19 best movies on Hulu in September 2023

Jason Segel, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand and Kristen Bell in Forgetting Sarah Marshall
(Image credit: Universal)

The best movies on Hulu bring the cinematic experience right into your living room. Hulu's library is stocked with great films. With these options, you won't miss going to the theater. What's better than watching amazing films from the comfort of your couch?

Hulu is one of the best streaming services thanks to an impressive vault of award-winning originals, complete runs of popular TV shows and classic and recent film hits. There's truly something for everyone. 

You can check out the service with a free Hulu trial, and if you decide to sign up, you can save with our Hulu promo codes

*Titles are in reverse chronological order of when they were added to Hulu.

The best movies on Hulu right now

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Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

Peter (Jason Segel) is going through one of the worst breakups that cinema's ever seen. Not only is his ex -- the titular Sarah Marshall, played by Kristen Bell -- a movie star that's on every magazine cover and TV, but he's also unable to avoid her in person because they booked the same Hawaiian resort to get away from it all.

Fortunately for Peter, he winds up meeting some really good people who he might not be ready for yet: Rachel (Mila Kunis) a witty hotel staffer who understands his plight, and surfing instructor Chuck (Paul Rudd) whose positivity is unsinkable. Russell Brand co-stars as Sarah's new squeeze, an insufferable version of himself.

Genre: Comedy
Rotten Tomatoes score: 83%
Cast: Jason Segel, Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Russell Brand
Watch now

Best in Show (2000)

Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara in Best in Show

(Image credit: Maximum Film / Alamy Stock Photo)

Christopher Guest’s MCU (mockumentary cinematic universe) features an array of comedic avengers, including Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Parker Posey and Michael McKean. Best in Show takes place in the world of cutthroat canine competitions; these pup owners are playing around. 

Five entrants head to the biggest event of all, the Mayflower Dog Show. The excitement, pressure and stress soon peel back the layers of their psyches. The cast relies on their considerable improvisational skills to portray their quirky, offbeat characters. They expertly walk a razor’s edge to create a portrait that’s both believable and bonkers. 

Genre: Comedy
Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%
Cast: Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Fred Willard, Parker Posey
Watch now

Speed

(L to R) Keanu Reeves as Jack Traven and Sandra Bullock as Annie Porter, as the latter drives the bus in Speed

(Image credit: 20th Century Fox / Lifestyle pictures / Alamy Stock Photo)

Feel a need for speed, bus-style? This classic chase movie featured Sandra Bullock in her breakthrough role and Keanu Reeves at the height of his (first) peak. He plays LAPD officer Jack Traven, who foils an extortion scheme by bomber Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper). 

In retaliation, Payne rigs a bus with a bomb that will explode if it drops below 50 miles per hour. When an accident incapacitates the driver, passenger Annie Porter (Bullock) takes over the wheel. Jack hops on board to find a way to save everyone on the bus, but the road, fuel and time are all running out. 

Genre: Action thriller
Rotten Tomatoes score: 95%
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, Dennis Hopper, Jeff Daniels
Watch now

Dune

The length and sweeping scope of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi opus has made it very difficult to adapt for the screen. David Lynch tried and had an epic fail with his 1984 film. A 2000 mini-series on the Sci Fi channel fared a little better, but still didn’t take off. Now, Denis Villeneuve gives it a go, with an assist from basically every star in Hollywood.

The director manages to walk the tricky line between fidelity to the source material and not getting bogged down in exposition. What he doesn’t do is try to whittle down the entire 900-page behemoth into a single film.The open ending will give way to a sequel later this year.

Genre: Sci-fi epic
Rotten Tomatoes score: 83%
Stars:  Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Zendaya
Watch now

Once

The boy and girl don't get together in this wistful, charming drama, yet it's as powerful of a love story as you can get. While busking in the streets of Dubling, a struggling musician (Glen Hansard) meets a young woman (Marketa Irglova) selling flowers. When she reveals that she plays piano, they play one of his songs together at a nearby music store. 

It turns out that he's nursing a broken heart, while she has a child and a long-distance husband. Still, they bond over their passion for making music. After recruiting a few other band members, they spend all night recording a demo for him to take to London.

Genre: Musical drama
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%
Stars: Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová
Watch now

Boston Strangler

The latest true crime drama goes old school to cover a string of murders in the early 1960s committed by an infamous killer dubbed the Boston Strangler. That name came from newspaper articles written by two Record-American journalists, whose work takes center stage in the film.

Loretta McLaughlin (Keira Knightley) is the first person to connect the murders of local women, but has to overcome the skepticism of her editors. Fellow reporter Jean Cole (Carrie Coon) joins her cause and together, they challenge sexism and face personal risk to pursue the investigation. 

Genre: True crime drama
Rotten Tomatoes score: 68%
Stars: Keira Knightley, Carrie Coon, Alessandro Nivola, Chris Cooper
Watch now

Triangle of Sadness

Director Ruben Östlund's 2022 Palme d'Or-winning Triangle of Sadness is a class-warfare drama taking place on the one place the mega-rich feel safe: a luxury yacht. Primarily, the film follows a young couple in a manipulative relationship: model Carl (Harris Dickinson) and influencer Yaya (Charlbi Dean Kriek). 

And what better way to test their bond than by putting them in a cruise where everything goes wrong. Not only is The Captain (Woody Harrelson) a drunk who doesn't seem bothered by failing to uphold his duties in front of his staff, but said staff live to make their rich guests' absurd requests come true. Mixing barbed social satire with lowbrow humor, Östlund's made a winner with a film unafraid of taking itself too seriously.

Genre: Dark comedy
Rotten Tomatoes score: 72%
Stars: Harris Dickinson, Charlbi Dean Kriek, Woody Harrelson,
Watch now

Rye Lane

This charming romantic comedy recalls the ambling loveliness of Before Sunrise. Two strangers have a meet-cute after getting brutally dumped. At an art gallery show, Yas (Vivian Oparah) hears Dom (David Jonsson) weeping in a bathroom stall next to her. They exchange their tales of romantic woe, then set off to walk and talk through south London’s neighborhoods.

The characters are mismatched: Yas is a free-spirited costume designer, Dom is an uptight accountant. But the leads share a palpable chemistry and, you know, opposites attract. 

Genre: Romantic comedy
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98%
Stars: David Jonsson, Vivian Oparah
Watch now

Rosaline

The tragic tale of Romeo and Juliet gets a fresh, romantic comedy spin by shifting the perspective to Juliet’s cousin, Rosaline (Kaitlyn Dever). When Romeo (Kyle Allen) drops his interest in her to woo Juliet (Isabela Merced), Rosaline is determined to break them up. She wants her ex-boyfriend back and is willing to do whatever it takes to foil this famous romance. 

The period setting is offset by anachronistic language and flourishes, much like the excellent shows Dickinson and The Great, and looks like a blast. Plus, Dever, one of Hollywood’s best up-and-coming actresses, looks utterly charming. 

Genre: Romantic comedy
Rotten Tomatoes score: 75%
Stars: Kaitlyn Dever, Isabela Merced, Kyle Allen, Minnie Driver
Director: Karen Maine
Watch now

Hellraiser

What fresh hell is this? It’s a reboot of the horror franchise, based on the 1986 novella The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker. The author adapted his own book into the 1987 now-classic movie, which generated a bunch of insipid follow-ups. Now, Hellraiser is reborn but just as disturbing, gory and kinky as ever.

Riley (Odessa A’zion) is a struggling, desperate recovering addict in her 20s who steals a puzzle box with her bad-influence boyfriend Trevor (Drew Starkey). While in a drug-induced haze, Riley unlocks the box and opens a portal to another dimension that’s home to the sadistic Cenobites, who derive pleasure from human pain. 

Genre: Horror/thriller
Rotten Tomatoes score: 
71%
Stars:
Odessa A'zion, Jamie Clayton, Brandon Flynn, Goran Višnjić, Drew Starkey
Director:
 David Bruckner
Watch now

Prey

Reviews have hailed the Predator prequel as the best movie in the franchise since the original. It seems they move forward by looking back, as it follows a young Comanche warrior in 1717. Naru (Amber Midthunder) yearns to hunt like her brother Taabe (Dakota Beavers) and the other men in her tribe, but faces skeptical teasing about her gender. 

Her strength and skills are tested when Naru detects a new creature lurking on their land. She sets out to track down the prey, then discovers it is a dangerous, almost unstoppable alien lifeform. Naru must call upon her inner reserves to not only survive but hunt down this deadly threat to her people.

Genre: Sci-fi action
Rotten Tomatoes score: 
92%
Stars:
Amber Midthunder, Dakota Beavers, Michelle Thrush, Stormee Kipp
Director:
 Dan Trachtenberg
Watch now

Fire Island

Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice gets a delightful modern, queer update written by and starring comedian Joel Kim Booster. Noah is a gay, snarkier version of Elizabeth Bennet, who heads to Fire Island with best friend Howie (Bowen Yang) for a week of sun and rosé-swilling parties. Their romantic prospects are looking good when Howie finds an instant connection with a kind pediatrician named Charlie (James Scully). Unfortunately, Charlie’s aloof friend Will (Conrad Ricamora) threatens to be a buzzkill. Not only is he overly protective of Charlie, he even insults Noah! 

Genre: Romantic comedy
Rotten Tomatoes score: 
93%
Stars: 
Joel Kim Booster, Bowen Yang, Conrad Ricamora, Margaret Cho,
Director:
 Andrew Ahn
Watch now

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande

Emma Thompson is getting her groove on for the very first time in this charming sex comedy. Retired teacher Nancy is newly widowed after a 31-year marriage, during which she faked every orgasm. Now, she would like to experience the climax she’s never achieved. For that purpose, Nancy hires a handsome young sex worker, Leo Grande (Daryl McCormack), whom she greets with a sexual “to do” list of different positions. 

Genre: Sex comedy/drama
Rotten Tomatoes score: 
95%
Stars: 
Emma Thompson, Daryl McCormack
Director:
 Sophie Hyde
Watch now

The Worst Person in the World

The Norwegian indie gem may find a wider audience now that it's on Hulu. The film has a simple but still emotionally resonant story that follows Julie (Renate Reinsve), who is worried about what kind of person she's becoming as she matures (hence the title). She's in a relationship with popular cartoonist Aksel (Anders Danielsen Lie), but it's one of those complicated situations where she's 29 and he's 43 and their needs don't exactly match up. - Henry T. Casey

Genre: Romantic black comedy
Rotten Tomatoes score: 
96%
Stars: 
Renate Reinsve, Anders Danielsen Lie, Herbert Nordrum
Director:
 Joachim Trier
Watch now

Spencer

Kristen Stewart stars as the beautiful but brittle Diana in Pablo Larrain's surreal portrait of the late princess. Set in 1991, the story follows Diana as she arrives at Sandringham for Christmas. As usual, there's eating, drinking, shooting and hunting. But this year, her crumbling marriage, the constant thread of paparazzi, and the firing of her personal dresser erodes Diana's mental health. 

Genre: Biographical drama
Rotten Tomatoes score: 83%
Stars: Kristen Stewart, Timothy Spall, Jack Farthing, Sean Harris, Sally Hawkins
Director:
 Pablo Larraín
Watch now

Pig

Nicolas Cage earned some of the best reviews of his career as a truffle forager in this dark drama. After living alone in the Oregon wilderness, Rob returns to Portland to find the person who stole his beloved pig. What follows is a wild ride that involves drug addicts, an underground fighting ring and a posh haute cuisine restaurant. Through it all, Rob remains resolute in his mission to get his pig back safe and sound.

Genre: Drama
Rotten Tomatoes score: 
96%
Stars: 
Nicolas Cage, Alex Wolff, Adam Arkin
Director:
 Michael Sarnoski
Watch now

Summer of Soul

Sly Stone performs in Summer of Soul

(Image credit: Hulu)

It's the revolution that was not televised. Summer of Soul, the documentary from Questlove in his directorial debut, takes place in 1969 during the Harlem Cultural Festival — which was overshadowed by that year's other music event, Woodstock. The doc weaves together 40 hours of never-before-seen live footage of performers including Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, B.B. King, Ray Barretto, Nina Simone and Sly & The Family Stone. It was an electric, thrilling moment, one born of grief (Martin Luther King Jr. was shot the year before) and celebration of the diversity, artistry and beauty of Black culture. This festival is long overdue to get even a smidgen recognition that the other one received, but at least now we can enjoy a Summer of Soul.

Genre: Music documentary
Rotten Tomatoes score:
 99%
Stars: 
Stevie Wonder, Mahalia Jackson, Nina Simone, Gladys Knight & the Pips,
Director:
 Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson
Watch now

Another Round

Mads Mikkelsen drinks out of a bottle in front of a crowd in Another Round

(Image credit: Nordisk Films)

Cheers to this extremely likable dramedy from Danish auteur Thomas Vinterberg, which stars Mads Mikkelsen as a teacher who engages in an experiment with continuous day drinking. You see, his friend/colleague theorizes that having a blood alcohol level of 0.05 makes him more creative and relaxed. So, Martin and a few other pals decide to try it out under a set of rules. And at first, it really does seem to work — they feel like they are better teachers, husbands, fathers. But when does social drinking turn into alcoholism? And can a constant buzz really fix your life?

Genre: Black comedy-drama
Rotten Tomatoes score: 
92%
Stars: 
Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Magnus Millang, Lars Ranthe
Director:
 Thomas Vinterberg
Watch now

Nomadland

Frances McDormand stars in Nomadland

(Image credit: Searchlight Pictures / 20th Century Studios)

Chloe Zhao's gorgeous portrait of itinerant American life is a top Oscar contender for a reason. Frances McDormand's fearless performance centers the film, but the ensemble cast members — actual nomads who were featured in journalist Jessica Bruder's book — will steal your hearts. The movie follows Fern, an out-of-work widow who packs up her life and starts living out of her van. She travels through the West, finding gig jobs at Amazon fulfillment centers and campgrounds to earn money. Along the way, she meets and befriends other nomads, all doing what they can live on their own terms.

Genre: Drama
Rotten Tomatoes score: 
93%
Stars: 
Frances McDormand, David Strathairn, Linda May, Swankie
Director:
 Chloé Zhao
Watch now

Palm Springs

Cristin Milioti and Andy Samberg sit on floats in a pool in Palm Springs

(Image credit: Hulu)

If Groundhog's Day had put both Bill Murray and Andie Macdowell through reliving the same day over and over again, you'd get Palm Springs. The romantic comedy stars Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti as a pair of wedding guests who find themselves waking up on the same morning — seemingly an infinite number of times. Unable to escape the venue or each other, they start to engage in increasingly outlandish behavior. Having seen Groundhog's Day, we have a feeling about where this is all going, but Samberg and Milioti look like they have such great chemistry, we don't care if it the story is somewhat predictable.

Genre: Science fiction romantic comedy
Rotten Tomatoes score: 
95%
Stars: 
Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, J. K. Simmons
Director:
 Max Barbakow
Watch now

Portrait of a Lady on Fire 

Adèle Haenel and Noémie Merlant star in Portrait of a Lady on Fire

(Image credit: Neon)

This captivating, moving, passionate love story has as many layers as the paintings made by young artist Marianne (Noémie Merlant) of her subject, Héloïse (Adèle Haenel). At the end of the 18th century, Marianne is commissioned by Héloïse's mother to paint a portrait of her daughter, to send to her prospective husband in Milan. Héloïse refuses to be painted, because she doesn't want to get married. Marianne slowly earns Héloïse's trust and the two form a deep bond that turns romantic. But as Marianne gets close to finishing the portrait, what does the future hold for the couple?

Genre: Historical romantic drama
Rotten Tomatoes score: 
97%
Stars: 
Noémie Merlant, Adèle Haenel
Director:
 Céline Sciamma
Watch now

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Kelly Woo
Streaming Editor

Kelly is the streaming channel editor for Tom’s Guide, so basically, she watches TV for a living. Previously, she was a freelance entertainment writer for Yahoo, Vulture, TV Guide and other outlets. When she’s not watching TV and movies for work, she’s watching them for fun, seeing live music, writing songs, knitting and gardening.