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The best ’80s movies on Hulu right now (November 2022)

Was the 1980s the all-time best decade for movies. Brilliant minds could disagree. What’s not debatable, however, is that Hulu is a great source of movies from the ’80s — it even has a hub dedicated to the decade. The streaming service recently revamped its library lineup from the ’80s, so many of the films that were the best a month ago are now gone. The good news is that most of them have been replaced by films that are even better. These are the best ’80s movies on Hulu right now.

We’ve also curated a guide to the best action movies on Amazon Prime and the best action movies on Netflix if you’re looking for additional recommendations.

Recommended Videos

Big (1988)

Big
73%
7.3/10
pg
104m
Genre
Fantasy, Drama, Comedy, Romance, Family
Stars
Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins, Robert Loggia
Directed by
Penny Marshall
Watch on Hulu
Josh Baskin just wants to be “big” — but he wasn’t expecting to be transformed into a full-grown adult overnight. Tom Hanks stars as the grown version of Josh in one of the actor’s most beloved roles. The fantasy comedy-drama provided a plethora of memorable moments, none greater than Josh and his boss (Robert Loggia) playing Heart and Soul on a walking piano, a scene frequently imitated and revived by later shows and movies. The moral of the story is of little surprise, but the movie remains surprisingly sweet when compared to most of the heavier films of the current era.

Gandhi (1982)

Gandhi
79%
8.1/10
pg
191m
Genre
Drama, History
Stars
Ben Kingsley, Candice Bergen, Edward Fox
Directed by
Richard Attenborough
Watch on Hulu
This biographical film about Mahatma Gandhi is one of the best in the history of the genre. Ben Kingsley stars in the title role, and his performance would earn him an Academy Award; the film also won Best Picture at the Oscars. Since its release four decades ago, the movie has become a slight lighting rod as some have criticized how accurate the portrayal is of the Indian independence movement leader, who preached nonviolence before meeting a violent ending of his own. Buckle in for Gandhi, as Richard Attenborough’s film clears three hours.

Say Anything... (1989)

Say Anything...
85%
7.3/10
pg-13
100m
Genre
Romance, Comedy, Drama
Stars
John Cusack, Ione Skye, John Mahoney
Directed by
Cameron Crowe
Watch on Hulu
You know that movie scene where a man holds the boombox outside of the window of a woman to get her attention? That’s from this film! John Cusack plays Lloyd Dobler, an average student who is lovestruck by Diane Court (Ione Skye), the class valedictorian. How could the two lovers with such different social backgrounds ever find love? The film is very heartfelt, even if it dives into melodramatic minutiae not tied too directly to the film’s foregrounded romance. Fun fact: Say Anything… marked the directorial debut of Cameron Crowe, who went on to direct Jerry Maguire, Almost Famous, and Vanilla Sky.

The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)

The Muppets Take Manhattan
64%
6.8/10
g
94m
Genre
Romance, Comedy, Family
Stars
Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Dave Goelz
Directed by
Frank Oz
Watch on Hulu

Here’s one for the kids. The Muppets Take Manhattan is the third theatrical filmsin the franchise and the solo directorial debut of Frank Oz, a puppeteer best known for his work as Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back. The G-rated film sees the titular Muppets make the move to, where else, Manhattan, in an attempt to take their show to Broadway. Hilarity ensues.

The plot of the movie is largely secondary to the songs and the performances of the puppets, which feel genuine and emotional, despite being bound by felt. The film also continues the tradition of putting Muppets and real-life actors side by side; Muppets Take Manhattan features cameos from Brooke Shields, Liza Minnelli, and Joan Rivers. The movie also marks the debut of the Muppet Babies.

Akira (1988)

Akira
67%
8/10
r
124m
Genre
Animation, Science Fiction, Action
Stars
Mitsuo Iwata, Nozomu Sasaki, Mami Koyama
Directed by
Katsuhiro Otomo
Watch on Hulu
Akira isn’t widely known, but the 1988 Japanese anime film has had a big influence on the science-fiction genre. The film is set in a dystopian 2019 and follows the leader of a biker gang whose friend develops telekinetic abilities. From there, the story expands greatly as a military complex comes under threat and rebellion is fomented. The movie has been cited as an influence on The Matrix, Kill Bill, and even Stranger Things. The “Akira slide” scene, meanwhile, remains one of the most iconic anime scenes of all-time, heavily duplicated but never matched.
Movie images and data from:
Blair Marnell

Blair Marnell has been an entertainment journalist for over 15 years. His bylines have appeared in Wizard Magazine, Geek Monthly, SYFY Wire, Superhero Hype, Collider, DC Universe, and the official sites for Star Trek and Marvel. He also lends his pop culture expertise to Digital Trends on a variety of TV, movie, and streaming features.

Michileen Martin

Michileen Martin has written about pop culture in general and comics in particular for two decades. His work has appeared in numerous sites including Looper, PopMatters, Popdose, and nerdbastards.com. He probably knows more about the Incredible Hulk than you.

Holden Walter-Warner

Holden is a writer with a focus on streaming service guides. He has also written content for Screen Rant and FanSided and is eagerly anticipating every Star Wars series set to debut in the coming years.

Christine Persaud

Christine has decades of experience in trade and consumer journalism. While she started her career writing exclusively about tech, she now writes about everything from tech to entertainment, business, lifestyle, and more. An admitted TV junkie (feel free to reach out for recommendations on what to watch!), if she's not working or hanging out with friends and family, she's probably relaxing with a crisp glass of wine while binging her latest TV series obsession. Follow her on Twitter @christinetechCA.

 

 

 

 

The best fantasy movies on Netflix right now
Kate Beckinsale and Hugh Jackman in Van Helsing.

Finding great fantasy movies on Netflix is a bit of a fantasy in and of itself. The king of the streamers neglects this category, and it also relies heavily on Universal Pictures' catalog to bail out its shortcomings. That's why it's The Scorpion King and Van Helsing's turn to be on this list while Conan the Barbarian waits for yet another Netflix return.

The Scorpion King and Van Helsing aren't bad movies, but fantasy fans deserve a better selection from Netflix than films that are two decades old. Even this month's third addition, The Covenant, is closing in on 20 years. Netflix has made some original fantasy movies of its own, but not lately. For the most part, the best fantasy movies on Netflix are pretty stagnant. But when something new arrives, we'll be here to add it to the list.
Need more recommendations? Then check out the best new movies to stream this week, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.

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The best kids movies on Netflix right now
SpongeBob SquarePants and Sandy Cheeks in Saving Bikini Bottom.

Whether you're just trying to make it through the next few weeks or you're already thinking about Thanksgiving, it's good to know the best kids movies on Netflix right now. Whether you need a distraction or you're hosting friends and family, Netflix offers a host of quality kid-friendly flicks. Of course, you want to know that your kid isn't watching garbage, which is why we made this Cliff Notes-esque list for you. Every month, we scan the collection and highlight the most worthwhile kids' movies.

Although it's a slow month, Netflix does add new family-friendly originals in Spellbound, as well as Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie. Read on for our picks of the best kids movies on Netflix now.

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The 10 most popular movies on Netflix right now
A woman holds tickets up in front of a man.

Netflix is one of the most popular streaming services in the world, with over 280 million subscribers. And just what do those people tend to watch? In particular, what is the most popular movie on Netflix? Each week, the streaming service releases a list of its 10 most-watched movies over a recent seven-day period to keep subscribers in the loop regarding its most popular titles.

The top of the Netflix charts belongs to two Hollywood A-list stars: Will Smith and Margot Robbie. The duo's 2015 crime caper, Focus, is the No. 1 movie on Netflix. Right behind Focus is Hot Frosty, a holiday rom-com starring Lacey Chabert, and The Lost City, an adventure rom-com with Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum. Below, we've listed the top 10 movies in the U.S. from November 11 to November 17, along with general information about each film, such as genre, rating, cast, and synopsis.

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