The Best Movies on Hulu: 10 Editor-Picked Films Worth Your Night

By Drama4U Team · Published 26 October 2026

The Best Movies on Hulu: 10 Editor-Picked Films Worth Your Night

Searching for the best movies on Hulu? Start here. This editor-picked list skips the endless scrolling and goes straight to ten films that reward a night in, from a memory-bending thriller to a jazz-soaked animated fable and a hostage drama that helped define action cinema.

The mix spans 1988 to 2020 and covers war drama, family animation, superhero spectacle, period romance and offbeat fantasy. Every film here is listed as streaming on Hulu. Each short guide explains the mood, the premise and who it suits best, with no spoilers.

  1. Inglourious Basterds (2009)

    1.Inglourious Basterds (2009)

    boldest war epic

    Quentin Tarantino reimagines the World War II movie with plenty of swagger in this 2009 war thriller. Brad Pitt leads a squad of Jewish-American soldiers in Nazi-occupied France whose job is to strike fear into the Third Reich. Their path crosses with a French-Jewish teenage girl, played by Mélanie Laurent, who runs a Paris movie theater the soldiers set their sights on. Christoph Waltz and Eli Roth round out a striking cast. At 153 minutes it is long, talky and often brutal, yet the tension rarely slackens. Ideal for viewers who love stylized storytelling and can handle graphic violence.

    Drama · Thriller · War · 153 min
    Director: Quentin Tarantino
    Cast: Brad Pitt, Mélanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz, Eli Roth

    Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel

  2. Memento (2000)

    2.Memento (2000)

    best puzzle thriller

    Few thrillers play with structure as cleverly as this one. Guy Pearce is Leonard Shelby, a man hunting whoever attacked and killed his wife, facing one crushing obstacle: a rare, untreatable condition that erases recent memories, even though his life before the injury remains clear to him. Christopher Nolan's 2000 mystery puts the audience inside that disorientation, with Carrie-Anne Moss and Joe Pantoliano in key supporting roles. At a tight 113 minutes, it suits puzzle lovers who enjoy a film that demands full attention and rewards it.

    Mystery · Thriller · 113 min
    Director: Christopher Nolan
    Cast: Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, Mark Boone Junior

    Streaming on: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Peacock Premium, Sundance Now, Netflix Standard with Ads, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus, The CW, Kanopy, Hoopla, Fawesome, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Plex, Plex Channel

  3. Soul (2020)

    3.Soul (2020)

    most uplifting

    Pete Docter's Soul is an animated film with big questions on its mind. Jamie Foxx voices Joe Gardner, a middle school teacher devoted to jazz, whose breakthrough audition at the Half Note Club is followed by an accident that separates his soul from his body. He ends up in the You Seminar, where new souls discover their passions, and has to team up with a stubborn soul-in-training called 22, voiced by Tina Fey, to find his way back to Earth. Gentle, funny and reflective, it works for families and for adults wondering what makes a life feel full.

    Animation · Family · Drama · 101 min
    Director: Pete Docter
    Cast: Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Graham Norton, Rachel House

    Streaming on: Disney Plus, Hulu

  4. The Avengers (2012)

    4.The Avengers (2012)

    biggest crowd-pleaser

    When the evening calls for pure spectacle, this 2012 team-up delivers. An unexpected enemy threatens global security, and Nick Fury, head of the peacekeeping agency S.H.I.E.L.D., launches a worldwide effort to recruit a team capable of pulling the planet back from the brink. Joss Whedon juggles a crowded lineup including Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo and Chris Hemsworth, and much of the fun comes from watching big personalities collide. At 143 minutes, it is a natural choice for action and adventure fans and an easy pick for a group movie night.

    Science Fiction · Action · Adventure · 143 min
    Director: Joss Whedon
    Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth

    Streaming on: Disney Plus, Hulu

  5. The Sixth Sense (1999)

    5.The Sixth Sense (1999)

    quietly haunting

    Quiet, unsettling and genuinely moving, M. Night Shyamalan's 1999 mystery is best approached knowing as little as possible. After an unexpected tragedy, child psychologist Malcolm Crowe, played by Bruce Willis, begins working with Cole Sear, a nine-year-old boy who is hiding a dark secret. Haley Joel Osment and Toni Collette give the story its emotional weight. Expect slow-building dread rather than nonstop scares, which makes it a strong choice for viewers who want a thoughtful thriller with real heart, and a fitting watch as the nights get longer.

    Mystery · Thriller · Drama · 107 min
    Director: M. Night Shyamalan
    Cast: Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette, Olivia Williams

    Streaming on: Netflix, Apple TV, Hulu, fuboTV, YouTube TV, Netflix Standard with Ads, Apple TV Amazon Channel

  6. Coraline (2009)

    6.Coraline (2009)

    spookiest family pick

    Eerie enough for October yet still suited to braver kids, Henry Selick's 2009 animated fantasy is one of the most atmospheric family films around. Dakota Fanning voices 11-year-old Coraline, who is bored in her new town until she finds a hidden door in her rambling old house. It leads to a strangely idealized version of her own life, but staying there comes with a frighteningly real price. Blending horror and whimsy in 100 minutes, it suits families looking for a seasonal watch and grown-ups who love dark fairy tales.

    Animation · Family · Fantasy · 100 min
    Director: Henry Selick
    Cast: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French

    Streaming on: Hulu, HBO Max Amazon Channel, Peacock Premium, HBO Max, Peacock Premium Plus, The Roku Channel

    Read the Drama4U review →

  7. Little Women (2019)

    7.Little Women (2019)

    coziest period drama

    Four sisters come of age in America in the years after the Civil War, and Greta Gerwig's 2019 adaptation gives their story warmth and lively energy. Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh and Eliza Scanlen bring the siblings to life as a believable, bickering, loving family. The 135-minute drama weaves romance together with family bonds and growing pains, making it a comforting choice for a slow evening on the couch. It suits anyone who loves period pieces, sibling stories or heartfelt character drama.

    Drama · Romance · 135 min
    Director: Greta Gerwig
    Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen

    Streaming on: Hulu, YouTube TV

  8. Die Hard (1988)

    8.Die Hard (1988)

    classic action ride

    High above Los Angeles, a team of terrorists seizes a building and takes hostages. Their one problem is an off-duty cop who slipped away and is now hiding somewhere inside, alone, exhausted and the only hope anyone has. Bruce Willis plays that reluctant hero, while Alan Rickman makes a memorable adversary. John McTiernan's 1988 thriller is one of the most beloved action films of its era, built on contained, ticking-clock tension. Perfect for anyone craving grit, momentum and a hero who is very much in over his head.

    Action · Thriller · 132 min
    Director: John McTiernan
    Cast: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Alexander Godunov, Bonnie Bedelia

    Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads

  9. Donnie Darko (2001)

    9.Donnie Darko (2001)

    most mind-bending

    Strange, moody and hard to shake, Richard Kelly's 2001 mystery is built for late-night viewing. Jake Gyllenhaal plays a troubled teenager who narrowly escapes a bizarre accident, then starts seeing visions of a large rabbit that pushes him toward a series of crimes. Jena Malone, James Duval and Drew Barrymore also appear. Mixing fantasy, mystery and teen drama, it rewards viewers who enjoy turning a film over in their heads long after the credits roll, and its unsettling atmosphere fits the fall season nicely.

    Fantasy · Drama · Mystery · 114 min
    Director: Richard Kelly
    Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, James Duval, Drew Barrymore

    Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel, Kanopy, Fawesome, Philo, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Shout! Factory TV, YouTube Free, Plex, Plex Channel, Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads, Tubi TV, Amazon MX Player

  10. Edward Scissorhands (1990)

    10.Edward Scissorhands (1990)

    most bittersweet

    Tim Burton's 1990 fable drops a castaway, unfinished science experiment named Edward into an ordinary suburban town, and the result is equal parts whimsical and melancholy. Johnny Depp plays Edward, alongside Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest and Anthony Michael Hall. Blending fantasy, drama and romance, the film has a storybook quality that makes it easy to sink into. It is a gentle choice for viewers drawn to tender stories about outsiders, and a lovely pick for a cozy autumn evening.

    Fantasy · Drama · Romance · 105 min
    Director: Tim Burton
    Cast: Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest, Anthony Michael Hall

    Streaming on: Disney Plus, Hulu, fuboTV, YouTube TV, FXNow

Whether the mood calls for a mind-bending puzzle, a jazz-filled animated journey, a superhero team-up or a tender period drama, this list has a match. Every film above is listed as streaming on Hulu, so the easiest approach is to choose by mood: thrills, comfort, spectacle or something delightfully strange. Bookmark this page and come back whenever the next movie night needs a plan.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best movies on Hulu for a family movie night?
Soul is a warm, reflective animated film about a jazz-loving teacher, and Coraline is an animated fantasy with horror elements that suits braver kids and fans of dark fairy tales.
Which movies on this list are best for thriller fans?
Memento offers a twisty memory-loss mystery, The Sixth Sense delivers slow-building dread, and Die Hard brings tense hostage action. Inglourious Basterds adds a bold war-thriller option.
What is the longest movie on this list?
Inglourious Basterds is the longest at 153 minutes, followed by The Avengers at 143 minutes.
Which picks work for a spooky fall or Halloween watch?
Coraline, The Sixth Sense, Donnie Darko and Edward Scissorhands all bring eerie, moody or bittersweet atmosphere that suits the season.
What is the oldest and newest movie on this list?
Die Hard, from 1988, is the oldest pick, while Soul, from 2020, is the newest.

Availability as of 2026-10-26. Posters: TMDB. Posters belong to their respective rights holders and are shown for review purposes; availability data from JustWatch via TMDB.