Welcome to TechRadar’s guide to the finest additions to Hulu’s movie library since May 2023.
We’ve curated a diverse selection of films that have landed on the streaming platform in the past few months. Each week, we handpick the best new Hulu releases, ensuring a constant stream of fresh choices across various genres. Our guide currently features heart-pounding action, epic science fiction, delightful romcoms, and enjoyable family films. No matter your mood, you’ll discover something to watch here.
Be sure to check back regularly for our latest recommendations. If you’re not solely interested in recent releases, explore our ultimate list of the best Hulu movies. With an ever-growing library of great films, it’s easy to see why Hulu stands as one of the best streaming services today.
New Hulu movies: July 2023
The Alien Collection
Release date: July 1
The Alien collection is a renowned sci-fi franchise that spans multiple films. It centres around Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), a resilient survivor who has experience in confronting a terrifying extraterrestrial species, known as Xenomorphs.
The first two films in the franchise are well worth your time. The first is Alien and it follows the story of the crew aboard the spaceship Nostromo when they encounter the deadly alien creature, which wreaks havoc. The sequel, Aliens, follows Ripley as she returns to the dangerous planet alongside a group of marines to battle the creatures. The later films explore different aspects of the Xenomorph mythos with varying degrees of horror and action.
If you’re a fan of the Alien movies, definitely check out the last Alien-themed game, Alien Dark Descent.
Die Hard 1 & 2
Release date: July 1
The Die Hard series consists of two thrilling action films that we think are well worth your time. The original, Die Hard, follows the story of New York cop John McClane (played by Bruce Willis) who finds himself trapped in a Los Angeles skyscraper during a Christmas party when a group of highly organized terrorists take over the building. This film is infinitely watchable – and not to mention quotable – with lots of explosive action and edge-of-your-seat tension.
In Die Hard 2, McClane, at an airport awaiting his wife’s arrival, faces a new threat when a group of terrorists seize control of the airport’s communication systems – what are the chances, right? McClane needs to outwit the terrorists and prevent a plane from crashing. Both films showcase McClane’s resilience and unforgettable one-liners and Willis’ range as an actor.
Lord of the Rings: Two Towers & Return of the King
Release date: July 1
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is the second installment in the epic fantasy trilogy. It continues the journey of the Fellowship of the Ring as all of the characters face new challenges. Frodo and Sam edge closer to Mordor while the remaining members of the fellowship encounter fierce battles and form alliances to defend the realms of Middle-earth. It’s a visually-stunning movie with truly epic battle sequences.
In The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, the final chapter of the trilogy, the fate of Middle-earth hangs in the balance. The scattered members of the fellowship reunite to confront the dark lord Sauron in the ultimate battle for the future of the realm. The film is a grand spectacle of epic proportions, filled with emotional reunions and monumental battles.
Whiplash
Release date: July 1
Whiplash is a psychological drama meets thriller. However, it doesn’t keep you on edge with cerebral twists or car chases, but instead explores the intense and abusive relationship between talented drummer Andrew (Miles Teller) and his instructor Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons).
Not only is the story compelling and the acting brilliant, but the editing is fantastic too, especially in some of the heart-stopping drumming scenes. Watch it if you like music, stories about complex relationships and can handle a lot of agonizing tension.
New Hulu movies: June 2023
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Release date: June 30
Renowned director Wes Anderson has recently released his latest star-studded movie on cinema screens, Asteroid City. But if you want to catch up on Anderson’s back catalogue in preparation, you can now watch one of our all-time favorites, The Grand Budapest Hotel, on Hulu.
The Grand Budapest Hotel follows the story of this infamous establishment in the fictional Eastern European country of Zubrowka, focusing on Zero Moustafa (played by Tony Revolori for most of the movie) and his journey from lobby boy to owner over the course of several decades. There are exceptionally compelling, quirky and warm performances from the likes of Ralph Fiennes, who plays the hotel’s concierge, and Saoirse Ronan who plays local girl Agatha.
All of Wes Anderson’s movies are visually stunning, but there’s something particularly spellbinding about the set design of the hotel. Want a larger helping of Anderson’s candy-colored aesthetic? Take a look at our ranking of every Wes Anderson film from worst to best.
Guns Akimbo
Release date: June 29
Look, Guns Akimbo isn’t one of the best movies you’ll watch – it isn’t even one of the best movies in this guide – but if you’re after a silly action movie with an interesting premise, then we recommend giving it a chance.
It’s set in the not-so-distant future in which an underground fight club live-streams death matches. A computer programmer called Miles Lee Harris (played by Daniel Radcliffe) finds himself quite literally caught up in the drama as he wakes up with two guns strapped to his hands. What follows is a frantic, violent story that’s bound to appeal to fans of action movies, as well as Daniel Radcliffe lovers – his performance is one of the best bits about Guns Akimbo.
Dune
Release date: June 10
Director Denis Villeneuve (known for Enemy, Blade Runner 2049, Arrival and Sicario) knows a thing or two about bringing immense eerie atmosphere to our screens and he did a truly wondrous job at adapting James Herbert’s seminal sci-fi book Dune into a blockbuster smash.
Dune is set in a very distant future where families and factions are warring across galaxies. It follows the story of Paul Atreides and his family, House Atreides, as they are forced into a violent and relentless battle for a planet called Arrakis, which is a deadly desert riddled with humongous worms that burrow under its surface.
The world-building in Dune is unlike anything we’ve ever seen, the sound design will give you chills and there are some truly unforgettable scenes that are deeply compelling and horrifying in equal measures. This is sci-fi at its best and not only is Villeneuve’s direction breathtaking, but the performances from the all-star cast (including Oscar Isaac, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Timothée Chalamet and more) are a true delight to watch.
Flamin’ Hot
Release date: June 9
Flamin’ Hot is based on the memoir of Richard Montañez, called A Boy, a Burrito and a Cookie: From Janitor to Executive. It’s about Montañez when he worked as a janitor at Frito Lay (a US-based snack company) and his success after he claimed to have created Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. It’s an incredible story about his rise from humble beginnings and the belief and determination that skyrocketed his career.
Flamin’ Hot is directed by Eva Longoria (of Desperate Housewives fame) in her directorial debut and stars US actor Jessie Garcia in the lead role as Montañez. We’d describe Flamin’ Hot as a mixture between comedy and drama thanks to its warm (or, more accurately, flamin’ hot) and energetic story. If you’re looking for a feel-good film with spicy laughs, then this is for you.
The X-Files: I Want to Believe
It’s a delight to see Mulder and Scully in a movie for a change. (Image credit: 20th Century Fox)
Release date: June 1
The second feature film in the franchise, The X-Files: I Want to Believe is set several years after both Fox Mulder and Dana Scully have left the FBI. They’re called back in to consult on a strange case of a kidnapped FBI agent and a priest who claims to be experiencing psychic visions.
Is this a phenomenal movie on its own merit? That’s debatable. If you’re an X-Files fan but never caught up on the movies, then it’s a no-brainer. But we also think it’ll appeal to anyone into spooky horror and, unlike the first movie, can be watched as a standalone story.
Predators
Release date: June 1
Predators is the third Predator franchise movie (after Predator and Predator 2). It’s about a group of highly-skilled killers (played by Laurence Fishburne, Adrien Brody and Alice Braga, among others) who find themselves stranded on an alien planet where they’re being hunted by warring tribes of predators.
This isn’t one of the best action movies all-time, but if you like your action laced with a dose of sci-fi and a hint of horror, it’ll make a fantastic Sunday afternoon watch. Plus, it’s a treat to see actors we know and love join what could have been a bit of a silly follow-up movie, bringing gravitas and solid performances.
The Twilight Saga
Release date: June 1
The original movie in The Twilight Saga, Twilight, landed on Hulu back in May. But now all of the other instalments are available to stream on the platform too. That’s five movies in total, Twilight, The Twilight Saga, New Moon, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1, The Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn Part 2. Overwhelmed? You’re not alone. That’s why we have a guide on how to watch all of the Twilight movies in order.
The first movie explores the romance between Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson) and, without giving too much away, the rest look at how their deep connection shifts and causes trouble over time as they come to terms with the fact that they’re a human-vampire couple. Yes, it’s a little OTT at times (Edward sparkles, for goodness sake). But there’s a reason this was such a hit book series and movie saga. The stories are tense, compelling and tug on your heart strings, it’s catnip for fantasy lovers and you might be surprised to hear we think there’s some great acting here too.
The Goonies
Release date: June 1
The Goonies is an 1985 adventure film about an epic treasure hunt. It follows the story of a group of young teens who discover an old treasure map in their parents’ attic, which seems like it once belonged to a famous 17-century pirate. They set off to hunt down the treasure, hoping to find some funds to save their homes from being demolished. Except things don’t quite go to plan. There are biker gangs, secret passageways, treasure hunts and lots of references that’ll have you basking in the warm glow of nostalgia.
The acting in The Goonies is fantastic and it’s even more fun to watch again nearly 40 years later as many of the cast’s child actors star in blockbusters today. Like Sean Astin (who plays Samwise in The Lord of the Rings), Josh Brolin (Thanos from the Marvel movies), and Ke Huy Quan (Waymond Wang from Everything Everywhere All At Once).
New Hulu movies: May 2023
The Break-Up
Release date: May 19
The Break Up is about just that, a couple that decide to end their relationship and the fallout of what that means for their home, their lives, their friendships and the way they communicate afterwards.
This might sound like a real bummer of a movie, and needless to say you should give it a miss if you’re going through something similar. But we recommend it for everyone else because Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston are relatable as Gary and Brooke and it’s refreshing to see both actors challenge themselves in these roles.
No, it’s not a ground-breaking film by any stretch of the imagination, and there’s plenty of silliness throughout, but there’s a deep emotional tug that’ll stick with you long after the credits start rolling. We think this is a testament to the solid writing, which brings a lot of believable emotional intensity to the screen.
Sliding Doors
Release date: May 16
Think popular 90s romcoms and we bet Sliding Doors comes to mind. It’s about a woman called Helen, played by Gwyneth Platrow, who is fired from her job. She goes to catch the train home and misses it. However, the movie then rewinds and shows Helen boarding the train. What follows is a film that alternates between the two different ways her life unfolds afterwards, all thanks to those fateful sliding doors.
Paltrow might cause controversy with some of her wellness opinions these days, but she is warm and relatable as Helen here. John Hannah stars alongside her as James and it’s a delight to see their romance blossom, well at least in one version of Helen’s life.
Some critics call Sliding Doors a romcom with a neat gimmick. But we like to think of it as a fresh and low-key take on the alternate timelines genre. There’s no hint of time machines or leaps to parallel realities in sight, and yet Sliding Doors treats us to a journey into two very different timelines.
Atonement
Release date: May 1
Based on the 2001 Ian McEwan novel of the same name, Atonement is a war drama that you’ll enjoy if you like the sort of gut-wrenching romance McEwan is famous for (see also On Chesil Beach).
James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, Romola Garai, Saoirse Ronan, and Vanessa Redgrave make up an all-star cast, telling the story of Robbie Turner (McAvoy) and Cecilia Tallis (Knightley) who develop an unexpected romance.
What follows is a sad and deeply reflective story that spans many decades. This is not a fun weekend watch for the family, but it is an unflinching portrayal of war, love and memory that really shows off the talent of the leads, as well as Ronan who plays Cecilia’s younger sister Briony.
Bottle Rocket
Release date: May 1
Wes Anderson might be one of the most popular directors on the planet right now, but everyone starts somewhere and his first movie, Bottle Rocket, is now available to stream on Hulu. It’s about two friends (played by Luke and Owen Wilson) who plan a series of heists that spiral out of control.
Just because this was Anderson’s first movie doesn’t mean it’s not filled with the whimsical humor, charm and deeply compelling dialogue he’s known for. In fact, Bottle Rocket has an authenticity to it that makes it even more enjoyable than some of Anderson’s more recent, flashier, celeb-filled movies.
Beetlejuice
Release date: May 1
If you’re a fan of Tim Burton’s brand of gothic movies, Beetlejuice is well worth watching – or rewatching if you’ve seen it previously.
It’s part fantasy, part comedy, and part horror, and follows a couple (played by Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) who die and decide to haunt their former home to get rid of the new tenants. However, it turns out not all ghosts are good at haunting, so they hire Beetlejuice (played by Michael Keaton), a bio-exorcist, demon-like character from the Netherworld to bring the scares.
Beetlejuice has a crazy but super compelling script and surreal visuals that’ll haunt you long after the credits have rolled, with Keaton’s truly wonderful and memorable performance standing out most of all. A true cult classic and well worth your time if you’re yet to take a trip to the Netherworld.
The Hunger Games Trilogy
Release date: May 1
Based on the best-selling books by Suzanne Collins, you’ll find all three The Hunger Games movies on Hulu (i.e. The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 & 2).
All three movies are set in a dystopian future of what was once North America in a nation called Panem. Each year, forces from the Capitol descend on the 12 districts of Panem to choose a boy and girl “tribute” to compete in the titular event, a terrible reality-style show in which all of the kids fight to the death until only one remains.
Over the course of the trilogy, the power structure of Panem is shaken to its core by Katniss Everdeen (played by Jennifer Lawrence), who instigates a much-needed rebellion. It’s a really compelling trilogy that’s somewhat kid-friendly, but also deals with serious themes of subjugation, power, and freedom.
If you enjoy The Hunger Games trilogy, you’ll be happy to hear that a sequel is on the way in November 2023 called The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
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