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3 underrated movies on Hulu you need to watch in May 2024

Three cops walks in front of an ambulance.
Vertical Entertainment

What movies have arrived on Hulu this month? All five Die Hard movies, including Die Hard With a Vengeance, are now streaming on Hulu. Other noteworthy movies arriving in May include Where the Crawdads Sing13 Going on 30Big Daddy, and a new Hulu original, Prom Dates.

Hulu’s library is always expanding by the month, which could be daunting if you’re unsure what to watch. Besides the homepage titles, you can find several under-the-radar movies worth your time. Watch these three underrated movies on Hulu, including the first film in the Planet of the Apes reboot trilogy, a delightful dramedy from a two-time Oscar winner, and an ominous thriller.

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Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

A battle from Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
20th Century Studios

The Planet of the Apes reboot trilogy from the 2010s has aged like a fine wone. During their run, the films received critical acclaim but were never seriously considered in the top 10 trilogies of the 21st century. In 2024, the rebooted Apes trilogy is hands-down one of the best of the last 25 years. Matt Reeves’ Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes garner the most attention in the trilogy, and rightfully so. However, if Rupert Wyatt’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes failed, there may have never been a trilogy.

Scientist Will Rodman (James Franco) is tirelessly working to find a cure for his father’s (John Lithgow) Alzheimer’s disease by testing experimental drugs on chimpanzees. When one of the tests goes haywire, Will must shut his program down. However, Will saves one of the chimps, Caesar (Andy Serkis), and raises him like a son. While the drug fails to work for humans, it’s a success for chimpanzees as Caesar becomes highly intelligent. When forced into captivity, the brilliant Caesar starts a revolution that will lead to the downfall of humanity.

Watch Rise of the Planet of the Apes on Hulu.

That Thing You Do! (1996)

The cast of That Thing You Do!
20th Century Studios

When actors win Academy Awards, many capitalize on their critical acclaim by cashing in and taking lucrative roles. After winning two consecutive Oscars back-to-back in 1994 and 1995, Tom Hanks did not collect a paycheck for wearing a cape or leading a live-action franchise. Instead, he wrote and directed his first film, That Thing You Do! In the 1960s, a small-town band from Pennsylvania known as the Wonders are searching for their big break. When Guy Patterson (Tom Everett Scott) joins the band, he increases the tempo of one of their songs, That Thing You Do!

With help from their manager, Mr. White (Hanks), the Wonders catapult into stardom because of their one song. However, the music industry is cut-throat, causing tension among the band members. That Thing You Do! is like a nice blanket: warm and delightful. Yet, the secret of the movie is the titular song. If the song didn’t work, neither would the film. Luckily, the late Adam Schlesinger crafted a believable hit pop song that would have fit perfectly in the 1960s music scene.

Watch That Thing You Do! on Hulu.

To Catch a Killer (2019)

A cope stands with her arms folded in front of people.
Vertical Entertainment

To Catch a Killer is a diamond in the rough. It stems from Vertical Entertainment, a film distributor specializing in smaller independent films. These movies play very well on streaming because of their favorable runtimes, thrilling storylines, and notable actors. To Catch a Killer hits all three checkmarks.

It’s New Year’s Eve in Baltimore when a sniper opens fire on innocent civilians. Local cop Eleanor Falco (Shailene Woodley) arrives on the scene and takes a video of the residents leaving the building to record potential suspects. This resourcefulness attracts the attention of Special Agent Lammark (Ben Mendelsohn), who recruits Falco to help track down the sniper. With a riveting premise and overqualified actors, To Catch a Killer is a deeply satisfying thriller that feels like a throwback to the serial killer movies of the 1990s and 2000s.

Watch To Catch a Killer on Hulu.

Dan Girolamo
Dan is a passionate and multitalented content creator with experience in pop culture, entertainment, and sports. Throughout…
5 underrated movies on Netflix you need to watch in February 2025
Ryan Reynolds cuddles up next to his young daughter.

This February, television dominates the upcoming Netflix slate. After Back in Action found a home in the Netflix top 10 last month, the streamer turns its attention toward TV in the next few weeks. Before she plays Abby in The Last of Us season 2, Kaitlyn Dever headlines the brand-new series Apple Cider Vinegar. Elsewhere, the final season of Cobra Kai arrives on February 13, while Robert De Niro's Zero Day streams on February 20.
While TV might be the focus this month, Netflix continues to have one of the best vaults on the streaming market. With the addition of Warner Bros. and Paramount movies, the Netflix library is packed with underrated gems that need attention. Our movie picks for February include an emotional music documentary, a delightful rom-com, and a charming kids' adventure.

We also have guides to the best new movies to stream, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.
Avicii – I'm Tim (2024)
Avicii – I'm Tim | Official Trailer | Netflix
Tim Bergling was a shy kid from Sweden who eventually became one of the world's biggest DJs. You probably know him better by his stage name, Avicii. After entering the music space as a teenager, Avicii strapped himself on a rocket to superstardom with 2011's Levels. After that song, Avicii's life changed, for better or for worse.
Avicii — I'm Tim goes behind the scenes into the life of Tim first and foremost. From his humble beginnings to his tragic death, Avicii became one of the defining artists of his generation. The emotional documentary features interviews with friends, family, and colleagues, as they try to answer one question: Who was Tim Bergling?

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3 underrated movies on Hulu you need to watch in February 2025
Kristin Stewart in the 2020 film Underwater

Hulu's movie selection for February combines prestige plays with blockbuster success. The Oscar-nominated A Real Pain is heavily featured on the streamer. Jesse Eisenberg's road-trip dramedy received two Academy Award nominations, including Best Supporting Actor for Kieran Culkin. Elsewhere, the biggest blockbuster on Hulu's homepage is Alien: Romulus, the latest terrifying chapter in the Alien franchise.
A Real Pain and Alien: Romulus will certainly be seen by many subscribers. However, there are numerous movies to watch that can be found on the genre pages. If you scroll carefully, you'll find a few diamonds in the rough. To save you time, here are three underrated movies to watch right now. Our picks include a quick thriller, an alien-in-the-ocean horror, and a raunchy comedy.
We also have guides to the best new movies to stream, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.
Underwater (2020)
Underwater | Official Trailer [HD] | 20th Century FOX
Underwater channels Ridley Scott's Alien, posing the question: What if the creature were beneath the surface? Directed by William Eubank, Underwater follows a group of employees at a research and drilling facility at the bottom of the Mariana Trench. Part of the facility is destroyed during an underwater earthquake.
With no escape pods left, the group — including Norah Price (Kristen Stewart), Captain Lucien (Vincent Cassel), and Paul Abel (T.J. Miller) — decides that their only chance of survival is to walk to another research base one mile across the ocean floor. Big mistake because unknown creatures terrorize the crew upon their every movement. Like Alien, the team must get creative to survive or risk a painful death.
Watch Underwater on Hulu.
Phone Booth (2002)

Colin Farrell is in the midst of a career-defining run thanks to his Oscar-nominated role in The Banshees of Inisherin and his Golden Globe-winning turn as Oz Cobb in The Penguin. Farrell's always done good work throughout his three-decade run. Phone Booth is a case in point for Farrell's early work. Farrell stars as Stu Shepard, a sleazy New York City publicist who has been unfaithful to his wife Kelly (Radha Mitchell).
While in Times Square, Stu enters a phone booth to call his mistress. A mysterious man (Kiefer Sutherland) calls the booth and forces Stu to remain inside the phone booth. Stu doesn't take this threat seriously. However, this is no laughing matter. The man holds Stu at gunpoint and tells him to obey the rules or face the consequences. Phone Booth is a brisk 81-minute nail-biter with a good cat-and-mouse dynamic between Farrell and Sutherland.
Watch Phone Booth on Hulu.
Dirty Grandpa (2016)
Dirty Grandpa (2016 Movie - Zac Efron, Robert De Niro) Official Trailer – “Get Dirty”
It's OK to laugh at stupid humor. There is a lot of lewdness, raunchiness, and stupidity in Dirty Grandpa. Not everything has to be Citizen Kane. Sometimes, watching Zac Efron and Robert De Niro embark on a hijinks-fueled road trip will suffice. Jason Kelly (Efron) is a high-strung Alabama lawyer who will soon marry his boss's Type A daughter (Julianne Hough) in one week.
Before Jason walks down the aisle, he must drive his grandfather, Richard "Dick" Kelly (De Niro), to Boca Raton, Florida. While on the road trip, Dick tricks Jason into driving them to spring break in Daytona Beach, Florida. While Dick wants to party with booze and women, Jason cannot stop thinking about his future and refuses to relax. That's where Grandpa comes in, who shows his grandson how to let loose and have a good time.
Watch Dirty Grandpa on Hulu.

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3 underrated (HBO) Max movies you should watch this weekend (February 7-9)
A group of young adults walk on the grass in Final Destination 2.

This weekend is one of the few cases where the arts take a backseat to sports. Super Bowl LIX will be played on Sunday, February 9. The Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles will play for the right to call themselves champions. Over 115 million viewers are expected to watch Super Bowl LIX. More people will watch when you consider that the Big Game draws big crowds around one television.

The Super Bowl is Sunday night at 6:30 p.m. ET. Until then, what should you watch? Max has an excellent lineup of prestige dramas, hilarious comedies, action thrillers, and frightening horrors. While the Max homepage is a great resource, many movies are hidden within each genre. The three movies below represent under-the-radar picks that can be equally as satisfying as the noteworthy titles.

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