Good shows to binge-watch on Hulu aren’t hard to come by. From classics like The Handmaid’s Tale to new gems like Unprisoned, there’s a wealth of great content on the platform. To help you find exactly what you’re looking for, we’ve compiled a list of the best shows on Hulu, whether it be a half-hour comedy for some quick laughs or an hour-long drama you can sink your teeth into.
For more recommendations, check out our list of the best movies on Hulu, best shows to binge-watch, and best comedy shows on Hulu.
Justified: City Primeval
Rotten Tomatoes: 91% | IMDb: 7.4/10
Release Date July 18, 2023
Cast Timothy Olyphant, Boyd Holbrook, Alexander Pobutsky, Marin Ireland
Genres Drama, Crime
Seasons 1
Returning to his Justified roots, Timothy Olyphant charmingly slips on his stetson and badge in Justified: City Primeval, the next chapter for U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens. Brilliantly continuing the saga with this new journey, Justified: City Primeval deftly and cleverly plays homage to the beloved original series while adding a fascinating story inspired by Elmore Leonard’s novel City Primeval: High Noon in Detroit, which builds brilliantly on six seasons of solidly developed foundation. With eight compelling episodes and a mostly new cast, Justified: City Primeval breathes new life into an intriguing yet unforgettable series.. – Yael Tygiel
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The Other Black Girl
Rotten Tomatoes: 85% | IMDb: 6.8/10
Release Date September 13, 2023
Cast Sinclair Daniel, Ashleigh Murray, Kate Owens, Karina Willis
Genres Drama, Comedy, Mystery
Seasons 1
Creator Zakiya Dalila Harris, Rashida Jones
Based on the novel by Zakiya Dalila Harris, The Other Black Girl is a genre bending new series. Uniquely playing with comedy, mystery, and a hint of horror, as well as drama and suspense, The Other Black Girl stars Sinclair Daniel as Nella, an assistant at a successful publishing house, Wagner Books, whose career is on an upswing and only seems like its getting better when Wagner hires a new girl, played charmingly by Riverdale alum Ashleigh Murray. The Other Black Girl unravels over ten episodes bursting with laughs and frights as Nella’s life spirals out of control and strange occurrences reveal a darker scene at play within Wagner. Carly Lane raves that the series excels to “not only render what made the original novel such a gripping read but expand beyond its story, further fleshing out the characters we first get to know on the page and bringing them into an even more dimensional existence on screen.” – Yael Tygiel
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Law & Order: SVU (1999-present)
Rotten Tomatoes: 78% | IMDb: 8.1/10
Release Date September 20, 1999
Cast Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Kelli Giddish, Peter Scanavino
Genres Action, Crime, Drama
Seasons 21
Spun-off from Dick Wolf’s Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU has spent nearly a quarter of a century as the most beloved series in the entire franchise. Law & Order: SVU stars Mariska Hargitay, the last remaining original cast member, along with Ice T, who joined in season 2, resulting in a gripping drama made for binge-watching. Earning itself the claim as the longest-running primetime drama series in TV history, Law & Order: SVU continues to entertain as it progresses with relevant storylines often inspired directly by true stories while providing captivating plots which, while at times border on absurd, are grounded deeply in compassion. -Yael Tygiel
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What We Do in the Shadows
Rotten Tomatoes: 97% | IMDb: 8.6/10
Release Date March 27, 2019
Cast Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillen, Mark Proksch, Kristen Schaal
Genres Comedy, Horror, Sci-Fi
Seasons 5
From the brilliant mind of creator Jemaine Clement (Moana), What We Do in the Shadows is one of the most cherished vampire comedy series to grace screens, earning both general acclaim and critical accolades. Enhanced by the mockumentary format and inspired by a 2014 film that shares the same name, What We Do in the Shadows builds off a simple premise of centuries-old vampires living together in the modern world. Portraying the vampire trio are Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, and Natasia Demetriou, alongside their human familiar, played by Harvey Guillén (Puss in Boots: The Last Wish), who rounds out the ridiculously talented and hilarious cast. Critic Carly Lane wrote in her review of the show’s fourth season that “it may be one of the few shows that’s proven more than capable of taking an already-brilliant idea and running with it to even greater returns.” – Yael Tygiel
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Cruel Summer
Rotten Tomatoes: 79% | IMDb: 7.4/10
Release Date April 20, 2021
Cast Chiara Aurelia, Olivia Holt, Froy Gutierrez, Harley Quinn Smith
Genres Documentary
Seasons 2
Cruel Summer is a teen drama set in the mid-90s that jumps between the perspective of two high school girls: Kate Wallis (Olivia Holt), a popular girl who is abducted, and Jeanette Turner (Chiara Aurelia), who steps into the social vacuum left by Kate. This isn’t a show that has heroes and villains but rather a full tapestry of gray characters making desperate decisions out of self-preservation, which makes the intersecting journey between these two leads delightfully complex. The show also finds a way to keep the audience hooked through the shifting timelines of three years and the anthology-like perspective shifts that would be show-breaking if they weren’t executed so well.
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A Small Light
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8.4/10
Release Date May 1, 2023
Cast Ashley Brooke, Billie Boullet, Andy Nyman, Bel Powley, Noah Taylor
Genres Biography, Drama, History
Seasons 1
A Small Light is a biographical drama set in WWII during the German invasion of the Netherlands about a brave Dutch woman named Miep Gies, who helped hide Jewish refugees, including the family of Anne Frank. Bel Powley (The Morning Show) as Geis is fantastic — every frame she’s in is filled with a presence and resolve that leaps off the screen. But she’s not the only one pumping life into this story. Ashley Brooke (White House Plumbers) as Margot Frank and Liev Schreiber (Ray Donovan) as Otto Frank are marvelous additions to the cast, providing more depth and context to Anne Frank’s family while lending the necessary gravitas to the plight of the Jewish people. “A Small Light is a beautiful and heartbreaking reminder of what ‘helpers’ are capable of doing,” Maggie Lovitt wrote in her review. “While there is joy and laughter and life on full display throughout the eight-part miniseries, it never strays too far from reminding its audience that there are people, still today, looking to snuff out those aspects of life.”
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Under the Banner of Heaven
Rotten Tomatoes: 86% | IMDb: 7.5/10
Release Date April 28, 2022
Cast Andrew Garfield, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Sam Worthington, Denise Gough, Wyatt Russell, Billy Howle, Rory Culkin, Adelaide Clemens, Gil Birmingham, Seth Numrich
Genres Thriller, Mystery, Drama
Seasons 1
Creator Dustin Lance Black
It takes a lot to make a true-crime series memorable these days, but this FX latest (which is dropping exclusively on Hulu, just to make it a little more confusing) is one that delves into the intricacies of religion and humanity in a way that makes it a can’t-miss. Andrew Garfield continues his reign over the last year or two on our screens in a leading role as Mormon detective Jeb Pyre, who finds his beliefs challenged firsthand when he’s tasked with investigating the murder of a mother (Edgar-Jones) and child — and the case might be more entangled within the Church of Latter-Day Saints than anyone could have predicted. The Lafferty family has a reputation within the Mormon community, compared to celebrities of a sort, but it turns out they may be hiding a darker side — and rising tensions between the members have clearly led to a terminal breaking point. – Carly Lane
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Single Drunk Female
Rotten Tomatoes: 98% | IMDb: 6.9/10
Release Date January 20, 2022
Cast Sofia Black-D’Elia, Rebecca Henderson, Ally Sheedy
Genres Comedy
Creator Simone Finch
Sofia Black-D’Elia absolutely dazzles in the uproarious series Single Drunk Female, a cleverly written dramedy about a millennial’s attempt at sobriety. Effortlessly handling stories of discomfort with carefully placed humor and charm, Single Drunk Female navigates rough topics like trauma, responsibilities, and adulthood with witty dialogue and captivating characters who each deserve their own spin-off. Although at times leaning towards classic storylines and cliches like love triangles, the series brilliantly subverts expectations to drive home authenticity. Supporting Black-D’Elia in Single Drunk Female is an incredibly talented and diverse cast, including Sasha Compère, singer/songwriter Lily Mae Harrington (The Glee Project), Jojo Brown, and Ally Sheedy (Psych). – Yael Tygiel
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Tiny Beautiful Things
Rotten Tomatoes: 85% | IMDb: 7.2/10
Release Date April 7, 2023
Cast Julien Marlon Samani, Johnny Berchtold, Aneasa Yacoub, Kathryn Hahn
Genres Drama, Comedy
Seasons 1
Creator Liz Tigelaar
Kathryn Hahn (WandaVision) stars in the highly anticipated new drama Tiny Beautiful Things. Building on Cheryl Strayed’s story, Tiny Beautiful Things is adapted from novel to television by Liz Tigelaar (Little Fires Everywhere), who takes a messy midlife crisis and explores the hope hiding deep inside. Hahn absolutely captivates and delights through the series, with Sarah Pidgeon (The Wilds) playing a younger version of the character, peeling back the layers of this woman. Co-starring Quentin Plair and Tanzyn Crawford, Tiny Beautiful Things can be compared to Fleishman in Trouble meets Parenthood. “Much like Strayed’s gorgeous source material, Hulu’s Tiny Beautiful Things uses specificity to offer commentary on universal experiences and has the unique ability to strip the most complex topics down into their simplest, most resonant parts,” Taylor Gates wrote in her review. – Yael Tygiel
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Great Expectations
Rotten Tomatoes: 43% | IMDb: 5.3/10
Release Date March 26, 2023
Cast Olivia Colman, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Fionn Whitehead
Genres Historical
Seasons 1
Based on the iconic Charles Dickens novel, Great Expectations is an eccentric period drama starring Fionn Whitehead (Dunkirk) as Pip, a poor orphan in 1860s London dreaming for betterment. The six-part limited series follows the journey Pip finds himself on, unexpectedly climbing the ranks of high society and forcing him to confront dark decisions presented by the mysterious and creepy Miss Havisham, played devilishly by Oscar winner Olivia Colman. This version of Great Expectations breathes new life into the story, blending a coming-of-age tale with eccentric characters to shrewdly shine a light on classism, greed, and jealousy. – Yael Tygiel
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Superstore
Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | IMDb: 7.9/10
Release Date 2015-00-00
Cast Ben Feldman, Lauren Ash, Colton Dunn, Mark McKinney
Genres Comedy
Seasons 5
If you love shows like The Office and Parks and Recreation, you’ll fall for Superstore in a heartbeat. The half-hour NBC comedy series ran for six seasons and is a workplace comedy that takes place in a fictional Big Box store in St. Louis. America Ferrera plays one of the store’s veteran employees who works hard to make a living for her husband and daughter; Ben Feldman is a new hire fresh out of college whose naive optimism bumps up against the harsh realities of working retail. Indeed, anyone who’s worked retail will relate hard to the struggles of the characters in Superstore, which hits that sweet spot of funny and emotional that made shows like The Office so irresistible. – Adam Chitwood
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Schitt’s Creek
Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | IMDb: 8.5/10
Release Date January 13, 2015
Cast Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Emily Hampshire, Chris Elliott, Jennifer Robertson
Genres Comedy
Seasons 5
If you want to watch a TV show that’s bound to make you feel happy and warm, watch Schitt’s Creek ASAP. The Emmy-winning Canadian series follows a wealthy family who loses everything and is forced to move to a tiny, backwoods town where they own a rundown motel.They slowly begin to accept their new lives and even love their new town and its citizens, despite their many, many quirks, and it’s that focus on humanity that really makes this one special. This is the perfect feel-good TV. – Adam Chitwood
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The Golden Girls
IMDb: 8.2/10
Release Date September 14, 1985
Cast Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, Estelle Getty
Main Genre Comedy
Seasons 7
One of the most progressive comedies to ever be on television, The Golden Girls is an ensemble sitcom starring Bea Arthur, Betty White (The Proposal), Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty as four older women who share a home in Miami, Florida. Truly ahead of its time, The Golden Girls explores human sexuality and the hundreds of variations within the topic delicately, comically, and with the genuine sensitivity often required. The award-winning female-led sitcom was created by Susan Harris, who infuses the series with personal stories, anecdotes, and life lessons, allowing her beloved characters to be relatable for generations of viewers.
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Welcome to Chippendales
Rotten Tomatoes: 72% | IMDb: 7.3/10
Release Date November 22, 2022
Cast Kumail Nanjiani, Murray Bartlett, Annaleigh Ashford, Juliette Lewis
Genres Drama, Biography
Seasons 1
Creator Robert Siegel
Many people know Chippendales to be a male strip revue that role to fame in the 80s, but what the general public may be less aware of is the more scandalous side to the business – particularly in terms of its founder, Somen “Steve” Banerjee (played by Kumail Nanjiani in the show). Filled with poor financial decisions and even murder, the show is chaos personified in a deliciously entertaining way. Intriguing and stylish, come for the skin and stay for the scandal. “Kumail Nanjiani is perfectly cast as Banerjee, and it’s safe to say this role is like nothing we’ve ever seen him in before,” Abby Cavenaugh praised in her review. – Taylor Gates
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Fleishman is in Trouble
Rotten Tomatoes: 87% | IMDb: 7.7/10
Release Date November 17, 2022
Cast Jesse Eisenberg, Claire Danes, Lizzy Caplan, Adam Brody
Main Genre Drama
Seasons 1
Creator Taffy Brodesser-Akner
Fleishman is in Trouble centers on 40-something doctor Toby Fleishman (Jesse Eisenberg), who, after getting divorced from his wife Rachel (Claire Danes), steps into the world of online dating. He finds great success on the apps, easily going on dates with exceptional women. However, things get infinitely more complicated when Rachel goes missing. Not only does he find himself juggling his dating life and parenting his two children alone, but he must also reflect on why his marriage fell apart to figure out what may have happened to his ex. “Fleishman Is in Trouble is a fascinating and contemplative show that hits on some hard truths with an exceptional cast that brings Brodesser-Akner’s story to life with grace and specificity,” Ross Bonaime raved in his review. – Taylor Gates
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Reservation Dogs
Rotten Tomatoes: 99% | IMDb: 8.2/10
Release Date August 9, 2021
Cast D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Devery Jacobs, Lane Factor, Paulina Alexis, Elva Guerra, Lil Mike, Funny Bone, Sarah Podemski
Main Genre Drama
Seasons 3
Reservation Dogs is a refreshing and hilarious coming-of-age dramedy that centers around four Indigenous teens in Oklahoma. The group is still mourning the death of one of their friends a year prior and hopes to make the move to California as he dreamed of doing. Before they can, however, they need to tie up some loose ends and make a plan – something that proves to be difficult. Though Reservation Dogs integrates some heavy themes, it always does so with a sharp sense of humor. Almost everyone involved, from the writers to the directors to the actors, are Native American, making the show an authentic and highly enjoyable watch. “Whenever we look back on the standout works of television from this era, Reservation Dogs will always and forever remain at the absolute pinnacle with the very best of them…it has never been anything short of visionary in a television landscape in desperate need of it,” Chase Hutchinson said in his review, giving the final season an ‘A’ rating. – Taylor Gates
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Pose
Rotten Tomatoes: 98% | IMDb: 8.6/10
Release Date 2018-00-00
Cast Billy Porter
Genres Drama
Seasons 2
A fascinating drama about New York City’s ballroom culture in the 80s and 90s, Pose focuses on a community that hasn’t often gotten its chance to shine in media. The main cast consists mostly of Black and Latino LGBTQ characters, including Michaela Jaé Rodriguez as Blanca, a trans woman living with HIV/AIDS, and Billy Porter as Pray Tell, a fashion designer, mentor, and emcee of the balls. The show was critically acclaimed, and Porter was the first openly gay Black man to win an Emmy in a lead acting category. Pose offers a masterful blend of glamour a grit, exposing harsh realities while never forgetting the joy of community. – Taylor Gates
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Ramy
Rotten Tomatoes: 94% | IMDb: 8.0/10
Release Date 2019-00-00
Cast Hiam Abbass, Amr Waked
Genres Comedy
Seasons 2
Starring comedian Ramy Youssef as the titular character, Ramy is a sharp dramedy that offers groundbreaking representation for American Muslims. Living in New Jersey, Ramy is torn between his Egyptian community that’s constantly concerned with morality and his other, more reckless millennial friends. Exploring themes of faith, politics, and growing, Ramy is a compelling, thought-provoking watch. – Taylor Gates
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Reasonable Doubt
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 6.3/10
Release Date September 27, 2022
Cast Emayatzy Corinealdi
Genres Drama
Seasons 1
If you’re looking for a sharp, soapy legal show like Scandal, look no further than Reasonable Doubt. Kerry Washington herself even executive produces the series and directed the pilot episode. The show centers around Jax (Emayatzy Corinealdi), an LA defense attorney and partner at one of the city’s top firms. Jax’s life is complicated, to say the least, as she often finds herself having to defend clients with morals she doesn’t necessarily agree with. In addition, her home life is a bit of a mess, too, as she and her husband are on a trial separation – and she starts developing feelings for the overnight security guarding her house. Sexy and smart, Reasonable Doubt is a great new watch. – Taylor Gates
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Reboot
Rotten Tomatoes: 85% | IMDb: 7.4/10
Release Date September 20, 2022
Cast Keegan-Michael Key, Johnny Knoxville, Rachel Bloom, Calum Worthy
Genres Comedy
Seasons 1
From Fuller House to Saved by the Bell, rebooting beloved sitcoms is all the rage, and Reboot offers a fictional look into this craze. The show centers around a writer named Hannah (Rachel Bloom), who has the idea to bring back her favorite 2000s family sitcom and give it depth and an edge that didn’t exist back in the day. The good news: all the actors from the original run are available. The bad news: they’re all a bit of a mess. From decades-old on-set drama being stirred up again to the clashing of old-school meets new-school mentalities, Reboot is rich with chaotic – and hilarious – situations. With an intriguing premise, sharp writing, and a stellar cast, Reboot is refreshing comedy gold. – Taylor Gates
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