Hulu has been changing the streaming game ever since its inception in 2008. In an imperfect world where some streaming apps have common technical errors, Hulu has stood apart as a purveyor of the latest and greatest content. Since then, Hulu has only risen in popularity due to its multi-faceted streaming options, its easy accessibility, its add-on options and bundle deals, its watch party and recording features, and its access to popular global options.

In recent years, Hulu in the US has become legendary for its unique original material. From producing original series to acquiring films at film festivals, the platform is host to some incredible stories that have earned them rave reviews and awards attention. So, in the name of saving you precious viewing time, here's a list of some of the best of the best original film and television series that Hulu has to offer.

Updated on Mar. 12th, 2024, by Soniya Hinduja: This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.

23 Normal People (2020)

Based on the bestselling novel by Sally Rooney, Normal People is a devastatingly beautiful drama miniseries that portrays the relationship shared by Marianne and Connell. They first began hanging out in their high school days in a small Irish town. At school, he’s popular and she’s lonely. Despite the social differences and class divides, the two grew older, and apart, while still holding on to a bond that was tender, complicated, profound, and irresistible.

A Delicate Study of the Human Condition

Normal People is a 12-episode series that is ripe with complex and honest performances from Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal. As two flawed characters battling with personal traumas, they share a chemistry that is beautiful and authentic. Under the direction of Lenny Abrahamson and Hettie Macdonald, Normal People brings careful and sophisticated life to Rooney’s story. Critics have praised its tense pacing, emotionally perceptive script, and representation of the restlessness of youth. Through feelings of desire, longing, and touch, the series tells a romance that is at once universal and rare.

22 Tell Me Lies (2022)

Chronicling a tumultuous eight-year-long romance between two young souls, Tell Me Lies follows Lucy Albright and Stephen DeMarco, who first met in a fictional upstate New York school. Right from the start, they shared an intense but toxic relationship. Lucy is looking for someone to help reinvent herself and break free, while Stephen is cautious and harbors secrets of his own. The closer they get, the more entangled they become with each other’s emotional and physical messes.

A Hypnotic Romance

Tell Me Lies is adapted into a compelling Hulu Original by Meaghan Oppenheimer from a 2018 novel of the same name by Carola Lovering. It covers dark themes of obsession, manipulation, and control, and how a relationship worsens with these factions at play. The charismatic leads, Grace Van Patten and Jackson White, do an incredible job at gripping the audiences into their touch-and-burn romance. The cinematography of the series is also engaging, and as the narrative spirals out at a deliberate pace, it reveals how one toxic relationship can alter lives forever.

21 Fleishman Is in Trouble (2022)

A lighthearted miniseries, Fleishman Is in Trouble follows a recently-separated surgeon named Toby Fleishman. Now in his early forties and free to explore, he enters the world of app dating when his ex-wife, Rachel, suddenly goes missing and leaves their two children, 11-year-old Hannah and 9-year-old Solly, under Toby’s care. As Fleishman juggles parenting, his demanding career, new romances, and the disappearance of his ex-wife, he begins to understand the truth about why they broke up in the first place.

Jesse Eisenberg’s Most Complete Role Yet

Fleishman Is in Trouble offers remarkable insight into marriage, divorce, and dysfunction. With an all-star cast made of Jesse Eisenberg, Claire Danes, Lizzy Caplan, and Adam Brody, the series immerses its viewers in each character’s complicated psyche. Every look and gesture, the vivid New York City setting, and the introspective dialogue make the story more profound. Taffy Brodesser-Akner is a brilliant author; he captures modern relationships and personal turmoil with decency and sharpness, and it is safe to say that the Hulu Original brings absolute justice to his work.

20 Quiz Lady (2023)

Read Our ReviewQuiz Lady stars Sandra Oh and Awkwafina as daughters to a highly erratic and dysfunctional mother. Having grown up together but living separately as adults, Jenny and Anne are forced to come back together when their mother reportedly flees to Macau, leaving a massive gambling debt and a quirky mafia boss as a problem for the girls to deal with. Jenny comes up with the idea for Anne to participate in a game show she grew up being obsessed with and brilliant at, and thus begins their cross-country road trip.

Sisterhood and Self-Acceptance

Directed by Jessica Yu, Quiz Lady is a heartfelt and hilarious female-led comedy that subtly mines an era of inconsistent and intelligent humor. Awkwafina and Oh are complete opposites but they share a history as sisters and emerge as role models of poise, grit, recklessness, and ambition to each other. Supported by an engaging (but surprisingly restrained) performance from Will Ferrell, an iconic run from Jason Schwartzman, and quiet dignity lent by Holland Taylor, the infectious comedy will leave you smiling from ear to ear.

19 Rye Lane (2023)

Read Our ReviewThere’s something genuinely creative about British rom-coms and Rye Lane arrives gloriously to show just that. Set in South London, it follows two strangers named Yas and Dom who have a meet-cute moment at an art exhibition. Recovering from recent breakups, they instantly bond over failed relationships, with Yas helping Dom get over his ex by showing up to their meeting and singing karaoke. Their friendship transforms into something more over a day’s worth of misadventures and conversations.

Visually Appealing British Rom-Com

Rye Lane is Raine Allen-Miller’s feature directorial debut, and the project clearly puts her on the map as a promising filmmaker with vibrant, contemporary stories to tell. With its vivid, colorful, visually cheeky, wide-angle cinematography, the movie transports viewers straight into the Rye Lane market and offers laughter and love in abundance. Vivian Oparah and David Jonsson share a phenomenal chemistry as two young individuals who are shy, patient, fun, and conversational. Overall, the movie is one that’s deliciously acted and hard to forget.

18 11.22.63 (2016)

11.22.63 is a thrilling miniseries that centers on one of history’s biggest what-ifs – the assassination of JFK. The protagonist, Jake Epping, is a high school teacher who discovers a portal that can transport him back to the 1950s. He sees the portal as an opportunity to prevent an event that changed the course of American history. However, the more embroiled he gets in this moment, the more complexities he faces, including a librarian he accidentally falls in love with.

Compelling Time-Travel Mystery

Stephen King’s stories are known to be synonymous with horror, but this captivating series puts a unique sci-fi/time travel spin on things. James Franco is stunning as the dedicated teacher crumbling under the weight of a colossal responsibility. Moreover, the series overflows with rich period details and plot twists around every nook and corner, which is perfect to keep you on the edge of your seat.

17 Love, Victor (2020 - 2022)

After Love, Simon, the timeless teen comedy based on Becky Abertalli’s debut YA novel took off, fans were in for a treat with a television series set in the same universe. The show follows Victor, a new student at Creekwood High School, navigating the murky waters of teenagehood, high school friendships, and first crushes, as well as his sexual orientation. As a half-Puerto Rican, half-Colombian-American kid, Victor’s home life is just as chaotic and complicated as school.

A Genuine and Heartwarming Teenage Story

Love, Victor packs a truckload of compassion and nuance. Because it is a recent release, the narrative of the episodes tries to be very gentle with the struggles faced by its protagonists and supporting characters, which is a blessing for today’s LGBTQ+ youth because representation hasn’t been so healthy for them so far. With that said, the series has a genuinely sharp wit that may surprise you. Michael Cimino delivers a soulful lead performance in a series that never sacrifices the teenage experience.

16 The Handmaid's Tale (2017 - Present)

In contrast with the previous feel-good series, we now have The Handmaid’s Tale. The series is created by Bruce Miller and it is set in a dystopian future version of the United States, where Gilead is a totalitarian society that overthrows the US government and establishes new rules and regulations for women. The few fertile ones, called “Handmaids” are forced to live as concubines, so they can bear children for the elite couples. June is one such woman who dreams of freedom and strives to reunite with her daughter.

Thought-Provoking Adaptation

Inarguably the best Hulu original series of all time, The Handmaid’s Tale brings Margaret Atwood’s highly influential novel to life in a terrifying and disturbing light. Elisabeth Moss is a force to be reckoned with as June, a woman who not only grapples with her reality, but eventually becomes a voice for women’s rights, oppression, and rebellion. As for the direction, Miller has done an outstanding job at showcasing Gilead’s horror, the suspense, and the fight for free will, yet never losing sight of that glimmer of hope.

15 Fresh (2022)

Read Our Review

A piercing commentary on the modern dating scenario, Fresh tells the story of Noa, a young woman who meets Steve at a convenience store aisle, and they hit it off almost immediately. Reluctantly, Noa joins Steve (now her boyfriend) for a romantic weekend getaway in a retreat in the woods. But as soon as she gets there, her dream man vanishes, and what emerges is a man with an unusual appetite.

Nothing Is As It Seems

Daisy Edgar-Jones has already captivated the audience with her role in Normal People, so to see her as a resourceful heroine fighting for survival was as refreshing as it was exhilarating. Fresh is an unsettling thriller, and director Mimi Cave subverts expectations at every disturbing plot twist with one ultimate goal in mind – to skewer modern relationships. Sebastian Stan is also incredible as the charming yet creepy male lead.

14 The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021)

The United States vs. Billie Holiday transports you to 1940s New York when the country was on the verge of embracing a heroin epidemic. On one hand, the Federal Department of Narcotics was working tirelessly to prevent it, and on the other, legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday was basking in her rising popularity. Being a heroin addict herself, Holiday found herself targeted by the FBI, who wanted to racialize the issue by using her performance of the song “Strange Fruit” as a weapon against her.

Phenomenal Turn By Andra Day

The 2021 film is a biographical drama that chronicles the government's endless schemes to destroy her career. So to tell a story that not only brings Billie’s torment to vibrant life but also empathetically portrays the long-standing war directed at Black Culture and womanhood was not an easy feat. But director Lee Daniels’ decision to choose Andra Day for the role was brilliant because the actress entirely vanished into the role of Holiday and stirred our souls with her performance.

13 Dollface (2019 - 2022)

There's something about the TV show Dollface that just reels you in and keeps you coming back for more. In it, Jules (played by Kat Dennings) is dealing with personal trauma after her longtime boyfriend breaks up with her (Seriously, who would break up with Kat Dennings?). Jules learns how to rejoin the world as a single woman, mending former friendships and moving forward with her life.

Celebrates Womanhood and Empowerment

Highly entertaining while also 100% relatable; this is how female friendships should be written! Based on the audience demand for the series, we think it's safe to say that Jules will never be truly alone. Sadly, Dollface was not only canceled but removed from the platform entirely and is not available to stream. While one would say that means it should not qualify on this list since it can't be watched, it is important not to forget this series or its status as a Hulu original, and hopefully, it will be restored to the service.

12 How I Met Your Father (2022 - 2023)

Hulu's How I Met Your Father is the sequel to CBS's beloved How I Met Your Mother. Much like its predecessor, it pinpoints the difficulties of finding love in a day and age where one-night stands and hookups plague modern romance. Set in the heart of New York City, older Sophie (played by Kim Cattrall) tells her now-adult son the story of how she met his father back in the year 2022. Stuck in a digital society past, Sophie (played by Hilary Duff) is attempting to live in the moment instead of obsessing over her future would-be partner.

A Superb Sequel

The series was a nice return to form for fans of the original series while also making for a great update of the classic formula and moving past some of the original, more dated concepts. Sadly, this is another series Hulu recently decided to cancel, and fans will never get to know who the father is.

11 Ramy (2019 - Present)

Ramy is one of the best series on Hulu, as it provides a much-needed fresh take on American Muslims that contrasts with the often offensive stereotypes that Western media portrays them in. Ramy Youssef plays Ramy Jassan, an American Muslim who grapples with his faith and his millennial lifestyle. Ramy has run for three seasons, and fans are awaiting season 4.

Unique and Entertaining

The star of the show is the titular character, who isn't trying to be funny, but the sheer thoughtlessness of his actions makes him wildly entertaining and watchable. Ramy is relatable not only to a certain demographic but to an army of millennials fighting for their identity. Moreover, the stunning backdrops of New Jersey and Cairo also make the series enjoyable.

10 Crush (2022)

Crush is a sweet and forward-looking take on the classic teen romance story. It is one set clearly in the 21st century, and the film features a wide array of sexualities and gender identities that are not treated as anything new but just normal. Paige Evans is forced to join her school's track team, but instead of taking it as a chore, she sees it as an opportunity to become friends with the girl she has a crush on.

Great Addition to High School Rom-Com Canon

This is a film that reflects the world in which it is created, making it more special in how it attaches classic teen romance story conventions and shows these are universal experiences. With a cast of some of the most talented young performers, including Rowan Blanchard, Auli'i Cravaholo, Isabella Ferrira, Teela Dunn, and Tyler Alvarez, this is certainly one of the most exciting things on Hulu.

9 Only Murders in the Building (2021 - Present)

Only Murders in the Building is a classic whodunit but with a surprisingly modern twist. This mystery-comedy series follows Oliver (Steve Martin), Charles (Martin Short), and Mabel (Selena Gomez), three strangers who live in the same Upper West Side apartment building. It turns out they all share a common interest — true-crime podcasts. Caught up in an actual mystery following the death of a fellow neighbor, the trio teams up to uncover the truth in this buddy-sleuthing comedy. Apparently watching every Law & Order episode instantaneously qualifies you to become a detective... almost.

Takes Whodunits To Another Level

The series has been a favorite among fans and critics and is currently airing its third season on Hulu. It has been a new career high for Steve Martin and Martin Short while redefining Selena Gomez's career. This is one that we hope to see many more seasons of for years to come.

8 Mother / Android (2021)

Read Our Review

Mother / Android is a psychologically terrifying take on the subjects of world chaos, motherhood, and war. Sam (Algee Smith) and Georgia (Chloë Grace Moretz) are two young college students and expectant parents who find themselves fleeing from danger amid a war with artificial intelligence.

Chloë Grace Moretz's Underrated Performance

This fascinating Hulu original serves as a great allegory for both immigration and adoption. Chloë Grace Moretz once again stuns the audience with her outstanding performance as a mother-to-be grappling with her reality and the world that surrounds her. Purchase a box of tissues first... tears will be shed.

7 Plan B (2021)

The Hulu original film is certainly one that is worth checking out. It is a buddy comedy about two young girls who need to go on a cross-country road trip to secure birth control due to a rule in their home state saying that a pharmacist can deny them based on religious belief.

Teen Comedy Worth Watching

It is incredibly funny, heartfelt, and also moving as it shines a light on the unfair practices that regulate women's own bodies. Plan B is worth checking out if you missed it, as it is one of the funniest teen comedies in the past few years.

6 Light as a Feather (2018)

Light as a Feather starts with a spooky Halloween night. In it, four popular high school girls invite McKenna (Liana Liberato) for a night out. Things start to get weird when she suggests that they play a game of 'light as a feather, stiff as a board.' Shortly after playing, however, each of the girls begins to die in the order the game was played.

Filled With Spooky Holiday Nostalgia

Not only is this supernatural series a creepy testament as to why black magic is just not okay, but it's also a great look at the difficulties of being a teenager. It also contains some genuinely creepy atmospheric horror, making it one of the most underrated horror dramas in recent years.

5 Run (2020)

In Run, Chloe (Kiera Allen) and Diane (Sarah Paulson) are a daughter and mother with one heck of a twisted relationship. Diane has been controlling Chloe ever since the poor girl was born. She can't leave the house or hang out with friends... oh, and by the way, her mother is also drugging her. Everything goes downhill once Chloe musters up the strength to tell Diane that she's completely delusional in a series of pulse-pounding scenes.

Puts a Unique Twist to Horror Tropes

This extremely unsettling film has yet another masterful performance from the incomparable Sarah Paulson. This movie quickly became Hulu's most-watched film in its opening weekend at the time. Naturally, it deserves a place among the streaming giant's best originals because of this.

4 The Great (2020 - 2023)

The Great features a star-studded cast that's headlined by producer and star Elle Fanning. The series follows a young Catherine the Great's ascension to power and her marriage to husband Peter III, played by Nicholas Hoult. At first, she finds herself embroiled in the politics and the complex beliefs of this new world, but she works hard to change it all.

Hilarious Historical Drama

The show is a quirky re-imagining of history, full of pops of color and quirky one-liners between real-life nuggets of truth. The Great not only subverts expectations by being funny but also influences period pieces with its distinct tone. This Primetime Emmy winner still maintains a popular spot in the series lineup despite the network deciding to cancel it.