Along with tons of library content and shows offered in partnership with other networks, Hulu has a wide selection of originals from which to choose. The streaming service’s original series have taken home numerous awards, including shows like The Bear (in partnership with FX), which returns for a third season in June 2024. From true crime to dramas, comedies, and more, Hulu will keep your nights busy as you catch up on compelling series.
When it comes to the best Hulu original series right now, some are relatively new while others date back years. No matter your mood or tastes, you’ll find something you’re bound to like on this list.
You can also save with the Disney Bundle, which makes Hulu an even better deal by including not only Hulu, but also Disney+ and ESPN+, for just $14 a month.
Looking for more originals? Check out our lists of the best Amazon original series and the best Netflix original series, as well as the best shows on Hulu.
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Under the Bridge2024 -
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Life & Beth2022
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The Act2019
Under the Bridge (2024)
In 1997, 14-year-old Canadian Punjabi girl Reena Virk was viciously murdered by six teenagers who were tried and convicted for their participation in the crime. A victim of bullying, her case shed light on the growing severity of bullying in schools and made news across the country. Deemed a national tragedy, Virk’s death pointed a lens on girl violence. The story of what purportedly happened is told in this true crime drama miniseries.
Based on the Rebecca Godfrey book of the same name, Under the Bridge is tough to watch at times, but it’s a precursor to having important conversations with your kids. It’s also eye-opening regarding the depth of violence that can become the result of bullying, cultural differences, rebellion, and trauma. Receiving rave reviews from critics and audiences alike, Peter Travers of ABC News calls the drama “harrowing” and “haunting,” and warns that “you won’t know what hit you.”
We Were the Lucky Ones (2024)
Joey King and Logan Lerman shine in We Were the Lucky Ones, a gripping historical drama miniseries about a Polish Jewish family torn apart during the Holocaust. Separated by Hitler’s persecution, they scatter, some in concentration camps, others in hiding, and a few who manage to escape to other countries. When the war ends, however, it’s time to find the remaining living relatives (if any) for an emotional reunion.
An adaptation of Georgia Hunter’s book of the same name, which is inspired by the true story of her own family, We Were the Lucky Ones is told through eight succinct episodes. It will leave you both tearful and pumping your fists in the air at the tremendous perseverance demonstrated by characters dealing with horrific circumstances and personal hope.
Life & Beth (2022)
Amy Schumer always delights on screen for fans of her style of comedy, and Life & Beth is no exception. In this comedy-drama, she plays the title character, a woman who takes a second look at the trajectory of her life following the death of her mother. Co-starring Michael Cera as John, a farmhand Beth meets during one of her wine sales trips to a rural Long Island town, Life & Beth sheds light on how a seemingly perfect life might be anything but.
A story of a woman’s journey to finding herself, told through present-day events and flashbacks to Beth’s teen years, Life & Beth is about authenticity, overcoming trauma, and finding your way. But as would be expected from Schumer, there are plenty of laughs along the way, too.
The Act (2019)
Earning an Emmy for Patricia Arquette for Outstanding Supporting Actress and a nomination for Joey King for Outstanding Lead Actress, The Act tells the harrowing story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who was allegedly abused by her mother Dee Dee, who suffered from Munchausen syndrome by proxy. She spent years being told she was ill, with her mother fabricating all types of illnesses and disabilities that led to treatments that weren’t needed. Events took a violent turn when Dee Dee was murdered by Gypsy’s boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn, and Gypsy herself was charged with second-degree murder for her involvement.
One of the most controversial, polarizing cases of 2015, The Act retells the story with a talented cast. Led by Arquette and King, both received universal praise for their believable and heart-wrenching performances.
Shōgun (2024)
A joint release between Hulu and FX, Shōgun takes James Clavell’s 1975 novel of the same name and brings it to the small screen for the first time since the 1980s. This new take is faithful to the story, following the adventures of English sailor John Blackthorne (based on English navigator William Adams and played by Cosmo Jarvis), daimyo Lord Toranaga (based on founder of the first shōgun, Tokugawa Ieyasu and played by Hiroyuki Sanada), and Toda Mariko (based on aristocrat Hosokawa Gracia and played by Anna Sawai). The two men come from very different worlds, while there’s an air of mysterious about Lady Mariko. But the unlikely trio come together in preparation of a pending civil war.
While Shōgun is fictional, the series is inspired by real-life historical moments. The first major on-screen interpretation from 1980 starred Richard Chamberlain and was hugely successful, earning the Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Series. This latest adaptation of the story could become even bigger. Digital Trends’ Alex Welch draws comparisons to Game of Thrones and praises the performances, script, sets, and locations while calling Shōgun a “samurai epic that cuts deep.”
Superhot: The Spicy World of Pepper People (2024)
You probably either know someone, or maybe you are that someone, who loves peppers and hot sauces. It has become a massive cultural trend to try various flavors and sauces with increasingly ridiculous Scoville levels of heats. Given the popularity of shows like Hot Ones, which started as a small show on YouTube and now attracts A-list celebrities as guests, it’s no surprise that a docuseries like Superhot: The Spicy World Of Pepper People was made.
Superhot: The Spicy World Of Pepper People follows self-proclaimed “chili heads” within this growing and fascinating subculture as they travel down the rabbit hole of searing, excruciating heat and tantalize their taste buds by seeking out (and trying) new creations. Most importantly, they’re also challenging themselves to both find and try the hottest pepper on Earth. Narrated by Sonic the Hedgehog 2 star Ben Schwartz, it’s one of those shows that will inspire you to invite everyone over for a spicy chicken wing and chili tasting party. Make sure you have glasses of milk ready while you watch.
Echo (2024)
Technically, Echo is a Disney+ series, but it’s the first from Marvel to release simultaneously on Disney+ and Hulu, both of which are owned by The Walt Disney Company. In the series, the 10th overall in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the first to receive a TV-MA rating, Alaqua Cox reprises her role as Maya Lopez/Echo. She has returned to her hometown and is now dealing with the repercussions of her past and trying to reconnect to her Native American roots.
Sharing continuity with the MCU films, Echo is part of Phase Five of the MCU and the first under the Marvel Spotlight character-driven banner. The series’ debut season has just five episodes and has received generally positive reviews. It’s a slow build, but the fresh story provides interesting context for future MCU stories to come.
Fleishman Is in Trouble (2022)
An FX on Hulu series, Fleishman is in Trouble centers around Toby (Jesse Eisenberg), a recently divorced man struggling with life as a single parent. His ex, Rachel (Claire Danes), disappeared without warning and now he has two children to raise on his own. Despite having a pretty good life professionally, and even personally while dating, Toby is desperate to figure out why his marriage didn’t work out. What drove his wife to abandon him and the children?
Fleishman is in Trouble features narration by Toby’s best friend, Libby (Lizzy Caplan), who provides context into what might have gone wrong. Through this, Toby realizes harsh truths about the past 15 years of his life and what he might have done to contribute to his marital breakdown. A raw, honest examination of love, marriage, and midlife crisis, Fleishman is in Trouble, based on the Taffy Brodesser-Akner novel of the same name, earned seven Emmy Award nominations, including nods for both Caplan and Danes.
The Bear (2022)
86%
8.2/10A Murder at the End of the World (2023)
The murder mystery genre is enjoying a resurgence of late, and A Murder at the End of the World is an exciting entry to the mix. Technically created for FX, but streaming exclusively on Hulu, the series is co-created by The OA creator and co-star Brit Marling. The psychological thriller stars The Crown’s Emma Corrin as Darby, one of many individuals invited to a reclusive billionaire’s remote home. It’s a retreat, but when one of the guests winds up dead, Darby must use her amateur sleuthing skills to find out who the killer is — and make sure she isn’t next.
Like other entries in the genre, A Murder at the End of the World has an ensemble cast that also includes Clive Owen, Alice Braga, Jermaine Fowler, and Marling herself. If you’re a fan of The OA and its offbeat style, as well as murder mystery brain teasers, this is the show for you.
Shoresy (2022)
Shoresy isn’t technically a Hulu original, but the Canadian series, which is offered through the Bell-owned Crave streaming service north of the border, was acquired by Hulu for exclusive streaming rights in the U.S. A spinoff of the series Letterkenny about a group of stereotypical small-town residents in Ontario, Canada, Shoresy focuses on the title character (played by creator Jared Keeso) as he makes a big move to Sudbury, Ontario. He has big dreams for his Triple A-level ice hockey team and bets the manager of the flailing team that he can take them to the top.
A feel-good, hilarious comedy, Shoresy is a must-watch for fans of Letterkenny. The immature humor is a perfect escape, and though there’s plenty of Canadian-specific terminology and jokes, the show has struck a chord with American viewers, too.
Solar Opposites (2020)
From the creators of Rick and Morty, Solar Opposites is a hilarious animated dive into the life of a family of aliens living in middle America and observing human behavior. It’s all about perspective, and while some think the way people tend to behave is awesome, others find it deplorable. In a separate storyline, fans also learn about the Yumyulack who has shrunken humans and stored them in a terrarium called The Wall.
You’ll recognize familiar voices like Silicon Valley’s Thomas Middleditch as Terry and The Goldbergs’ Sean Giambrone as Yumyulack. The sci-fi animated sitcom has been praised for being charming, hilarious, sincere, and offering a ridiculous yet also fresh take on humanity and our habits.
Dragons: The Nine Realms (2021)
With a solid seven seasons under its belt, Dragons: The Nine Realms is a joint production with Peacock. The animated series takes place 1,300 years after the events portrayed in the movie How To Train Your Dragon. With dragons merely legends from a past life, a fissure in the Earth’s surface reveals that dragons are not only real but have been hiding away all this time.
The kids who make this discovery have to keep the secret to protect the precious creatures. Produced under DreamWorks Animation, Dragons: The Nine Realms also spawned a video game of the same name.
Only Murders in the Building (2021)
76%
8.1/10Letterkenny (2016)
8.8/10Reservation Dogs (2021)
83%
8.1/10Tiny Beautiful Things (2023)
Based on the book of the same name by Cheryl Strayed, which itself is based on Strayed’s own story, Tiny Beautiful Things is a comedy drama but it has been called compelling, dark, and “emotionally vivid.” The show stars Kathryn Hahn as Clare, a writer who becomes a popular advice columnist, despite her own personal life falling apart.
About to turn 50, Clare is dealing with marital issues, troubles with her teenage daughter, and fears about the future and missed opportunities. Somehow, she’s able to channel those frustrations into delivering sweet, kind, and helpful advice to readers who come to rely on her insight. Be prepared to shed a tear or two and maybe feel a bit cathartic while you watch.
UnPrisoned (2023)
Paige’s (Kerry Washington) life is going fairly well as a single mother and marriage therapist. But when her estranged father Edwin (Delroy Lindo) is released from prison after 17 years and comes to live with her and her son, Paige’s entire life becomes upended.
A heartwarming comedy, Unprisoned has been positively received by critics and viewers, alike, for being heartfelt and tackling tough subject matter with a healthy dose of comedy. Both Washington and Lindo are praised for their genuine and wonderful performances, and the show itself for providing an intimate look into the Black experience.
The Great (2020)
77%
8.2/10Everybody’s heard of Catherine the Great, the Russian Empress who presided over one of imperial Russia’s greatest periods of prosperity. But not so many know about her husband and second cousin, Peter III, who was so incompetent that she overthrew him in a practically bloodless coup d’état.
History is dramatic and tragic, but it’s also comical, and The Great finds wicked pleasure in pitting Elle Fanning’s cunning and witty Catherine against Nicholas Hoult’s dull, naïve Peter. Catherine’s rise is, of course, inevitable, but it’s a lot of fun to watch play out in this satirical drama.
DAVE (2020)
8.3/10Rapper/comedian Lil Dicky became internet famous after releasing his song “Ex-Boyfriend” on YouTube back in 2013, then released his debut rap album, Professional Rapper, in 2015. He went on to collaborate with the likes of Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, and Wiz Khalifa. In 2020, Dicky, real name David Andrew Burd, worked with producer Jeff Schaffer to create a comedy series based on his life, and, as it turns out, the talented rapper is a talented comedian, too.
Burd stars in the series as a fictionalized version of himself, a neurotic young man living in a small suburban town who believes he can make it big in the rap game. GaTa, Burd’s real-life hype man, plays himself on the show, including depicting his real-life battle with bipolar disorder. Critic reviews for the first season applaud the “juvenile sense of humor” for those who appreciate those types of jokes. It’s a refreshing and fun show with a laundry list of A-list guest stars, not to mention Kevin Hart counted among its executive producers.
Welcome to Chippendales (2022)
69%
7.4/10Under the Banner of Heaven (2022)
71%
7.5/10The Girl From Plainville (2022)
76%
6.8/10The Dropout (2022)
75%
7.4/10Pam & Tommy (2022)
PEN15 (2019)
87%
8.1/10Dopesick (2021)
67%
8.7/10Devs (2020)
71%
7.7/10Love, Victor (2020)
69%
8.1/10The Looming Tower (2018)
74%
8.0/10The Handmaid's Tale (2017)
8.4/10Normal People (2020)
Little Fires Everywhere (2020)
69%
7.7/10Mrs. America (2020)
7.8/10Ramy (2019)
85%
8.0/10Editors' Recommendations
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