One of the best things about having access to streaming services like Hulu is the opportunity to discover movies that were unjustly overlooked at first. These could be films that deserved Oscars buzz, quality projects that flopped commercially, or just indie flicks that flew under the radar.

Thankfully, Hulu’s library of movies features a bunch of tremendous hidden gems that are worth checking out. Some feature rising stars in Hollywood like Hunter Schafer and Margaret Qualley, others include veteran stars like Alison Brie and Pamela Anderson, yet all are among the best movies available on Hulu.

Sleeping With Other People (2015)

Alison Brie & Jason Sudeikis’ Modern Rom-Com

Over the years, we have seen pretty much every take on the romantic comedy genre, yet Sleeping With Other People managed to feel fresh when it arrived. The film follows two people who reconnect over a decade after a one-night stand they had in college.

The two are not suited for monogamy, yet both are lonely, so they agree to remain friends while trying to find a successful romance elsewhere, while fighting their attraction to each other. The premise is intriguing, and what really makes it click is the cast.

Alison Brie and Jason Sudeikis have strong chemistry as the two lead actors, while the supporting cast includes Natasha Lyonne, Adam Scott, Jason Mantzoukas, Adam Brody, and more. There have been better rom-coms in the past decade but Sleeping with Other People is one of the strongest entries in the genre.

Sanctuary (2022)

A Sєxy Thriller Led By Margaret Qualley

Since breaking out with a small role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Margaret Qualley has kind of been popping up everywhere. One of her first sH๏τs at leading a film after that was Sanctuary, a dark yet strangely comedic thriller where Qualley plays Rebecca, a dominatrix.

The film centers on Rebecca’s relationship with the submissive H๏τel empire heir who hired her. With him on the verge of his full inheritance as CEO, he wants to end their partnership but what follows is a battle of wits as they begin an intense negotiation.

There’s a tremendous combination of Sєx, mystery, and twists that keeps you on your toes.

The claustrophobic nature of the setting, combined with the riveting performances by Qualley and Christopher Abbott, makes this a great thriller. There’s a tremendous combination of Sєx, mystery, and twists that keeps you on your toes.

Attack The Block (2011)

A Gang Of Teenagers Fight Off An Alien Invasion In South London

Several years before becoming a household name as Finn in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, John Boyega led this great indie sci-fi movie. Taking place on the streets of South London, it sees a gang of teenagers deal with an unexpected alien invasion.

Attack the Block actually works as a great way to get an early look at future stars from Boyega to Jodie Whittaker to Franz Drameh, showcasing how impressive the talent is here. The most impressive thing about the film is how it utilizes its small budget.

Despite not being made for a lot of money, Attack the Block finds creative ways to feature impressive alien creations during the action sequences. The movie holds an impressive 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and holds up quite well over a decade later.

Me And Earl And The Dying Girl (2015)

Two Buddies Befriend A Girl Diagnosed With Cancer

Another movie that gives us a look at some actors before they landed their biggest roles is Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. Based on the 2012 novel of the same name, the story focuses on the friendship that blooms between socially awkward Greg, his friend Earl, and a girl with cancer named Rachel.

Thomas Mann, who has gone on to appear in shows like Winning Time and Lessons in Chemistry, plays Greg, RJ Cyler (Emergency, Power Rangers) is Earl, and Olivia Cooke (House of the Dragon) is Rachel. One of the biggest aspects praised in the film was the casting choices.

The movie deals with found friendship, grief, and loss.

Greg and Earl are already good friends when the story starts but it’s when Greg develops a relationship with Rachel that things change. The movie deals with found friendship, grief, and loss. Like the book, the film was met with strong acclaim though it didn’t even gross $10 million, showing that it was undervalued.

Cuckoo (2024)

A Twisted Horror Movie With Hunter Schafer At The Center

The trailer for Cuckoo is one of the best in recent memory as it features some chilling imagery and doesn’t give away too much about the story. That’s a good thing because the plot for this movie is one filled with unexpected twists, shocking scenes, and an overall premise that’s hard to believe.

On the surface, Cuckoo is about a teenager (Hunter Schafer) who moves to the German Alps with her dad, yet is unnerved by the odd occurrences that happen at the new home, especially when it comes to her dad’s boss (Dan Stevens).

Schafer gives a fantastic performance as she deals with a range of emotions as things go from unsettling to downright terrifying. Meanwhile, Stevens nearly steals the show as an unhinged villain and the rest of the supporting cast is more than up to par.

Missing (2023)

The Sequel To 2018’s Searching

One of the most creative movies in recent history is 2018’s Searching, which sees a father look for his missing daughter but the movie is told through computer screens, cameras, and phones, among others. 2023 saw the arrival of a sequel in the same vein, Missing.

In Missing, this time it’s a daughter (Storm Reid) who is trying to find her mother (Nia Long) after losing contact with her while she’s on vacation with her boyfriend (Ken Leung). The creative premise is used well again, telling a gripping story through various technological lenses.

Although most critics and moviegoers seem to prefer the first film, Missing was still very well received. It keeps the audience guessing, has strong performances from the likes of Storm Reid, and has a twist ending that takes things in an unexpected direction.

The Last Showgirl (2024)

Pamela Anderson’s Incredible Comeback Performance

While she’s currently making waves in The Naked Gun reboot, Pamela Anderson’s comeback into the spotlight stems from her work in The Last Showgirl. Directed by Gia Coppola, the film focuses on an aging Vegas showgirl who must deal with her life changing after the show she stars in is set to close.

Following a fantastic premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, The Last Showgirl continued to receive widespread critical acclaim. Even when a review wasn’t overly positive about the film, the performance of Pamela Anderson was always considered a highlight.

The supporting performances by Jamie Lee Curtis, Dave Bautista, Brenda Song, Kiernan Shipka, and Billie Lourd round out a spectacular cast.

Many people believe Anderson was robbed of a Best Actress Oscar nomination, though she did land a nod at the Golden Globes. The supporting performances by Jamie Lee Curtis, Dave Bautista, Brenda Song, Kiernan Shipka, and Billie Lourd round out a spectacular cast.

Buffaloed (2019)

A Woman Becomes A Debt Collector While Battling Her Own Debt

If you liked The Wolf of Wall Street, then there’s a good chance you’ll love Buffaloed. Obviously made on a smaller budget and with a less famous director, Buffaloed tells a similar story on a smaller scale and filmmaker Tanya Wexler makes it work so well.

The movie centers on Peg Dahl (Zoey Deutch), a woman struggling with debt who hustles her way into a job as a debt collector, running into all sorts of trouble along the way. Wexler showcases her skills as a director effortlessly here, proving she is a filmmaker to watch.

What really carries the film is the effort of Zoey Deutch. She has consistently shown herself to be a great actor but this is likely her best work. She nails the emotional scene, delivers the comedy well, and carries the movie with her blistering charisma.

Theater Camp (2023)

An Underfunded Summer Camp Puts On A Big Show

Based on a 2020 short film of the same name, Theater Camp tells a pretty simple story. It follows a group of counselors at an underfunded summer camp focused on theater in New York. Working with the kids and the camp founder’s son, they put on their biggest show to keep the camp afloat.

The cast is what really stands out here, with Molly Gordon (who also co-wrote and co-directed the film), Ayo Edibiri, Ben Platt, Amy Sedaris, and more. They boost up what mostly sounds like a pretty standard story thanks to their comedic chops and chemistry.

The film was praised for the screenplay, the mockumentary storytelling format, and it all led to an impressive 86% Rotten Tomatoes rating.

Though Theater Camp only made a few million dollars commercially, the budget was small enough that it’s still considered a mild box office success. The film was praised for the screenplay, the mockumentary storytelling format, and it all led to an impressive 86% Rotten Tomatoes rating.

Babylon (2022)

Oscar Winner Damien Chazelle’s Love Letter To Cinema

It feels like there’s a very good chance that Babylon becomes a cult classic. The film was a big deal upon release featuring Best Director winner Damian Chazelle behind the camera and huge stars Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt in front of it.

However, the movie flopped both commercially (it didn’t even gross back its budget) and critically (reviews were mixed at best upon arrival). That has led many to overlook it, not wanting to give three hours of their time to something that isn’t widely considered to be great.

That said, Babylon is a misunderstood masterpiece of the 2020s. Watching the rise and fall of these actors and producers as Hollywood shifts from silent films to sound movies is captivating. Chazelle’s directorial style is as good as ever, the performances are top-notch, and the score is one of the best you’ll ever hear.