Top Shows and Movies to Watch on Hulu: A Comprehensive Guide

This month's streaming recommendations will be for Hulu. Hulu started shortly after Netflix and was owned by Fox and NBC. The biggest draw for Hulu at the time was having access to TV shows the day after airing, meaning if you missed the last episode of your favorite show, Hulu would have it the day after it aired. This has since changed as every studio now has its own streaming services and shows are now airing the next day on their respective services. Even with losing that exclusivity, Hulu still has a ton of TV shows and movies to watch. Here are my recommendations for what to watch on Hulu.

This first section is for original movies. These are all movies that have been produced and are exclusively on Hulu. Hulu doesn't have nearly as many as Netflix, but there are still a fair amount of worthwhile original films.

1. Palm Springs: This is one of my go-to movie recommendations. Palm Springs is basically Groundhog Day but at a wedding. It stars Andy Samberg and Cristin Millioti and follows a lonely bridesmaid who gets trapped in a time loop, living the same wedding day over and over. This movie is rated R.

2. Self Reliance: This is a comedy thriller starring Jake Johnson and Anna Kendrick. It follows Tommy as he is given to participate in a life-or-death reality TV show where people are allowed to kill him when he is alone. This has a very similar feel to that of David Fincher's The Game. This movie is rated R.

3. Prey: This is a prequel to the Predator franchise. The movie is set in pre-colonized America and follows Naru, a skilled warrior of the Comanche tribe as she hunts one of the first Predators to land on Earth. This is very different than any of the other Predator films as it lacks any sort of guns or technology. This movie is rated R.

4. Flamin' Hot: This is a new biopic about the origin of the Flamin' Hot Cheetos. The movie is about Richard Montanez, a Frito Lay janitor, who helped create the iconic snack. There is debate on how accurate the story is but it is an interesting movie nonetheless. Some of the storytelling reminds me of Luis in Ant-Man. This movie is rated PG-13.

5. Boss Level: This is another time loop movie but this time with an action video game aspect to it. The movie centers around a special forces agent who is stuck in a time loop that repeats the day of his murder as he attempts to uncover the mystery behind his demise. This movie is rated TV-MA

This next section is just like the previous one except with TV shows. I haven't seen very many Hulu TV shows but there are still quite a few worth recommending even if I haven't seen them.

1. The Bear: This is the only Hulu original show that I have seen. The Bear follows Carmy Berzatto as he attempts to run his brothers restaurant in downtown Chicago. This show has been a big hit for Hulu/FX and has been nominated for and won several Emmys. This show is rates TV-MA.

2. Shogun: This is a historical drama show that cleaned up at last year's Emmy. The show tells the story of Lord Yoshii Toranaga as he fights for his life as his enemies on the council of regents unite against him when he discovers a mysterious marooned European fishing ship. This show is rated TV-MA

3. Only Murders in the Building: This show is a whodunit murder mystery show starring Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez. The show follows three strangers who live in the same building and share an interest in true crime when they find themselves embroiled in a murder. This show has also been nominated for a ton of Emmys and has the vibe of a comedy mystery show.

4. The Handmaiden's Tale: This is another show that has received much acclaim. This is a science fiction dystopian show about a woman forced to live as a concubine under a theocratic dictatorship. This show is rated TV-MA.

5. American Horror Stories: This is an anthology horror series that features a revolving cast. It is essentially a story of the week type of show with each episode having a different story. The show showcases all different types of horror so is a show that any horror fan should check out. This show is rated TV-MA.

6. Alien: Earth: This is a new show that has not come out yet but I still think is worth checking out. This is set on a modern-day Earth when a ship full of Xenomorphs crash-lands and invades the planet and follows a young woman and a group of soldiers who have to defend the Earth. 

7. Chad Powers: This is another show that hasn't come out yet but I still think would be interesting. This show stars Glen Powell as a disgraced college quarterback who walks on to a struggling college football team to attempt to revive his career.

This final section is all about the TV shows and movies in Hulu's back catalog. Some of them may be on multiple streaming services but I put them on this list as Hulu is the service they are most likely to stay on. As streaming rights are so fickle, this list may become inaccurate at some point.

1. New Girl: This is a comedy show starring Zoe Deschanel. It is a sitcom style comedy about a girl named Jess who moves into a new apartment with 3 guys after a breakup. It is similar to shows like Friends in terms of episode arcs and group dynamic. This show is rated TV-14.  

2. Abbott Elementary: This is a new comedy show from ABC that is essentially The Office but at a public elementary school. The show tells the story of the teachers at Abbot Elementary as they try to provide the best education and support for their students. This show is rated TV-PG.

3. The Fresh Prince of Bel Air: This was the show that was the launching point of Will Smith. This show tells the story of a young Will who is sent from Philadelphia to live with his wealthy aunt and uncle in Bel Air. This show is rated TV-PG.

4. Modern Family: This is another mockumentary-style comedy from ABC. This show follows three different but related families as they attempt to navigate their unique trials in life. This show is rated TV-PG

5. Lost: This was a big hit show back in the early 2000s. The show follows a group of survivors of a plane crash as they work together to survive on a deserted island. This show is rated TV-14

6. 20th Century Fox IP: This is a bit of a broader pick but as Disney owns the majority stock in Hulu, that means that Hulu has become the home of 20th Century Fox properties. This includes IP such as The Alien Franchise, The Predator Franchise, Planet of the Apes, and The Die Hard franchise.

7. The Abyss: This is a lesser known movie from James Cameron (the director of Avatar). The movie follows a civilian diving team who is enlisted to find a missing submarine and encounters an aquatic alien species. The film stars Ed Harris and is rated PG-13.

8. True Lies: This is another earlier James Cameron film. This movie stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as a secret agent who has to balancing that his wife may be having an affair with a used car salesman with trying to stop terrorists from smuggling nuclear war heads into the country. This movie is rated R.

9. Bullet Train: This is a recent action comedy from the director of John Wick. The movie stars Brad Pitt as a spy who is sent on a mission to retrieve a mysterious case from a bullet train. This movie is rated R

10. Fall: This is a recent small-scale thriller. It follows two girls who get stuck after climbing to the top of a radio tower and must figure out a way to survive and get help. This movie is rated PG-13.

11. Gone Girl: This is one of the great David Fincher movies. The movie stars Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike and follows Nick Dunne as he becomes the chief suspect in the disappearance of his wife. This movie is rated R.