10 Best Movies on Hulu in 2024 According to Critics

Are you experiencing media overload? Same. Instead of spending time letting AI algorithms choose your movies or mourning over your decision fatigue, let our team help you identify the top-rated Hulu originals. These are the cream of the crop, the best of the best — at least as of 2024. Here are the top 10 best movies on Hulu in their portfolio of original films.

10. Run

Tomatometer: 89%

Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Horror

“Run” was released in November 2020, and Aneesh Chaganty directed it. It features American Horror Story’s Sarah Paulson and newcomer Kiera Allen. Allen plays Paulson’s daughter, Chloe, a homeschooled adolescent who is curious about what her mom is hiding after she finds a suspicious bottle of pills. Not many films in this genre have ideal disability representation, but here, Chloe uses a wheelchair and has a chronic illness due to premature birth. The tension between the two characters is extraordinary as it unveils a secret of Chloe’s upbringing.

9. Ask Dr. Ruth

Tomatometer: 93%

Genre: Documentary

“Ask Dr. Ruth” was released in January 2019 and was directed by Ryan White. It follows the life of German-American Ruth Westheimer, a Holocaust survivor. The twist is that she is a successful sex therapist who, at the time, was approaching her 90th birthday. It is a delightful retrospective of her life and the lessons she has learned throughout her career.

8. Prey

Tomatometer: 94%

Genre: Science-Fiction/Horror

“Prey” is a prequel to the rest of the “Predator” franchise. It released in August 2022, and Dan Trachtenberg directed it. It features Amber Midthunder from “Legion,” Dakota Beavers, Michelle Thrush, Dane DeLiergro, and others. The story follows Naru, a Comanche healer turned huntress attempting to protect her people from an alien-like threat. Simultaneously, French traders are poaching the buffalo they need to survive. It is a story about determination and standing up for your community. Need more Hulu movies with a horror spin? Look no further than these additional recommendations.

7. Palm Springs

Tomatometer: 94%

Genre: Romance/Comedy

“Palm Springs” was released in July 2020, and Max Barbakow directed it. It features “Brooklyn 99’s” Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, and the famous J. K. Simmons. It follows the story of Samberg’s character Nyles, who is attending a wedding in — you guessed it — Palm Springs. He finds himself stuck in a time loop alongside his love interest, Sarah, and rival, Roy. A spin on the classic “Groundhog Day,” it is a refreshing, cynical, and philosophical look into what makes life worth living and who you choose to spend it with.

6. Good Luck to You, Leo Grande

Tomatometer: 94%

Genre: Comedy/Drama

“Good Luck to You, Leo Grande” released in January 2022, directed by Sophie Hyde. It stars Dame Emma Thompson and Daryl McCormack of “Peaky Blinders.” Thompson plays retired teacher Nancy Stokes, and McCormack plays the confident Leo Grande. Grande is a sex worker who helps Stokes on a journey of discovering sexual pleasure after the death of her husband two years prior. The empowering, triumphant pair create a dynamic never-before-seen on film.

5. Fire Island

Tomatometer: 94%

Genre: Romance/Comedy/LGBTQ+

“Fire Island” was released in June 2022, and Andrew Ahn directed it. It features Joel Kim Booster, Bowen Yang, Conrad Ricamora, and Margaret Cho. This Pride and Prejudice-inspired vacation story follows a group of LGBTQ+ adults heading to Fire Island. As every Austen story would have it, it has hilarity with a dose of classism in this joyous romp alongside a wonderfully diverse cast.

4. Plan B

Tomatometer: 96%

Genre: Comedy

“Plan B” was released in May 2021, and Natalie Morales directed it. It features Kuhoo Verma from “The Big Sick” and Victoria Moroles from “Teen Wolf.” Two best friends, Sunny (Verma) and Lupe (Moroles), run all over South Dakota to find the emergency contraceptive the film is so gloriously named after. The story is about found family, trust, and exploration as the two push a witty script to its limits.

3. Rye Lane

Tomatometer: 98%

Genre: Romance/Comedy

“Rye Lane” was released in January 2023, and it is the directorial debut of Raine Allen-Miller. It features Industry’s David Jonsson and theater’s beloved Vivian Oparah. Yas (Oparah) and Dom (Jonsson) are recovering from breakups and find themselves at the same art exhibition. In a classic twist on the friends-to-lovers trope, the two discover the value of restoring their faith in love.

2. Changing the Game

Tomatometer: 100%

Genre: Documentary/Sports/LGBTQ+

“Changing the Game” was released in June 2021, and Michael Barnett directed it. The documentary highlights the stories of several transgender high school athletes. It provides a sharp, nuanced look at how the press receives transgender athletes and how they change the trajectory of these individuals’ careers in sports.

1. Minding the Gap

Tomatometer: 100%

Genre: Documentary

“Minding the Gap” was released in August 2018, and Bing Liu directed it. Set in Illinois, it follows three young men who find friendship through a shared devotion to skateboarding. An intimate depiction of abusive relationships and the strain of adulthood on friendships, Minding the Gap explores racism, finding family, and following your dreams despite unfair systemic structures. The three strive to find their way against everyone and everything attempting to stand in their way.

Honorable Mentions Outside of Hulu Originals

Countless other great films of all genres on Hulu aren’t Hulu originals. Explore these additional titles if you’ve gone through all of the list above:

• “Alien”
• “Free Solo”
• “The Babadook”
• “Lord of the Rings” trilogy
• “Die Hard”
• “Nomadland”
• “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
• “The Shape of Water”
• “Akira”
• “3:10 to Yuma”

What To Watch

If you’re struggling to pick a movie, these top 10 best movies on Hulu from their list of originals have a little bit of everything to satisfy even the most contentious film critic. From romantic comedies to mind-tickling documentaries, these are at the top of the pile regarding Hulu. Keep an eye out for more original releases — these high ratings have set Hulu up for increased expectations from casual movie watchers and critical film buffs alike.