Dive into Hulu’s treasure trove of must-watch TV shows, where gripping dramas like The Handmaid’s Tale meet fresh, binge-worthy originals such as The Bear and Paradise. Whether you crave intense storytelling, sharp wit, or feel-good comfort series, our curated guide reveals the best Hulu has to offer right now-perfect for your next streaming spree.
Of the streamers out there, Hulu is maybe the most TV-literate, thanks to its roots as the original streaming platform for a lot of network shows back in the day. Nowadays its collection feels more in line with the hodgepodge of influences that we’ve come to expect from streaming: an ever-shifting collection of TV and movies, with shows inherited in complicated licensing agreements (Hulu is owned by Disney, which makes Hulu its site for FX and FXX shows, which is different than FX on Hulu shows). Hulu doesn’t have everything, but it has enough that it can feel overwhelming to scroll through the service looking for the next great hit.
So, if you’re looking for a sure thing, how do you whittle it down and find the best thing to watch tonight (and, if you’re lucky, the night after, and the night after that, and the night after)? Here are some of the best TV shows to pick from on Hulu. Our latest update added Steven Universe.
Editor’s pick: Steven Universe
Steven Universe is a standout animated series available on Hulu that blends action, adventure, and emotional depth through the story of a boy named Steven and his three surrogate alien parents, the Crystal Gems. Praised for its well-crafted storytelling, rich character development, and LGBTQ-friendly themes, the show offers a unique coming-of-age narrative that resonates with viewers of all ages. Its musical episodes and thoughtful exploration of complex issues like consent and identity make it both entertaining and meaningful. The series culminates in the critically acclaimed epilogue, Steven Universe Future, which beautifully wraps up Steven’s journey with heartfelt moments and powerful resolutions.
It’s hard at this point to overstate the influence and impact of Rebecca Sugar’s all-ages animated series Steven Universe. You could say it walked so other emotionally rich, LGBTQ shows, like The Owl House, could fly. But honestly, Steven Universe flies all on its own, and it earns its fervent fandom honestly.
A frequently strange and sometimes absurdist sci-fi series about a half-alien, half-human boy and his three alien warrior minders, Steven Universe frequently defies the expectations that description might conjure. Its brisk episodes pack a shocking amount of emotion into their 11-minute run time. That short-form format lets Sugar and her team take small, weird digressions throughout the series’ five-season run: Sometimes they spend entire episodes on, say, the main character obsessing over his favorite ice cream treat, or a particular type of collectible toy.
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But at heart, Steven Universe is about communication, emotional development, responsibility, and the journey to adulthood, all delivered via engaging characters notable for their diversity in everything, from voice actors and body shapes and sizes to individual personalities. The overplot, about a vast alien war that’s occupied Steven’s original three alien companions for millennia, gradually moves the series from light absurdism to heavy emotional territory, often communicated by lovely musical numbers.
But even once the series’ scope reaches across galaxies, it never loses sight of the characters’ personal gains and losses, their relationships, and the crucial central idea that talking through a problem and taking responsibility for your own actions and emotions can solve any problem. The series is a pocket course in how to be a good human, cleverly wrapped in kid-accessible-but-fun-for-adults sci-fi drama. –Tasha Robinson
The Americans
The Americans is a gripping period drama on Hulu that follows the complex lives of Philip and Elizabeth Jennings, two Soviet KGB spies living undercover as a married American couple in suburban Washington, D.C., during the Reagan administration. Their arranged marriage evolves into a genuine and passionate relationship, but the constant pressures of espionage take a heavy toll, especially as they strive to protect their unsuspecting American-born children. The tension heightens with the presence of their neighbor, FBI agent Stan Beeman, who is determined to uncover Soviet spies in the U.S., making every moment a suspenseful balance between family and duty.
Russian spies, posing as the perfect American family, worming their way through the government and gaining access to the highest state secrets. By the 2010s, this thought was a smidge too tame for the sort of espionage the U.S. political system was facing – a throwback to Cold War paranoia that was quaint fiction in the face of real-life consequences. But The Americans makes this story feel sincere at every turn (perhaps even more so than the actual couple it was based on, not to mention the other Cold War spies implanted on either side of the Pacific).
Following Elizabeth (Keri Russell, who continued high-stakes government work in The Diplomat) and Philip Jennings (Perry Mason’s Matthew Rhys), The Americans deftly marries their relationship with their spywork. The masterstroke of the show is its patience: letting the work – on their relationship, their mission, or beyond – methodically build, until finally it explodes. That could be a major blowout, but the brilliance of the show is how the stakes feel immediate no matter how big or small they are in the classic sense. The Americans is a slow boil in the best sense of the term, the sort of exquisite foundation that marks everything feel grounded, and blessedly, remarkably real. -Zosha Millman
Reservation Dogs
Reservation Dogs is a groundbreaking comedy-drama series on Hulu that follows the lives of four Indigenous teenagers living on a rural Oklahoma reservation. Created by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, the show uniquely features an almost entirely Indigenous cast, writers, and directors, offering an authentic and heartfelt portrayal of Native American life. Blending humor, social realism, and tribal lore, the series explores themes of grief, community, and identity as the teens navigate their desire to escape reservation life while honoring their heritage. Praised for its originality and cultural insight, Reservation Dogs has received critical acclaim and multiple awards, making it a must-watch on Hulu.
There are few better versions of TV than hangout TV, and nobody is doing it better right now than Reservation Dogs. The show follows four misfit teens who live on a reservation in Oklahoma, whose tight bond was cemented by the death of one of their closest friends. Award-winning filmmaker Sterlin Harjo and a brilliant team of writers and creatives have created one of the funniest, most moving shows on television, boosted by a fantastic cast of main characters and featured guests, like Amber Midthunder as a chatty influencer and Gary Farmer as an old stoner.
The heart of the show is in its core four. Devery Jacobs, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Paulina Alexis, and Lane Factor are stupendous as the Rez Dogs, bringing life, heart, and a ton of humor to a group just trying to find their place in a world set up against them. If you like coming-of-age comedies, hangout vibe television, or simply keeping up on the best the medium has to offer, Reservation Dogs is an absolute must-watch. –Pete Volk
Hannibal
Hannibal is a psychological horror-thriller series that delves into the complex and twisted relationship between FBI criminal profiler Will Graham and the brilliant psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter, who is secretly a cannibalistic serial killer. The show explores Graham’s haunting ability to empathize with killers and how Lecter manipulates him, blurring the lines between hunter and hunted. Praised for its creative storytelling, chilling murder scenes, and Mads Mikkelsen’s captivating portrayal of Lecter, Hannibal offers a dark, artistic, and deeply psychological viewing experience that stands out among crime dramas.
How the hell did this show end up on network television?
One of the great mysteries of 2010s television (in both the “how the hell did this happen” way and the “that’s a compelling mystery” way), Hannibal is a shockingly violent and explicitly sensual show about cannibalism and forensic psychology from Pushing Daisies and Dead Like Me creator Bryan Fuller.
The show follows Will Graham (Hugh Dancy), a criminal profiler who specializes in serial killers. Graham has trouble with his emotions, and becomes overly involved in his investigation as he attempts to catch killers by putting himself in their mindset. His foil is Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen), a genius who is also a serial killer and cannibal. The two of them, naturally, become absolutely obsessed with each other.
The show lasted just three seasons, but they are three glorious seasons of television unlike anything else on TV (especially network TV). Watch it and be astounded with what an NBC show was able to get away with. –PV
Claws
Claws is a gripping comedy-drama series available on Hulu that follows the lives and criminal exploits of five diverse women working at the Nail Artisan salon in Florida. As these manicurists navigate their challenging personal lives, they become deeply involved in organized crime, laundering money and building their own criminal empire. The show blends dark humor with intense drama, led by a strong cast including Niecy Nash, and offers a unique look at female empowerment amid chaos and danger. With four seasons available, Claws delivers a thrilling and stylish portrayal of ambition and survival in a male-dominated underworld.
The 2010s are littered with shows about accidental criminals. Claws follows in the same steps as shows like Weeds or Breaking Bad, regular people who get pulled into a life of crime through circumstance (and, sure, a little bit of choice). Desna (Niecy Nash) owns a nail salon in Florida, where she launders money for a local crime family in hopes of someday getting out with a better nail salon. By the end of the pilot, those chances are just about shot, and Claws unfurls from there.
What follows is equal parts comedy, drama, and crime thriller, propulsively following the women of the salon as their life adjacent to crime becomes a life of crime, with new threats to their livelihood and their lives. That Claws balances its genres so adeptly is never not a wonder. The result is that the show feels totally separate from other TV in this subgenre; where those slowly blanch their protagonists’ worlds, Claws uses the technicolor world of Florida to create a world free of crime that’s always tantalizingly close. And so Claws becomes a perfect marathon watch – each cliffhanger begets more trouble, more promise, and (thankfully) more great episodes. –ZM
Legion
Legion is a critically acclaimed superhero series available on Hulu that follows David Haller, a troubled young man diagnosed with schizophrenia who discovers he may be the most powerful mutant in the world. The show blends psychological drama with stunning visual storytelling, exploring David’s struggle to control his extraordinary abilities while confronting sinister forces and his own fractured reality. With a unique narrative style and strong performances, Legion offers a fresh and compelling take on the superhero genre, making it a must-watch for fans of complex, character-driven stories.
Miss good superhero stories? Legion’s got your back.
A trippy sci-fi from Fargo showrunner Noah Hawley, Legion stars the incredible Dan Stevens as a powerful mutant whose abilities are misdiagnosed as schizophrenia. The show follows his journey with his powers and the forces pitted against him, but what makes the show really shine is its willingness to shed conventional storytelling techniques and just get weird with it.
When watching Legion, you can expect Twitter, a vast story across multiple dimensions that actually lives up to the complexity of multiversal comics stories, and a terrific ensemble cast. Stevens is pitch-perfect as the troubled David Haller, but Rachel Keller, Aubrey Plaza, Navid Negahban, Amber Midthunder, Bill Irwin, and Jean Smart are all stellar as principal cast members (not to mention Jemaine Clement and Hamish Linklater in smaller roles).
Legion isn’t as consistent as some of the other shows on this list, but it always went there. And in a genre that has grown stale with oversaturation, there’s a lot to be said for that. –PV
The Bear
The Bear
The Bear is a critically acclaimed American comedy-drama series on FX on Hulu that follows Carmy Berzatto, an award-winning chef who leaves the high-pressure fine dining world to return to his hometown of Chicago and take over his late brother’s struggling Italian beef sandwich shop. The show explores Carmy’s efforts to transform the chaotic kitchen and mend strained relationships while confronting grief and trauma. Praised for its authentic depiction of restaurant life, sharp writing, and powerful performances, The Bear has garnered numerous awards, including multiple Emmys and Golden Globes, and has become one of Hulu’s most-watched series.
If you haven’t watched The Bear, you’ve probably been misled.
Before I started watching, I had been told it was Extremely Stressful Television about toxic workplace conditions and the hell that is the restaurant industry. While some of that is partially true, it doesn’t even scratch the surface of what The Bear is and what makes it so compelling.
Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) comes home to Chicago after working at a world-famous restaurant in New York, taking over his deceased brother’s run-down, dysfunctional Italian beef sandwich shop, The Beef. That conflict is enough to make the show interesting, as Carmy tries to professionalize and scale up the establishment against the protestations of some of the longtime employees. But what makes the show sing is how effectively it embeds you into the world of The Beef. Every character is fully realized, and their relationships to each other evolve in ways that feel natural both to real human interactions and the development of the show’s premise. The camerawork and editing also help immerse you in the restaurant – without ever having seen an overhead shot or blueprint, I could draw out the entire place right now, just because of how effectively and subtly the camera leads you through the environment.
I left the best part for the end: the cast and their performances. You’ve likely heard the hype around White’s award-winning performance as Carmy (and it’s well-earned), but Ayo Edebiri, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas, and the rest of the cast are all fantastic in their rich roles. I’ve watched a lot of seasons of TV this year. My two favorites so far are The Bear season 1 and The Bear season 2. –PV
Superstore
Superstore is a sharp and heartfelt workplace sitcom centered on the employees of Cloud 9, a fictional big-box store in St. Louis. The show explores the humor and challenges of retail life, blending comedy with social commentary on issues like workplace diversity, economic struggles, and corporate dynamics. With a large ensemble cast led by America Ferrera and Ben Feldman, Superstore delivers relatable characters and engaging storylines about friendship, love, and the everyday moments that define working-class life. Its clever writing and rich character development make it a standout choice for viewers seeking both laughs and meaningful narratives on Hulu.
On paper, Superstore is just one of many Office wannabes: A jaded guy gets a job at a place (in this case, a big-box superstore called Cloud 9 in St. Louis), quickly bonds with a woman he works with, and their antics become the focal point of the show as they work and goof their way through a 9-to-5 (or, sometimes, a 6-to-3). But Superstore does what the other Office clones couldn’t, which is make compelling characters who you’d follow into any menial situation, breakroom meeting, or complicated workplace romance.
There are big-picture things that make Superstore work – its ability to balance serialized stories with episodic glimpses into the lives of the Cloud 9 workers; its willingness to tackle big labor issues with humor and heart; the elegant will-they-won’t-they that manages to stay balanced no matter its status – but also, man, Superstore is just funny! Episodes get punctuated by little interstitials of customers in the store doing weird things. Characters are well drawn enough that they can hang and ping off any pairing. It’s hard to pick a favorite character amid a whole host of worthy contenders. In the end, Superstore defied its origins and became just a legitimately well-done sitcom. It easily makes the list for best shows on Hulu – if only purely because now I’m constantly hunting for a Superstore clone. –ZM
Which Hulu series are currently ranked as the must-watch hits of 2025
The must-watch Hulu series of 2025 currently include several standout hits:
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Nine Perfect Strangers tops the popularity charts on Hulu, captivating viewers with its intense drama and star-studded cast.
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The Handmaid’s Tale continues to be a major draw, with its sixth and final season generating significant buzz and maintaining its status as a flagship Hulu series.
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New and acclaimed shows like Deli Boys, a comedy about two men navigating the criminal underworld, and High Potential, a refreshing police procedural featuring Kaitlin Olson, are also highly recommended.
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Other popular series include The Cleaning Lady and The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, both ranking high in viewer interest.
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Additionally, Hulu offers classic favorites such as Law & Order (all 20 seasons) and NCIS (first 11 seasons), which remain popular among procedural drama fans.
These shows represent a mix of new releases, returning favorites, and critically acclaimed series that define Hulu’s must-watch lineup in 2025.
Which Hulu series are dominating the 2025 streaming charts
In 2025, Hulu’s streaming charts are dominated by a mix of compelling series and popular titles. At the top of the Hulu TV show rankings worldwide is Nine Perfect Strangers, a gripping drama that continues to captivate audiences. Other top-ranking Hulu series include General Hospital, The Cleaning Lady, The Handmaid’s Tale, and The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, all maintaining strong viewer interest.
Additionally, fresh and critically acclaimed shows like Paradise and Deli Boys have gained traction, alongside fan favorites such as The Bear, How to Die Alone, and Only Murders in the Building, which are frequently highlighted in best-of lists for 2025. Hulu also features revived classics like Futurama and ongoing hits like Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, contributing to its diverse and popular streaming lineup.
On the movie side, titles like Grown Ups and Presence are also performing well, but in terms of series, Nine Perfect Strangers clearly leads the pack on Hulu in 2025.
