Getting through the week is tiresome enough. Choosing a quality film from the tabs upon tabs of available titles can add its own layer of prolonged aggravation. Hulu subscribers will know the struggle. When it comes to choosing a movie on Hulu, there’s almost no end to the options at one’s disposal. That’s where we come in. To help you wade through the bevy of cinematic offerings on one of the top streaming platforms, we’ve put together this weekly roundup to shine light on the best movies on Hulu right now.
Subscribe to a different platform? Not only do we have a guide to the best shows on Hulu, but we’ve rounded up the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Netflix, and the best movies on Disney+.
The Dark Knight (2008)
In Christopher Nolan’s action-packed follow-up to Batman Begins, The Dark Knight finds the eponymous caped crusader (Christian Bale) at odds with a foe more dangerous and unhinged than ever before — The Joker. When the dastardly villain descends on Gotham, his acts of evil are theatrical, chaotic, and ruthless, but his intentions are simple: Draw out “the Batman” and watch the city crumble. It’ll take all of Bruce Wayne’s training, intellect, and gadgets to take down his new adversary. Netting a posthumous Best Supporting Actor Oscar win for the late Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight draws on the dark tone and complexity of Nolan’s first Batman outing while introducing a new set of characters to expand on the Dark Knight chronicles.
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Action
Stars: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Morgan Freeman, Aaron Eckhart
Director: Christopher Nolan
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 152 minutes
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Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Eighteen-year-old Jamal Malik is the latest contestant on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (known as Kaun Banega Crorepati) and he’s one question away from taking home the grand prize — but authorities believe him to be a cheater. After being tortured by police, Jamal recounts through a series of flashbacks how he was able to provide the correct answers to the show’s questions. Exploring Jamal’s early life, from his days in the slums of Dharavi and eventual rise into an adolescence fueled by crime, we’re privy to the many events that led Jamal to success on the present-day game show. Directed by Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire took home Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Cinematography awards (among others) at the 81st Academy Awards. Based in part on Vikas Swarup’s 2005 novel Q&A, Slumdog Millionaire is a riveting drama built on an ensemble of stellar performances, sweeping camera work, and kinetic editing.
Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Stars: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Madhur Mittal
Director: Danny Boyle
Rating: R
Runtime: 116 minutes
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The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Heather Donahue, Michael Williams, and Joshua Leonard are student filmmakers with a lofty project on their hands: An expedition into the woods of Burkittsville, Maryland, to shoot a documentary on a local legend — the Blair Witch. After a handful of talking-head interviews with locals and various shooting segments throughout the town, the trio descends into the mythic Black Hills woodlands for the main event. But it’s not long before the group becomes misdirected, totally lost, and stalked by some kind of horrific presence — transforming an engaging university project into a nightmarish fight for survival. Buttressed by a one-of-a-kind marketing campaign that truly sold the film as a work of nonfiction, The Blair Witch Project went on to gross close to $250 million on a mere budget of $500,000, making it one of the most profitable horror films of all time and one of the first recognizable “found-footage” entries for the genre.
Rotten Tomatoes: 86%
Genre: Horror
Stars: Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, Joshua Leonard
Director: Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sánchez
Rating: R
Runtime: 87 minutes
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The Donut King (2020)
When Cambodian refugee Ted Ngoy secured work as a janitor and gas station clerk in Tustin, California, the man would never know that he was on the cusp of an immense legacy. Taking note of a local doughnut shop and inquiring about the business, Ngoy ended up receiving training through an affirmative action initiative, eventually finding his way into doughnut shop management. An ambitious documentary from Alice Gu, The Donut King tells the story of Ngoy’s rise into the California doughnut empire, told through the inspiringly upbeat personas of Ted Ngoy and his family.
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Genre: Documentary
Stars: Ted Ngoy
Director: Alice Gu
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 90 minutes
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The One I Love (2014)
In the throes of an unfulfilling and disconnected marriage, Sophie and Ethan (Elisabeth Moss and Mark Duplass) are regularly attending therapy. When their therapist (Ted Danson) suggests they pack up and treat themselves to a weekend retreat in a sprawling country estate, the couple agrees to the proposition. Arriving at the homestead, the couple starts to unwind, until Sophie enters the guest cottage on the property, unveiling a bizarre discovery that will challenge the estranged couple in ways they could never expect. A brilliant blending of sci-fi, drama, romance, and dark comedy, The One I Love achieves an engaging pace and thoughtful narrative during its hour-plus runtime.
Rotten Tomatoes: 82%
Genre: Romance, Fantasy
Stars: Elisabeth Moss, Mark Duplass, Ted Danson
Director: Charlie McDowell
Rating: R
Runtime: 91 minutes
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The Vigil (2019)
In writer-director Keith Thomas’s The Vigil, Dave Davis stars as Yakov Ronen, a displaced Orthodox Jew residing in the Hasidic Borough Park area of New York. After accepting an offer from his former rabbi to be the overnight guardian of a deceased community member, a horrific entity begins haunting Yakov. Combining traditional Jewish folk influences and the glories of shoestring filmmaking, Thomas succeeds in building a dread-laden atmosphere with earnest performances, close-quarters cinematography, and clever storytelling.
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Stars: Dave Davis, Fred Melamed, Lynn Cohen
Director: Keith Thomas
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 90 minutes
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Robot & Frank (2012)
In Robot & Frank, Frank Langella stars as Frank, an age-addled dementia patient. When Frank’s son Hunter employs the services of an android to help care for his father, an initially resistant Frank soon warms up to the robot’s presence — specifically because the cyborg can’t differentiate between what’s moral and what’s not. Thus, Frank, an ex-thief, begins using the robot to carry out local burglaries. A smart story about technological advancements, family ties, elderly care, and past lives, Robot & Frank is a whipsmart sci-fi/comedy amalgam and fitting addition to Hulu’s library.
Rotten Tomatoes: 86%
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi
Stars: Frank Langella, Peter Sarsgaard, Susan Sarandon
Director: Jake Schreier
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 90 minutes
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Saint Maud (2019)
Set in a coastal community in England, Saint Maud stars Morfydd Clark as the titular Maud, a born-again Roman Catholic and on-call nurse. When Maud’s agency assigns her to care for an ailing dancer and cancer patient named Amanda (Jennifer Ehle), Maud uses the opportunity to bestow her newfound faith-healing practices on the sick woman. Initially receptive to Maud’s benevolence, Amanda’s attitude turns, leaving Maud embittered. With no one to share her religious dogma with, Maud gradually sinks into an inner world of disorienting madness while disturbing events from her past begin to resurface through visions and visits from an old friend. A magnificent debut from writer-director Rose Glass, Saint Maud is a mesmerizing slow-burn piece of body horror and a stellar vehicle for the talents of Morfydd Clark.
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Genre: Horror
Stars: Morfydd Clark, Jennifer Ehle, Lily Frazer
Director: Rose Glass
Rating: R
Runtime: 84 minutes
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Wander Darkly (2020)
After a traumatic incident, Adrienna and Matteo (Sienna Miller and Diego Luna), a struggling young couple, are sent to the hospital. Confined to rehabilitative quarters, the once-happy pair are transported to an otherworldly realm of surreal memories. While each of them is forced to confront the hazy beginnings of their fizzling romance, their out-of-body paths will cross in bizarre and unexpected ways. Visually, Wander Darkly lives in an elevated plane of awareness, but the emotionally laden performances of both Miller and Luna help to anchor the film in a grounded and often relatable reality.
Rotten Tomatoes: 75%
Genre: Drama
Stars: Sienna Miller, Diego Luna, Vanessa Bayer
Director: Tara Miele
Rating: R
Runtime: 97 minutes
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Skyfall (2012)
In director Sam Mendes’ Skyfall, Daniel Craig returns for his third go with the James Bond character. A sequel to 2008’s Quantum of Solace, Skyfall begins with a tumultuous action set piece that kicks the film off with pure energy. When Patrice, a mercenary in possession of MI6 secrets, is cornered by Bond and Eve Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) in Istanbul … aboard a moving train. When the altercation goes haywire, the fate of every MI6 agent is jeopardized as a former operative-turned-terrorist named Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem) closes in. Skyfall sets the bar for high-octane action thrills, featuring mesmerizing cinematography, editing, sound design, along with commanding performances from the main ensemble. It’s one of the best Bond flicks ever made and a grand success of a major Hollywood blockbuster, earning over $1 billion in worldwide receipts against a $200 million budget.
Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Genre: Action, Mystery and Thriller, Adventure
Stars: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Judi Dench
Director: Sam Mendes
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 143 minutes
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High-Rise (2015)
Adapted from the J.G. Ballard novel, High-Rise stars Tom Hiddleston as Dr. Robert Laing, a London physician living in a dystopic version of London’s outer boroughs in a majestic 40-story skyscraper. With units arranged in a hierarchical manner, the wealthy reside in the most luxurious apartments at the top of the building, relegating bottom units to those with less substantive incomes. When a series of building malfunctions test the resources and patience of the high-rise inhabitants, classes begin to clash in increasingly violent ways. A wild allegory for class conflict, director Ben Wheatley brings panache and bizarre surrealism to a reimagined London of the 1970s, a vision supported by the film’s earnest players, particularly Hiddleston and Miller.
Rotten Tomatoes: 60%
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Horror
Stars: Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Miller
Director: Ben Wheatley
Rating: R
Runtime: 119 minutes
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Luce (2019)
Based on the J.C. Lee play of the same name, Luce stars Kelvin Harrison Jr. as the titular Luce, an American teen adopted from Eritrea by Peter and Amy Edgar (Tim Roth and Naomi Watts). When Luce’s history teacher, Harriet Carter (Octavia Spencer), calls a meeting with Luce’s parents after the youth turns in an essay with violent implications, the idyllic family of three are forced to question their parenting, family dynamic, and overall marriage. A riveting examination of racial bias, powered by intense performances from the main ensemble, Luce plays like a character-driven theater experience, paying fine homage to the story’s roots in live theater.
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Genre: Drama
Stars: Naomi Watts, Kelvin Harrison, Jr., Octavia Spencer,
Director: Julius Onah
Rating: R
Runtime: 109 minutes
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Flight (2012)
Airline pilot Whip Whitaker (Denzel Washington) can’t seem to shake his vices, booze-addled habits that are given surprise center-staging when his aircraft malfunctions midflight. Successfully pulling off a desperate emergency landing, Whip falls unconscious, awakening later in a hospital. Commended for his heroism, investigative authorities begin to unearth Whip’s drinking habits, forcing the addict to reckon with his professional and personal life choices. Featuring a mighty lead performance from Washington and a pulse-pounding first act, much of what works about Flight is its insistence on spending time with its subjects. Zemeckis’ camera tends to linger on difficult conversations; thus, so do we.
Rotten Tomatoes: 77%
Genre: Music, Drama, Comedy
Stars: Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, Kelly Reilly
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Rating: R
Runtime: 138 minutes
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The Iron Lady (2011)
Director Phyllida Lloyd’s towering biopic shines a light on the formative years of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, casting Hollywood’s treasured shoo-in, Meryl Streep, in the lead role. Loosely based on author John Campbell’s book The Iron Lady: Margaret Thatcher, from Grocer’s Daughter to Prime Minister, the film traces Thatcher’s prolific rise from a working-class store clerk (where she is portrayed by Alexandra Roach) to her post-1979 political reign. Winning an Oscar for her performance as Thatcher, Meryl Streep’s characterization of the (in)famous figure is the major calling card of this by-the-book biopic.
Rotten Tomatoes: 52%
Genre: History, Biography, Drama
Stars: Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent, Alexandra Roach
Director: Phyllida Lloyd
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 104 minutes
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Another Round (2020)
With an original Danish title of Druk (“binge drinking”), co-writer and director Thomas Vinterberg’s Another Round follows a group of four high school teachers with a wild plan. Facing unenthused students, trouble at home, and other midlife hardships, the foursome agrees to test the theories of psychiatrist Finn Skårderud in the workplace. More specifically, the colleagues want to see if maintaining a constant blood-alcohol level of 0.5 will improve their creativity and overall mood. Truly more than another midlife boozer flick, Another Round sees Mads Mikkelsen in top form as Martin, the de facto onscreen leader who attempts to gain more out of his day-to-day through mild intoxication. It’s funny, at times dark, and tactfully hard-hitting.
Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Stars: Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Lars Ranthe
Director: Thomas Vinterberg
Rating: NR
Runtime: 115 minutes
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Super Dark Times (2017)
Zach (Owen Campbell) and Josh (Charlie Tahan) are lifelong pals who spend their days riding bikes, rating girls in their yearbook, and sneaking a little pot-smoking in now and then. Little do they know that their lives are about to change forever, all on one fateful afternoon. When a horrific tragedy shatters their innocence, Zach and Josh are forced to make profound adult decisions that will affect the trajectory of their lives and test the foundations of their friendship. An exciting indie debut from director Kevin Phillips, Super Dark Times leads with strong performances, captivating camera work, snappy editing, and a mood-setting score by Australian/Icelandic composer Ben Foster.
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Stars: Owen Campbell, Charlie Tahan, Elizabeth Cappuccino
Director: Kevin Phillips
Rating: NR
Runtime: 102 minutes
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Logan Lucky (2017)
Brothers Jimmy and Clyde Logan (Channing Tatum and Adam Driver) are down-on-their-luck siblings — one a laid-off construction worker, the other an amputee war vet tending bar. Hoping to break a supposed family curse and reap the reward of millions of dollars, the brothers recruit a hodge-podge ensemble of two-bit criminals to break into the underground tunnels of the Charlotte Motor Speedway. But when things don’t go as planned, the brothers and their team must contend with an FBI agent on their tail, while attempting to pull off a heist during a major race. Coming out of retirement to direct, Steven Soderbergh delivers big with Logan Lucky, a mighty amalgamation of comedy, drama, and high-stakes thrills.
Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Genre: Drama, Crime, Comedy
Stars: Channing Tatum, Adam Driver, Riley Keough
Director: Kevin Phillips
Rating: NR
Runtime: 102 minutes
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Girl (2020)
In Girl, Bella Thorne stars as the unnamed titular character. Hellbent on revenge, Girl is taking a bus to her small hometown in Ontario, Canada. Her goal? To murder her abusive father. Her weapon? An ax that he gave her years ago. When Girl arrives, though, her simple revenge plot quickly unwinds into something far more sinister when she realizes that a group of like-minded locals may have beat her to the punch, stripping Girl of her much-desired vengeance. A gritty and contemporary noir meets B-movie suspense, Girl is a raw and ruthless film that gives Bella Thorne center stage.
Rotten Tomatoes: 61%
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Stars: Bella Thorne, Mickey Rourke, Chad Faust
Director: Chad Faust
Rating: N/A
Runtime: 92 minutes
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Ammonite (2020)
In Ammonite, writer-director Francis Lee brings us a searing romantic drama that gains new heights from the intimately human performances from its two leads — Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan. Set in 1840s England, Winslet plays Mary Anning, a struggling fossil hunter who sells off her local finds to traveling tourists to support herself and her ill mother. When a wealthy but amateur fossil scout (James McArdle) enters the picture, the man asks Mary to care for his recovering wife, Charlotte (Saoirse Ronan), while he’s away on an expedition. Agreeing to the offer, Mary and Charlotte begin spending time together, forming a passionate relationship that begins two social classes apart and quickly becomes more than just routine caretaking. An exquisite arthouse offering, Francis Lee delivers a brilliantly subdued period drama with Ammonite, a fitting follow-up to her last film, In God’s Country.
Rotten Tomatoes: 69%
Genre: Drama, Romance, Gay & Lesbian
Stars: Kate Winslet, Saoirse Ronan, Fiona Shaw
Director: Francis Lee
Rating: R
Runtime: 120 minutes
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The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019)
A modern Mark Twain adventure for the ages, The Peanut Butter Falcon stars Zack Gottsagen as Zak, a 22-year-old man with Down syndrome. After escaping from his assisted living facility, Zak plans to run away to the wrestling school of the Saltwater Redneck (Thomas Haden Church). Along the way, Zak runs into Tyler (Shia LaBeouf), a recently fired fisherman. Forming a friendship, the two men build a raft and hit the water, rowing their way to the Saltwater Redneck’s training facility. An endearing buddy film that delights and surprises at every turn, The Peanut Butter Falcon is the feature film debut of the writer-director duo, Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz, and a sleeper hit — grossing over $23 million against a modest $6 million budget.
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Adventure
Stars: Shia LaBeouf, Dakota Johnson, Zack Gottsagen
Director: Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 96 minutes
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Warrior (2011)
Warrior stars Joel Edgerton and Tom Hardy as Brendan and Tommy Riordan, estranged brothers that come face-to-face (and fist-to-foot) in the most unlikely of venues: As fighters in a mixed martial arts tournament. Brendan was once a successful MMA fighter but spends his present living as a high school physics teacher and married father of two. Tommy is an ex-Marine with a stoic disposition. Their father, Paddy (Nick Nolte), is an age-addled alcoholic that Tommy goes to for MMA coaching. His goal is to get into “Sparta,” the largest MMA event with a $5 million purse. Unbeknownst to Tommy, Brendan is training his way towards the same event. A grueling character drama with heavy-hitting fight sequences, Warrior is a raw sports film that leans heavily on the performances of the three leads (and with great success) — Edgerton, Hardy, and Nolte.
Rotten Tomatoes: 83%
Genre: Drama, Action
Stars: Joel Edgerton, Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte
Director: Gavin O’Connor
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 139 minutes
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50/50 (2011)
In Jonathan Levine’s 50/50, Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as Adam Lerner, a radio journalist who begins experiencing severe pain in his back. When Adam is diagnosed with malignant spinal cancer, his world is flipped upside down. His friend and co-worker Kyle (Seth Rogen) wants Adam to use his condition to pick up girls; Adam’s girlfriend, Rachael (Bryce Dallas Howard) agrees to care for Adam but begins falling short; and Adam’s mother (Anjelica Huston) wants to be her son’s caregiver. For Adam, there’s plenty to contend with besides just his 50/50 prognosis, which leads him to Katherine (Anna Kendrick), a therapist for who he begins to develop feelings. Heartfelt, humorous, and driven by incredible performances from the all-star cast, 50/50 is one you don’t want to miss. Catch it before it leaves Hulu on April 30.
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick
Director: Jonathan Levine
Rating: R
Runtime: 99 minutes
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The Sandlot (1993)
Here’s a nostalgic gem for all the ’90s kids who can’t stop quoting this film. It’s the summer of 1962, and pre-teen Scott Smalls (Thomas Guiry) is relocated to Los Angeles with his mother and stepfather. Attempting to make friends, he joins up with a gang of neighborhood kids who play baseball at a local sandlot. While Scott can’t hit or pitch as well as the other boys, the band of brothers lets him into their ragtag clique, a fraternal pack that roams the suburbia of L.A. enjoying the summer, their hijinks, and each other. Memories of the “good old days” and childhood innocence are the life and blood of The Sandlot, an undeniable classic and worthwhile watch for parents and kids alike.
Rotten Tomatoes: 63%
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Kids & Family
Stars: Thomas Guiry, Mike Vitar, Patrick Renna
Director: David Mickey Evans
Rating: PG
Runtime: 101 minutes
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WeWork: or The Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn (2021)
Started in 2010 by Adam Neumann, Miguel McKelvey, and Adam’s spouse, Rebekah Neumann, WeWork was established as a commercial real estate company with a focus on shared workspaces. In director Jed Rothstein’s documentary, the creative team dissects the rise and fall of the Neumann empire, with an emphasis placed on Adam Neumann’s exploits as a corporate leader. Talking heads include industry experts, journalists, and former WeWork higher-ups. Offering an entrancing look at the hypnotic pull of Neumann’s startup, the doc succeeds the most at providing a humanistic vantage to Adam’s vision of a greater workplace, an ideology that many investors and WeWork staffers bought into and believed in.
Rotten Tomatoes: 80%
Genre: Documentary
Stars: Adam Neumann, Jed Rothstein
Director: Jed Rothstein
Rating: NA
Runtime: 104 minutes
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Die Hard (1988)
New York police officer John McClane attends a Christmas party for the Nakatomi Corporation, the organization his estranged wife, Holly (Bonnie Bedelia), works for. Amid the festivities, the complex is seized by a group of terrorists led by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman). Taking the entire company hostage, Gruber plans to steal bearer bonds from the building’s vault. As tensions rise, John realizes that the only way he’ll be leaving the yuletide office party is by brute force and tactical wherewithal. An action classic and cherished Christmas film, Die Hard would go on to spawn several sequels and a mighty jump-start for Bruce Willis’ career.
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Genre: Action, Mystery, Thriller
Stars: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia
Director: John McTiernan
Rating: R
Runtime: 131 minutes
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Hunter Hunter (2020)
Fur trappers Joseph Mersault (Devon Sawa), his wife Anne (Camille Sullivan), and daughter Renée are facing dwindling returns on their livelihood. What’s worse is that the family begins to think their traps are being picked apart by a wolf. When Joseph leaves his wife and daughter to investigate, an injured man (Nick Stahl) arrives at the family’s outpost. Close to death, Anne and Renée grow increasingly wary of their visitor’s intentions, along with the well-being of their husband and father. Tense, tight, and minimalist in its slow-burn thrills, Hunter Hunter marks writer-director Shawn Linden as a raw talent to keep your sights on.
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Horror
Stars: Camille Sullivan, Devon Sawa, Nick Stahl
Director: Shawn Linden
Rating: NR
Runtime: 93 minutes
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Colossal (2016)
Unemployed and struggling with a booze addiction, Gloria (Anne Hathaway) can’t imagine her life getting any lower. After a breakup and eviction, Gloria is forced to relocate back to New England, where she takes a job as a bartender, a position offered to her by longtime friend Oscar (Jason Sudeikis). But there’s trouble afoot in Seoul, South Korea: A towering reptilian monster wreaks havoc on the city. Soon after the creature’s appearance, Gloria realizes that the monster is somehow connected to her, as evidenced by mirror-image physical behaviors. As her life continues to unravel, Gloria must learn how to grapple with her own vices and deep-seated issues before the monster devastates the entire world. Wholly original and powered by Hathaway’s mesmerizing lead performance, Colossal is worthy weekend watching for sure.
Rotten Tomatoes: 81%
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy
Stars: Anne Hathaway, Jason Sudeikis, Dan Stevens
Director: Nacho Vigalondo
Rating: R
Runtime: 110 minutes
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Missing Link (2019)
Missing Link stars Zach Galifianakis as one Mr. Link, a towering mythic beast looking quite a bit like Bigfoot. Forlorn that he can’t connect with the other members of his species, the creature reaches out to famed explorer Sir Lionel Frost (Hugh Jackman) to guide him to Shangri-La, where he hopes to reconnect with the lost members of his clan. A dizzying and heartfelt stop-motion production, Missing Link explores themes of friendship, connection, and identity through animated valor. It’s a loving and comical film with plenty of entertainment for both kids and parents.
Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Kids and Family
Stars: Zach Galifianakis, Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana
Director: Chris Butler
Rating: PG
Runtime: 94 minutes
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Boss Level (2021)
Former special forces agent Roy Pulver (Frank Grillo) is trapped in a seamless loop of experiencing his own death over and over again. Call it a personal Groundhog Day from hell. As Roy moves through his various demises, the agent starts unearthing a secret government plot, spearheaded by Colonel Ventor (Mel Gibson), that could be the reason for his endless cycle of carnage. To break the chain, Roy will have to fight his way through an onslaught of vicious assassins who are all trying to keep him from escaping the death loop. Boss Level is an action flick that operates at breakneck speed. While loop films like Source Code and Looper approach their narratives with finesse and relative subtlety, Boss Level cares more about the thrill. In a nutshell: It’s great, loud fun.
Rotten Tomatoes: 75%
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Action, Sci-fi
Stars: Frank Grillo, Naomi Watts, Mel Gibson
Director: Joe Carnahan
Rating: TV-MA
Runtime: 100 minutes
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Storks (2016)
When a rogue stork named Jasper (Danny Trejo) does the unthinkable and keeps a baby for himself instead of delivering it, the mythical industry of the stork gets out of the child-delivery business and goes all conglomerate, switching to shipping boring old packages. The baby, Tulip (Katie Crown), with the details of her parents unknown, is raised by the storks and grows up to work as a janitor with the package-delivery birds. When the boss stork, Hunter (Kelsey Grammer), tasks his top delivery stork, Junior (Andy Samberg), to fire Tulip, Junior takes a liking to her and instead relegates her to the mailroom. But when a boy named Nate Gardner (Anton Starkman) sends a letter to the storks asking for a sibling, Tulip fires up the old Baby Factory and creates an infant for the boy. Now it’s up to Junior and Tulip to sneak the newborn off of Stork Mountain before Hunter catches on. A cheeky animated feature from Warner Animation Group and Sony Pictures Imageworks, Storks is cute and comical in more ways than one, providing entertainment for both kids and parents.
Rotten Tomatoes: 65%
Genre: Adventure, Kids and Family, Animation, Comedy
Stars: Andy Samberg, Katie Crown, Kelsey Grammer
Director: Nicolas Stoller, Doug Sweetland
Rating: PG
Runtime: 87 minutes
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The Social Network (2010)
Director David Fincher’s The Social Network, with a brilliant script by leading Hollywood scribe Aaron Sorkin, chronicles the prolific rise and fall of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) on the heels of the social media platform’s creation. Bitter from his breakup with college love Erica Albright (Rooney Mara), Zuckerberg takes to the internet, inventing Facemash — a website where visitors can rate the attractiveness of female students. When the Winklevoss twins (Armie Hammer as both brothers) learn of Mark’s site, they try and recruit him to help create Harvard Connection, a site aimed at college kids. But Mark goes to his friend Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield) instead, and the duo concocts Thefacebook. The social mecca takes off, the money starts coming in, and lawsuits start flying in this richly-worded biopic that took home awards for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, and Best Film Editing at the 83rd Academy Awards.
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Genre: Biography, Drama
Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer
Director: David Fincher
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 105 minutes
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Gretel and Hansel (2020)
This 2020 adaptation of the famous Grimm fairy tale stars Sophia Lillis and Sammy Leakey as the renowned brother-sister duo. On the run from their troubled home life, the siblings discover an enchanting home deep in the dark woods. The enchantress, Holda (Alice Krige), is an inviting presence, but as both children spend more time with her, the woman’s sinister intentions rise to the surface. Giving a fresh coat of paint to the morbid tale that has seen more than its share of adaptations, Gretel and Hansel is a visual feast, relying more on mood and atmosphere than jump-scare set pieces.
Rotten Tomatoes: 64%
Genre: Fantasy, Horror
Stars: Sophia Lillis, Alice Krige, Sammy Leakey, Charles Babalola, Jessica De Gouw
Director: Osgood Perkins
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 87 minutes
Watch on Hulu
Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)
After polarizing fans with some all-too-human eyes and maw, everyone’s favorite Sega hero received a massive redesign in preparation for his 2020 cinematic debut, Sonic the Hedgehog. Featuring the voice of Ben Schwartz as the iconic blue hero, our story sees Sonic fleeing a tribe of hell-bent echidnas that want to harness his super-speed powers. Sonic’s guardian, a sentient owl named Longclaw, uses a series of mystical rings to transport Sonic to Planet Earth. Living a life of solitude for nearly 10 years, Sonic inadvertently triggers a multi-state blackout while playing a game of solitary baseball, an event that forces the Department of Defense to call on the powers of Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey), an evil genius in search of a power source for his robotic army. It just so happens that Sonic may be the spark he’s been looking for. Sonic the Hedgehog is no cinematic marvel by any means, but for a video game adaptation of a canon as recognizable as Mario and Crash Bandicoot, director Jeff Fowler could have done much worse.
Rotten Tomatoes: 63%
Genre: Kids and Family, Fantasy, Comedy, Adventure
Stars: Ben Schwartz, Jim Carrey, James Marsden
Director: Jeff Fowler
Rating: PG
Runtime: 100 minutes
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Nomadland (2020)
From the writer-director of 2015 Sundance favorite Songs My Brothers Taught Me, Chloé Zhao wrote, directed, edited, and produced Nomadland, her third feature that nabbed big laurels from both the Venice Film Festival (winning the Golden Lion) and the Toronto International Film Festival (winning the People’s Choice Award). An adaptation of Jessica Bruder’s 2017 non-fiction novel Nomadland: Surviving America in the 21st Century, the film stars Frances McDormand as Fern, an ex-U.S. Gypsum employee that takes to the road when the company’s Nevada plant shuts down. Selling off major possessions, Fern purchases a van as mobile living quarters and eventually joins the ranks of a nomadic group that teaches her how to survive in the harsh climate with minimal resources. Featuring a stirring but subtle lead performance from McDormand, Nomadland delivers a mighty story without the glitz of typical mainstream fare.
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Genre: Drama
Stars: Frances McDormand, David Strathairn, Linda May
Director: Chloé Zhao
Rating: R
Runtime: 108 minutes
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Dredd (2012)
Based on the popular 2000 AD comic strip franchise Judge Dredd, this 2012 film adaptation stars Karl Urban as the eponymous Dredd, a law enforcer granted the power of judge, jury, and executioner in a dystopic city called Mega-City One. When Dredd and his apprentice sentencer Judge Anderson (Olivia Thirlby) are assigned to a 200-story block of high-rise buildings to deal with the aftermath of an inhumane crime carried out by the block’s resident drug lord, Ma-Ma (Game of Thrones‘ Lena Headey), the duo must use every trick in the book to avoid sudden death in Ma-Ma’s hellscape. With a script penned by Ex Machina writer-director Alex Garland, Dredd is a mesmerizing sci-fi action splatter-fest, complete with awe-inspiring special effects and explosive set pieces you’ll be hard-pressed to forget.
Rotten Tomatoes: 79%
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi
Stars: Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby, Lena Headey
Director: Pete Travis
Rating: R
Runtime: 95 minutes
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Antebellum (2020)
In Antebellum, Janelle Monáe is Dr. Veronica Henley, a renowned sociologist on a book tour that keeps her from her family. After a series of strange events and conversations with a close friend, the author is seemingly transported back in time to the Civil War era, where she’s forced into slavery on a Confederate-run plantation. Forcefully renamed Eden, Veronica’s portal to the past devolves into a horrid fight for survival. While co-directors Christopher Renz and Gerard Bush created a polarizing debut feature with Antebellum, it’s a film with major ideas, great performances, and amazing set pieces that we feel warrant a watch.
Rotten Tomatoes: 28%
Genre: Thriller
Stars: Janelle Monáe, Jena Malone, Jack Huston
Director: Christopher Renz, Gerard Bush
Rating: R
Runtime: 106 minutes
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The Shape of Water (2017)
The year is 1962. At a top-secret government lab in Baltimore, Elisa Esposito (Sally Hawkins), a mute member of janitorial services, is privy to the facility’s latest anomaly — a humanoid amphibian creature (Doug Jones) that Elisa begins to form an intimate bond with. As the Cold War rages on, Col. Richard Strickland (Michael Shannon) and Russian spy Dimitri Mosenkov (Michael Stuhlbarg) each have major plans for exploiting the creature for wartime gains. When Elisa learns of their respective plotting, she forms a plan of her own to rescue her aquatic love, with the help of workmate Zelda (Octavia Spencer) and next-door neighbor, Giles (Richard Jenkins). Nabbing the Oscar for Best Picture, The Shape of Water is a monumental film from Guillermo del Toro, featuring stellar performances, an edge-of-your-seat narrative, and mesmerizing period-authentic cinematography.
Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Sci-fi
Stars: Sally Hawkins, Richard Jenkins, Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Rating: R
Runtime: 123 minutes
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You’re Next (2011)
In this off-the-walls slasher from director Adam Wingard, You’re Next stars Sharni Vinson and AJ Bowen as Erin and Crispian, a couple on their way to Crispian’s family estate. Invitees to his parents’ anniversary, along with his three other siblings, the festivities are awkward to begin with. As Erin and Crispian attempt to get through the celebration, a band of crossbow-wielding killers descend on the rural home and begin picking off the family members one-by-one. A weekend retreat turns into a deadly game of cat and mouse for Erin and Crispian. A film both big and bold, You’re Next has great fun with the home-invasion sub-genre, making for a memorable and more-than-entertaining horror flick.
Rotten Tomatoes: 79%
Genre: Horror, Comedy, Mystery and Thriller
Stars: Sharni Vinson, Nicholas Tucci, AJ Bowen, Ti West
Director: Adam Wingard
Rating: R
Runtime: 94 minutes
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Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
One of the most beloved Star Trek films of the Shatner and Nimoy era, The Wrath of Khan ultimately became something of an inspiration for JJ Abrams’ Star Trek Into Darkness. Admiral James T. Kirk (Shatner) and Captain Spock (Nimoy) monitor trainees at Starfleet Academy while another vessel from the United Federation of Planets experiments with the planet-creating Genesis Device in a remote portion of space. But shockingly, two of Kirk’s officers are captured by an enemy Kirk thought was long in his past: Khan (Ricardo Montalban). Once again, Kirk rises to meet the challenge, meeting Khan’s ship in an intergalactic showdown.
Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
Genre: Sci-Fi
Stars: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Ricardo Montalban
Director: Nicholas Meyer
Rating: PG
Runtime: 113 minutes
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Possessor: Uncut (2020)
This sci-fi horror film follows Tasya Vos (Andrea Riseborough), an elite, corporate assassin for hire who uses a particularly sadistic and gruesome method to execute her high-profile targets: She takes control of their bodies using brain-implant technology.
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Mystery and Thriller
Stars: Andrea Riseborough, Christopher Abbott, Tuppence Middleton
Director: Brandon Cronenberg
Rating: R
Runtime: 102 minutes
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Hell or High Water (2016)
One of the best modern westerns of recent years, Hell or High Water earned Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, and a Best Supporting Actor nom for Jeff Bridges. The story centers on two brothers, Toby (Chris Pine) and Tanner (Ben Foster). Toby is a divorced father trying to make a better life for his son, while Tanner is an ex-convict with a short temper. Together, they begin a series of heists against the bank that’s about to foreclose on their family ranch, but Sheriff Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges) is on to them. Although he’s only a few weeks away from retirement, Hamilton is determined to foil the siblings’ final robbery and not end his career on a failure.
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Genre: Mystery and Thriller, Drama, Action, Western, Crime
Stars: Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine, Ben Foster
Director: David Mackenzie
Rating: R
Runtime: 102 minutes
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The Princess Bride (1987)
William Goldman’s modern fairy tale, adapted from his novel of the same name, is an absolute classic. It’s a fairy tale, a fantasy, a romantic comedy, a drama — it’s simply a masterwork that is endlessly quotable and a delight for all ages. Cary Elwes plays Westley, a young man who sets off on a journey across the mythical kingdom of Florin to reunite with the woman he loves, Buttercup (Robin Wright). Along the way, he’ll encounter innumerable evils and make inseparable friends.
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Kids, and Family
Stars: Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin
Director: Rob Reiner
Rating: PG
Runtime: 98 minutes
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American Animals (2018)
A young all-star cast drives this thrill ride based on the true story of four friends from Kentucky who attempted to rip off a university library. After visiting Transylvania University, one of the boys decides to steal the rarest and most valuable books from the school’s library, worth millions of dollars. One of the most audacious attempted art heists in U.S. history, the “Transy Book Heist” was spearheaded by a bunch of young Americans lacking purpose or ambition taking a misguided hack at the American dream. The film is based on John Falk’s Vanity Fair article “Majoring in Crime.”
Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Crime, Drama
Stars: Barry Keoghan, Evan Peters, Jared Abrahamson
Director: Bart Layton
Rating: R
Runtime: 116 minutes
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You Cannot Kill David Arquette (2020)
If you grew up in the late ’80s or ’90s, you knew David Arquette. A TV star launched to superstardom by the teen scream queen classic Scream, Arquette was a jack of many trades, including wrestling. In 2000, he won a highly controversial WCW World Heavyweight Championship and was quickly branded the most hated man in wrestling. And then, almost as soon as he arrived, Arquette faded into obscurity. This unusual, extremely watchable documentary explores a nearly 50-year-old Arquette’s attempts to return to the sport that derailed his Hollywood career. Arquette is dangerously determined to reclaim his reputation and self-respect, pushing increasingly insane limits to regain his place in professional wrestling.
Rotten Tomatoes: 85%
Genre: Documentary
Stars: David Arquette
Director: David Darg, Price James
Rating: R
Runtime: 90 minutes
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I Am Greta (2020)
All one has to do is look at the audience score on Rotten Tomatoes to know how much teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg terrifies people. Thunberg, 15, has become the unlikely face of the fight against climate change, speaking before the United Nations and governments the world over. While I Am Greta doesn’t tell us a whole lot we don’t already know (the planet is in dire, dire condition), it’s an inspiring call to action by witnessing the steadfast commitment and extraordinary passion of Thunberg. We still have a chance to get climate change under control; will Greta’s message prevail?
Rotten Tomatoes: 81%
Genre: Documentary
Stars: Greta Thunberg
Director: Nathan Grossman
Rating: NR
Runtime: 98 minutes
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God’s Own Country (2017)
A drama for drama buffs, God’s Own Country is a quiet, profound ponderance on loneliness. Josh O’Connor (The Crown) plays a young farmer who buries his feelings of loneliness and frustrations with his life through drinking and casual sex until he crosses paths with a Romanian migrant worker who forces him to reevaluate everything he knows about himself and the world.
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Genre: Drama, Romance
Stars: Josh O’Connor, Alec Secareanu, Gemma Jones
Director: Francis Lee
Rating: R
Runtime: 104 minutes
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Bombshell (2019)
Roger Ailes turned Fox News into the ratings champion of news media through ruthlessness, sensationalism, and absolute control over his staff. But as the corporate giant aligns itself with controversial presidential nominee Donald Trump, it assumes a “boys will be boys” attitude toward the candidate’s misogynistic tendencies and a litany of sexual assault allegations. That doesn’t sit well with three women at the network — each at different moments of their careers — as they step into the line of fire and do what no Fox News employee is ever supposed to: Become the headline. Bombshell is based on the true stories of Ailes, Megyn Kelly, and Gretchen Carlson.
Rotten Tomatoes: 69%
Genre: Drama
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie
Director: Jay Roach
Rating: R
Runtime: 108 minutes
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Run (2020)
Teenager Chloe (Kiera Allen) has spent her entire life under the thumb of her mother, Diane (Sarah Paulson). She doesn’t know that, however. Chloe is afflicted with a variety of maladies that restrict her to a wheelchair and make every day a painful routine of pills and treatments, much of which her mother facilities. But when she stumbles across a strange secret, her world begins to unravel and Chloe is forced to wonder if her mother is really helping or hurting.
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Stars: Kiera Allen, Sarah Paulson
Director: Aneesh Chaganty
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 90 minutes
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The Nice Guys (2016)
Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe star in this off-beat buddy comedy about a couple of unlikely detectives in 1977 Los Angeles. Holland March (Gosling) is a down-on-his-luck private eye who stumbles into a potentially huge case. Jackson Healy (Crowe) is a hired enforcer who brings pain for a living. After a young woman disappears, the two are brought together by fate, only to discover there’s far more going on than meets the eye. As their investigation takes them to some extremely dark places, the bodies start piling up as their odd friendship blossoms.
Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Genre: Comedy, Action, Mystery, Thriller
Stars: Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Margaret Qualley
Director: Shane Black
Rating: R
Runtime: 116 minutes
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Crawl (2019)
Who knew giant alligators swarming during a flood could be so much fun? Alexandre Aja did! This quick-hitting creature horror flick may look silly but it’s endlessly entertaining and pulse-pounding. Collegiate swimmer Haley (Kaya Scodelario) checks up on her estranged father (Barry Pepper) during a Category 5 hurricane in Florida, only to find him unconscious. In her attempt to rescue him, Haley becomes trapped in the house’s crawlspace. Unfortunately, some hungry prehistoric swimmers have found themselves trapped in there as well. If you love a good thriller, Crawl is a must-watch.
Rotten Tomatoes: 84%
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Stars: Kaya Scodelario, Barry Pepper
Director: Alexandre Aja
Rating: R
Runtime: 87 minutes
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Palm Springs (2020)
Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti find themselves stuck in a time loop while attending a wedding in Palm Springs, only to have the novelty of their never-ending day together turn sour when they discover they can’t seem to escape the day or each other. The Hulu Original comedy earned praise for its clever spin on the well-worn plot device that keeps the characters living through the same day over and over again.
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Genre: Comedy
Stars: Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti
Director: Max Barbakow
Rating: R
Runtime: 90 minutes
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Minding the Gap (2018)
Across 12 years, director Bing Liu searches for correlations between his skateboarder friends’ rocky upbringings and modern-day masculinity in his hometown of Rockford, Illinois. Bing follows 23-year-old Zack’s tumultuous relationship with his girlfriend as it deteriorates after the birth of their son, as well as with 17-year-old Keire struggling with his racial identity after the death of his father. Navigating an uncomfortable relationship between his camera, his friends, and his own past, Bing explores the gap between childhood and adulthood with alacrity.
Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
Genre: Documentary
Stars: N/A
Director: Bing Liu
Rating: NR
Runtime: 93 minutes
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Shirley (2020)
Acclaimed horror author Shirley Jackson was famously reclusive and odd. In Shirley, we see just how much so. After moving to a small Vermont college town where her husband, Stanley, will be a professor, Stanley and Shirley offer room and board to Fred and Rose, so long as they help look after Shirley. Jackson soon finds her creative process disrupted by the new tenants and her husband’s philandering, although Rose may serve as some curious inspiration.
Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Suspense
Stars: Elisabeth Moss, Michael Stuhlbarg, Logan Lerman, Odessa Young
Director: Josephine Decker
Rating: R
Runtime: 107 minutes
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RBG (2018)
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has developed an enormous legal legacy and has become a pop culture icon. In this documentary, the filmmakers explore the unique personal journey of the 84-year-old quiet warrior’s rise to the nation’s court. RBG takes a deep dive into Ginsburg’s exceptional life through personal interviews and extensive backstory.
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Genre: Documentary
Stars: Ruth Bader Ginsberg
Director: Betsy West, Julie Cohen
Rating: PG
Runtime: 96 minutes
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Shoplifters (2018)
A film about a Korean family in abject poverty and their overwhelming compassion and urge to do what’s right, Shoplifters is a gut-wrenching watch. Osamu’s family must shoplift to make ends meet. After one of their typical sprees, they come across a little girl abandoned in the freezing cold. At first reluctant to shelter her, Osamu’s wife agrees to care for her after learning her hardships are even greater than their own. She becomes one of the family, living happily together until a surprise incident reveals secrets that will test their bonds.
Rotten Tomatoes: 99%
Genre: Drama
Stars: Lily Franky, Sakura Andô, Maya Matsuoka
Director: Hirokazu Koreeda
Rating: R
Runtime: 121 minutes
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Bumblebee (2018)
The Transformers franchise hasn’t exactly been known for the heart of its movies, but Bumblebee is the rare spinoff that vastly exceeds its primary source material. Autobot Bumblebee finds himself on the run from enemies in 1987, seeking refuge in a junkyard in a small Californian town. There, he’s discovered battle-scarred and broken by Charlie, a young woman looking for her place in the world. As Charlie fixes him up, believing him to be a junky old VW bug, she soon discovers that he’s no ordinary Volkswagen. Unfortunately, several competing interests also discover his existence, as well.
Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
Genre: Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Stars: Hailee Steinfeld, John Cena
Director: Travis Knight
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 119 minutes
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Diane (2018)
Diane (Mary Kay Place) puts everyone else first. She’s extremely generous, spending her days checking in on sick friends, volunteering at her local soup kitchen, and working effortlessly to save her drug-addicted adult son (Jake Lacy) from himself. But despite her relentless self-sacrifice, Diane is haunted by a past she can’t forget, which threatens to tear her world apart. Mary Kay Place is extraordinary as a woman rifling through the wreckage of her life in search of redemption.
Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Genre: Drama
Stars: Mary Kay Place, Jake Lacy, Andrea Martin
Director: Kent Jones
Rating: NR
Runtime: 96 minutes
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Amazing Grace (2018)
Experience Aretha Franklin in all her considerable glory in Amazing Grace. This concert film compiles footage from a 1972 performance at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles. Performing songs from the bestselling gospel album Amazing Grace, Franklin tears down the house in this rip-roaring film.
Rotten Tomatoes: 99%
Genre: Documentary, Musical
Stars: Aretha Franklin
Director: Sydney Pollack
Rating: G
Runtime: 87 minutes
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I Am Not Your Negro (2016)
James Baldwin was one of the most influential writers of the late 20th century, penning numerous essays and acclaimed novels addressing issues of race at a time when racial friction seemed to be boiling over in America. Working from an unfinished Baldwin manuscript, director Raoul Peck has created I Am Not Your Negro, a documentary examining Baldwin’s views and how they apply not only to the tumults of the ’60s but to modern America as well. Samuel L. Jackson narrates, infusing the material with a husky weariness. I Am Not Your Negro leaves one with the impression that Baldwin’s work has never been finished, and never been more important.
Rotten Tomatoes: 99%
Genre: Documentary
Stars: Samuel L. Jackson
Director: Raoul Peck
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 93 minutes
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Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
Before he directed Thor: Ragnarok and Jojo Rabbit, filmmaker Taika Waititi wrote and directed this 2016 film about a teenage troublemaker and his reluctant father figure who become the subject of a massive manhunt when they disappear into the forests of New Zealand. Julian Dennison and Sam Neill co-star in the film, which received widespread praise for its clever story and lead actors’ chemistry.
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Genre: Comedy
Stars: Julian Dennison, Sam Neill
Director: Taika Waititi
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 101 minutes
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Parasite (2019)
Filmmaker Bong Joon Ho’s Best Picture winner at the 92nd Academy Awards is a brutal, thought-provoking, masterfully shot thriller that explores the class divide through the experiences of a South Korean family who cons their way into working for a wealthy family whose lives couldn’t be more unlike their own. While the first act of the film is peppered with humor, the overall tone of the film is anything but — particularly after a shocking discovery turns the family’s grift into something far more sinister.
Rotten Tomatoes: 99%
Genre: Thriller
Stars: Song Kang-ho, Choi Woo-Shik, Park So-dam, Jang Hye-jin
Director: Bong Joon Ho
Rating: R
Runtime: 132 minutes
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Booksmart (2019)
So, you worked really hard in school, avoided drugs and alcohol, didn’t go to any parties, and were rewarded by getting into the Ivy League college of your choice. Nice! You’ve got a lot in common with Booksmart‘s protagonists, Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein). If you’re anything like them, however, you may be unhappy to learn that everyone else in your school also got into the Ivy League college of their choice but they partied constantly and had a great time in high school. That realization leads Amy and Molly to go out for one wild night of partying before graduation day. It may sound like a tired concept for a high-school comedy but Booksmart is anything but a run-of-the-mill teen movie. By investing in the friendship of its brilliant female leads and focusing more on questions of growing up and discovering yourself rather than sex and dating, Booksmart is a refreshing take on the teen comedy. Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut is funny, refreshingly creative, and heartwarming.
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Genre: Comedy
Stars: Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein, Jessica Williams
Director: Olivia Wilde
Rating: R
Runtime: 102 minutes
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The Sisters Brothers (2018)
Since the failure of big-budget westerns like 2013’s The Lone Ranger and 2011’s Cowboys & Aliens, Hollywood’s seemed apprehensive about putting much money into westerns. As a result, the westerns we do get are usually outside the proverbial box. The Sisters Brothers is a great example, starring Joaquin Phoenix and John C. Reilly as two unlikely guns for hire during the gold rush era. Everything you expect in a western happens in The Sisters Brothers, just not quite the way you expect them. Director Jacques Audiard, for example, sometimes chooses to stage gunfights in almost complete darkness, with only the sounds and flashes letting us know they’re happening. This unpredictable and sullen comedy plays with western tropes and delivers an experience unique to the genre.
Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
Genre: Drama, Western
Stars: John C. Reilly, Joaquin Phoenix, Jake Gyllenhaal
Director: Jacques Audiard
Rating: R
Runtime: 122 minutes
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Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
Winner of the Palme d’Or, the Cannes Film Festival’s highest honor, Portrait of a Lady on Fire is considered a modern masterpiece of period cinema. In 1760 France, young Marianne is commissioned to paint the wedding portrait of Héloïse, a young woman who has just left the convent and become reluctantly betrothed. A methodical portraitist, Marianne arrives under the guise of companionship, observing Héloïse by day and secretly painting her by night. But as the two women spend more time together, an attraction grows as they revel in Héloïse’s first — and last — moments of freedom as she transfers from the convent to an unwilling marriage. As Marianne works, the portrait takes on greater meaning, symbolizing the two women’s collaboration and forbidden love for one another.
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Genre: Drama, Romance
Stars: Noémie Merlant, Adèle Haenel, Luana Bajrami
Director: Céline Sciamma
Rating: R
Runtime: 119 minutes
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The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years (2016)
Music documentaries, especially ones discussing The Beatles, are a dime a dozen. Yet few documentaries ever have the acclaimed Ron Howard at the helm, especially one that does away with the conventional through-the-years filmography. Instead, Howard decided to focus more on the early days of the infamous rock band, gazing more so at their rise into fame and the ingredients to their immediate success. The Beatles: Eight Days a Week is a music lover’s go-to, offering the best sound and live performance experiences while also delivering interesting tidbits on the nature of The Beatles’ rise to stardom.
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Genre: Documentary, Music
Stars: Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Ed Sullivan
Director: Ron Howard
Rating: Not Rated
Runtime: 306 minutes
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If Beale Street Could Talk (2019)
If Beale Street Could Talk takes you to early-1970s Harlem and introduces you to 19-year-old Tish Rivers (KiKi Layne). Tish is a daughter and soon-to-be wife to her artist fiancé Alonzo Hunt, who goes by Fonny (Stephan James). Friends since childhood, their unbreakable bond has flourished together, and they dream of a bright, beautiful future. But when Fonny is arrested for a crime he did not commit, their love is tested by an unforgiving and racially biased world.
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Genre: Drama, Romance
Stars: KiKi Layne, Stephan James, Regina King
Director: Barry Jenkins
Rating: R
Runtime: 117 minutes
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Big Time Adolescence (2019)
This Hulu original follows a bright, mostly innocent 16-year old named Mo (Griffin Gluck) as he attempts to navigate high school. Fortunately, he has the guidance of his best friend, charismatic college dropout Zeke (Pete Davidson). Zeke genuinely cares about Mo, but as he shares the untraditional life lessons he’s learned in drug dealing, partying, and dating, things go a little off the rails in Mo’s life. Meanwhile, Mo’s dad (Jon Cryer) tries to take back the reins.
Rotten Tomatoes: 84%
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Stars: Pete Davidson, Griffin Gluck
Director: Jason Orley
Rating: R
Runtime: 90 minutes
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Fighting With My Family (2018)
Based on the true story of WWE Superstar Paige, Fighting With My Family is one of the more unusual heartwarming comedies of recent years. Directed by comedy legend Stephen Merchant, this film centers on a tight-knit wrestling family. Paige and her brother Zak are over the moon when they get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to try out for WWE. But when only Paige earns a spot in the competitive training program, she has to leave her family and face this cutthroat world on her own. Her journey pushes her to fight for her family and ultimately prove that devotion is precisely what can make her a star.
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Stars: Florence Pugh, Lena Headey, Dwayne Johnson
Director: Stephen Merchant
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 107 minutes
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Sorry to Bother You (2018)
The directorial debut of Boots Riley (perhaps better known as the frontman of the hip-hop band The Coup), Sorry to Bother You is a madcap satire of 21st-century capitalism, a film that tosses realism out the window within the first 10 minutes or so. The movie follows Cassius Green (Lakeith Stanfield), a sad-sack guy who, desperate for money, gets a job as a telemarketer at a grimy office (he lies about his previous work experience, which his interviewer considers a positive). Cassius struggles to make sales, so an older coworker (Danny Glover) gives him some advice, telling him to use a “white voice.” After using a white voice (David Cross), Cassius suddenly starts racking up sales and soon gets a promotion to the esteemed position of Power Caller. As he climbs the corporate ladder, however, Cassius risks losing his soul to the relentless machine of marketing. Sorry to Bother You makes use of some bonkers visuals to accompany its eccentric premise, such as an early sequence in which Cassius, as he calls customers, literally drops into their houses, snapping back to the office when they hang up.
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Stars: LaKeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Jermaine Fowler
Director: Boots Riley
Rating: R
Runtime: 112 minutes
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Rocketman (2019)
Retelling the wild and music-filled life of Sir Elton John, Rocketman captures in great detail the journey of a British artist’s slow but sure claim to fame. Taron Egerton, known best for his role in Kingsman: The Secret Service, plays the titular musician on a road of discovery filled with its fair share of young love and substance abuse. It’s one of the best musician movies, examining the singer’s life with immense accuracy and heartbreaking detail. Joining Hulu in late May, Rocketman is the perfect companion piece for all fans of Elton John to experience his ascension not only into stardom but into his truest self.
Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
Genre: Biopic, Drama
Stars: Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Bryce Dallas Howard, Richard Madden
Director: Dexter Fletcher
Rating: R
Runtime: 121 minutes
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Apollo 11 (2019)
Take one giant leap into the past, wherein humankind barreled through the nighttime sky and raced to walk on surfaces not our own. Apollo 11 tracks the star-bound adventure of Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin in a moment now frozen in time. Provided via never-before-seen footage and audio recordings, Apollo 11 is the next-best equivalent of time traveling back to that very life-altering event. Experience the groundbreaking NASA exploration like never before, all within the comfort of the living room.
Rotten Tomatoes: 99%
Genre: Documentary, History
Stars: Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins
Director: Todd Douglas Miller
Rating: G
Runtime: 93 minutes
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Akira (1988)
The seminal anime film Akira has had a huge impact on sci-fi since its release, but despite how many films and video games have drawn on Akira for inspiration, the movie itself still feels fresh. The film begins in Neo-Tokyo circa 2019, decades after the start of World War III. Far below the towering skyscrapers, gangs of motorcycle-riding youths fight in the streets. A leather-clad hotshot named Kaneda leads a gang called the Capsules. While evading the police, Kaneda’s comrade Tetsuo runs across a mysterious being with psychic powers, and after crashing his bike, ends up in the government’s custody. After enduring strange experiments, Tetsuo develops psychic powers, and a mighty ego to match. As Tetsuo’s powers grow, Kaneda must try to stop him before he destroys Tokyo. Akira is a slick action film full of striking imagery and stylish violence.
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Genre: Animation, Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Stars: Mitsuo Itawa, Nozomu Sasaki, Mami Koyama
Director: Katsuhiro Ôtomo
Rating: R
Runtime: 124 minutes
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The Assistant (2019)
Jane (Julia Garner) is a recent college graduate and an aspiring film producer who, to her delight, lands her dream job as a junior assistant to a powerful entertainment mogul. But spending one day in her life is enough to understand the abuse that comes with the job. The Assistant follows one ordinary day as Jane makes coffee, makes copies, orders lunch, takes phone messages, and more, but the insidious accumulation of degradations and abuse she encounters become more and more prevalent as the film continues, illuminating the depth of mistreatment inherent in the system she’s just entered.
Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Suspense
Stars: Julia Garner, Matthew MacFayden, McKenzie Leigh
Director: Kitty Green
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 87 minutes
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Blackfish (2013)
Though it may be heartbreaking above all else, Blackfish is a tale as necessary as it is painful to bear witness to. It tells the real-life and grueling story of Tilikum, a SeaWorld-owned orca, whose experiences speak volumes of the true nature inherent in the aquarium. Proving its immense acclaim, Blackfish was even nominated for a BAFTA for best documentary. Upon its release in 2013, it gained immediate traction, provoking SeaWorld to issue multiple responses. Despite the rebuttals, the detestable experiences of these performance whales shown in the documentary will outrage many viewers.
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Genre: Documentary
Stars: Tilikum, Samantha Berg, Dawn Brancheau
Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 90 minutes
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Fast Color (2018)
Superhero movies aren’t particularly rare these days, but what you can’t find in every multiplex is a superhero story that is more about the person than the spectacle their powers make possible. Fast Color is a brilliant exception. The film’s hero is Ruth (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) — a young woman whose emerging powers have her on the run in a not-too-distant future of climate change and resource scarcity. Ruth is desperately trying to figure out how to control her new abilities as well as escape the government agents pursuing her, while at the same time trying to reconnect with her estranged family. Rather than fighting off alien invasions or saving the world from cackling terrorists, Fast Color gives us a superhero who is ultimately fighting the same difficult battle we’re all locked in — being a person in the world.
Rotten Tomatoes: 82%
Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Stars: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, David Strathairn, Lorraine Toussaint
Director: Julia Hart
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 100 minutes
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Prisoners (2013)
Denis Villeneuve’s Prisoners asks: How far would you go to protect your child? For Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman), it’s pretty darn far. When his six-year-old daughter, Anna, and her friend vanish without a trace, Keller is wracked with fear of the worst. The only lead the police have is an old RV that was parked on the street near where the girls were playing. The head of the investigation, Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal), arrests the driver (Paul Dano) but lacks the evidence needed to hold him at the station. Although Loki strongly suspects the driver, he has no choice but to let his only suspect go. With the clock ticking, Keller realizes that the system may not be able to save his daughter, so he takes matters into his own hands.
Rotten Tomatoes: 81%
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Stars: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Paul Dano, Viola Davis
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Rating: R
Runtime: 153 minutes
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