Liu’s Oscar-nominated documentary about coming of age on the economic fringe of the American Midwest explores the friendships of three young men growing up in Rockford, Illinois, brought together by their shared love of skateboarding. The film follows Liu as he reconnects with two former friends and uses a decade of archival footage to explore the ways skateboarding not only offered them an escape from the abuse they faced at home, but helped shape their paths into adulthood. Come for the heartfelt themes, stay for the gorgeous cinematography.
Palm Springs
Cast: Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, J.K. Simmons, Camila Mendes, June Squibb, Peter Gallagher, Tyler Hoechlin
An inventive, entertaining romantic comedy about a pair of wedding guests who find themselves stuck in a time loop and living the day of the ceremony over and over, Palm Springs is a delightful surprise on multiple levels. Silly and grounded by turns, it takes its Groundhog Day-esque premise and runs with it, adding interesting new layers as Sarah (Miloti) is introduced to a situation that Nyles (Samberg) has been trapped in for some time and the relationship between the two deepens through repeated loops. Samberg and Miloti have fantastic chemistry, and the script is a fabulous mix of romance and sci-fi tropes.
Plan B
Cast: Kuhoo Verma, Victoria Moroles, Michael Provost, Mason Cook, Gus Birney, Adrien Brody, Rachel Dratch
This quirky coming-of-age comedy follows Sunny (Verma), a sheltered Indian teen on a road trip to find a Plan B pill 24 hours after her first awkward sexual encounter is charming from start to finish. Alongside her rebellious best friend Lupe (Moroles), the pair journey across South Dakota, meeting a variety of strange and hilarious characters along the way. Director Natalie Morales deploys a light hand with what could be a painfully realistic premise, grounding the story in Sunny and Lupe’s charming and relatable friendship.
Predator: Killer Of Killers
Cast: Lindsay LaVanchy, Louis Ozawa, Rick Gonzalez, Michael Biehn
This R-rated animated anthology doubles down on the Predator franchise’s evolution as a kind of sci-fi-tinged historical fiction, using three 20-minute interconnected stories to further explore the idea that the ruthless alien race known as the Yautja have basically been using Earth as a training ground for their deadliest killers. Split into three segments that follow a Viking raider, a feudal Japanese ninja, and a World War II pilot all facing off against Predators as they vie for the ultimate title of “Killer Of Killers.” Despite the segments’ compressed runtimes, each mixes gruesome violence with complex narrative stakes.
Prey
Cast: Amber Midthunder, Dakota Beavers, Dane DiLiegro, Michelle Thrush, Stormee Kipp
A surprisingly creative and genuinely thrilling reinvention of the Predator franchise, this prequel set in the Great Plains in 1719 follows Naru (Midthunder), a young Comanche warrior who rejects the gender traditions of her tribe and wants to become a hunter. Her skills are put to the test when an unseen adversary endangers the tribe. Naru makes for an extremely likable and compelling protagonist, and the film takes the franchise back to its tense human vs. alien roots in a story that’s more about character choices than lore building.
Rye Lane
Cast: David Jonsson, Vivian Oparah, Simon Manyonda, Karene Peter, Malcolm Atobrah, Benjamin Sarpong-Bron
This quietly enchanting British romantic comedy centers on the unexpected relationship that blossoms between two young people who meet by chance in an art gallery while they’re both dealing with painful breakups. The pair spend a day together wandering the streets of South London, talking about their exes and lives and fall in love themselves along the way. The streaming landscape could use a lot more movies like this love letter to the neighborhoods of Peckham and Brixton, featuring sparkling dialogue and great chemistry between its leads.
Summer Of ’69
Cast: Chloe Fineman, Sam Morelos, Matt Cornett, Charlie Day, Paula Pell
An awkward high schooler (Morelos) hires an exotic dancer (Fineman) to help her seduce her longtime crush before graduation day in this raunchy, sex-positive teen comedy. The latest in a long line of films about high schoolers trying to get that stretches back to Fast Times At Ridgemont High but feels more like Superbad and Bottoms, Summer Of ‘69 mixes a decent dose of heart in with its horniness and hormones.
Summer Of Soul
Cast: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Chris Rock, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Mahalia Jackson
This excellent documentary tells the story of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, a six-week concert series that brought together an array of predominantly Black performers from the worlds of soul, jazz, and gospel. But although the festival took place during the same summer as Woodstock, it received much less mainstream coverage and is considerably less well known. Director Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s film changes that, combining contemporary interviews with glorious archival performance footage to create what feels like an overdue celebration as much as a history lesson.
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