What’s New to Stream on Hulu for January 2022

Crossing the Streams is our look at all the offerings hitting the big streaming services each month, and this time we’re checking out what’s new on Hulu for January 2022, including movies from the 60s, 70s, 80s, and beyond!

Hulu Pick of the Month for January 2022

Hulu isn’t dropping any original movie content this month, and the bulk of their new arrivals are older fare — this is not a knock, it’s a positive as Netflix is the exact opposite — but I’m highlighting one of last year’s smaller indies as the pick of the month. I haven’t seen Small Engine Repair (2021, premieres January 30th) yet, but both the premise and cast are speaking my language. It’s a comedic crime thriller about friends who wind up in over their heads with some criminal behavior. Jon Bernthal and Shea Whigham are top-billed, and both are talents worth blind-watching a movie for. Granted, I don’t recall anyone mentioning this one in 2021, but plenty of films fall under the radar each year so we’re hoping for the best.

Movies from the 70s!

I’ve said it before and will probably say it again, but the best decade in movies is the 70s. The talent, the variety, the honesty, the no fucks given… the best. Anyway, Sydney Pollack’s Three Days of the Condor (1975) remains a twisty little thriller about a CIA analyst on the run from assassins, and while Robert Redford’s “relationship” with Faye Dunaway is a little bit icky the bulk of the movie is great stuff. Pollack delivers some solid set-pieces and suspense while the script manages a fine balance between serious beats and thriller fluff.

Sam Elliott headlines Daniel Petrie’s Lifeguard (1976), a drama about a casual dude realizing he has very little to show for his life — so he considers settling down and becoming a car salesman. It’s an odd dichotomy and not one that most viewers will struggle with because come on, a life spent at the beach ain’t so bad, but the character’s struggle works thanks to Elliott’s performance. Add in Anne Archer and Kathleen Quinlan, and you have a low-key So Cal movie worth your time.

John Frankenheimer’s Black Sunday (1977) might seem on the surface like a solid double feature pick for Three Days of the Condor, but the styles and tones couldn’t be any more different. An imminent terrorist attack on U.S. soil sees a collision between government agents, terrorists, traitors, and unflappable American consumerism. Robert Shaw, Bruce Dern, and more familiar faces star in this race against time that manages some strong suspense and action beats on its way towards an explosive conclusion.

Speaking of double features, you can chase Black Sunday with another John Frankenheimer joint if you press play on Prophecy (1979), and you’ll be grateful you did. For all the control shown in the former, this messy slice of ecological horror is a bit too silly to be taken seriously despite its best efforts. Thankfully, it’s a highly entertaining ride as a large, bear-like beast ravages the landscape after being mutated by chemical spills. Loggers, Native American protestors, scientists, and more come together to fight the creature, and most of them don’t survive. Good stuff!

Movies from the 80s!

I’ve said it before and will probably say it again, but the best decade in movies is the 80s. The excess, the action, the ridiculousness, the cocaine… the best. Anyway, after jumpstarting its move into cinemas with the endlessly dull Star Trek: The Motion Picture, the folks at Paramount wisely upped their game with a smart, thrilling, and emotionally satisfying sequel. Nicholas Meyer’s Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) is a direct sequel to one of the show’s better episodes, but even without that knowledge it works beautifully to deliver a killer story, unforgettable character beats, and a whopper of an ending.

Sometimes you just want to watch Arnold Schwarzenegger do what Arnold Schwarzenegger does best — kill bad guys and chase it with a quip. For those times, there’s no better option than Mark L. Lester’s Commando (1985). Some dumb villains kidnap John Matrix’s daughter, and he wipes the floor with every last one. Fun beats, entertaining action, and some highly memorable dialogue go a long way towards making this one of the big guy’s most memorable and rewatchable efforts.

The 80s were great for unforgettable comedies, and while Martha Coolidge’s Real Genius (1985) didn’t hit big at the box office it’s gone on to become a cult hit for those of us with impeccable taste. Val Kilmer plays a college student who takes a young genius under his wing, hijinks ensue, and soon the pair and their friends are doing their best to hamper the international arms race. It’s very funny, highly quotable, and has a weird energy all its own — there’s a plot, and it’s linear, but the film cares every bit as much about its characters and humor.

Ridley Scott just had an interesting year in 2021 with two new releases (The Last Duel, House of Gucci), but his best films remain in the past. That includes Black Rain (1989), a slick and stylish thriller about a pair of cops (Michael Douglas, Andy Garcia) sent to Japan to deliver a prisoner. It looks great, and there are some terrific action beats to be found here too. The ending remains an unlikely one for the genre, and the film delivers a compelling tale of vengeance and honor.

Movies from the 90s!

I’ve said it before and will probably say it again, but the best decade in movies is the 90s. The style, the lens filters, the audaciousness, the auteurs… the best. Anyway, Seven (1995) doesn’t need much of an introduction from me as it remains a stone-cold masterpiece of psychopath cinema. David Fincher delivers iconic set-pieces and a creepy killer while also gifting viewers with protagonists who fascinate us and make us care. Yes, the ending is an all-timer, but the movie is filled with equally memorable images and scenes.

You don’t see a lot of people talking about this one, but Ed Zwick’s Courage Under Fire (1996) is a great blend of action and drama headlined by two stellar leads. Meg Ryan plays against type as a chopper pilot who’s been nominated posthumously for a Medal of Honor, and Denzel Washington is the man investigating her story to determine if she deserves it — despite some odd, possibly sexist pushback. It’s an emotional journey, and Zwick pairs those beats with some thrilling action sequences too.

What’s that? More Ridley Scott? Okay! G.I. Jane (1997) absolutely tanked at the box office, but its a story about a woman’s efforts to become the first to complete an elite, tough as hell military training fires on all cylinders. Demi Moore is terrific in the lead role as the woman who pushes herself past her limits and against the odds — and against sexist pushback (make it a double feature with Courage Under Fire!) — to prove them all wrong. It’s dramatic, thrilling, and at times inspiring.

Okay, after all that seriousness, why not wind down with a romantic comedy? Bronwen Hughes’ Forces of Nature (1999) did well at the box office, but unfortunately, its budget makes it look like a bomb. Put all that aside, though, as the film is a sweet and funny rom-com headlined by Sandra Bullock and Ben Affleck. They’re both good fun here, and you buy into the frustrations as easily as you do the romance. It’s a good time, harmless fun, and a movie you most likely missed back in the far-away 90s.

The Complete Hulu List for January 2022

Follow all of our monthly streaming guides.

Related Topics: Crossing the Streams, Hulu

Rob Hunter has been writing for Film School Rejects since before you were born, which is weird seeing as he's so damn young. He's our Chief Film Critic and Associate Editor and lists 'Broadcast News' as his favorite film of all time. Feel free to say hi if you see him on Twitter @FakeRobHunter.