![A woman and two men standing in uniforms in a scene from Line of Duty on Hulu.](https://www.digitaltrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/line-of-duty-series.jpg?fit=720%2C405&p=1)
Fans are excited for the return of Only Murders in the Building later this month, following the favorite trio of amateur sleuths as they investigate, and podcast about, a new case. But when it comes to Hulu, the streaming service has a wide selection of titles that goes beyond its own originals. Disney Entertainment’s Onyx Collective series Reasonable Doubt, for example, returns for a second season this month, and it’s available to stream on Hulu. There are also compelling shows like BBC Two’s Line of Duty, which aired for six seasons, all of which are available to stream.
We have curated this list of the best shows on Hulu right now to help you cut through the noise and find the best options to suit your summer viewing needs. Light procedurals are perfect for the summer, but if you want something more intense, Hulu has plenty in that department, too.
Looking for something else? We’ve also rounded up the best movies on Hulu, the best shows on Netflix, the best shows on Amazon Prime Video, and the best shows on Disney+.
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Only Murders in the Buildingtv-ma 2021
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Solar Oppositestv-ma 2020
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Reasonable Doubttv-ma 2022
Only Murders in the Building (2021)
What do you get when two you combine two comedic icons with a Disney Channel actor turned pop music star? Apparently, it’s a buddy-type comedy about three strangers. Steve Martin (who is also the co-creator of Only Murders in the Building), Martin Short, and Selena Gomez are all residents of an upscale New York building who come together because they share an obsessive passion for true crime. But when they find themselves actually involved in one, then two, and yet another, the situation gets increasingly hairy, and their sleuthing skills are put to the test.
Out of the gate, the series was praised for the charming central characters, along with the “hilarious and insightful” story that takes a silly look at society’s obsession with this tragic genre. The show has had a long list of guest and supporting stars, including Tina Fey, Sting, Nathan Lane, Shirley MacLaine, and, for season 3, Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd. With season 4, the list gets even bigger as the investigation shifts to the mysterious death of Jane Lynch’s Sazz Pataki.
Solar Opposites (2020)
From the creators of Rick and Morty, this Hulu original animated sitcom, which has a solid 92% aggregate critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes, sees four aliens crash-land into a suburban American town. While waiting for the right moment to take over Earth, they do their best to learn the ways of humans and live among them — but they each have their own perceptions about human behavior and what is awful versus awesome.
With an impressive voice cast, including both main and recurring characters, Solar Opposites has been a hit for Hulu. So it comes as a surprise that the series has already been renewed for a sixth season as well.
Reasonable Doubt (2022)
Looking for a good legal drama to sink your teeth into? Returning for a second season, Reasonable Doubt follows Jax Stewart (Emayatzy Corinealdi), a corporate defense lawyer who has a knack for handling high-profile cases. Her challenges go beyond her time in the courtroom, though, as she is dealing with a separation from her husband in her personal life while trying to juggle a demanding case load as well. Throwing another wrench into things, a former client named Damon Cooke (Michael Ealy) has been released from prison and is now working as a public defender on the other side of the law.
Created by Raamla Mohamed, who was a writer on Scandal, you can expect a similar tone and feel with Reasonable Doubt. The story is loosely based on the real life of celebrity attorney Shawn Holley, best known for being a member of O.J. Simpson’s legal defense team, who serves as a producer. Reasonable Doubt, which adds Morris Chestnut to the cast for season two, is one of those hidden gems on Hulu with rave reviews that you probably didn’t even know existed.
Line of Duty (2012)
Police procedurals are a dime a dozen, but there’s a reason we love them so much. While they all have minor overarching stories, they’re the kind of shows you can throw on in the background, or watch after missing several episodes, and not feel lost. Line of Duty fits the bill, a BBC Two serial drama with six seasons under its belt. Each follows the Anti-Corruption Unit 12 (AC-12) within a fictional police force that is tasked with “policing the police.”
Earning numerous award nominations through its run, Line of Duty has developed somewhat of a cult following. Fans love the fact that the series dives into an area of procedurals that isn’t already played out with one of the many other procedurals on the air today: sussing out corrupt cops working with organized crime. The interrogation segments, many of which can run for much of an episode, are considered one of the show’s strengths, building intensity at a level that isn’t usual in your garden variety procedural.
Marvel's Hit-Monkey (2021)
Marvel’s Hit-Monkey is an adult animated series based on the Marvel character of the same name. Hit-Monkey (Fred Tatasciore), an unjust and violent monkey, teams up with Bryce (Jason Sudeikis), the ghost of a former American assassin, to take down the criminal underworld in Tokyo. The pair later travel to New York City.
As unlikely pairing head out on various missions, their ultimate goal is to find and murder the employer of the assassins who killed Bryce. Inspired by Japanese animation, Hit-Monkey is both funny and extremely violent. There’s wonderful chemistry among the voice cast members, which also includes Olivia Munn, George Takei, Leslie Jones, and Cristin Milioti. A visual spectacle, Hit-Monkey is a must-watch for Marvel fans, both those who know the story and those who may not be familiar with it.
Futurama (1999)
Unprisoned (2023)
Kerry Washington is back on the small screen in Unprisoned, a comedy about Paige, a single mom and therapist who finds her already messy life thrown for a loop when her father is released from prison after serving a 17-year sentence. He moves in with her and her teenage son, and the new family of three must find a way to get along.
While the show is a comedy, it also unpacks a lot of more dramatic topics like childhood trauma, forgiveness, grudges, and boundaries. Receiving high praise in early reviews, Unprisoned is dubbed a “snappy comedy” with heavy themes, with both lead actors, including Delroy Lindo as Paige’s father, Edwin, shining in their respective roles.
The Toys That Built America (2021)
Kids today still play with toys alongside their electronic devices. But back in the day, some of the most popular toys defined generations and kept kids entertained for hours, no screens needed. This History Channel docudrama walks you through the invention of some of the most iconic toys in the U.S. along with the challenges they faced coming to market and with competition. Timelines are re-enacted along with fascinating commentary by toy historians, business experts, and toy enthusiasts.
Think everything from the simple Slinky to the early days of Mattel, Hasbro, and toys like Barbie and G.I. Joe. The show examines everything from board games made by massive companies like Milton Bradley and Parker Brothers to video games once screen time became a “thing,” action figures, the Rubik’s Cube, Jenga, and Lego. The third season, now streaming, features the history of Nintendo, ‘90s fad toys, and more. The Toys That Built America is an entertaining, not to mention educational, walk down memory lane.
Clipped (2024)
This sports drama based on the ESPN 30 for 30 podcast called The Sterling Affairs is a dramatization of the story of Donald Sterling, former owner of the L.A. Clippers, and his 2014 scandal. Sterling (Ed O’Neill) was caught on tape making racist remarks, and when the audio was leaked, it set off a series of events for the team. Laurence Fishburne plays Clippers coach Doc Rivers, Cleopatra Coleman plays V. Stiviano, Sterling’s assistant, and Jacki Weaver plays Shelly, Sterling’s wife and longtime business partner.
As a re-creation of the scandal, Clipped, which hails from FX on Hulu, is delivered in six episodes. FX describes the series as charting the “collision between a dysfunctional basketball organization and even less-functional marriage, and the precipitating tape’s impact on an ensemble of characters striving to win against the backdrop of the most cursed team in the league.” If you followed this scandal closely a decade ago and you’re a basketball fan (Clippers or otherwise), you’ll want to tune in.
Shardlake (2024)
For lovers of period dramas, Shardlake will be right up your alley. The four-part series is based on the C.J. Sansom historical mystery novels. Set in the 16th Century during Henry VIII’s reign, Matthew Shardlake (Arthur Hughes) is hired by Thomas Cromwell (Sean Bean) to look into the death of a commissioner.
Dark, moody, and fitting for those who love shows like The Tudors, The Great, and Peaky Blinders, Shardlake has all the elements you’d expect from such a story, including deceit, politics, and murder. John Powers of NPR calls Shardlake “beautifully acted” and says the show surprisingly pulled him in.
The Bear (2022)
When he left his job in the world of fine dining to take over his family’s small-town sandwich shop, Carmen (Jeremy Allen White) had no idea what he was in for. Not only is he dealing with the grief of family loss, he is also trying to navigate a professional world very different from the one he knows. That includes the challenges of running a small business, and doing so with a team of rough-around-the-edges employees who are initially none too pleased to have him bossing them around. Nonetheless, “Carmy” is determined to succeed professionally. But to do so means sacrifice, often at the expense of his personal growth and happiness.
From FX, the comedy hails from Christopher Storer, the man behind successful shows like Ramy and Eighth Grade. The Bear has been a delightfully entertaining, deeply emotional watch with episodes that tug at the heartstrings. The series is mainly about Carmy’s journey to succeed, if he can get out of his own way, that is. But as the story progresses, it’s about the personal and professional development of all the people who work with him. As each one stops underestimating themselves, they find passion and drive they didn’t know they had, giving every character a moment to shine. The show is as inspiring and uplifting as it is frantic and emotionally draining at times, a delight for the senses in every way.
Shoresy (2022)
If you’re a fan of the Canadian comedy Letterkenny, you’ll love Shoresy. In Letterkenny, the character of Shoresy is never seen by face, and that’s for good reason: He is actually played by the show’s creator Jared Keeso, who also stars as the lead character, Wayne. In this spinoff, Shoresy is seen in all his glory. He has decided to move to Sudbury to help a flailing local hockey team, bringing his unique sense of small-town Canadian flare.
Apparently, Shoresy is one of the most popular characters from Letterkenny when it comes to merchandising, so fans were excited to learn more about his story in this comedy that is rife with Canadian slang and other familiar humor.
Under the Bridge (2024)
Looking for your next true-crime obsession? Under the Bridge tells the harrowing story of Reena Virk, a 14-year-old girl from Canada who was beaten and killed by a group of fellow teens in the late ’90s. The story made national headlines in the Great White North, shedding light on the extreme dangers of bullying, racism, and violence among young girls. Virk’s involvement in rebellious activities, minority status, strict religious upbringing, and surrounding of peers influenced by street gang culture, led to a childhood marred with challenges and incessant bullying that eventually grew to full-blown murder.
Under the Bridge dives into the tragic story in the form of a true-crime drama with Vritika Gupta playing Virk and counting Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon), Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife), and Riley Keough (Daisy Jones & the Six) among its cast. Despite being a dramatization based on a horrifically true story, Under the Bridge has been praised for presenting the story in a sensitive way, focusing on the main theme of bringing attention to the seriousness of bullying and teenage violence and intolerance. The Chicago Sun Times’ Richard Roeper sums it up nicely in his review, noting that the show is a “sobering reminder this sort of thing still happens to this day, and far too often.”
We Were the Lucky Ones (2024)
A gripping historical drama miniseries, We Were the Lucky Ones is a dramatization of the Holocaust, with the central figures being the Kurcs, a family of Polish Jews. As Hitler’s reign of terror progresses, the family scatters, with some ending up in the U.S. and others in concentration camps. The series follows their journey after the war as the surviving family members try desperately to reunite with their loved ones.
From a talented young cast led by Joey King and Logan Lerman to the emotional and heart-wrenching story inspired by real people, the series, which was released in late March 2024, is a poignant look at a dark time in history. Lacy Buagher Milas of Paste Magazine calls We Were the Lucky Ones a series “whose whole is so much greater than the sum of its parts.” She adds that the handling of themes like family, loyalty, love, trauma, and tragedy are “almost painfully prescient when compared to our current global moment.”
Extraordinary (2023)
With two seasons under its belt, Extraordinary is one of those hidden gems on Hulu that won’t disappoint. Combining superhero comedy with a coming-of-age theme, it’s about Jen (Máiréad Tyers), a 25-year-old living in a world where everyone obtains some type of superpower once they turn 18. That is, everyone but Jen. She’s the only “regular” human, and it’s taking a toll on her. The series follows Jen’s journey as she tries somehow induce the powers she is supposed to possess while coming to terms with the fact that she needs to accept who she is before she can become who she can be.
The British series has been well reviewed, scoring a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score for both of its seasons. The laughs are plenty, from Jen’s new cat, who she discovers is a shape-shifter (even her pet has powers!) to her ridiculous and desperate attempts to harness a power, any power. Extraordinary is a sharp, funny, and witty series about peer pressure to be like everyone else in a way you’ve never seen.
American Horror Story (2011)
American Horror Story is an anthology series, with each season centering on its own unique story, including a core cast with changing roles from season to season (along with some notable new additions from time to time). Each season provides scares and frightening psychological storylines, whether they take place within a troubled family home, amid a coven of witches, or inside a hotel of circus freaks.
American Horror Story is a unique drama that capitalizes on the work of series creator Ryan Murphy. While some seasons are better reviewed than others, the cast is always top-notch and the stories always thrilling, disturbing, and entertaining. The latest season, American Horror Story: Delicate, features Emma Roberts, Suicide Squad‘s Cara Delevingne, and Kim Kardashian.
Welcome to Wrexham (2022)
This is about as close to a real-life Ted Lasso story as we might get. When actors Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds decided to purchase a small-town Football Association of Wales club, the third-oldest in the world, they knew nothing about managing a sports team and arguably less about football. They also didn’t know one another very well at the time. But they saw an opportunity to revive a struggling club that was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and a growing number of less-than-enthusiastic fans.
You can watch their process to turn the team around in this docuseries that highlights both the passion and camaraderie of these actors, who are determined to bring positive change and hope to a community. Welcome to Wrexham combines humor with heartwarming stories about a working-class town and two Hollywood comedic geniuses getting to know the game, the people, and the inner workings of a team in hopes of bringing home a victory.
Shōgun (2024)
Receiving rave reviews right out of the gate, Shōgun is a spectacular reimagining of the 1980 TV miniseries and the James Clavell novel on which that was based. Three people end up in the same place by happenstance: John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), an English sailor, Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), a powerful daimyo, and Lady Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai), a woman who has been dishonored by her family.
While the story in Shōgun is largely fictional, it’s also loosely based on real historical events, with each character based on a real person. Blackthorne, for example, is based on English navigator Williams Adam, who became a samurai. He was taught by Tokugawa Ieyasu, on whom Toranaga is based, while Mariko is modeled after Hosokawa Garasha, an aristocrat from the Sengoku period. With a 100% Rotten Tomatoes critic score, Shōgun is poised to be one of the best new shows this year. CNN’s Brian Lowry calls it an “intoxicating combination of action, romance, and political intrigue.”
Feud (2017)
The second season in the anthology series from Ryan Murphy, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans examines the true story of Truman Capote’s feud with New York City high society socialites. After he pens a fictionalized version of their scandalous lives in his novel Answered Prayers, these ladies make it their mission to ruin him.
The series is eight episodes long and is based on the Laurence Leamer novel Capote’s Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era. Feud: Capote vs. The Swans has an impressive cast that includes Naomi Watts, Diane Lane, Chloe Sevigny, Calista Flockhart, Demi Moore, Molly Ringwald, and Jessica Lange. The White Lotus’ Tom Hollander tackles the role of Capote.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2023)
Fans of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson book series especially have fallen in love with Percy Jackson and the Olympians, a fantasy series based on the stories that have been popular tween/teen (and even adult) reading since 2005. The title character, played by Walker Scobell, is a 12-year-old demigod, the son of Poseidon. The Greek god Zeus believes the young man has stolen his thunderbolt. Percy, with the help of his friends, goes on the hunt to find the missing thunderbolt. He hopes to restore order to Olympus, the palace where powers from all the gods and goddesses unite.
With Riordan himself heavily involved in the project as co-creator, the series has been praised for sticking with the source material. Some critics, in fact, say Percy Jackson and the Olympians is better than the film series, a testament to the acting, storytelling, and depiction of the fictional world. Though it’s technically a Disney+ series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians is also streaming on Hulu.
Moving (2023)
A must-watch South Korean drama, Moving is finally coming to Hulu with a dubbed version for English-speaking audiences who can enjoy it without subtitles. A Disney+ original directed by Park In-je, the man behind the popular Netflix series Kingdom, Moving is a supernatural drama about three teenagers who discover they have superpowers.
The series, which became Disney+’s most-watched Korean original globally, follows the high schoolers as they deal with their superhuman abilities and their parents figure out what they are capable of doing. Critics call Moving a fascinating superhero series with character arcs for the parents that are just as compelling, if not more so, than that of the kids.
Culprits (2023)
A high-stakes heist series, Culprits is about a crew that believes they have pulled off the perfect heist. Once all is said and done, they go their separate ways, taking on new identities and living their best lives in different parts of the world. But when one gets killed, then another, it’s clear someone knows what they did and is coming for revenge. Now, they may need to come back together to save the lives of the remaining group members and catch who is picking them off, one by one.
Premiering on Star via Disney+ before coming to Hulu, Culprits has been well-received by both critics and viewers alike. The action crime drama is praised for its pacing and hints of horror that give it a unique spin. “Slick, chic, and blood-soaked,” writes one reviewer. Culprits is poised to be one of the best heist dramas in recent years.
Letterkenny (2016)
Set in the remote, rural town of Letterkenny (populated, the show tells us, entirely by hicks, skids, hockey players, and Christians), Jared Keeso’s comedy Letterkenny follows a group of hicks: Wayne (Keeso), his friend Daryl (Nathan Dales), sister Katy (Michelle Mylett), and Squirrelly Dan (K. Trevor Wilson), as well as a pair of hockey players, Reilly (Dylan Playfair) and Jonesy (Andrew Herr). The show revolves around their lives and encounters with the other eccentrics in the town.
It’s a show deeply rooted in Canadian culture, with heavy use of slang. But even those unfamiliar with the vernacular will quickly come to appreciate the show’s deadpan wit. The show comes to an end after its 12th and final season.
A Murder at the End of the World (2023)
Thanks to the success of movies like Glass Onion and shows like Poker Face and Based On a True Story, the murder-mystery genre is experiencing a revival of sorts. A Murder at the End of the World is in the same vein as Knives Out and the movies that inspired it, like Clue and Death on the Nile, in that it centers around an ensemble cast of characters invited to a location, only for one of them to wind up dead.
The Crown’s Emma Corrin stars as Darby, one of the guests invited to a reclusive billionaire’s estate. She also happens to be an amateur detective. When someone is found dead not long after joining the party, Darby takes it upon herself to use her skills and investigate and stop another murder from happening. The FX series, which has just seven episodes, also stars Clive Owen, Alice Braga, and Jermaine Fowler.
Fargo (2014)
Based on the Coen brothers’ beloved film of the same name, Fargo returns to the icy plains of Minnesota, a place where nefarious plots are conceived and enacted by otherwise seemingly normal folks. The TV adaptation features a rotating all-star cast that has included Billy Bob Thornton and Martin Freeman, not to mention Colin Hanks, Allison Tolman, and Chris Rock.
Each season, which takes place in Minnesota North and South Dakota, and/or Missouri, stays true to the same black comedy and deadly mishaps that made the original film so popular. The fifth season adds Jon Hamm, Ted Lasso‘s Juno Temple, Stranger Things‘ Joe Keery, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Dave Foley to the cast list
Ash vs Evil Dead (2015)
You can watch the full series of Ash vs. Evil Dead, a sequel series to the popular Evil Dead movies created by Sam Raimi, including all three seasons before its untimely cancellation. Bruce Campbell reprises his role as Ash Williams, who is now, 30 years after the events of the last movie, working as a stock boy in a value grocery store. Naturally, however, Ash must roll up his sleeves and get to work once again when he’s faced with the return of the Evil Dead.
Now joined by two friends Pablo (Ray Santiago) and Kelly (Dana DeLorenzo), the trio must do what’s necessary to save humanity. For fans of the original movies, Ash vs. Evil Dead provides a new perspective and an interesting future story for the beloved hero.
Bob's Burgers (2011)
At first, Bob’s Burgers struggled to find traction in Fox’s animation block, failing to pull in the dedicated audiences of Family Guy and The Simpsons. Over the last more than a decade, however, the Belchers have emerged as an entity all their own, a family struggling to make ends meet, but never struggling to cheer each other up and have as good of a time as they can. The characters never age, but the sitcom only seems to get better with time, fixating on the fictional family and their burger joint.
With a feature film that celebrates the show’s success as well (note that the movie is no longer streaming), there’s no better time to start binging the Belcher family’s escapades.
Reservation Dogs (2021)
With a predominantly Native American cast and crew, Reservation Dogs provides a comedic glimpse into indigenous life. When four indigenous teenagers living on a reservation in rural Oklahoma set their sights on moving to a wonderful and exotic place they know as California, they are willing to do whatever it takes to get there. That means engaging in criminal activities to acquire the funds they need to leave. But when a rival gang shows up in town, the boys find themselves fighting crime as much as they are committing it.
Having premiered in early August 2021, the series, which ends after season 3, has received rave reviews. With an almost perfect 98% Certified Fresh RottenTomatoes rating, critics say it’s a “low-key comedy that deftly captures the malaise of youth and Rez life.”
Archer (2009)
Sterling Archer is an agent for a dysfunctional intelligence agency in this animated sitcom that takes inspiration from franchises like James Bond and mid-century comic art. Relying on reference-heavy humor and meta-comedy, Archer revolves around the narcissistic, womanizing secret agent Archer and his seven colleagues, each with their own quirks, like his snarky mother, delusional and psychotic personal assistant, and a morally bankrupt scientist.
The later seasons of Archer, which was originally created for basic cable network FX and then moved to sister network FXX, are designed like an anthology, with each season having its own self-contained story. Season 14 is the long-running show’s last.
What We Do in the Shadows (2019)
This isn’t your typical vampire drama — it’s actually a mockumentary comedy that presents the idea of vampires living among us, going about their mundane daily lives. At the heart of the story, which is based on the 2014 movie of the same name, are four vampires living as roommates.
The leader has a penchant for useless house meetings while another dabbles in pornography, and two others are having a “secret” affair. It’s full-on hilarity and perfect for anyone looking for an anti-vampire show that pokes fun at the typical tropes instead of playing into them. Critics call it “delightfully absurd” and “ridiculously fun.”
Welcome to Chippendales (2022)
The Handmaid's Tale (2017)
Ramy (2019)
Abbott Elementary (2021)
Atlanta (2016)
The Americans (2013)
Love, Victor (2020)
The Orville (2017)
Under the Banner of Heaven (2022)
The Dropout (2022)
PEN15 (2019)
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005)
Dopesick (2021)
Legion (2017)
The X-Files (1993)
Sons of Anarchy (2008)
Broad City (2014)