Animated movies, films about time loops, dark dystopian flicks, and coming-of-age classics headline the offerings on Hulu in March.
To determine the best movies to stream on Hulu Plus this month, 24/7 Tempo developed an index using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of March 2023, weighting all ratings equally. We considered only movies with at least 5,000 audience votes on either IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes, and ruled out documentaries. (Data on streaming availability, current as of this month, comes from the streaming guide Reelgood, and directorial credits are from IMDb.)
Among the animated films now on tap on Hulu are “Anastasia,” “Arthur Christmas,” and “How to Train Your Dragon 2.” Among the films delving into time loops and fantasy are “Palm Springs,” “Groundhog Day,” and “Ruby Sparks.” (These are the best sci-fi movies of all time.)
On the darker side is the dystopian film “Blade Runner” from 1982 and its sequel, “Blade Runner 2049,” released 45 years later. There’s a different kind of darkness in “Take Shelter,” which stars Michael Shannon as a man whose dreams of a natural apocalypse cause conflict with his wife.
John Hughes, who directed films about teenage angst in the 1980s, landed two on our list: “Sixteen Candles” and “The Breakfast Club.” Tom Hanks helmed and appeared in “That Thing You Do,” an homage to teen bands who became one-hit wonders in the 1960s, and played a different kind of music of a sort in Penny Marshall’s “Big.” (These are Tom Hanks’ best and worst movies, according to data.)
No list of films to stream at home would be complete without rom-coms, and Catherine Keener stars in two of them on this list – “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and “Enough Said.” (Here’s a list of the funniest American movies of all time.)
50. Prospect (2018)
> IMDb user rating: 6.3/10 (25,086 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 70% (1,287 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (52 reviews)
> Directed by: Zeek Earl & Christopher Caldwell
49. Boss Level (2021)
> IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (48,731 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 78% (730 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 74% (81 reviews)
> Directed by: Joe Carnahan
48. Brown Sugar (2002)
> IMDb user rating: 6.5/10 (9,063 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (55,647 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 66% (85 reviews)
> Directed by: Rick Famuyiwa
47. Home Alone (1990)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (507,829 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (1,027,095 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 66% (58 reviews)
> Directed by: Chris Columbus
46. Enemy of the State (1998)
> IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (234,497 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 78% (373,095 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 72% (86 reviews)
> Directed by: Tony Scott
45. Ruby Sparks (2012)
> IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (98,262 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 75% (36,438 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 79% (181 reviews)
> Directed by: Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris
44. Dangerous Beauty (1998)
> IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (16,612 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (9,262 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 68% (28 reviews)
> Directed by: Marshall Herskovitz
43. Alita: Battle Angel (2019)
> IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (246,568 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (34,249 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 61% (328 reviews)
> Directed by: Robert Rodriguez
42. The Miseducation of Cameron Post (2018)
> IMDb user rating: 6.6/10 (20,501 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 76% (1,560 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 86% (187 reviews)
> Directed by: Desiree Akhavan
41. Run (2020)
> IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (59,044 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 74% (1,255 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (138 reviews)
> Directed by: Aneesh Chaganty
40. The Boston Strangler (1968)
> IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (9,730 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 74% (447 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 86% (14 reviews)
> Directed by: Richard Fleischer
39. Broken Arrow (1950)
> IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (8,233 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 70% (1,036 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (9 reviews)
> Directed by: Delmer Daves
38. Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (2007)
> IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (100,426 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 71% (86,616 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (178 reviews)
> Directed by: Sidney Lumet
37. Professor Marston & the Wonder Women (2017)
> IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (26,874 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 77% (5,376 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (181 reviews)
> Directed by: Angela Robinson
36. Anastasia (1997)
> IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (126,418 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 77% (432,703 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 86% (56 reviews)
> Directed by: Don Bluth & Gary Goldman
35. If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)
> IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (45,888 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 71% (2,617 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (362 reviews)
> Directed by: Barry Jenkins
34. The Shape of Water (2017)
> IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (393,136 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 72% (26,084 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (459 reviews)
> Directed by: Guillermo del Toro
33. Sixteen Candles (1984)
> IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (110,041 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (257,059 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 84% (43 reviews)
> Directed by: John Hughes
32. Arthur Christmas (2011)
> IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (54,530 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 76% (15,497 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (169 reviews)
> Directed by: Sarah Smith
31. The Count of Monte Cristo (2002)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (133,085 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (209,440 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 73% (143 reviews)
> Directed by: Kevin Reynolds
30. That Thing You Do! (1996)
> IMDb user rating: 6.9/10 (65,296 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 78% (126,552 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (59 reviews)
> Directed by: Tom Hanks
29. Enough Said (2013)
> IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (60,714 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 75% (43,195 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (191 reviews)
> Directed by: Nicole Holofcener
28. The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)
> IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (413,205 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (102,540 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 85% (189 reviews)
> Directed by: Judd Apatow
27. Little Monsters (2019)
> IMDb user rating: 6.3/10 (15,650 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 100% (50 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 80% (132 reviews)
> Directed by: Abe Forsythe
26. The Way Way Back (2013)
> IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (144,143 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (55,664 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (185 reviews)
> Directed by: Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
25. Monos (2019)
> IMDb user rating: 6.9/10 (15,880 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (33 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (151 reviews)
> Directed by: Alejandro Landes
24. Take Shelter (2011)
> IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (97,354 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (25,822 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (166 reviews)
> Directed by: Jeff Nichols
23. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
> IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (575,740 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (1,151,886 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (274 reviews)
> Directed by: Sam Raimi
22. The Help (2011)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (462,347 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (107,976 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 76% (230 reviews)
> Directed by: Tate Taylor
21. As Good as It Gets (1997)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (286,975 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (378,808 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 85% (79 reviews)
> Directed by: James L. Brooks
20. Black Swan (2010)
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (724,171 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (178,225 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 85% (318 reviews)
> Directed by: Darren Aronofsky
19. Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (498,432 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (51,506 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (441 reviews)
> Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
18. Superbad (2007)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (543,101 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (634,860 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (209 reviews)
> Directed by: Greg Mottola
17. Big (1988)
> IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (207,973 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (402,079 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (75 reviews)
> Directed by: Penny Marshall
16. Dunkirk (2017)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (664,773 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (69,228 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (461 reviews)
> Directed by: Christopher Nolan
15. The Town (2010)
> IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (367,843 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (142,333 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (235 reviews)
> Directed by: Ben Affleck
14. The Prestige (2006)
> IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (1,245,319 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (551,618 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 76% (203 reviews)
> Directed by: Christopher Nolan
13. Palm Springs (2020)
> IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (130,989 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (2,596 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (241 reviews)
> Directed by: Max Barbakow
12. 50/50 (2011)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (332,708 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (86,894 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (200 reviews)
> Directed by: Jonathan Levine
11. Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (530,864 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (55,854 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 84% (280 reviews)
> Directed by: Mel Gibson
10. The King of Comedy (1982)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (96,294 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (27,126 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (62 reviews)
> Directed by: Martin Scorsese
9. How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (316,987 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (188,724 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (188 reviews)
> Directed by: Dean DeBlois
8. The Breakfast Club (1985)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (372,267 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (556,906 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (65 reviews)
> Directed by: John Hughes
7. Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (100,832 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (41,047 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (55 reviews)
> Directed by: James Foley
6. The Green Mile (1999)
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (1,204,006 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (814,054 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 78% (134 reviews)
> Directed by: Frank Darabont
5. Blade Runner (1982)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (721,985 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (338,132 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (121 reviews)
> Directed by: Ridley Scott
4. Heat (1995)
> IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (606,225 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (222,169 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (84 reviews)
> Directed by: Michael Mann
3. Groundhog Day (1993)
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (595,765 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (416,991 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (84 reviews)
> Directed by: Harold Ramis
2. Ford v Ferrari (2019)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (398,868 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 98% (24,159 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (351 reviews)
> Directed by: James Mangold
1. Parasite (2019)
> IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (810,722 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (5,000 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (475 reviews)
> Directed by: Bong Joon Ho