In 2024, Hulu offered one of the best Black Friday streaming deals of the year, letting users access its platform for just $0.99/month for 12 months. A similar deal is expected to drop in 2025, giving countless subscribers access to the streaming home of numerous award-winning TV programs and movies, holiday favorites, and an excellent selection of reality TV.
If you’ve got Hulu’s Black Friday deal and are looking for the best things to watch, our guide compiles the 10 best shows and movies on the platform.
The Bachelor (2002-Present)
If you’re a fan of reality TV, you can’t go wrong with The Bachelor. Each season of the show follows an eligible bachelor, who must choose a fiancée from a list of potential candidates by the end of the season. The bachelor gets to know candidates through several exotic and romantic group or one-on-one dates, eliminating one each week until his future fiancée remains.
The Bachelor is really the epitome of guilty pleasure when it comes to reality TV. Viewers go in knowing the premise is outlandish, but can’t help but be sucked into the juicy drama, scandal, and shocking twists and turns. You get to watch, relax, and put in little effort besides snarking on the contestants. If you’re a sucker for guilty pleasure reality TV like Love is Blind (2020), you’ll love The Bachelor and be pleased to know that three seasons are available to stream on Hulu.
Only Murders in the Building (2021-Present)
Only Murders in the Building is arguably Hulu’s most successful and recognizable original. The crime dramedy centers on Mabel (Selena Gomez), Oliver (Martin Short), and Charles (Steve Martin), three true crime enthusiasts who decide to take their fandom to the next level and solve a series of murders in their apartment complex.
It’s no surprise the series has been a hit for Hulu, given its star-studded cast and guest appearances, its balance of humor and mystery, and its witty, satirical take on true crime obsession. Only Murders in the Building feels refreshing, creative, and a little whimsical and charming, reminiscent of Netflix’s The Thursday Murder Club (2025) in its comforting atmosphere. The binge-worthy series is an excellent starting place for newcomers to Hulu.
The Bear (2022-Present)
FX’s The Bear streams on Hulu and is another major draw to the streaming platform. The series tells the story of Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White), an acclaimed New York chef who returns home to run his late brother’s failing Italian beef shop. Like Only Murders in the Building, The Bear attracts attention with its rotating cast of star-studded guest appearances each season and its refreshing originality.
However, it’s a much more intense and emotional alternative, as it delves deeply into topics of family dysfunction, grief, and substance abuse. Even so, The Bear manages its comedy and drama well, never getting too dark. It also serves as an excellent representation of the culinary industry, raising awareness for the stress and challenges within it. Whether you want a deep dive into the culinary industry in the vein of Burnt (2015) or a heartrending family saga, The Bear is for you.
Flamin’ Hot (2023)
Hulu’s original movie, Flamin’ Hot, is a biographical drama that follows Richard Montañez's (Jesse Garcia) journey from a janitor at Frito-Lay to the creator of the beloved snack, Hot Cheetos. Although the story’s authenticity is questionable, Flamin’ Hot is still highly enjoyable, inspirational, and relatable. It accurately conveys the struggles of immigrants and families to make ends meet, while also offering a bit of hope as it follows one man’s incredible fortitude and drive.
Flamin’ Hot is the kind of movie you watch when you’re looking for a feel-good story. Some may gripe about the film’s authenticity and realism, but others will love its heart, humor, and comforting vibes. Viewers who love movies inspired by true stories of incredible success, like Air (2023) and Joy (2015), will especially enjoy Flamin’ Hot.
No One Will Save You (2023)
No One Will Save You is one of Hulu’s most unique original movies. The sci-fi horror movie centers on Brynn Adams (Kaitlyn Dever), a young woman whose isolated lifestyle takes a strange turn when alien invaders arrive at her home. No One Will Save You stands out in the horror genre, given that it has a notable lack of dialogue, featuring just five words throughout its duration.
Despite its largely wordless premise, the film conveys an incredible amount of emotion through Dever’s fantastic performance and the compelling themes of trauma, regret, and forgiveness. The film is equal parts chilling and thought-provoking, using its extraterrestrial home invasion to frame larger ideas. Fans of creative and thoughtful horror movies, like Weapons (2025) and A Quiet Place (2018), will be most drawn to No One Will Save You.
The Artful Dodger (2023-Present)
Hulu and Disney+’s The Artful Dodger is a hidden gem on Hulu and a clever take on Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist. In the series, the Artful Dodger (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) tries to outrun his past as a pickpocket and establish himself as a successful surgeon, an increasingly difficult feat as his former friend, the notorious Fagin (David Thewlis), returns to his life. Although the series didn’t receive much fanfare, it’s a riveting period heist drama that offers a new and intriguing spin on Dickens’ familiar tale.
It has a little bit of everything: romance, swashbuckling adventure, thievery, and friendship. Brodie-Sangster and Thewlis make quite the on-screen duo, presenting audiences with a found family dynamic that will warm their hearts. Although the 1800s medical aspects can be a little grisly, The Artful Dodger is ultimately a lot of fun and will be returning to Disney+ and Hulu with a second season.
Shōgun (2024-Present)
FX’s Shōgun is streaming on Hulu, giving subscribers access to one of the biggest shows of 2024. The historical drama brings feudal Japan to life in stunning detail as it tells the story of Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), who finds himself targeted by his political rivals within the Council of Five Elders. Shōgun is a riveting watch, reminiscent of Game of Thrones (2011) and Vikings (2013) in its brutality, scale, and exquisite detail.
The series truly does justice to James Clavell’s sprawling novel of the same name, offering heartstopping battle sequences, magnetic performances, and a thrilling political game. If you’re looking for a beautifully crafted, high-quality, stunning series, you can’t go wrong with Shōgun.
Nutcrackers (2024)
Nutcrackers is an excellent Hulu original movie for viewers seeking to get into the holiday spirit. The holiday film centers on Michael Maxwell (Ben Stiller), a workaholic bachelor who struggles to make it through the holidays caring for his four estranged, orphaned nephews. It’s a surprisingly underrated holiday gem that pays homage to The Nutcracker with its ballet sequences and nods to theatre, but it also stands well on its own as a heartwarming family saga.
Nutcrackers is charming and funny, but it also goes a bit deeper than its premise may suggest. The film poignantly explores grief, family connection, and the innocence of childhood through its tearjerking story and gorgeous cinematography. Viewers seeking something warm and emotional for the holidays, similar to It’s A Wonderful Life (1946), will love Nutcrackers.
Alien: Earth (2025-Present)
FX on Hulu’s Alien: Earth proved to be one of the biggest shows of 2025. As its title suggests, the series brings the Alien franchise to Earth, where several powerful corporations seek to profit from the Xenomorph and other alien species. Alien: Earth is a must-see for fans of the Alien franchise, as it expands the Alien universe in an exciting, refreshing, and profound direction.
It offers the iconic thrills, sci-fi horror, suspense, and cinematography of the films, while also ensuring the story and setting are distinct. The TV format proves a strong medium for conveying more complex themes than the movies, as Alien: Earth delves into what it means to be human and the dangers of corporate power. It’s an excellent choice for subscribers seeking the newest and most exciting shows Hulu has to offer.
Joy to the World (2025)
Hulu’s newest original holiday movie, Joy to the World, is perfect for new subscribers during the holiday season. The film tells the story of Joy Edwards (Emmanuelle Chriqui), a lifestyle guru who convinces her friend, Max (Chad Michael Murray), to pose as her husband for the holidays so she can keep up the illusion of her perfect, fabricated life on social media. It’s funny, outlandish, and has that distinct, charming but cheesy Hallmark vibe.
Joy to the World is the perfect watch for viewers seeking comfort and lighthearted holiday entertainment. The movie is fun, romantic, and has an irresistible festive atmosphere. Although Joy to the World isn’t the most sophisticated holiday movie, it’s perfect for viewers who love the lighter side of the holiday genre, like Hot Frosty (2024) and Our Little Secret (2024).
