Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

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

A man points his thumb as he stands next to a girl in Just Friends.
New Line Cinema

Every streaming service beefed up its Christmas content for December. Hulu followed suit, as Elf, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Christmas with the Kranks, and The Family Stone are all streaming. If Christmas is not your jam, have no fear. There are plenty of other genres to watch on Hulu.

There is more to the Hulu library than the front page. If you know where to look, Hulu has many underrated movies ready to be streamed at the click of a button. All you need to do is find them. Use this guide as a map for underseen gems. Our picks include a film based on an iconic book, a holiday rom-com, and an action sequel.

Recommended Videos

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 Maxand the best movies on Disney+.

The Count of Monte Cristo (2002)

A man points a sword in The Count of Monte Cristo.
Spyglass Entertainment

Did you know there are over 20 feature film adaptations of The Count of Monte Cristo? A revenge-fueled story serves as the perfect backdrop for a movie. 2002’s The Count of Monte Cristo was a modest hit, which isn’t a knock against it. Hollywood needs more entertaining three-out-of-five-star movies. Directed by Kevin Reynolds, The Count of Monte Cristo stars Sound of Freedom’s Jim Caviezel as Edmond Dantès, a naval officer wrongly accused of treason and sentenced to prison on a secluded island.

Years later, Edmond miraculously escapes, finds a hidden treasure, and rebrands himself as “The Count of Monte Cristo.” As the Count, Edmond is motivated to exact revenge on those who betrayed him, including his best friend Fernand (Guy Pearce). Edmond must be careful in his quest for vengeance because the love of his life, Mercedes (Dagmara Dominczyk), and her marriage to Fernand complicate his plan.

Watch The Count of Monte Cristo on Hulu.

Just Friends (2005)

Just Friends (2005) Official Trailer - Ryan Reynolds, Anna Faris Comedy HD

No matter the movie, Ryan Reynolds always incorporates self-deprecating humor into every role. Whether playing Deadpool or Andrew Paxton, Reynolds is always the first person with a joke or witty remark. Just Friends is the more tame version of the archetypal Reynolds character, but the Free Guy star still manages to poke fun at himself.

An obese Chris Brander (Ryan Reynolds) is in love with his best friend, Jamie Palamino (Amy Smart). Unfortunately, Jamie does not reciprocate the feelings, leaving him dejected. Ten years later, Chris is a hotshot record executive with a movie-star body. Yet his feelings for Jamie remain unchanged, and a trip to his hometown during the holidays reignites his desire for her. Time for Reynolds to work that charm and win the girl.

Watch Just Friends on Hulu.

Die Hard 2 (1990)

Bruce Willis in Die Hard 2.
20th Century Studios

Let’s get this out of the way. Die Hard 2 is a good action movie. 90% of action franchises would kill for a sequel as good as the Die Hard sequel. However, Die Hard is often forgotten when compared to the more popular picks like Die Hard and Die Hard with a Vengeance. That ends today because Die Hard 2 deserves respect.

After thwarting terrorists at Nakatomi Plaza, John McClane (Bruce Willis) wants to spend a normal Christmas Eve with his wife, Holly (Bonnie Bedelia). While waiting to pick up his wife at Washington Dulles International Airport, McClane becomes entangled in another hostage situation.

DIE HARD 2 Clip - "Ambush" (1990) Bruce Willis

Terrorists have hijacked the airport’s operating system and forbidden every plane from landing until a flight with a corrupt military leader touches down at Dulles. Just like in Die Hard, the terrorists did not plan for McClane, who quickly becomes a thorn in their side and jeopardizes the entire operation.

Watch Die Hard 2 on Hulu.

Dan Girolamo
Dan is a passionate and multitalented content creator with experience in pop culture, entertainment, and sports. Throughout…
3 underrated Netflix movies you should watch this weekend (March 7–9)
Tim Blake Nelson plays a guitar while riding a horse in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.

The sheer volume of content on Netflix can feel endless and overwhelming—every fan knows there are hidden gems out there, but it's easy to get lost in the mix. While it's always fun to catch up on the latest blockbusters, there are numerous underrated movies on the streamer that are just waiting to be discovered. Despite delivering big on story and originality, these deserving films flew under the radar.
Whether you're in the mood for a quirky indie drama, a darkly comedic Western, or a mind-bending thriller, this list has something to make your weekend binge a memorable one. Sometimes, the best movie experiences happen when cinephiles dive into something genuinely unexpected. So get ready for a one-of-a-kind evening spent alone or with loved ones — you'll be glad you took a chance on these underrated picks!
We also have guides to 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+.
The Squid and the Whale (2005)

Noah Baumbach, known for directing the more popular Frances Ha and Marriage Story, tells the story of a dysfunctional family in the criminally underrated The Squid and the Whale. Set in 1980s Brooklyn, the indie comedy-drama revolves around the Berkmans, whose lives change for the worse when parents Bernard (Jeff Daniels) and Joan (Laura Linney) announce their divorce. This negatively affects their sons: 16-year-old Walt (Jesse Eisenberg) and his younger brother, Frank (Owen Kline). The rift between the family worsens when Bernard's pretentious intellectualism and Joan's newfound independence cause even more friction.
Bolstered by a semi-autobiographical lens that draws from Baumbach's own childhood and the efforts of producer Wes Anderson, the 2005 film is unflinching in its tragicomic approach to its story. It's an honest portrayal of the messiness of divorce, fully embracing awkward and unfiltered moments experienced by its unlikable characters. The Squid and the Whale's often quirky and subtle humor may alienate most viewers, but any fan of similar intimate and character-driven portraits of imperfect families should add this one to their watchlist.

Read more
3 underrated movies on Amazon Prime Video you need to watch in March 2025
Several workers with bags standing in a remote location looking scared in Severance.

What makes a movie underrated? It might be that critics have panned the film even though it has earned massive box office success and positive reception from audiences. Perhaps it’s the other way around, and critics love it, but audiences fail to see what’s so special. Some underrated movies are fantastic but simply didn’t get the attention they deserved and have slipped into the deep depths of streaming services, only to be unearthed by those who dare to find them.
The three underrated movies on Amazon Prime Video you need to watch in March 2025 fall into varying categories that qualify the movies as underrated. One broke records, yet critics refuse to give it two thumbs up. Another shares its name with one of the hottest shows streaming right now.
Need more recommendations? Then check out the best new movies to stream this week, 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+.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
The Super Mario Bros. Movie | Official Trailer

Even before it premiered, The Super Mario Bros. Movie was getting a lot of flak for the choice of Chris Pratt as the voice of the titular character. Following the debut of this adventure comedy film in theaters, critics still weren’t convinced that it was a hit. But The Super Mario Bros. Movie delighted fans and proved naysayers wrong.
The film explored an interesting dynamic whereby Bowser (Jack Black) was a softie with a deep love for Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy). Of course, this brought us that lovely gem of a Peaches song that kids sang for weeks after. The movie's mixed reviews are no match for its tremendous box office success, not to mention the fact that it broke a Guinness World Record to become the highest-grossing movie based on a video game and became the first movie based on a video game to gross more than $1 billion. It’s incredible to learn that with all these huge numbers, The Super Mario Bros. Movie only has a 59% Rotten Tomatoes critics score.
Watch The Super Mario Bros. Movie on Amazon Prime Video. 
Severance (2006)
Severance (2006) Trailer | Danny Dyer | Laura Harris

Read more
3 underrated (HBO) Max movies you should watch this weekend (February 28-March 2)
underrated hbo max movies this weekend february 28 march 2 2025 tom hanks sully

With the start of a new month, Max is getting a new slate of movies added to its library. One of the new additions is Heretic. The creepy thriller starring Hugh Grant arrives on March 7. Sing Sing, one of 2024's most critically acclaimed movies, finally hits Max on March 21. Colman Domingo received an Oscar nomination for his work in the drama about a prison arts program.
Thanks to Warner Bros., Max has one of the deepest vaults for a streaming service. You could spend hours getting lost on the genre pages. Luckily, we've scoured the movie section and picked three underrated movies that deserve your attention this weekend. Our picks include a crime thriller from a heist maestro, a moving portrait about a real hero, and a gripping drama.
We also have guides to 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+.
No Sudden Move (2021)

Since coming out of retirement in 2017, Steven Soderbergh has released nearly one movie per year. Hollywood is a better place when an innovative filmmaker like Soderbergh works at such a prolific rate. One of his more underrated offerings during this post-retirement phase is No Sudden Move, a period piece set in 1950s Detroit about a heist gone wrong.
A group of petty criminals — including Curt Jones (Don Cheadle), Ronald Russo (Benicio del Toro), and Charley (Kieran Culkin) — are tasked with stealing an important document. The group is supposed to hold an accountant's family at gunpoint so he can then steal the document from his boss's safe. Eventually, Curt and Ronald learn they've been set up. Why? That's what they need to find out, including who hired them. It's not Ocean's Eleven, but No Sudden Move is a fun time at the movies, thanks to an eclectic cast and a filmmaker who knows this genre inside and out.
Stream No Sudden Move on Max.
Sully (2016)
Sully - Official Trailer [HD]
In your best Michael Rapoport voice, "Are you the pilot, Sully?" Tom Hanks plays pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger in the dramatic retelling of the Miracle on the Hudson in Sully. On January 15, 2009, Sully and First Officer Jeff Skiles (Aaron Eckhart) are piloting a flight from LaGuardia Airport to Charlotte. Shortly after takeoff, a flock of birds crashed into both engines.
With little time to react, Sully successfully executes an emergency landing in the Hudson River. All 155 crew and passengers survived. It's a miraculous accomplishment, but the story doesn't stop there. An investigation into Sully's life-saving maneuver tries to smear the pilot's reputation. With a steady Clint Eastwood behind the camera and a stoic Hanks on screen, Sully is a fitting tribute to a humble hero who deserves praise despite never seeking it out.
Stream Sully on Max.
Reality (2023)

Read more