52 Of The Best Movies To Stream On Hulu In October

Air Force One, My Best Friend's Wedding, Rushmore, and more great titles you'll want to stream this month.

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1. Another Round (2020)

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The winner for Best International Film at this year's Academy Awards, Another Round tells the story of four middle-aged, disillusioned teachers in Copenhagen who decide to start consuming a small amount of alcohol throughout the day in order to see how it affects their social and professional lives. The entire cast is phenomenal, but Mads Mikkelsen steals the movie as Martin, a depressed man who rediscovers his zeal for life when he begins incorporating drinking into his daily life. What really makes the film work is its balance; while Another Round never shies away from the very real risks of drinking, at the same time, it manages to resist getting preachy as its main characters explore the pros and cons of alcohol consumption. This dark, funny, strange story walks that delicate line to the very end of the film, leaving it up to the viewer to decide what to make of these four friends' bizarre experiment.

Watch it on Hulu.

2. *Air Force One (1997)

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Oftentimes, the best action movies are the ones that keep the general plot simple, and that is certainly the case with Air Force One. All you really need to know is that while President James Marshall (Harrison Ford) is flying back from Moscow to the United States, a group of terrorists take over Air Force One and hold his family hostage. It's up to Marshall to save his wife and daughter while kicking some ass at approximately 35,000 feet in the air. Ford makes his case for being placed on the Mount Rushmore of movie presidents, and the rest of the cast, including Gary Oldman, Glenn Close, and William H. Macy, does fantastic work.

Watch it on Hulu.

3. Arrival (2016)

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When you think of alien invasion movies, your mind likely goes to massive explosions and gigantic battle sequences with the fate of the Earth on the line. You won't find any of that in Arrival. Instead, when extraterrestrial spaceships appear in different locations around the planet with no explanation, linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams) is the unexpected hero who is charged with the task of figuring out how to understand and communicate with the otherworldly visitors. Director Denis Villeneuve proves to be a master of suspenseful storytelling, as he is able to create a tense atmosphere and explore several thought-provoking themes without getting too heavy-handed, all while subverting nearly every trope of alien cinema. The movie is a worthy entry into the pantheon of great sci-fi films, but the eight Academy Award nominations it received, including Best Picture and Best Director, proved that Arrival had managed to transcend genre altogether. Though, in a just world, Adams would have finally won her much-deserved Oscar for her subtle performance. (Criminally, she wasn't even nominated.)

Watch it on Hulu.

4. The Assistant (2019)

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Years deep into the #MeToo movement, the entertainment industry is still figuring out how to effectively hold a mirror up to itself and tell stories about the pervasive culture of sexual harassment onscreen. The Assistant manages to do so by delivering a master class in "show, don't tell," as viewers get a front row seat into the devastating effects of systemic oppression women face in the workplace through the eyes of Jane (Julia Garner), a young and ambitious junior assistant working at a production company in New York. Even in the most mundane moments of her job, Jane experiences subtle yet potent sexism while persistent rumors float around the office about her unnamed and unseen boss using his position of power to sleep with young women. The understated tone of the movie quietly creates an almost horrorlike atmosphere as even a meeting between Jane and the company's head of HR (Matthew Macfadyen, best known as Tom on Succession) becomes a terrifying display of how powerless she is to fight against a system built to protect those in power.

Watch it on Hulu.

5. Attack the Block (2011)

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A group of teen hoodlums are mid-robbery when they're disrupted by an alien falling from the sky. The run-in is part of a full-scale extraterrestrial invasion, but rather than run away and hide as the rest of us would, the gang, led by Moses (John Boyega), jump at the chance to fight any aliens they come across. Attack the Block failed to make back its budget at the box office, but it was a hit with critics. Boyega, who was only 19 when the film was released, received rave reviews, and his onscreen debut led directly to him being cast as Finn in The Force Awakens.

Watch it on Hulu.

6. Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021)

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Barb (Annie Mumolo) and Star (Kristen Wiig) leave their suburban existence behind for a getaway in beautiful Vista Del Mar. The two friends just want to ride an inflatable banana and enjoy some nice drinks by the pool, but they end up accidentally in the crosshairs of a bizarre evil plan that involves lethal mosquitoes. Wiig is as fantastic as ever, but it's a blast to watch Mumolo, a relative unknown who has mostly made a name for herself as a writer (including earning an Oscar nom for cowriting Bridesmaids with Wiig), deliver a breakout performance. The two are fantastic as the titular best pals, and their script is packed with goofy gags and absurd one-liners. As a result, Barb & Star is the type of movie that tragically doesn't really get made anymore: a comedy where the primary goal is to make the audience laugh as much as possible. 

Watch it on Hulu.

7. Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020)

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It's the year 2020, and time and space have started to crumble because Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) have failed to write the prophesied song that would unite the universe in peace and harmony. While they head to the future to try to discover the song, their daughters, Billie (Brigette Lundy-Paine) and Thea (Samara Weaving), head into the past in order to assemble the greatest band roster in the history of music. Reeves and Winter remain as charming as ever, but Weaving and Lundy-Paine manage to hold their own and arguably end up with most of the best jokes and shenanigans in the movie. It never quite captures the magic of Excellent Adventure or even Bogus Journey, but Face the Music is a worthy third entry in this beloved time-traveling franchise.

Watch it on Hulu.

8. Black Swan (2010)

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Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman) is a ballerina who is obsessed with being the best. She is cast in the lead dual roles in Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, but as she struggles to capture the dark and complicated performance of the Black Swan, her understudy, Lily (Mila Kunis), threatens to take the part from her. As Nina begins to lose her grip on reality, the viewer experiences her intense paranoia and slow descent into madness, thanks to director Darren Aronofsky's one-of-a-kind talent. The psychological thriller earned five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director, with Portman winning an Oscar for her career-defining performance.

Watch it on Hulu.

9. Bound (1996)

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Part neo-noir crime thriller, part forbidden lesbian love story, Bound centers on Corky (Gina Gershon) and Violet (Jennifer Tilly), who quickly fall in love and hatch a plot to rob Violet's mobster boyfriend of $2 million. The film directorial debut of the Wachowskis, who would go on to helm the Matrix trilogy, was considered so controversial upon its release that Gershon's agents told her she would ruin her career if she took the part. Rather than take their advice, Gershon parted ways with her agents and took the role of Corky, telling Entertainment Weekly she was drawn to the role because "[she] never get[s] to play the hero and to get the chick." Gershon's decision paid off — the film flopped at the box office but slowly developed a cult following and is now considered a classic of LGBTQ cinema.

Watch it on Hulu.

10. *Cedar Rapids (2011)

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Tim Lippe (Ed Helms) is the type of guy who tries to give a girl a promise ring after they have a casual hookup, but his naive, idealistic demeanor gets thrown for a loop when he's sent to a regional insurance conference in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to represent his struggling company. Tim ends up exploring all of the heathen pleasures that the wild world of insurance has to offer, including random hookups and drug-fueled fights. The plot of this movie is a little thin, but it's elevated by Helms, who proves here that he has what it takes to be the leading man in a movie.

Watch it on Hulu.

11. *Clifford (1994)

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Damien from The Omen can't hold a candle to Clifford (Martin Short) when it comes to kids who manage to stir up complete chaos and destroy the lives of everyone around them. The young troublemaker just wants to go to Dinosaur World (a fictional theme park that admittedly looks awesome), but when his uncle Martin (Charles Grodin) is unable to take him, Clifford makes it his mission to rob his uncle of all the joy he has in his life. Clifford was regarded as a failure financially and critically when it came out, but it has developed a cult following in the decades since as more and more people have come to recognize the genius of Short's absolutely unhinged performance. Who else could play a 10-year-old who is pure evil so convincingly at the age of 44? 

Watch it on Hulu.

12. Collective (2019)

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Collective follows Romanian journalists as they uncover widespread corruption by the government's handling of healthcare. What really sets Collective apart from most modern documentaries is its confidence in not needing to use the genre's clichés to overexplain everything to the audience. There is no voiceover or dramatic score to try to manipulate you as a viewer; instead, you just get to see what is unfolding onscreen. Collective made less than $150,000 at the global box office, but it has received universal praise from critics, winning Best Documentary at the European Film Awards and London Film Critics Circle. It even became the first-ever Romanian film to earn a nomination at the Academy Awards.

Watch it on Hulu.

13. Crawl (2019)

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Crawl technically has a plot, but all you really need to know is that Haley Keller (Kaya Scodelario); her dad, Dave (Barry Pepper); and their dog, Sugar, end up trapped in their Florida home after a hurricane and have to avoid being eaten by alligators while they wait to be rescued. The straightforward premise, along with the short runtime (87 minutes), allows Crawl to dive quickly into the action without ever forcing the movie to slow down for pesky distractions like character development and emotional nuance. And director Alexandre Aja perfectly understands the appeal of the movie and is more than happy to give audiences what they want by coming up with increasingly ridiculous yet awesome ways for Haley to narrowly avoid getting devoured by the hungry gators. This may not be the most intellectually stimulating movie you watch this month, but it will easily be one of the most fun viewing experiences you have.

Watch it on Hulu.

14. *Crimson Tide (1995)

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When military units loyal to Russian ultranationalist Vladimir Radchenko (Daniel von Bargen) take control of a nuclear missile installation, the USS Alabama is given orders to launch a nuclear strike against the terrorists if they begin fueling the missiles. Internal conflict soon arises onboard Alabama as Lt. Cmdr. Ron Hunter (Denzel Washington) preaches a calm and measured approach, while Capt. Frank Ramsey (Gene Hackman) wants to launch nukes first and ask questions later. The primary appeal of this one is obvious, as any film lover will delight in getting to see two of the best actors of their respective generations face off onscreen, and both prove to be more than up to the task.

Watch it on Hulu.

15. Election (1999)

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Jim McAllister seems to be living his best life as a happily married civics teacher at a high school in Omaha. But everything starts to fall apart when Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon), an ultra–type A go-getter, decides to run for student council president. McAllister makes it his mission to take her down, and the two end up in a showdown that nearly destroys the school. This surprisingly dark comedy is a blast, as it's hilarious to watch how far Flick will go to win and how far McAllister will go to stop her from winning. What's really incredible is that Witherspoon was still unknown at this point. Her terrifyingly uptight performance rightly earned her the first Golden Globe nomination of her career.

Watch it on Hulu.

16. Gattaca (1997)

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In a eugenics-fueled "not too distant" future, Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke) dreams of going to space but faces discrimination because he was conceived naturally. Vincent's dream comes true when he takes on the identity of a "valid" named Jerome (Jude Law). While trying to avoid being caught, he finds himself falling in love with his coworker Irene (Uma Thurman). The movie was a massive box office bomb, barely making a third of its $36 million budget. However, Gattaca was recognized by critics who praised it as a thought-provoking and unique sci-fi film and recognized the exceptional performances from Hawke, Thurman, and Law.

Watch it on Hulu.

17. *Goldeneye (1995)

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As the Daniel Craig era of 007 comes to a close, take some time to look back on the finest entry from the James Bond actor who preceded him. These days, the Pierce Brosnan era is looked down upon as corny and over-the-top (which is an unfair assessment), but even the biggest Brosnan skeptic would have a hard time dismissing Goldeneye. You've got all the ingredients that make a Bond movie a classic: high stakes but a relatively simple plot, cool new gadgets, a few totally awesome action scenes, a memorable villain, and a top-notch performance from Brosnan. It was also the inspiration for the single greatest first-person shooter game of all time.

Watch it on Hulu.

18. Gone Girl (2014)

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When Amy (Rosamund Pike) goes missing on her fifth wedding anniversary, suspicion quickly begins to grow that her husband, Nick (Ben Affleck), may be hiding something. What sounds like a fairly straightforward whodunit turns out to be so much more. For much of Gone Girl, you think you are watching one story, only to discover about halfway through that you are being told a different story altogether. The movie works almost entirely thanks to Pike, who gives one of the best acting performances of the last decade as Amy, a character who excels at keeping her true motivations close to her chest. Keeping up with Pike is a tall order, yet Affleck, who has become better known for his directing than acting, proves himself to be up to the task, playing Nick with just the right blend of scumbaggery, self-loathing, and sad-eyed charm. At its core, Gone Girl is a movie about the tenuous nature of connection and whether or not qualities like loyalty and trust are as powerful as mutually assured destruction.

Watch it on Hulu.

19. The Hate U Give (2018)

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Starr Carter (Amandla Stenberg) is a high school student whose life is turned upside down when she witnesses her friend get shot and killed by a police officer. Based on the 2017 novel of the same name, The Hate U Give was praised by critics and made nearly $35 million at the box office against a $23 million budget. The movie was seen as a star-making vehicle for Stenberg, who won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture and received a nomination for the Critics' Choice Award for Best Young Actor/Actress for her nuanced portrayal of Starr.

Watch it on Hulu.

20. Hell or High Water (2016)

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Westerns have essentially disappeared from movie theaters over the last decade, but Hell or High Water makes a compelling case that the genre isn't dead quite yet. Toby Howard (Chris Pine) and his brother Tanner (Ben Foster) begin robbing banks in rural Texas in order to prevent an impending foreclosure on their family ranch. The two are pursued by Texas Rangers Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges) and Alberto Parker (Gil Birmingham), with the former hoping to catch them before he enjoys his well-earned retirement. Hell or High Water avoids many of the clichés found in Westerns, as the typical "good guy versus bad guy" narrative is replaced with a more nuanced story of survival. The film is anchored by stunning cinematography and fantastic performances from the entire cast, with Bridges even earning himself an Oscar nomination. If you're looking for a Western with a distinctly modern twist, you won't do much better than this.

Watch it on Hulu.

21. *The Hunger Games (2012)

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Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) is just your average 16-year-old living in a postapocalyptic world, but that all changes when she volunteers to participate in the Hunger Games, a fight-to-the-death competition put together every year, after her sister is selected to represent their district. The series lost its way a bit as it went on, but the first entry in the Hunger Games film franchise remains a highly entertaining dystopian adventure that touches on themes like wealth disparity and the ways that the rich exploit the poor for their own entertainment. Plus, it was the role that made Lawrence a star before she established herself as a bona fide star by winning an Oscar.

Watch it on Hulu.

22. *Jacinta (2020)

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After spending most of the last decade of her life in and out of prison, 26-year-old Jacinta plans to get clean and become a better role model to her 10-year-old daughter. This harrowing documentary takes a brutally honest look at the struggles that addicts face in trying to get their lives back on track, and explores the unhealthy dynamics of the codependent relationship between Jacinta and her mom, Rosemary. Since its release, Jacinta has been unanimously praised by critics and generated lots of buzz along the film festival circuit.

Watch it on Hulu.

23. La La Land (2016)

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What happens when a struggling actor and a struggling jazz musician cross paths in Los Angeles? Movie magic, baby! While it didn't actually end up winning Best Picture (to be fair, Moonlight totally deserved it), La La Land remains a remarkably entertaining movie and one of the best movie musicals of the 21st century. That's in no small part thanks to Emma Stone (who did end up winning an Oscar) and Ryan Gosling, who manage to effortlessly carry the movie with their dynamite chemistry and surprisingly great dance moves. Even if you find yourself (justifiably) rolling your eyes when Sebastian (Gosling) is explaining jazz to Mia (Stone), you'll find yourself tapping your toes during the outstanding musical numbers.

Watch it on Hulu.

24. Love & Mercy (2015)

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One of the best musician biopics ever made, Love & Mercy focuses on the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson at two distinct points in his life. First we meet a young Brian (Paul Dano) in the '60s deciding to quit touring at the height of the band's success and instead focusing on creating the album that would eventually become Pet Sounds. Later we see an older Brian (John Cusack) in the '80s unexpectedly connecting with Melinda Ledbetter (Elizabeth Banks), a Cadillac salesperson. As we witness the young Brian slowly begin to break down mentally, Melinda discovers that the older Brian has become a shell of himself due to heavy medication. Both actors are phenomenal in their portrayals of Brian, but the movie ultimately belongs to Dano, who brilliantly captures the sensitive but intense and troubled nature of one of music's true geniuses of the last century. The Pet Sounds sessions are the film's highlight, as it is genuinely thrilling to watch the creation of one of the greatest albums ever made, even if it is a fictional retelling.

Watch it on Hulu.

25. *Maggie's Plan (2015)

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When Maggie (Greta Gerwig) decides she wants a child, she ends up entangled with two men, Guy (Travis Fimmel) and John (Ethan Hawke). Without giving too much away (though it would admittedly be hard to even explain exactly what happens in this movie, as the actual plot is simultaneously both a lot and almost nothing at all), Maggie's Plan offers a fresh and unique perspective on several concepts that have been discussed ad nauseam in film, including romance, family, and discovering who you are. The entire cast is great, but it's Gerwig who really stands out, and watching this will make you wish that she found time to still act when she's not busy directing and writing Oscar-nominated films.

Watch it on Hulu.

26. Magic Mike (2012)

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The appeal of Magic Mike is simple: getting to watch a group of impossibly ripped dudes (including Channing Tatum, Matthew McConaughey, and Joe Manganiello) doing insanely hot choreography in delightfully elaborate outfits. And that formula paid off in a big way, as the movie ended up earning over $100 million at the domestic box office despite costing only $7 million (along with a hit sequel that also made a ton of money). If you need to escape the stress of your daily life or the existential despair of pretty much everything happening in the world, just put on Magic Mike and enjoy Tatum's iconic performance of "Pony."

Watch it on Hulu.

27. Melancholia (2011)

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When it comes to depicting mental illness onscreen, the movie industry has a less-than-stellar track record, often resorting to lazy stereotypes or reinforcing false notions about people suffering from anxiety, depression, or any number of other mental afflictions. But Melancholia is the rare exception as Lars von Trier, the film's writer and director, manages to channel the hopeless, directionless exhaustion of a depressive episode into Justine (Kirsten Dunst). Although it's her wedding day, Justine shows no interest in her marriage, her husband, or anything else going on around her, while her family is too focused on how her behavior reflects on them to really care about her. At the same time, a rogue planet named Melancholia begins heading toward Earth, which some predict could mean the end of the world. Dunst has never been better than she is here as she imparts a sense of despondent apathy toward everything happening around her that goes from disheartening to frightening as the world faces possible extinction.

Watch it on Hulu.

28. Much Ado About Nothing (2011)

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Filmed in 12 days at director Joss Whedon's real-life residence in Santa Monica, this cinematic adaptation of the beloved Shakespeare play is mostly straightforward despite the modern setting. The charming, talented cast — which is filled with alums from various Whedon projects, like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, and even The Avengers — does marvelous work with the centuries-old dialogue, creating a fun and lighthearted atmosphere that makes it feel more like a rom-com. Even if you are not the biggest fan of the Bard, you'll find yourself totally charmed watching Benedick (Alexis Denisof) and Beatrice (Amy Acker) trade barbs while denying their feelings for each other.

Watch it on Hulu.

29. *My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)

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In 1997, Julia Roberts was at the height of her rom-com powers, and she proved herself to be the genre's GOAT with My Best Friend's Wedding. What is really remarkable about this movie is that Jules (Roberts) is an objectively terrible person who decides to break up an engagement between two people who are happily in love because she decides out of nowhere that she's in love with Michael (Dermot Mulroney), the groom-to-be. But even as you are watching Jules manipulate everyone around her and lie to get what she wants, you still love her because Roberts is just that damn charming. And for that reason, Roberts deserves credit alongside James Gandolfini, Jon Hamm, and Bryan Cranston for delivering all-time great antihero performances.

Watch it on Hulu.

30. The Nice Guys (2016)

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Shane Black is one of the defining voices of the buddy cop movie, and The Nice Guys is arguably his best take on the genre. Bumbling private eye Holland March (Ryan Gosling) reluctantly teams up with Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe), a brutish enforcer, to investigate the possible death of porn star Misty Mountains (Murielle Telio). But as in any good buddy cop movie, the actual plot takes a backseat to the chemistry between the lead duo, and Gosling and Crowe are sensational together. Gosling is the funniest he has ever been and delivers one of the best slapstick performances in recent memory. And Crowe has no problem keeping pace, giving his best performance since Master and Commander.

Watch it on Hulu.

31. Night of the Kings (2020)

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A new prisoner arrives at La Maca, an infamous prison in the Ivory Coast that is run by inmates, and is selected to be the new "Roman," which requires him to tell a story to the prisoners. He begins to tell the story of the death of Zama King, a leader of the gang he belonged to, but he soon learns that he must keep telling the story until dawn or he will lose his life. Night of the Kings has received widespread critical acclaim since its release, winning the African American Film Critics Association Award for Best Foreign Film and the NAACP Image Awards 2021 for Outstanding International Motion Picture.

Watch it on Hulu.

32. Nomadland (2020)

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You know those movies that your cinephile friends have been telling you to watch for months? Nomadland is probably at the top of that list, and after its big showing at the Oscars back in April, you have no more excuses for putting it off. And once you finally watch it, you’ll wonder why you didn’t see it sooner. Based on the 2017 nonfiction book of the same name, the film centers on Fern (Frances McDormand), who sells most of her possessions and takes to life on the road shortly after losing her job. McDormand won her third Oscar for her intimate portrayal of a woman trying to rediscover her place in the world, but what’s really impressive is how well the rest of the cast keeps up with her despite being composed almost entirely of "nonactors."

Watch it on Hulu.

33. Office Space (1999)

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Does any movie capture the mind-numbing, soul-sucking boredom of working a dead-end job in a cubicle better than Office Space? From battling over a stapler to having eight different bosses, it perfectly captures all of the pointless and endless minutiae we've all had to endure or are currently enduring every day for the sake of a paycheck. Upon its release, the movie received positive reviews from critics but initially flopped at the box office, making only $12 million. But over the years, it has developed a cult following and is now considered one of the best comedies of the last 25 years.

Watch it on Hulu.

34. Palm Springs (2020)

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It's Nov. 9, and Nyles (Andy Samberg) is attending his cheating girlfriend's best friend's wedding for the thousandth (or possibly millionth) time, as he's been forced to relive the same day over and over. Nyles seems to have accepted his fate until sister of the bride Sarah (Cristin Milioti) ends up stuck in the same time loop. In lesser hands, this movie could easily feel unoriginal or trite, but Palm Springs proves to be a clever rom-com reimagining of Groundhog Day instead of a shameless rip-off. Having two people stuck in an endless time loop together instead of one poor schmuck trapped all alone may seem like a small change, but it turns out to give the movie its own vibe entirely. Palm Springs largely ignores the self-improvement aspect of Groundhog Day in favor of addressing the complex nature of human connection. And thanks to the dynamite chemistry between Samberg and Milioti, it totally works.

Watch it on Hulu.

35. Parasite (2019)

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There's not much to say about Parasite that hasn't already been said in a million think pieces, but this is a rare film that not only justifies but somehow surpasses its own massive hype. But while much of the praise goes to Bong Joon-ho, who won Best Director and Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars, the performances from the actors tend to get overlooked. The entire Kim family is outstanding, as all four actors manage to display the family's growing sense of desperation and bitterness as they try to survive their life in squalor. Park So-dam's performance as Kim Ki-jung is awardworthy, as she is able to bring in a layer of dark humor into the role while remaining entirely in character.

Watch it on Hulu.

36. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987)

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Neal Page (Steve Martin) is determined to make it home to Chicago to be with his family for Thanksgiving, but this simple journey proves to be a Herculean task after he reluctantly ends up with Del Griffith, a motormouthed salesperson, as his travel companion. Martin and Candy are a phenomenal comedic duo, as Candy's expert blend of oblivious recklessness and good-natured charm proves to be the perfect foil for Martin's cynical, tightly wound demeanor. Both manage to deliver massive laughs without becoming caricatures. The comedy was written and directed by John Hughes, marking the end of his run as the undisputed king of teen movies.

Watch it on Hulu.

37. Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)

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If you're a sucker for once-in-a-lifetime love stories, you are going to love Portrait of a Lady on Fire. Set in France in the late 18th century, the film tells the story of Marianne (Noémie Merlant), a painter who is commissioned to paint a portrait of Héloïse (Adèle Haenel), a young aristocrat set to marry a wealthy nobleman. Romance movies have a tendency to be melodramatic, but Portrait opts for a more subtle approach, allowing the tension to grow as Marianne and Héloïse slowly gravitate toward each other. The film also makes no attempt to hide the lack of social freedom granted to women during this time period, which adds a certain level of tragedy to the love these two share.

Watch it on Hulu.

38. Revolutionary Road (2008)

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More than a decade after Titanic launched them both to superstardom, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet reunited for this romantic drama based on the 1961 novel of the same name. But while Jack and Rose were a testament to the enduring power of true love, Frank (DiCaprio) and April (Winslet) Wheeler are a young couple struggling to keep their relationship from falling apart in the suburbs of Connecticut. Revolutionary Road takes place in the '50s, a time typically seen as the height of domestic bliss, but for Frank and April, living the American dream feels more like a nightmare that won't end. DiCaprio and Winslet are both solid as ever, but the real surprise is that Michael Shannon manages to deliver the film's best performance as John, the couple's erratic but insightful neighbor who is deemed insane by everyone around him. Shannon earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination, proving himself to be one of the most exciting actors in the entire industry.

Watch it on Hulu.

39. Romeo + Juliet (1996)

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This is the way Shakespeare should be done. Director Baz Luhrmann manages to make the timeless story feel modern while staying true to the original text. From the moment the Capulets and Montagues start hurling insults at each other while pumping gas, this bold, brash adaptation breathes fresh life into the classic love story almost 400 years after its debut. Ultimately, what makes any Romeo and Juliet adaptation sink or swim is the performance of the two leads, and you can't ask for much better than Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. Their instant connection will have you believing in the enduring power of true love, even as the two lovebirds make some extremely questionable decisions as they head toward their ultimate demise.

Watch it on Hulu.

40. Romy & Michele's High School Reunion (1997)

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Romy (Mira Sorvino) and Michele (Lisa Kudrow) are aimless best friends living in Los Angeles who decide they need to get their act together in time to impress their former classmates at their 10-year high school reunion. The movie failed to make much of an impact when it was released, but it has since become a cult classic, with new fans falling in love with its nonstop hilarious quotes and unabashed celebration of female friendship and self-acceptance. What has also made the comedy endure for so long is the onscreen bond between Sorvino and Kudrow as the two deliver laughs while also sharing a beautiful, heartfelt connection that has continued to resonate for viewers over two decades later.

Watch it on Hulu.

41. *Rushmore (1998)

Walt Disney Co. / Courtesy Everett Collection

Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) is a bright and ambitious 15-year-old who, despite his failing grades, loves nothing more than being a student at Rushmore Academy. He befriends Herman Blume (Bill Murray), a depressed alcoholic and the father of one of his bullies, but their friendship turns into a bitter feud when they both fall for Rosemary Cross (Olivia Williams), a second-grade teacher at Rushmore. Wes Anderson's newer movies are more impressive on a technical level, but I would argue that they pale in comparison with the likes of Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums because these two have a subtle emotional depth that makes you invest in the characters. Sure, Max is a lying prick and Herman is a miserable old drunk, but it's also clear that they're both incredibly frustrated and lonely, which is what allows them to form their unexpected friendship in the first place.

Watch it on Hulu.

42. Silence (2016)

Paramount Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

Director Martin Scorsese has wrestled with faith and religion for much of his legendary film career, but never as directly or deeply as he does in Silence. When Jesuit priests Sebastião Rodrigues (Andrew Garfield) and Francisco Garupe (Adam Driver) receive news that their mentor, Cristóvão Ferreira (Liam Neeson), has renounced his faith after being tortured in Japan, they embark on a journey to find him and convert the Japanese people. The duo arrive in Japan with wide-eyed confidence in their mission, but as they get deeper into their search for Ferreira, they are faced with myriad challenges, including the constant threat of torture. Garfield was so dedicated to his performance that he lost 40 pounds, but his commitment to the role was not enough to attract moviegoers, as Silence made only $23 million at the global box office against a $40 million–$50 million budget.

Watch it on Hulu.

43. The Skeleton Twins (2014)

Lions Gate / Courtesy Everett Collection

Comedians attempting to make the transition to more serious roles are common in Hollywood, but rarely do they succeed as well as Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader do in Skeleton Twins, released shortly after their respective tenures at Saturday Night Live. In the film, the duo play estranged twins who are reluctantly reunited after Milo's (Hader) failed suicide attempt. The chemistry between Wiig and Hader makes their familial bond feel entirely authentic, as they share that complicated understanding of each other that you can have only with your siblings. That love-hate dynamic is captured perfectly in the greatest lip-synching movie performance since Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

Watch it on Hulu.

44. Skyfall (2012)

Columbia Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

By far the best James Bond film of the Daniel Craig era, Skyfall gives 007 fans everything they've come to expect from the franchise while also adding some fun new wrinkles to the mythology of everyone's favorite British spy (apologies to Austin Powers). After faking his death to escape his life of espionage and one-night stands, Bond is forced to unretire after an MI6 building is blown up. He eventually faces off with Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem), a former agent who is hell-bent on getting revenge against M (Judi Dench). Silva is the best Bond villain in decades, ranking right up there with the all-time greats like Blofeld, Goldfinger, and Jaws. From the second he appears onscreen waxing philosophical about rats, the former MI6 agent takes over the movie and even forces Bond (and, by extension, viewers) to reflect on the "by any means necessary" approach he has long embraced. Even though it goes off the rails a bit by the end, Skyfall remains entertaining from start to finish.

Watch it on Hulu.

45. *Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

Tristar Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

I know I called Julia Roberts the rom-com GOAT earlier on this list, but if one person can challenge her claim to the throne, it's Meg Ryan. And at the top of the list for movies you'd use to argue for Ryan is Sleepless in Seattle, which proved that her performance in When Harry Met Sally was no fluke and was her first team-up with Tom Hanks. Upon a rewatch, what really stands out is how little Ryan and Hanks are actually onscreen together. It's a risky move, but they're both so talented and naturally charismatic that it totally works, perfectly building the anticipation for when they finally come face-to-face.

Watch it on Hulu.

46. The Social Network (2010)

Columbia Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

An origin story about the guy who created Facebook doesn't sound that exciting, but The Social Network has managed to become one of the most beloved and respected films of the 21st century. With David Fincher directing the best script of Aaron Sorkin's career, seeing Mark Zuckerberg's meteoric rise from drunk blogger to billionaire tech genius feels almost Shakespearean. This isn't just the story of Facebook; it's a story of ambition, betrayal, and the thin line between good and great. The Social Network earned eight Academy Award nominations and won three, for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, and Best Film Editing. A trio of Oscars is nothing to sneeze at, but over a decade later, most people agree that the movie deserved a few more, including Best Picture over The King's Speech. The movie also doubles as a fascinating time capsule, as it's clear that in 2010, nobody really understood how much social media would become an unavoidable part of life, for better or worse.

Watch it on Hulu.

47. Sorry to Bother You (2018)

Annapurna Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

Cash Green (LaKeith Stanfield) is a down-on-his-luck guy who needs a job to keep from getting kicked out of his house, which is actually just his uncle's garage. Out of pure desperation, he lands a job as a telemarketer at RegalView. At first, Cash struggles to make any sales, but when he adopts a "white voice" on the advice of another Black coworker, he quickly finds himself climbing the corporate ladder. For the first hour or so, this dark comedy seems like a clever but straightforward satire on race in America, but Boots Riley, who wrote and directed the film, ultimately goes much deeper than that. Sorry to Bother You's blend of absurdism and cynicism allows the film to examine with remarkable insight the sinister roles that race and capitalism play in modern society, going beyond the surface to expose how systemic racism is intrinsically built into the parasitic and exploitative nature of the relationship between the wealthy and the working class. It's also got a twist that I pretty much guarantee you won't see coming.

Watch it on Hulu.

48. *Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan (1982)

Paramount / Courtesy Everett Collection

By 1982, public interest in Star Trek was waning, and an underwhelming public and critical response to the first film left many wondering if the franchise was doomed to be redshirted. But that all changed with Wrath of Khan, which is widely considered the best movie the franchise has ever made and serves as a great reminder of why so many fell in love with Star Trek in the first place. It's got a lethal combination of action, heart, humor, and, of course, intelligence. Just make sure you have those tissues ready because whether you've seen it zero times or a thousand, there's a good chance the film's ending will make you shed a tear or two.

Watch it on Hulu.

49. Together Together (2021)

Bleecker Street Media / Courtesy Everett Collection

Matt (Ed Helms) is a successful app developer who decides he wants to become a father as he approaches middle age. He selects Anna (Patti Harrison), a twentysomething working a coffee shop, as his surrogate, and as the pregnancy progresses, their relationship grows as well. The chemistry between Helms and Harrison is fantastic, as their odd-couple dynamic has a warm and hilarious intimacy. Since its debut at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, Together Together has received universal praise from critics, with Harrison being singled out for her breakout performance. The movie also features a killer supporting cast that includes Tig Notaro, Jo Firestone, Anna Konkle, and Julio Torres.

Watch it on Hulu.

50. Watchmen (2009)

Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

Based on Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' legendary DC Comics graphic novel series, Watchmen tells a dystopian story of a group of superheroes who fall apart during the height of the Cold War. The highly anticipated adaptation received mixed reviews from critics and underwhelmed at the box office, but it remains one of the most ambitious comic book adaptations of all time, and its success far outweighs its failures. Is it at least a half hour too long and tonally inconsistent at points? Yes. But Zack Snyder's controversial directing style is put to good use here, and the movie manages to capture the deep, complex themes that made the original graphic novel so beloved in the first place.

Watch it on Hulu.

51. We Broke Up (2021)

Vertical Entertainment / Courtesy Everett Collection

Lori (Aya Cash) and Doug (William Jackson Harper) are forced to attend a wedding together just after they decide to call off their long-term relationship. It's a simple premise that allows the film to explore the complexities of a couple who no longer want to be together yet remain drawn to each other. We Broke Up has received mixed reviews from critics so far, but Cash's and Harper's performances have been praised. As the two effortlessly make the jump from television to the big screen, their natural chemistry brings a depth to the fractured relationship between Lori and Doug.

Watch it on Hulu.

52. *What About Bob? (1991)

Touchstone Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

Dr. Leo Marvin (Richard Dreyfuss) seems to have it all: a successful therapy practice, a loving family, and a book that is about to be released that he believes will make him a rising star in the psychiatric community. But all of that is threatened when he brings on Bob Wiley (Bill Murray) as a patient. Bob is immediately taken with Dr. Marvin, so much so that he follows him up to New Hampshire for his family vacation and begins to slowly invade every facet of his life. Is the movie's handling of mental health perfect? Not by any means, but it's also less blatantly offensive than you might think, as Bob is shown to be a charming, capable, and well-liked guy who is being held back by his many disorders, not defined by them.

Watch it on Hulu.

* Denotes title has been newly added to Hulu for October.

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