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3 great Hulu movies you need to stream this weekend (January 3-5)

Al Pacino in Heat.
Warner Bros. Pictures

Ideally, the first weekend of 2025 would be a nice, long three-day holiday. But since New Year’s Day fell on a Wednesday, we’re stuck with an ordinary two-day weekend. Thankfully, Hulu can keep you entertained with its fantastic lineup of newly added films. To narrow things down for you, we’ve chosen the three great Hulu movies that you need to stream this weekend.

First up is one of the best action films of the 21st century, and that is not an exaggeration. Additionally, we’re throwing the spotlight on a crime thriller that will turn 30 in late 2025, as well as a selection that’s suitable for everyone in your household, from the young to the young at heart.

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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+.

John Wick (2014)

Keanu Reeves holds an umbrella in John Wick.
Summit Entertainment

John Wick, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, is the movie that reestablished Keanu Reeves as an action star. It’s the heartwarming tale of a grieving man who finds a new reason to live following the death of his wife, Helen (Bridget Moynahan). She arranged for John (Reeves) to adopt a dog and give it all of his love … right up until some punk gangsters attack him, kill the canine, and steal his car.

Iosef Tarasov (Game of Thrones star Alfie Allen) doesn’t know how badly he screwed up by leaving John for dead without finishing him off. John is the most feared assassin of his era, and this little jerk pushed him out of his retirement and into a bloody rampage of revenge that will only end when both Iosef, and his crime lord father, Viggo Tarasov (Michael Nyqvist), are just as dead as Mrs. Wick.

Watch John Wick on Hulu.

Heat (1995)

A young Robert De Niro sitting at a table in a restaurant with another man, looking unimpressed in a scene from Heat.
Warner Bros.

Writer and director Michael Mann put together an extremely impressive cast for his 1995 crime epic, Heat, including Val Kilmer, Jon Voight, Ashley Judd, Natalie Portman, William Fichtner, Dennis Haysbert, Hank Azaria, Danny Trejo, and more. But this film was all about the two men at the top of the credits: Al Pacino and Robert De Niro.

Mann placed The Godfather Part II co-stars on opposite sides of the law. De Niro plays an aging thief, Neil McCauley, who is under intense pressure following a robbery gone wrong. Pacino portrays an LA cop, Lieutenant Vincent Hanna, who is driven to bring Neil and his crew down. Heat memorably brought both actors together on-screen for the first time, but it’s more than just a gimmick. Pacino and De Niro brought their A-games to the film and made Heat an instant classic.

Watch Heat on Hulu.

Paddington (2014)

Paddington bear looking up in a red hat and blue coat in Paddington.
StudioCanal

How’s this for tonal whiplash? Going from Heat to Paddington may not seem like the obvious double feature, but the latter is a fantastic film in its own right and it’s also very family-friendly if you want to watch it with children. There’s an easy way to tell who the bad people are in this movie. If they don’t like Paddington Bear (Black Doves star Ben Whishaw), then don’t trust them.

Nicole Kidman’s Millicent Clyde fails the Paddington test (she wants to have him stuffed for her collection). Meanwhile, Paddington charms Henry (Hugh Bonneville) and Mary Brown (Sally Hawkins), as well as their children. The Browns take Paddington in after he arrives in England, and they’ll have to ensure that he stays in one piece after Millicent sets her sights on him.

Watch Paddington on Hulu.

Blair Marnell
Blair Marnell has been an entertainment journalist for over 15 years. His bylines have appeared in Wizard Magazine, Geek…
3 great free movies to stream this weekend (March 7-9)
Simon Rex stands in a donut in Red Rocket.

Welcome back, Bong Joon Ho. It's been six years since Parasite, the spectacular thriller that became the first non-English-language film to win the Oscar for Best Picture. This weekend, Bong returns with his latest film, Mickey 17. The sci-fi comedy follows a disposable employee (Robert Pattinson) who returns as a clone after repeatedly dying on a colonization mission.
Mickey 17 is already generating positive reviews, which isn't surprising because of the talent behind the camera. In honor of Bong's return, one of the free movies to stream this weekend comes from his early filmography. The other two selections are dedicated to an Oscar-winning filmmaker and an acting legend who recently passed away.
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+.
Memories of a Murder (2003)

With all due respect to Barking Dogs Never Bite, Bong's second feature, Memories of a Murder, is the one that put him on the map. Based on a real-life South Korean serial killer, Memories of a Murder follows Park Doo-man (Song Kang-ho) and Seo Tae-yoon (Kim Sang-kyung), two detectives assigned to investigate a string of rapes and murders.
The two detectives possess different styles — Park is the aggressive investigator, while Seo relies more on scientific analysis. Essentially, the movie presents an old-school versus new-school approach to policing. The ruthlessness and brutality weigh heavily on both investigators, as it tests their ethics and values. Instead of an open-and-shut whodunit, Bong explores morality and human fallibility, resulting in one of the best murder mysteries of all time. 
Stream Memories of a Murder for free on Tubi.
Red Rocket (2021)
RED ROCKET Trailer (2021) Simon Rex, Drama Movie

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3 underrated (HBO) Max movies you should watch this weekend (March 7-9)
Four brothers sit or stand alongside a fence.

Max is about to get a little creepy, thanks to the addition of Heretic, which arrives on March 7. When two Mormon missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) stop at the house of Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant), they become trapped in a labyrinth that will test their fate. The thrilling horror from Scott Beck and Bryan Woods is a terrific showcase for Grant, who has the time of his life playing a narcissistic villain.
If you've seen Heretic or want to watch something else, there are plenty of other routes to explore on Max. One of those paths involves underrated movies. Lucky for you, we have some recommendations, which include an ensemble rom-com, a tragic sports biopic, and an eye-opening drama from a recent Oscar winner.
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+.
He's Just Not That Into You (2009)

Unfortunately for romance advocates, ensemble rom-coms are a thing of the past. These stories were a good excuse to get a group of famous and attractive actors into one movie. These easy-to-digest movies are the perfect form of escapism. Today's pick is He's Just Not That Into You. The cast includes Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck, Ginnifer Goodwin, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Connelly, Kevin Connolly, Justin Long, Scarlett Johansson, and Bradley Cooper.
Set in Baltimore, He's Just Not That Into You follows nine people who navigate love, dating, and everything in between. The standout characters include Gigi (Goodwin), who misreads romantic situations; Janine (Connelly), who thinks her husband (Cooper) might be lying to her; and Mary (Barrymore), a woman whose dates go nowhere. Is every storyline perfect? No, but there is enough romance and charm to keep you watching.
Stream He's Just Not That Into You on Max.
The Iron Claw (2023)

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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.

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