Hulu launched in 2007 as a joint venture between NBC Universal and News Corporation and has since become one of the major players in the streaming industry. Since 2019, when the Walt Disney Company became a majority owner of the platform, Hulu’s number of paying subscribers has doubled from 22.8 million in the first quarter of 2019 to 50.2 million in the second quarter of 2024.
The popularity of the service has led to an increase in the amount of diverse content available for your ideal movie night. Hulu hosts everything from huge blockbusters to independent films to critically acclaimed originals. The streamer has been particularly successful with its original romantic comedies with films like “Palm Springs” (2020), “Happiest Season” (2020), and “Fire Island” (2022) refreshing the genre and receiving positive reviews from critics and fans.
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Outside of their original movies, Hulu is a top destination for watching and rewatching beloved past franchises, carrying everything from “The Planet of the Apes” films to more recent hits like “Dune.”
To give you some insight as to what to watch at the moment, Stacker compiled a list of the most popular movies on Hulu using data from Reelgood as of Sept. 16, 2024. IMDb ratings and other data points were added for supplementary insights.
#10. Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood
- IMDb user rating: 7.6 (869K reviews)
- Runtime: 161 minutes
- Genres: Drama and Western
- Director: Quentin Tarantino
- Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie
- Release date: July 24, 2019
#9. Smile
- IMDb user rating: 6.5 (177K reviews)
- Runtime: 115 minutes
- Genres: Horror and Mystery
- Director: Parker Finn
- Cast: Sosie Bacon, Kyle Gallner, and Caitlin Stasey
- Release date: Sept. 28, 2022
#8. Tombstone
- IMDb user rating: 7.8 (170K reviews)
- Runtime: 130 minutes
- Genres: Drama and Action & Adventure
- Director: George P. Cosmatos
- Cast: Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, and Sam Elliott
- Release date: Dec. 25, 1993
#7. Sonic the Hedgehog 2
- IMDb user rating: 6.5 (91K reviews)
- Runtime: 122 minutes
- Genres: Action & Adventure and Animation
- Director: Jeff Fowler
- Cast: Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, and Tika Sumpter
- Release date: March 30, 2022
#6. Alien Resurrection
- IMDb user rating: 6.2 (272K reviews)
- Runtime: 109 minutes
- Genres: Action & Adventure and Horror
- Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
- Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Winona Ryder, and Dominique Pinon
- Release date: Nov. 12, 1997
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#5. Idiocracy
- IMDb user rating: 6.5 (189K reviews)
- Runtime: 84 minutes
- Genres: Action & Adventure and Comedy
- Director: Mike Judge
- Cast: Luke Wilson, Maya Rudolph, and Dax Shepard
- Release date: Sept. 1, 2006
#4. Aliens
- IMDb user rating: 8.4 (782K reviews)
- Runtime: 137 minutes
- Genres: Action & Adventure and Science-Fiction
- Director: James Cameron
- Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, and Lance Henriksen
- Release date: July 18, 1986
#3. Prometheus
- IMDb user rating: 7 (660K reviews)
- Runtime: 124 minutes
- Genres: Action & Adventure and Mystery
- Director: Ridley Scott
- Cast: Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, and Charlize Theron
- Release date: May 30, 2012
#2. Alien: Covenant
- IMDb user rating: 6.4 (317K reviews)
- Runtime: 122 minutes
- Genres: Horror and Science-Fiction
- Director: Ridley Scott
- Cast: Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, and Billy Crudup
- Release date: May 9, 2017
#1. Alien
- IMDb user rating: 8.5 (978K reviews)
- Runtime: 117 minutes
- Genres: Horror and Science-Fiction
- Director: Ridley Scott
- Cast: Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, and Veronica Cartwright
- Release date: May 25, 1979
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