Hulu has been stuck in the third place position when it comes to movie streaming behind Netflix and Amazon Prime because most people still see them strictly as a home for next-day television. They have movies too, though, and more than a few of them are terrific gems that make Hulu a destination for more than just TV.
The complete list of new movies hitting Hulu this month — July 2018 — is below, but I wanted to highlight the best of the bunch along with several others worth seeking out.
Hulu Pick of the Month
The Stephen King renaissance continues going strong on the big screen as the second IT movie has recently gone into production, but his presence grows even stronger on television thanks to Hulu’s new original series Castle Rock. Named after the town King created as a setting for where many of his best-known novels and stories take place, the show is described as “a psychological-horror series set in the Stephen King multiverse” which sounds absolutely awesome. The ensemble show boasts a stacked onscreen roster too with the likes of Melanie Lynskey, Scott Glenn, André Holland, Jane Levy, Terry O’Quinn, Bill Skarsgård, and Sissy Spacek helping bring King’s world to life. Castle Rock opens for visitors on July 25th.
More King! More Horror!
Hulu’s priming our King love before Castle Rock premieres with a trio of of older horror adaptations from King’s writings. Maximum Overdrive (1986) isn’t necessarily a good movie — King would agree and he directed it himself — but it’s a ridiculous blast all the same. Cars, trucks, vending machines and more turn murderous after a mysterious comet passes overhead, and if that synopsis doesn’t excite you then it’s most definitely not a movie for you. Stephen King’s Graveyard Shift (1990), meanwhile, is actually something of a dud, but fans of rat terrors will still find some fun with it. By contrast, Stephen King’s Silver Bullet (1985) is often regarded as lesser King but is actually a legitimately entertaining werewolf tale with good effects, a menacing preacher, a paraplegic Corey Haim, a warm theme about family, and a wonderfully bug nuts turn by Gary Busey.
New and Worthwhile
Two films that opened and closed far too quietly this year are hitting Hulu and well-deserving of a second chance. Borg vs. McEnroe (2018) lands on July 3rd and explores the rivalry between tennis legends Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe with style, suspense, and real heart. Sverrir Gudnason and Shia LaBeouf give intense and intimate performances as the pair, and even if you know the outcome of their big match the film delivers an engaging and fascinating watch all the same. Before We Vanish (2018) leaves the real world behind and lands on July 30th with its tale of three aliens who commandeer human bodies in preparation for an invasion. There are some very cool action and sci-fi beats here, but its core is a story about humanity and love. It’s a definite change of pace for director Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Pulse, Tokyo Sonata), but it’s also another winner.
For the Sci-Fi Junkies
Genre can sometimes seem limiting, but all you need do to break that view is think of three varied examples from, in this case, science fiction cinema. A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) is thought-provoking sci-fi from Steven Spielberg and Brian Aldiss (with pre-production work from Stanley Kubrick) that creates entirely new worlds to tell a human story about a non-human character. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai across the 8th Dimension (1984) is smart too but uses its brains towards the advancement of utter lunacy. And Next (2007)? Well it features Nicolas Cage as a magician who can see the future.
The Complete List
July 1
20 Weeks (2017)
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai across the 8th Dimension (1984)
All Is Lost (2013)
Alpha and Omega (2010)
Alpha and Omega: Dino Dogs (2016)
Alpha and Omega: The Big Fuhreeze (2016)
Alpha and Omega: The Great World Games (2014)
American Psycho (2000)
American Psycho 2 (2002)
An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power (2017)
Analyze That (2002)
Analyze This (1999)
And God Created Woman (1988)
Angel Heart (1987)
Assassination (1987)
At Middleton (2013)
Avenging Force (1986)
Bad News Bears (2005)
Barbie and the Three Musketeers (2009)
Barbie in a Mermaid Tale 2 (2012)
Barfly (1987)
Before Midnight (2013)
Beyond Borders (2003)
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)
Billy Madison (1995)
Bloodsport (1988)
Body Count (1997)
Bound (1996)
Braveheart (1995)
The Brothers Bloom (2009)
Cadillac Man (1990)
Chasing Amy (1997)
Clear and Present Danger (1994)
Closing Gambit (2018)
Clue (1985)
Cyborg (1989)
Dead Man Walking (1995)
Delta Force (1986)
Disaster Movie (2008)
Double Jeopardy (1999)
Dr. T and the Women (2000)
Election (1999)
The Eternal (1998)
Everybody’s Fine (2009)
Evolution (2001)
The Fourth War (1990)
Get Real (1999)
Go (1999)
The Honeymooners (2005)
House Arrest (1996)
Hustle & Flow (2005)
Incident at Loch Ness (2004)
The Indian in the Cupboard (1995)
Invaders from Mars (1986)
Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)
Jeepers Creepers (2001)
John Grisham’s The Rainmaker (1997)
Just Before I Go (2014)
Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)
The Ladies Man (2000)
Ladybugs (1992)
Last Castle (2001)
The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000)
Le Ride (2016)
The Lost Wife of Robert Durst (2017)
The Manchurian Candidate (2004)
Masters of the Universe (1987)
Maximum Overdrive (1986)
The Mechanic (1972)
Midnight in Paris (2011)
Mimic (1997)
Monkey Shines: An Experiment in Fear (1988)
The Monster Squad (1987)
Murphy’s Law (1986)
Next (2007)
Number One with a Bullet (1987)
One Direction: This is Us (2013)
Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer (2017)
The Phantom (1996)
P.O.W. the Escape (1986)
Patriot Games (1992)
Pawn (2013)
Pretty in Pink (1986)
Rabbit Hole (2011)
The Rundown (2003)
Sahara (2005)
Sex Drive (2008)
Six Shooter (2013)
Sleepers (1996)
Snake Eyes (1998)
Stephen King’s Graveyard Shift (1990)
Stephen King’s Silver Bullet (1985)
Street Smart (1987)
Superstar (1999)
This is Spinal Tap (1984)
Trade (2007)
Witness (1985)
Wooly Boys (2004)
Alone: Complete Season 3 (History)
American Pickers: Complete Season 17 (History)
American Ripper: Complete Season 1 (History)
Ancient Top 10: Complete Season 1 (History)
The Curse of Oak Island: Complete Season 4 (History)
Doomsday Preppers: Complete Season 2 (Nat Geo)
Forged in Fire: Complete Season 4 (History)
Gangland Undercover: Complete Season 2 (History)
Hoarders: Complete Season 8 (A&E)
The Hunt for the Zodiac Killer: Complete Season 1 (History)
Intervention: Complete Season 17 (A&E)
The Librarians: Complete Season 4 (TNT)
Little Women: Atlanta: Complete Season 3 (Lifetime)
Little Women: Dallas: Complete Seasons 1 & 2 (Lifetime)
The Murder of Laci Peterson: Complete Season 1 (A&E)
Pawn Stars: Complete Seasons 13 & 14 (History)
Project Runway: Complete Season 16 (Lifetime)
When Sharks Attack: Complete Seasons 1-3 (Nat Geo)
Who Killed Tupac?: Complete Season 1 (A&E)
Wicked Tuna: Complete Season 5 (Nat Geo)
July 2
UnREAL: Complete Season 3 (Lifetime)
July 3
Borg vs. McEnroe (2018)
July 6
Heart of Nuba (2016)
Beat Bobby Flay: Complete Seasons 4 & 5 (Food Network)
Bobby Flay’s Barbecue Addiction: Complete Season 4 (Food Network)
Burgers, Brew & Que’: Complete Seasons 1 & 2 (Food Network)
Chopped Junior: Complete Seasons 2 & 3 (Food Network)
Diners, Drive-ins and Dives: Complete Seasons 24 & 25 (Food Network)
Food Network Star Kids: Complete Season 10 (Food Network)
Keeping up with the Kardashians: Complete Season 14 (E!)
Kids Baking Championship: Complete Season 3 (Food Network)
Kids BBQ Championship: Complete Season 1 (Food Network)
The League of Gentlemen: Complete Seasons 1-4 (BBCA)
Man Finds Food: Complete Season 1 (Food Network)
Man Fire Food: Complete Seasons 4 & 5 (Food Network)
Teen Titans Go!: Complete Season 4B (Cartoon Network)
You’re the Worst: Complete Season 4 (FX)
July 8
Mary Kills People: Complete Season 2 (Lifetime)
Alpha and Omega: Journey to Dog Kingdom (2017)
July 9
In a World (2013)
Serena (2014)
July 10
Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds (2017)
Cover Versions (2017)
Zombie Spring Breakers (2016)
July 11
Harlots: Season 2 Premiere (Hulu Original)
July 13
Build Small, Live Anywhere: Complete Season 1 (HGTV)
Chopped: Complete Season 18 & 29 (Food Network)
Cutthroat Kitchen: Complete Season 10 (Food Network)
Flea Market Flip: Complete Season 5 (HGTV)
Ghost Adventures: Complete Season 7 (Travel Channel)
Home Town: Complete Season 1 (HGTV)
House Hunters: Complete Season 109 (HGTV)
Iron Chef Gauntlet: Complete Season 1 (Food Network)
Letterkenny: Complete Seasons 1 & 2 (DHX)
Love It or List It, Too: Complete Seasons 6 & 7 (HGTV)
Property Brothers: Buying & Selling: Complete Season 5 (HGTV)
Restaurant: Impossible: Complete Seasons 12 & 13 (Food Network)
July 14
Better Things: Complete Season 2 (FX)
July 17
Sharp Edges (2018)
July 20
Ballet Now (Hulu Original Documentary)
Embrace of the Serpent (2015)
The Last Ship: Complete Season 4 (TNT)
This Country: Complete Seasons 1 & 2 (BBCA)
Trial & Error: Season 2 Premiere (NBC)
July 21
Justice League Action: Complete Season 1 (Cartoon Network)
Status Update (2018)
July 22
Leaning into the Wind (2018)
July 24
The Thundermans: Complete Season 4 (Nickelodeon)
July 25
Black Cop (2017)
Castle Rock: Series Premiere (Hulu Original)
Real Humans: Complete Season 2 (Endemol)
Alone Together: Season 2 Premiere (Freeform)
July 27
The Glass Castle (2017)
July 28
Friends with Kids (2012)
Victoria & Abdul (2017)
July 30
Before We Vanish (2018)
The Wrecking Crew (2008)
July 31
Casual: Complete Season 4 Premiere (Hulu Original)
Into the Blue (2004)