Wednesday, November 10, 2021

The Best Shows and Movies to Watch in November on Amazon, Hulu, Netflix, and HBO Max

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The Best Shows and Movies to Watch in November on Amazon, Hulu, Netflix, and HBO Max

Feast on these picks

Kelly Connolly Nov. 9, 2021, 3:40 p.m. PT

November is fun because it might be Thanksgiving season, it might already be Christmas, it might be neither, it might be both. Anything goes, and everyone is annoyed about all of it. Now that's the true meaning of the holidays. Whether you're already decking the halls or you're looking ahead to Moira Rose's favorite season (awards), there's plenty of streaming content out there to feast on. Get the most out of your subscriptions with our picks for the best shows and movies you can watch on Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Netflix, and HBO this month.

It's getting dark out there early now, so stay inside and check out King Richard on HBO Max, The Great Season 2 on Hulu, The Wheel of Time on Amazon, and Passing on Netflix. Below, we've gathered the best shows and movies to stream in November on HBO Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Netflix.

The Best Shows and Movies on HBO and HBO Max in November

It's just about that time of year when you have to start thinking about all the stuff you're grateful for, and HBO Max would probably be really flattered if one of the things on your list was HBO Max. November is kind of a light month for the platform, especially compared to all those big October premieres, but there's still some good stuff in the lineup. King Richard, the Oscar bait-y Will Smith movie about Venus and Serena Williams' dad, is the biggest of them all, but Mindy Kaling also has a new show coming up: The Sex Lives of College Girls, which is all about, if you can believe it, the sex lives of college girls. There's also a new season of one of our favorite shows on TV right now — the excellent, underrated How to With John Wilson.

Here are our picks for HBO and HBO Max in November.

Elle Fanning, The Great — Elle Fanning, *The Great*
Hulu

The Best Shows and Movies on Hulu in November

There's always something cooking on Hulu. The streaming platform keeps busy with Hulu Originals, FX on Hulu exclusives, and new episodes of your network TV favorites available the day after they air. And heading into Thanksgiving month, they're literally cooking, as Taste the Nation With Padma Lakshmi returns with a new season about traditional winter holiday meals. Later in November, save space on your plate for The Curse of Von Dutch (Nov. 18), a new three-part docuseries about the popular 2000s fashion brand, and Season 2 of The Great (Nov. 19).

Here's our full list of picks for Hulu, but if you want to sort through the list of new releases yourself, here's a list of everything new to Hulu in November.

The Best Movies and TV Shows on Amazon Prime in November

This November, Amazon Prime Video is spinning The Wheel of Time. The sprawling new fantasy series, starring Rosamund Pike and based on the novel series of the same name, makes its debut on Nov. 19. But while The Wheel of Time is the centerpiece of the streaming platform's offerings this month, it's not the only item on the menu. There's also Everbody Loves Natti, a new docuseries giving a behind-the-scenes look at the life of Latin hip-hop star Natti Natasha.

Here's our full list of picks for Amazon Prime Video, but if you want to sort through the list of new releases yourself, here's a list of everything new to Amazon Prime in November.

Ruth Negga and Tessa Thompson, Passing — Ruth Negga and Tessa Thompson, *Passing*
Netflix

The Best Movies and TV Shows on Netflix in November

Whether you like it or not, it's already Christmas in Netflix land. The streamer has a long line of holiday movies in the queue this winter, starting with Love Hard, a new rom-com starring Nina Dobrev and Jimmy O. Yang. Later, Vanessa Hudgens clones herself again in yet another Princess Switch movie. But there's plenty of non-festive content in the lineup too, like new seasons of Big Mouth and Narcos: Mexico and the cool Idris Elba-Regina King Western The Harder They Fall. Oscar scorecard fanatics will want to keep an eye on Passing, starring Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga, which drops on Nov. 10. Plus, Lin-Manuel Miranda makes his directorial debut on Nov. 19 with the Andrew Garfield-led tick, tick...Boom!

Here's our full list of picks for Netflix, but if you want to sort through the list of new releases yourself, here's a list of everything new to Netflix in November.

Looking for more recommendations for what to watch next? We have a ton of them! And if you're looking for more hand-picked recommendations based on TV shows you love, we have those too.

Top Movies and Shows on Hulu in 2021

Here's what you should watch next

Kelly Connolly Nov. 4, 2021, 4:00 a.m. PT

Paulina Alexis, Devery Jacobs, D'Pharoah Woon-A-Tai, and Lane Factor, Reservation Dogs — Paulina Alexis, Devery Jacobs, D'Pharoah Woon-A-Tai, and Lane Factor, *Reservation Dogs*
Shane Brown/FX

There's so much to watch these days that it's easy to get overwhelmed. It's kind of like opening a fridge, looking at all the food, and still feeling like there's nothing to eat. You don't want to waste your time on a five-season show that goes nowhere, so instead you waste your time scrolling. We get it! Pressing the play button is a commitment, but this list will make it easier. TV Guide has rounded up the best shows and movies on Hulu right now, making it easy for you to skip the filler and get right to the good stuff, no matter your tastes. Our latest recommendation is the new season of Taste the Nation With Padma Lakshmi, which is packed with holiday eats. Foodies can also check out another recent addition to the list, David Chang's forward-thinking food series The Next Thing You Eat. Looking ahead, save room on your plate later this month for Season 2 of The Great, premiering Nov. 19.

Curious how this list was made? Our selections are focused on new releases, original shows and movies from Hulu and FX on Hulu, and critical hits you can't stream anywhere else, as well as a handful of underrated favorites you might not find on other lists. Big titles like Ramy and The Great will be back on the list when they return, so you can pass that time by finding something new to enjoy. These are the best shows and movies to watch on Hulu right now.

Looking for more recommendations of what to watch next? We have a ton of them! We also have hand-picked selections based on shows you already love.

Last updated Nov. 4, 2021; newer additions are at the top

Taste the Nation With Padma Lakshmi

For fans of: Food shows, travel shows, having a political conscience
Number of seasons: 2

Top Chef's Padma Lakshmi is a trustworthy successor to Anthony Bourdain in her travel docuseries about cuisine across the United States, which is now back for a second season focused on holiday meals. This show is so much more than a chance to watch in abject jealousy as Lakshmi eats delicious-looking food; its edge lies in its celebration of the cultures that have helped define American food. In Season 2, Lakshmi highlights Hanukkah traditions in New York, deconstructs Thanksgiving with the Wampanoag Nation in Massachusetts, enjoys a Cuban Christmas in Miami, and celebrates the Korean New Year in Los Angeles. This is the kind of show that examines all the ways food brings us together, but also looks at the ways food has been weaponized against the people who brought it here in the first place. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

Queens

For fans of: Girls5eva, '90s hip-hop
Number of seasons: 1

One of the better fall 2021 new broadcast shows, Queens can best be described as "Girls5eva, but make it slightly more dramatic." The show focuses on four women, played by Eve, Brandy, Naturi Naughton, and Nadine Velazquez, who once made up a very famous '90s hip-hop group known as the Nasty Bitches. After a series of events, they broke up and went their separate ways, all going on to live unsatisfying lives. Fast-forward to the present day, where they're given the chance to reunite and show the world they've still got it. "It" being talent, but also a host of personal problems that have the potential to hold them back from a second chance at the limelight. The best thing about this show is the fact that three out of four of the leads are played by actual musicians, who are able to show off the fact that they're all still really good at rapping, and Queens shines brightest when it lets Eve, Brandy, and Naughton do their thing when their characters have to perform. It's a fun show! -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

The Next Thing You Eat

For fans of: Eating, making sustainable choices, robots
Number of seasons: 1

They told us the food of the future would all look like Dippin' Dots. Not so fast. In this six-episode docuseries, chef David Chang explores the food science that could change the way we eat — and the ways it's being driven by a changing planet. That sounds hard to stomach, but Chang makes it fun and kind of hopeful, with episodes that go deep on issues like the environmental impact of beef and the future of food delivery. Celebrity guests like Danny Trejo and Anderson .Paak also sweeten the deal. [Trailer]

Dopesick

For fans of: True stories, hating Big Pharma, acting
Number of seasons: 1

Michael Keaton, Rosario Dawson, and Kaitlyn Dever star in this devastating miniseries adaptation of Beth Macy's Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors and the Drug Company that Addicted America, which looks at the beginning of the opioid crisis in America from the push of OxyContin by one company to its spread through the working class, to the DEA's pursuit of the truth. Is it a feel-good story? Not really, but it's a fascinating look at the audacity of Big Pharma to put profits over life. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Jacinta

For fans of: Painful but important documentaries, stories of addictions, mother and daughter bonds

This documentary isn't an easy watch, but it is an essential watch. Director Jessica Earnshaw trains her cameras on three generations of a family, with the focus on young mother Jacinta, a heroin addict who is in and out of jail and desperate to reconnect with her young daughter. But Jacinta's addiction, born from her mother's behavior, might be too powerful for her to ever have a normal relationship with her child. There's a lot of pain on screen here (as well as lessons to be learned), but a bittersweet ending at least avoids the worst possible scenario. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Castle

For fans of: Unlikely partnerships, mystery authors, Nathan Fillion's whole deal
Number of seasons: 8

You can finally cozy up with a lighthearted procedural again now that Castle is back on streaming. The ABC series stars Nathan Fillion as mystery novelist Richard Castle, who begins following NYPD detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) for research and winds up consulting on colorful cases. Castle and Beckett's relationship, especially in the early seasons, is built on an entertaining blend of trust and tension, and although the murders they solve sometimes get serious, the show's overall vibe is playful enough for a breezy weekend marathon. When Castle is fun, it's really fun. [Trailer]

Only Murders in the Building

For fans of: Murder podcasts, making fun of murder podcasts
Number of seasons: 1 (renewed for Season 2)

Only Murders in the Building is at the center of a strange and wonderful Venn Diagram. It's got sleuthing, Steve Martin and Martin Short, Selena Gomez, jokes about podcasts, fake Broadway musical flops, and Sting. The comedy-crime-farce hybrid follows a trio of neighbors — an egotistical actor with one TV hit (Martin), a washed-up Broadway director (Short), and an enigmatic artist (Gomez) — who come together to investigate a murder in their building. It's a cozy, old-school mystery about three lonely people with secrets that gets both sadder and sillier as it goes. [Trailer]

Reservation Dogs

For fans of: Troublemaking teens, raps about frybread
Number of seasons: 1 (renewed for Season 2)

Reservation Dogs is the ideal show to kick back with: a chill hangout comedy about friends getting into scrapes. The new FX on Hulu series centers on four Native American teens (played by D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Devery Jacobs, Paulina Alexis, and Lane Factor) looking for a way out of their rural Oklahoma reservation after the death of their friend. To fund an escape to California, they steal trucks and cause trouble, landing themselves in a turf war with a much more intimidating gang. Created by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, Reservation Dogs is brought to the screen by an all-Indigenous lineup of writers, directors, and stars, who've built an authentic world that feels loved and lived-in from the start. It's also a riot. [Trailer]

PEN15

For fans of: Cringe comedy, Y2K nostalgia
Number of seasons: 2

When PEN15 premiered in 2019, it got a lot of attention for its big gimmick: Co-creators Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle, adult women in their 30s, star as middle school-aged versions of themselves, surrounded by a cast of actual 13-year-olds. But that gimmick is only one of the reasons to keep watching. To be in middle school is to exist in a waking nightmare, and it's clear in everything -- from their caved-in posture to the awkward expressions on their faces -- that Erskine and Konkle remember that. PEN15 has put Maya and Anna through the trials and tribulations of sleepovers, pool parties, and first kisses. They practice witchcraft. They play team sports. They join the school play, resulting in two of the series' best episodes so far. They -- and their friends -- break your heart in the quietest, most recognizably real ways. When Maya is called ugly, or the girls' new friend Maura (Ashlee Grubbs) is called out for lying about her own popularity, it feels like the end of the world because to them, in that moment, it is. Every TV show wants to make you feel something, but PEN15 burrows down inside you, sticks to your bones, and makes sure you never forget the things it shows you, much like adolescence. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

What We Do in the Shadows

For fans of: What We Do in the Shadows (the movie), Jackie Daytona, the Superb Owl
Number of seasons: 3 (renewed for Season 4)

Think about some of the greatest hangout comedies of all time, with roommates and their disparate personalities clashing in close quarters. Now make them vampires. That sounds like a doomed concept that will run out of jokes before the first virgin can be sucked dry, but it's working for the best comedy on TV right now, What We Do in the Shadows. The mockumentary follows three bloodsuckers, their human familiar, and a being so boring that he drains the life out of others as they cope with a technologically advanced world that fears them and is fascinated by them. It's like a goth kid's Seinfeld. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Nine Perfect Strangers

For fans of: Nicole Kidman's wigs, trying unsuccessfully to recapture the high of The White Lotus
Number of seasons: 1

Nicole Kidman and David E. Kelley just can't stop adapting Liane Moriarty novels into very dramatic miniseries. This latest one is not very Big Little Lies-y at all, for the record. Instead, it's set at a wellness resort hosted by Masha (Kidman, doing an accent and wearing a wig, as is her wont), who has invited nine strangers on a 10-day retreat that promises to help them deal with their own personal demons. From there, things start to spiral out of control. Kidman is joined by a stacked cast that includes Melissa McCarthy, Michael Shannon, Bobby Cannavale, Regina Hall, and a whole lot of other famous people. Between Nine Perfect Strangers, Old, and The White Lotus, this was the summer of the sinister resort vacation. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

The D'Amelio Show

For fans of: TikTok teens, feeling bad about the concept of fame
Number of seasons: 1

Have you ever watched Charli and Dixie D'Amelio's TikToks on your phone and thought, "I want this, but bigger and longer"? I have great news for you! The Gen Z-beloved sisters now have their own reality show, all about their struggle to be normal young people amid their rise to fame. It might make you sad for them. And to everyone who just read all of this and thought, "I have no idea what any of these words mean," to you I say: Don't even worry about it, buddy. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

Summer of Soul

For fans of: The best musical acts of the '60s, reclaiming history

The same year Woodstock was held and grabbed all the headlines as the only thing that happened in music in 1969, the Harlem Cultural Festival took place, with performances by Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Sly and the Family Stone, and more. Footage of the festival never saw the light of day until the release of this film, which marks the directorial debut of musician Questlove. If you need more reason to watch it, Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) has been universally acclaimed and won the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award in the documentary category at Sundance. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

This Way Up

For fans of: Fleabag, but with Irish accents
Number of seasons: 2

In a perfect world, someday we'll talk about This Way Up with as much reverence as we talk about Fleabag. Created by and starring Aisling Bea, the dark comedy begins in the aftermath of a depressive episode; when we meet Áine (Bea) at the beginning of Season 1, she's recently out of rehab for "a teeny little nervous breakdown." The comedy and the tragedy of the show comes out of Áine's interactions with the people in her life — the ways she tries to keep the depths of her suffering from her protective older sister, Shona (Sharon Horgan); her fledgling, potentially romantic connection with Richard (Tobias Menzies); and her tragic friendship with Tom (Ricky Grover). It's a snapshot of a life in the process of being rebuilt, of what it's like to not simply ignore but actually live with mental illness. It's messy and chaotic and hilarious in all the best ways. You will also absolutely walk away with "Zombie" by the Cranberries stuck in your head, but that's part of the charm. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

Cruel Summer

For fans of: Secrets and lies, '90s fashion
Number of seasons: 1 (renewed for Season 2)

Cruel Summer is the best kind of summer beach read in TV form. Told across three years in the early to mid '90s, the "she said, she said" drama jumps between the perspectives of two teens who know more than they're saying: Kate (Olivia Holt), the kidnap victim, and Jeanette (Chiara Aurelia), the wannabe popular girl who took over her life. As their secrets spill out, the series reveals its own agenda: to tear apart every teen show's worst "hot for teacher" storyline while still being, in every other way, exactly the type of juicy teen show that might have one. For all the trauma it's unpacking, Cruel Summer knows the soapy mystery is what keeps its audience coming back. Cool and smart: every teen's dream. [Trailer]

Dave

For fans of: Dick jokes, but also the artistic process, man
Number of seasons: 2

If you're like me, you watched a couple of episodes of Dave and got turned off by all the sophomoric dick jokes and gave up. But then you heard it got better, so you watched a bit more, and sure enough, it did. By the first season finale, you thought to yourself, "Damn, this IS a good show." And it only got better in Season 2. Dave and Dave — the show and the neurotic rapper who is simultaneously self-shaming and extremely cocky — both grow on you, even with all the bumps along the road. Few shows cover the artistic process and its frequent collision with being a likable human like Dave, because it knows that the two are at odds with each other. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Better Things

For fans of: Not sugarcoating motherhood, being alive
Number of seasons: 4 (renewed for Season 5)

At this point, I talk so much about everything I adore about Pamela Adlon's bittersweet comedy that everyone I know is probably tired of hearing about it, but it's not my fault it keeps growing more extraordinary with every season. Better Things celebrates the mundanity of existence like nothing else. It's about the little moments that make us who we are and make life worth living, from its lovingly shot cooking scenes to the casual way it examines the daily sacrifices parents, especially single mothers, make for their kids. It's the most human show on TV by a mile. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

Bob's Burgers

For fans of: Burger puns, workplace comedies that are also family comedies
Number of seasons: 11 (renewed through Season 13)

Don't let the animation fool you into thinking Bob's Burgers is crude or just for kids. It's one of the best family comedies, not to mention one of the best comedies about working-class characters, on TV right now. The Fox sitcom follows the Belcher family, whose burger restaurant is an all-hands-on-deck job that even the kids get roped into. The show is straightforward about their constant financial stress, which leads to some of the family's best hijinks but also highlights how hard they work to care for each other. Parents Bob (H. Jon Benjamin) and Linda (John Roberts) have an enviably healthy marriage, and each Belcher kid is encouraged to be as delightfully weird as they want. Bob's also serves up some of the best puns in the game. [Trailer]

Devs

For fans of: Philosophical debates, Alex Garland's sci-fi, San Francisco
Number of seasons: 1

After movies like Ex Machina and Annihilation, Alex Garland is proving to be one of sci-fi's most exciting creators, and his TV debut features all his trademarks. Devs is packed with philosophy and intellectual discussions about existence, technology's place in society's advancement, and the dire consequences of tinkering with fate, almost to the point that it's too cerebral. But take it slow and you'll find a beautifully filmed single-season series that has big points to make about the dangerous precipice advanced computing has us inching toward. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Changing the Game

For fans of: Trans rights, emotional sports stories

One of the most talked about issues in sports today is the role of transgender athletes in athletics. The award-winning documentary Changing the Game takes a humane, honest look at the subject from the point of view of three transgender teen athletes fighting for their right to compete. The centerpiece is trans man Mack Beggs, who was given two options by his home state of Texas: wrestle as his assigned sex (female) or quit. He chose to wrestle. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Love, Victor

For fans of: Love, Simon, coming out stories
Number of seasons: 2 (renewed for Season 3)

This Is Us executive producers Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger dive back into the world of Love, Simon — the 2018 film starring Nick Robinson that they also wrote together — with a charming sequel series, Love, Victor. Michael Cimino leads the series as the eponymous teenager, Victor, who moves with his family to Atlanta and finds himself at Simon's old high school, living in the shadow of what seems like the most romantic coming-out story of all time. Season 1 focused on Victor trying to navigate a social life at a new high school while also trying to figure out his sexuality despite pressure from his very Catholic family, with Simon acting as his coming-out guide via email. The sophomore season allows Victor more room to explore his confirmed identity and to carve out his own space in the LGBTQIA+ community after coming out to his family. As Victor grows more comfortable with himself, we also get to spend more time with the characters who surround him and help make this show the charming delight that it is. -Megan Vick [Trailer]

The Eric Andre Show

For fans of: Eric Andre, surreal talk shows, shameless male nudity
Number of seasons: 5

It's hard to describe The Eric Andre Show in a way that makes any kind of sense. Presented in the style of low-budget public access TV, it could technically be called a talk show, though if you're expecting to see a standard glib celebrity interview conducted by a guy named Jimmy, you'll be very disappointed. As the name suggests, the show is instead hosted by noted purveyor of chaos Eric Andre, who plays a hyper-fictionalized version of himself, and he's joined by his detached co-host/straight man, Hannibal Burress. Every episode begins with Andre violently destroying his set, and his eventual monologue usually spirals into a series of dark musings dragged out from the depths of his mind. He invites celebrities, who are sometimes intentionally bad impersonators and sometimes very real, into the mess, and the guests typically come in blissfully unaware of what is about to happen to them, which is clear from their often shocked, furious, and terrified faces. Andre's host spares no one and never acknowledges that anything is out of the ordinary, even as things get progressively more bizarre, like the time live rats were released on Stacey Dash's feet. Though this show is definitely not for everyone, the only thing I can really guarantee is that it's not like anything else you'll ever watch. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

Atlanta

For fans of: Struggling artists, really great TV
Number of seasons: 2 (renewed through Season 4)

If you're looking for a character-driven show and you're willing to try out something that relishes being super weird, make Atlanta your next watch. Donald Glover, who also created the series, stars as Earn, an aimless, cynical college-dropout-turned-music-manager working overtime to get his cousin's (Brian Tyree Henry) rap career off the ground, despite not really being qualified to manage anyone. At any given moment, the tone of the series alternates between goofy comedy, acidic satire, and surrealist horror, not to mention the very real, very human dramatic beats. You pretty much just have to watch it to get it. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

Parasite

For fans of: Class conflict, conning the rich

Parasite, the 2020 winner for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, is on Hulu, so you are really running out of excuses if you haven't seen it. Though technically not at all about any parasites, it's the parasitic metaphor that really strikes hard as a low-income family slowly infiltrates a wealthy family, living off them like ticks on a dog. But both sides have deep, dark secrets that come to light by the movie's totally bonkers ending. The movie's message isn't the only thing to watch for; Bong's immaculate direction and cinematography are bolstered by a truly incredible performance by its ensemble cast. Don't be that person who hasn't seen Parasite. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

The Handmaid's Tale

For fans of: Fighting the patriarchy, pain
Number of seasons: 4 (renewed for Season 5)

Who needs escapism when you can have the least escapist show on TV? The Handmaid's Tale has developed a reputation for being a huge downer as real life has inched closer to life in Gilead, the totalitarian theocracy the series imagines as the future of America. But the refusal to offer easy relief can be cathartic in its own way, and The Handmaid's Tale's one-step-forward, two-steps-back revolution makes every rare moment of real progress hit harder. Over the span of four seasons, June (Elisabeth Moss) has gone from trying to survive in Gilead to fanning the flames of rebellion — and potentially getting a little too caught up in her quest for revenge. Blessed be the hashtag resistance. [Trailer]

Normal People

For fans of: Beautiful people, sad people, Irish people, Sally Rooney
Number of seasons: 1

This adaptation of Sally Rooney's best-selling novel Normal People follows a complex romance that spans several years. At the story's center are Marianne (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Connell (Paul Mescal), who meet as teenagers and, despite coming from two very different backgrounds, discover that they have a connection that leads them to engage in an intense, on-again off-again relationship that follows them into adulthood. The show portrays young love and heartbreak in a way that's as stark as it is surprising, and it's hard not to get sucked in by the various ways these two characters fall apart only to inevitably come back together again. Fair warning: There is a lot of sex. Like… a lot.. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

Palm Springs

For fans of: Groundhog Day, wedding shenanigans

The less you know about Palm Springs going into it, the better, but it's probably no secret at this point that this delightful comedy features Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti as a pair of wedding goers who find themselves trapped in a time loop. Their performances are at once goofy and grounded, and there are plenty of surprises packed into every precious minute of this wild, incredibly fun rom-com with touches of sci-fi. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

For fans of: Breaking glass ceilings, the inner workings of a Minneapolis news station, jokes!
Number of seasons: 7

One of the greatest sitcoms of all time, The Mary Tyler Moore Show is so packed with first-rate funny people that it launched three spin-offs: Valerie Harper's Rhoda, Cloris Leachman's Phyllis, and Ed Asner's Lou Grant. But the heart of the classic comedy series is Mary Tyler Moore's Mary Richards, who's "making it after all" as a producer at a low-rated Minneapolis news station. As an unmarried woman focused on her career, Mary was a rarity on television, opening doors for women who came after. Still, being groundbreaking was never the only thing that made The Mary Tyler Moore Show — or Mary Richards — great. The show has endured because it's laugh-out-loud hilarious, the story of coworkers who unexpectedly begin to cherish each other. [Trailer]

Minding the Gap

For fans of: Skateboarding, the bittersweet passage of time

If you like your documentaries with a side of a punch in the gut, Minding the Gap will suffice! The Oscar-nominated film, from first-time director Bing Liu, follows Liu as he reconnects with two of his old skateboarding buddies while the twentysomething young men all deal with the struggles of growing up after childhoods of abuse and neglect. Archival footage is both exuberant and emotional as the trio escapes troubles through skateboarding and details the problems at home, while new footage shows how their lives have changed (or not changed) through unplanned fatherhood, new family issues, and more all-too-common obstacles. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Fargo

For fans of: Parkas, violence, guys with names like Dick Wickware
Number of seasons: 4

Noah Hawley's comical crime anthology series based on the vibes of the Coen Brothers is set in and around the titular Midwestern city across various decades, multiple crime families, and multitudes of bad luck. But what's always consistent — besides the accent and the incredible character names — is the quality of the casts, which have included Jean Smart, Ewan McGregor, Billy Bob Thornton, Chris Rock, Martin Freeman, and many more. Seasons 1 and 2 are the show at its best: violent, hilarious, and thematically off-the-wall. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Portrait of a Lady on Fire

For fans of: French affairs, the way Saoirse Ronan says "Women" in Little Women

The most romantic movie of 2019, Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a simmering love story designed to devastate and delight. Céline Sciamma directs the film, which is set in 18th century France and revolves around the affair that develops between an artist and her subject, a young aristocratic woman who is about to be married off. The chemistry between the leads, Noémie Merlant and Adèle Haenel, is a pleasure to watch in action, made all the more upsetting because of the pervasive knowledge that there's a hard expiration date on their relationship. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

High Fidelity

For fans of: Zoë Kravitz, hanging out in Brooklyn record stores
Number of seasons: 1

A televised adaptation of the 2000 film of the same name, High Fidelity finds Zoë Kravitz stepping into the role of disaffected record store owner Rob, previously played by John Cusack. The show has a "no thoughts, just vibes" energy, but the conflict hinges on Rob's top five greatest heartbreaks of all time, which she's still in the process of getting over when we meet her. Kravitz makes the updated version of the sardonic record store owner her own, breaking the fourth wall to talk to the audience, allowing us to gaze upon the rich tapestry of her failed relationships, her veil of detachment cracking into something much more vulnerable with each episode. As Rob, she's dry, witty, and effortlessly cool, inviting us to share her skepticism of the mere concept of love. While it's a shame Hulu cut High Fidelity short after a truly great first season, you shouldn't let that deter you from checking out this gem of a series. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

Freaks and Geeks

For fans of: One-season wonders, hating high school
Number of seasons: 1

It's always a big deal when Freaks and Geeks, the short-lived cult-classic dramedy that aired on NBC from 1999-2000, returns to streaming after a stay in DVD-only exile. What's even more exciting is that Hulu shilled out the cash to keep its original classic rock soundtrack fully intact, meaning fans can jam out while watching Lindsay Weir (Linda Cardellini) and her slacker pals navigate high school in 1980, just as creator Paul Feig intended. Freaks and Geeks' cast — which also includes Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, Busy Philipps, John Francis Daley, James Franco, and Martin Starr — makes it the ultimate "before they were famous" throwback. Plus it's just brilliant. [Trailer]

Booksmart

For fans of: The last day of school, unrealistically cool teen parties

Olivia Wilde's directorial debut is a good one, one of those comedies that comes out of nowhere to approach cult status and a future spot on cable TV's weekend movie rotation. The teen comedy follows two seniors and best friends who are regarded by classmates as downers but are determined to cram four years of fun into the night before graduation so they don't head off to college unfulfilled. It's an R-rated teen comedy — the best kind — with the type of bawdy language that teens actually use, cameos from Jason Sudeikis, Will Forte, and Lisa Kudrow, and two fantastic performances from its leads, Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

For fans of: The worst people you've ever met in your life
Number of seasons: 14 (renewed through Season 18)

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is the highest form of escapist humor on TV, like if the average person's id was in control of a long-running cable comedy. Following the daily lives of a morally bankrupt, self-absorbed, clinically insane, often irredeemable foursome who own and operate a bar in Philadelphia, Sunny is the kind of series that delights in refusing to let its characters grow as people. As a unit, the gang has only succeeded in becoming more narcissistic and clueless to the world around them as the seasons have stretched on. They continue to behave terribly and never learn from their mistakes… but in a really funny way, thanks to the beauty of the 30-minute sitcom format, which allows the show to blow itself up every week and reset the clock in the next episode. Once you accept that the Paddy's Pub crew are not people you would ever want to interact with in real life, you'll have a great time. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

Justified

For fans of: Snappy dialogue, Westerns, swooning over Timothy Olyphant
Number of seasons: 6

One of Elmore Leonard's literary characters became television legend with FX's Justified, arguably the best adaptation of Leonard's work on any screen. U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens, brought sexily to life by the sexy Timothy Olyphant, watches over the backwoods of Harlan County in Kentucky, cutting down fugitives with firepower and insults, both of which bad guys never recover from. It has the best dialogue of any TV show ever (my opinion), with poetic prose Leonard himself would chuckle at, and a rotating cast of criminals with more personality than most shows' main characters. Also, Walton Goggins! -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Please Like Me

For fans of: Saying, "I just watched this great show. You've probably never heard of it."
Number of seasons: 4

Created, co-written, and occasionally directed by its star Josh Thomas, this Australian dramedy series follows Josh (played by Thomas), a listless twentysomething who, shortly after being dumped by his girlfriend and subsequently realizing he's gay, moves back home to care for his depressed mother (Debra Lawrance). The show is most notable for its unique blend of comedy and tragedy, but it's the rare series about unhappy people that will make you feel better rather than worse. Its spiky, self-involved characters are made more likable for their unlikability, and even the most tertiary players feel like fully realized people in a way that feels very special. If you enjoy Please Like Me, be sure to check out another Thomas-created series, Everything's Gonna Be Okay, also available to stream on Hulu. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

The Terror

For fans of: Historical horrors, Jared Harris
Number of seasons: 2

AMC's The Terror is less about jump scares and gore as it is the methodical deconstruction of one's sanity in the face of terror, which is to say, this is cerebral horror at its finest. Both seasons of the anthology series immerse themselves in history, with Season 1 on board an expedition to find the Northwest Passage in the 1840s while a man-eating polar bear hunts them and Season 2 set at a Japanese internment camp plagued by ghosts during World War II. If you've only got time for one, sail along with Season 1, which is a modern horror masterpiece with a final image that will never leave my mind. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Casual

For fans of: Adult siblings, the misery of dating
Number of seasons: 4

Plenty of shows have a lot to say about "the times we live in," but unlike many other shows trying to do exactly that, Casual does it with deft care. Tommy Dewey and Michaela Watkins star as siblings Alex and Valerie, who end up raising Valerie's teenage daughter together, all while trying to navigate the dating world. At the start of the series, Valerie has recently divorced her husband, Alex has committed to life as a bachelor, and Tara Lynne Barr's Laura is just trying to make it through high school in one piece. All three have romantic obstacles to overcome and various hang-ups to deal with, and the world of social media dating doesn't make it any easier. It's an excellent show that came onto the scene around the same time as other shows about people in California being sad, like You're the Worst and Transparent, so it never really got the recognition it so deeply deserved, which is exactly why it deserves your attention now. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

If Beale Street Could Talk

For fans of: Devastating romance, wondering why a movie didn't win more awards

Barry Jenkins' 2018 follow-up to Moonlight is another stunner that cemented Jenkins as one of the most exciting directors in the biz today. His eye for color, lighting, and camera angles is poetic, and perfectly honors If Beale Street Could Talk's emotional source material, James Baldwin's novel about a young couple who want to have a baby despite the father being behind bars for a crime he didn't commit. If you missed If Beale Street Could Talk during awards season, fix that immediately now that it's streaming on Hulu, and see for yourself why Regina King took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Superstore

For fans of: The plight of the American working class, but make it funny
Number of seasons: 6

For six seasons, Superstore was one of network TV's hidden treasures, a sweet, clever comedy with a surprising rebellious streak. The show uses its setting in a Middle American box store to dig into issues like unionizing, healthcare, and immigration that rarely get this kind of coverage on television, especially network sitcoms. These aren't Very Special Episodes: They're just facts of life for the show's diverse array of characters, so the topical storylines feel as natural as the jokes. Superstore may be honest, but it's never a drag; it's also got cute workplace romances and a perfectly weird sense of humor. [Trailer]

Together Together

For fans of: Unlikely friendships, modern parenthood

I keep telling people to seek out this sweet indie, which had a theatrical release before movie theaters really opened up, and now everyone can watch it for free*! (*Well, with a Hulu subscription.) Ed Helms stars as a man who wants a baby, and Patti "I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson" Harrison plays the woman he's chosen to be his surrogate, and it's one of those movies where nothing really happens, but also everything happens. Helms and Harrison are great as two people who don't really know what to do with or how to relate to each other, but who have been thrown together for the better part of a year due to their circumstances. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and I hope it does the same for you. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

The Choe Show

For fans of: Chaos, emotional messes
Number of seasons: 1

"Absolute mayhem" is a good way to describe this variety show from visual artist David Choe, a Korean-American artist who rolls with the underground L.A. art scene. Choe spends episodes painting portraits of his guests while also cracking himself open emotionally about his life with animated interludes; it's all part of a personal reckoning he engages in and encourages others to join him on. The Choe Show is a televised sweat lodge, basically, and totally unique to television. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Mr Inbetween

For fans of: The secret lives of hitmen
Number of seasons: 3

It's almost certain that a hitman lives a more interesting life than you, but FX's dark comedy Mr Inbetween wants you to know that's only true half the time. The Australian series follows hitman Ray, played by creator Scott Ryan, not just when he's hitmanning, but when he's living that other, less interesting part of his life — you know, with the ex-wife, kid, sick brother, etc. One moment he's dropping a body in a shallow grave, the next he's telling his young daughter about the birds and the bees. Going back and forth between Ray's dual lives provides a tonal whiplash that's more chiropractic than paralyzing; seeing both sides of Ray straightens out a seemingly disjointed character whose job is at odds with his family life. The result is a complete portrait of a complicated man who is just trying to get paid for killing... and to be the best dad he can be. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Letterkenny

For fans of: Canadians eh, wordplay, fighting, beer, hockey, catchphrases
Number of seasons: 9

Canada's well known for its feel-good comedies like Schitt's Creek and Kim's Convenience, in which characters grow and learn lessons about life through their experiences with each other. Letterkenny is not that. The cult comedy about a small Canadian town full of hicks, tweakers, hockey players, burly natives, and not much else is mostly conversations about genitalia, drinking, fighting, and whatever else goes on inside the minds of these Canucks, but don't let the subject matter fool you. Letterkenny is one of the smartest shows around, with rapid-fire dialogue and wordplay that's essentially Shakespeare on speedballs. You'll be quoting this show nonstop to your friends after one episode. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Three Identical Strangers

For fans of: Family secrets, getting your damn mind blown

Every documentary that has used some variation of the selling point "a story so crazy it has to be true" needs to step aside. The truth in Three Identical Strangers is so bizarre and goes in so many directions you'd never expect that you'll want to put a pillow on the floor for your jaw. The film follows the story of identical triplets — three gregarious New York boys — separated at birth who meet in their teenage years and become media sensations, but gets really insane when it dives into the circumstances of why they were separated. If I told you any more, I'd ruin it for you. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

The Real Housewives of Potomac

For fans of: Altercations
Number of seasons: 6

Almost every installment in the Real Housewives universe is valuable in its own way, but in its explosive fifth season, Potomac solidified itself as the franchise MVP. The ladies of Potomac, from Gizelle "Word on the Street" Bryant to Grande Dame Karen Huger, have long been serving up their share of incredible moments (lest we ever forget the mime), so it wasn't entirely surprising to see them beat themselves at their own game. What made Season 5 so singular was the headline-making physical altercation (not a fight — an altercation) between Monique Samuels and Candiace Dillard, which resulted in a fascinating plotline about, among other things, the intricacies of friendship and trust. The episodes were intense, shocking, and frequently hilarious (Samuels' antics with her now-deceased parrot T'Challa will live in infamy), and by the end of the season, I was left wanting even more. RHOP is the crown jewel of reality programming, an example of what we could always have if casts were willing to commit to being as audaciously entertaining as this group of women always is. Raise a glass of champagne to them. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

Possessor

For fans of: Mind trips, like seriously

I tend to stay away from movies with trailers that proclaim "from the visionary mind of [insert writer/director here]," because it's like, get over yourself, dude, but Brandon "son of David" Cronenberg's latest film is a doozy. The sci-fi film follows an assassin (Andrea Riseborough) who executes hits by taking control of other people's bodies using implanted chip tech. Seems easy, right? It is, until she has trouble with her latest target (the always dying in a movie or show Sean Bean) when the body (Christopher Abbott) she takes over decides he's not ready to give up total control. Like his dad, Brandon isn't afraid to go cuckoo bananers with practical effects and hallucinatory montages. This is an art house freak-out film that deserves cult status. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Little Fires Everywhere

For fans of: Reese Witherspoon, Kerry Washington, skewering white liberals
Number of seasons: 1

Little Fires Everywhere, an adaptation of Celeste Ng's 2017 novel of the same name, stars Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington as mothers on a collision course. Witherspoon plays Elena Richardson, a wealthy, rigidly Type-A mom of four; Washington is Mia Warren, a restless artist on the run from her past. Elena and Mia's tense coexistence implodes when they take opposite sides in a legal battle between a local couple trying to adopt a Chinese baby and the immigrant mother fighting to get her daughter back. The miniseries can get soapy, but it's also surprisingly incisive, expanding on the book's exploration of race and class tensions — and it builds to a scorching finale. [Trailer]

The Mole Agent

For fans of: Elderly spies, pure emotion

The charming Chilean documentary The Mole Agent was nominated for an Oscar in 2020, and it's easy to see why. When a man in his 80s answers an ad from a family who believes their matriarch is being mistreated in a nursing home, he goes in undercover to report what he sees. But what he finds is a unique connection to its residents. Grab a hanky, this one will make your heart explode. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

The Best TV Shows on Hulu Right Now (November 2021)

Bump these series to the top of your watchlist

Kelly Connolly Nov. 4, 2021, 5:00 a.m. PT

There's always something cooking on Hulu. The streaming platform keeps busy with Hulu Originals, FX on Hulu exclusives, and new episodes of your network TV favorites available the day after they air. And heading into Thanksgiving month, they're literally cooking, as Taste the Nation With Padma Lakshmi returns with a new season about traditional winter holiday meals. It joins recent food docuseries The Next Thing You Eat in the category of shows that'll make your mouth water while also teaching you a thing or two. Other recent additions to our list include ABC's new drama Queens and the underrated IFC comedy Brockmire.

Curious how this list was made? Our selections are focused on new releases, original shows from Hulu and FX on Hulu, and critical hits you can't stream anywhere else, as well as a handful of underrated favorites you might not find on other lists. Big titles like Ramy and The Great will be back on the list when they return, so you can pass that time by finding something new to enjoy. These are the best shows to watch on Hulu right now.

Looking for the Best Movies to Watch on Hulu or the Best 50 Things to Watch on Hulu? Or how about more recommendations of what to watch next? We have a ton of them! We also have hand-picked selections based on shows you already love.

Last updated Nov. 4, 2021; newer additions are at the top

Taste the Nation With Padma Lakshmi

For fans of: Food shows, travel shows, having a political conscience
Number of seasons: 2

Queens

For fans of: Girls5eva, '90s hip-hop
Number of seasons: 1

The Next Thing You Eat

For fans of: Eating, making sustainable choices, robots
Number of seasons: 1

A Million Little Things

For fans of: This Is Us, D-R-A-M-A, friendship
Number of seasons: 4

In its hunt to chase the runaway success of This Is Us, ABC brought on A Million Little Things, a family drama that replaced family with friends when three pals are left reeling by the sudden suicide of the friend that brought them all together. Like most primetime soaps, it isn't going to win any Emmys and it gets pretty heavy with subjects like addiction, infidelity, and many, many secrets. [Trailer]

Brockmire

For fans of: Baseball, booze, incredibly creative insults
Number of seasons: 4

One of our greatest regrets we'll have as a species as a meteor hurtles towards Earth is that we never gave Hank Azaria an Emmy for his role as Ken Brockmire, Brockmire's silky-voiced baseball play-by-play man who stumbles down a path of self-destruction after his marriage implodes. The comedy, which ran for four wonderful seasons on IFC, makes the profane an art as Azaria hurls insults at everything, but it's also a sharp look at redemption as Brockmire seeks recovery physically and mentally. The mundaneness of baseball makes for a perfect backdrop, allowing the show to mix sports gags with well-drawn characters in the foreground while also conjuring up enough drama to keep things interesting. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Dopesick

For fans of: True stories, hating Big Pharma, acting
Number of seasons: 1

Castle

For fans of: Unlikely partnerships, mystery authors, Nathan Fillion's whole deal
Number of seasons: 8

Champaign ILL

For fans of: Idiots, Detroiters, Sam Richardson and Adam Pally
Number of seasons: 1

You probably missed this comedy when it came out in 2018, but we won't blame you because it was on YouTube Premium. But now's your chance to peep it since it's been given another life at Hulu. When two talentless members of a rapper's entourage (Adam Pally and Sam Richardson) are forced to provide for themselves when the rapper dies, the move back to Champaign, Ill. to live out their dreams. It doesn't go too well! -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Only Murders in the Building

For fans of: Murder podcasts, making fun of murder podcasts
Number of seasons: 1 (renewed for Season 2)

Reservation Dogs

For fans of: Troublemaking teens, raps about frybread
Number of seasons: 1 (renewed for Season 2)

PEN15

For fans of: Cringe comedy, Y2K nostalgia
Number of seasons: 2

What We Do in the Shadows

For fans of: What We Do in the Shadows (the movie), Jackie Daytona, the Superb Owl
Number of seasons: 3 (renewed for Season 4)

Nine Perfect Strangers

For fans of: Nicole Kidman's wigs, trying unsuccessfully to recapture the high of The White Lotus
Number of seasons: 1

The D'Amelio Show

For fans of: TikTok teens, feeling bad about the concept of fame
Number of seasons: 1

This Way Up

For fans of: Fleabag, but with Irish accents
Number of seasons: 2

Cruel Summer

For fans of: Secrets and lies, '90s fashion
Number of seasons: 1 (renewed for Season 2)

Dave

For fans of: Dick jokes, but also the artistic process, man
Number of seasons: 2

Better Things

For fans of: Not sugarcoating motherhood, being alive
Number of seasons: 4 (renewed for Season 5)

Bob's Burgers

For fans of: Burger puns, workplace comedies that are also family comedies
Number of seasons: 11 (renewed through Season 13)

Devs

For fans of: Philosophical debates, Alex Garland's sci-fi, San Francisco
Number of seasons: 1

Love, Victor

For fans of: Love, Simon, coming out stories
Number of seasons: 2 (renewed for Season 3)

The Eric Andre Show

For fans of: Eric Andre, surreal talk shows, shameless male nudity
Number of seasons: 5

Atlanta

For fans of: Struggling artists, really great TV
Number of seasons: 2 (renewed through Season 4)

The Handmaid's Tale

For fans of: Fighting the patriarchy, pain
Number of seasons: 4 (renewed for Season 5)

Normal People

For fans of: Beautiful people, sad people, Irish people, Sally Rooney
Number of seasons: 1

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

For fans of: Breaking glass ceilings, the inner workings of a Minneapolis news station, jokes!
Number of seasons: 7

Fargo

For fans of: Parkas, violence, guys with names like Dick Wickware
Number of seasons: 4

High Fidelity

For fans of: Zoë Kravitz, hanging out in Brooklyn record stores
Number of seasons: 1

Freaks and Geeks

For fans of: One-season wonders, hating high school
Number of seasons: 1

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

For fans of: The worst people you've ever met in your life
Number of seasons: 14 (renewed through Season 18)

Justified

For fans of: Snappy dialogue, Westerns, swooning over Timothy Olyphant
Number of seasons: 6

Please Like Me

For fans of: Saying, "I just watched this great show. You've probably never heard of it."
Number of seasons: 4

The Terror

For fans of: Historical horrors, Jared Harris
Number of seasons: 2

Casual

For fans of: Adult siblings, the misery of dating
Number of seasons: 4

Superstore

For fans of: The plight of the American working class, but make it funny
Number of seasons: 6

The Choe Show

For fans of: Chaos, emotional messes
Number of seasons: 1

Mr Inbetween

For fans of: The secret lives of hitmen
Number of seasons: 3

Mrs. America

For fans of: Cate Blanchett, feminist history
Number of seasons: 1

Cate Blanchett! That's all you really need to know, but we'll tell you the rest anyway. The stylish FX on Hulu historical drama Mrs. America looks back on the battle for the Equal Rights Amendment of the early 1970s. Blanchett plays Phyllis Schlafly, a conservative author who fought back against the ERA, making her the show's charismatic antihero. The all-star cast also features Rose Byrne, Uzo Aduba, and Sarah Paulson. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Difficult People

For fans of: Insults, inside jokes for New Yorkers
Number of seasons: 3

Inspired by the real-life friendship between Billy Eichner and Julie Klausner, Difficult People is a show about the simple joy of finding another person who exists on your exact wavelength. Following the fictional Billy and Julie (also played by Eichner and Klausner), two bitter, self-absorbed, and perpetually dissatisfied New Yorkers, the series centers on their unsuccessful attempts to make it big in their careers. They're constantly failing, ruining whatever chances they are afforded with their own bad behavior, and will do just about anything to avoid taking responsibility for their actions. They believe they deserve to be famous, but they just can't seem to get anyone else to agree. But at least they have each other, and Eichner and Klausner's quick rapport and sparkling chemistry is what makes this show about two generally miserable people funny instead of sad. Expect a lot of Real Housewives references. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

Letterkenny

For fans of: Canadians eh, wordplay, fighting, beer, hockey, catchphrases
Number of seasons: 9

The Real Housewives of Potomac

For fans of: Altercations
Number of seasons: 6

Little Fires Everywhere

For fans of: Reese Witherspoon, Kerry Washington, skewering white liberals
Number of seasons: 1

The Best Halloween Movies to Watch on Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Hulu, and More

Spooky scary!

Allison PicurroOct. 31, 2021, 6:00 a.m. PT

Happy Halloweekend! Today is the last day to watch every single movie on this list before they all disappear into the void until next October (don't fact check that), so you'd best get to work now. Luckily, we've rounded up all the best Halloween movies to watch while it's still spooky season, from classics like John Carpenter's seminal Halloween to modern classics like Ari Aster's Hereditary. Our list also gives options to watch across a bunch of different streaming services, so whether you're looking on Netflix or HBO Max or Disney+, you'll find something scary to check out.

In our list of the best Halloween movies to watch this year, you'll find a mix of old and modern classics, some newer releases, and others we just think you'll be on the hunt for. Check out the list below.

End your browsing nightmare with TV Guide's recommendations for every mood

Looking for Halloween recommendations on specific streaming services? We have lists for the Best Halloween movies on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, and Disney+. Want more recommendations of what to watch next? We have a ton of them! And if you're looking for more hand-picked recommendations based on shows you love, we have those too.

The Witch

If your idea of getting into the Halloween mood is watching a movie so scary that you need to wear four pairs of underwear, you can't do much better than The Witch (or The VVitch, if you're cool). Robert Eggers' 2016 film is arguably the best horror film of the decade, and tops the list of A24's incredibly strong scary lineup that includes Midsommar, The Lighthouse, and Hereditary. Set in 1630, Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen's Gambit) stars as a teenager whose family relocates to a remote countryside where a strange presence lives in the nearby forest (can you guess what it is?) and threatens to turn the family against itself. The unnerving film is a masterclass in mood, rattling viewers to their core through Eggers' impeccable direction. I LOVE this movie. -Tim Surette [TRAILER | WATCH ON SHOWTIME]

Jamie Lee Curtis, Halloween — Jamie Lee Curtis, *Halloween*
Compass International Pictures

Halloween (1978)

It's all right there in the title: Halloween movies don't get any more iconic than the original Halloween. Jamie Lee Curtis, following in her mother Janet Leigh's scream queen footsteps, makes her film debut as Laurie Strode, a high school student whose babysitting gig goes to hell when she's stalked by an escaped killer who murdered his sister 15 years earlier. From director John Carpenter's chillingly minimalist score to Michael Myers' haunting, expressionless mask, Halloween takes a straightforward slasher premise and makes it art. -Kelly Connolly [TRAILER | WATCH ON SHUDDER]

Trick 'r Treat

The 2008 film Trick 'r Treat, which has become a modern Halloween cult classic, is actually four short movies in one, all tied together by a creepy (and somewhat adorable) trick-or-treater who shambles through each of the tales of terror in a small town on Halloween night. It has the feel of a horror classic of the 1980s, mixing campy comedy, genuine scares, gore, and a tiny bit of gratuitous skin, making it a perfect Halloween pre-party date night flick before you generate your own mayhem on the streets. -Tim Surette [TRAILER | WATCH ON HBO MAX]

Beetlejuice

Much like many Halloween movies, Beetlejuice is most notable for its villain. This one is played by Michael Keaton, having an absolute blast as the titular Beetlejuice, a mischievous and malevolent spirit who agrees to help a deceased couple haunt the family trying to buy their home, quickly escalating the situation to scary and fun heights in the process. [TRAILER | WATCH ON PEACOCK]

Scream

The slasher movie to end all slasher movies, Wes Craven's self-aware '90s classic centers around a California high school being targeted by a masked killer. There are so many reasons this movie remains iconic -- that terrifying opening phone call scene, to name just one -- and if you enjoy it, there are three more movies in the series (some of questionable quality, to be fair). [TRAILER | WATCH ON HBO MAX]

Hocus Pocus

Yes, there's a plot here -- a group of kids have to stop a trio of evil, kooky witches from becoming immortal -- but it's barely worth noting, since the witches themselves (played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy) are the best part of the whole movie. We aren't still talking about Hocus Pocus all these years after its release because of its riveting story, we're still talking about it because of the "I Put a Spell On You" scene! [TRAILER | WATCH ON DISNEY+]

Get Out

Jordan Peele's horror film has become a modern classic, telling the story of a young Black photographer whose white girlfriend brings him home for a weekend to meet her family, only for him to quickly discover that there's something much more sinister going on underneath the wealthy, Obama-voting surface. [TRAILER | WATCH ON AMAZON]

Ghostbusters

A trio of disgraced scientists decide to try their hand at taking out the paranormal entities terrorizing New York City -- get it? They're busting the ghosts! -- which makes them the city's only line of defense when they happen upon a doorway to an evil dimension that could destroy everything. I can't imagine there are very many people out there who haven't at least heard the Ghostbusters theme, a song absolutely impossible to escape during the month of October, but I'm sure they exist! [TRAILER | WATCH ON AMAZON]

The Shining

This adaptation of Stephen King's novel is a psychological trip, starring Jack Nicholson as a writer who accepts a job as a winter caretaker at a remote hotel, bringing along his wife and young son. As time passes, he slowly begins to unravel as the supernatural forces that exist on the property begin to make themselves known. [TRAILER | WATCH ON HBO MAX]

Halloweentown

Disney adults, gather round. A teenage girl discovers she's descended from witches and bound to help protect the supernatural community of Halloweentown, where skeletons drive cabs and goblins walk among humans. It's charmingly low budget and co-stars Debbie Reynolds, what more could you want? [TRAILER | WATCH ON DISNEY+]

The Addams Family (2019)

This is admittedly not the best Addams Family film, but it should entertain any kids you have in your life. In this one, which is somehow the first time this source material has gotten the animation treatment, the dark, eccentric Addamses move to a bland suburb, quickly becoming the focus of the town's confusion and ire. [TRAILER | WATCH ON HULU]

Casper

One of the only sweet-hearted movies on this list, Casper is, of course, about the titular friendly ghost, who strikes up a friendship with the teen girl who's just moved into the house he haunts. [TRAILER | WATCH ON AMAZON]

Scary Movie

Remember the bygone era of parody movies? They definitely get worse as they go on -- there were five total Scary Movie films, fun fact -- but this one is still kind of stupidly funny, mocking Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer, among other teen horror movies. [TRAILER | WATCH ON HBO MAX]

It

A group of young kids from a small town in Maine are terrorized by a demonic entity who takes on the form of the creepiest clown you've ever seen, which is saying something. Nothing says Halloween like a good old-fashioned Stephen King adaptation. [TRAILER | WATCH ON HBO MAX]

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

The best way to watch this cult classic musical about a young couple who get stranded at a mysterious mansion full of deranged characters during a storm is in a theater packed with other super fans, but you'll get plenty of enjoyment out of watching it at home too. [TRAILER | WATCH ON AMAZON]

The Fear Street movies

R.L. Stine, the guy who wrote the Goosebumps books, set his sights on a slightly older crowd with his Fear Street novel series, which are now the foundation for one of Netflix's biggest film experiments yet. The three teen-slasher horror films, which all tell the origin story of a cursed town, were each released over three consecutive Fridays in July 2021. Each film is set in a different year (1994, 1978, and 1666), culminating in a flashback to witch trials in the 1600s, and feature carryover cast members and plenty of gory deaths. Let's just say that after watching this you'll be extra careful around a bread slicer. -Tim Surette [TRAILER | WATCH ON NETFLIX]

Hereditary

After the death of their secretive grandmother, a family begins to notice a series of disturbing incidents that leave them trying to escape the fate they've inherited. This is an excellent, truly horrifying movie, but the main reason to put it on is Toni Collette, who gives an absolute powerhouse performance as the mother of the family. [TRAILER | WATCH ON SHOWTIME]

Suspiria

Luca Guadagnino directs this remake of the 1977 Dario Argento horror classic. Dakota Johnson stars as Susie, a seemingly fresh-faced dancer who travels from Ohio to Berlin to study at an elite dance academy and is quickly named head dancer. As Suspiria unfolds, and as more students and teachers are found dead or go missing entirely, it becomes increasingly clear that something very sinister and supernatural is going on underneath the surface. Also, Tilda Swinton plays three roles, and for one of them she gets to dress up as an old man. It's kooky, it's campy, and it's also very, very scary. [TRAILER | WATCH ON AMAZON]

Jennifer's Body

Despite being utterly panned when it was first released, time has been kind to Jennifer's Body. Karyn Kusama's 2009 teen horror film earned cult classic status a few years ago, largely thanks to its voracious internet fandom, who rightfully pointed out all the ways this movie was not only very good but also very ahead of its time. Megan Fox stars as Jennifer, a high school girl who gets (spoiler) possessed and has to feed on boys in order to stay alive, with her best friend Needy (Amanda Seyfried) the only one able to stop her. It's infinitely quotable, incredibly funny, and so, so smart. [TRAILER | WATCH ON IMDb TV]

Midsommar

Even if you haven't seen Midsommar, you've probably at least seen the memes or heard someone quote one of its most iconic lines: "Do you feel held by him?" This is the break-up movie to end all break-up movies, starring Florence Pugh as a girl who, while emotionally recovering from a devastating family tragedy, tags along on a trip to Sweden with her terrible boyfriend and his terrible friends to attend a festival that only occurs once every 90 years. And because this was directed by Ari Aster, the guy whose twisted mind also brought us Hereditary, it naturally devolves into a story about a neopagan cult, flower crowns, and unspeakable horrors occurring in broad daylight. [TRAILER | WATCH ON AMAZON]

It Comes at Night

While an unidentified illness ravages the world's population, a man holes up inside his secluded home in the woods with his wife and son. Their tenuous peace is disturbed by the arrival of another family, also looking for a place to stay safe from the disease. If this one seems a little, um, on the nose for you right now, we understand. [TRAILER | WATCH ON NETFLIX]

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Is it a Halloween movie? Is it a Christmas movie? Why not both? Jack Skellington (Danny Elfman), the unhappy pumpkin king of Halloweentown who's become bored with his repetitively spooky life, discovers a new passion when he accidentally learns of the existence of Christmastown. He decides to kidnap Santa Claus and take over his role, but as you can imagine, things don't go exactly as planned. [TRAILER | WATCH ON DISNEY+]

Child's Play

A kid discovers his new doll has been possessed by the spirit of a serial killer named Chucky. While I've always found this to be one of the dumber horror franchises, it sure has endured through the years, hasn't it? [TRAILER | WATCH ON HULU]

Pet Sematary (2019)

Stephen King's supernatural horror novel about a family that discovers an ancient burial ground behind their house was adapted once before in the '80s, but this most recent one is worth checking out if you want a cheap scare. [TRAILER | WATCH ON AMAZON]

The Omen (1976)

The Omen was famously remade in 2006, but have you seen the original film it was based on? Gregory Peck stars as a politician who begins to suspect his adopted son might just be the Antichrist. [TRAILER | WATCH ON HULU]

The Craft

The new girl at a Catholic high school befriends three outcasts who regularly practice witchcraft. When their spells appear to be working, the four begin to go mad with power. [TRAILER | WATCH ON HBO MAX]

The Conjuring

Two paranormal investigators (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) are called on to investigate a haunted house, quickly discovering the malevolent presence lurking around them. The weirdest part of this whole movie is that it claims to be based on a true story. [TRAILER | WATCH ON HBO MAX, NETFLIX]

Friday the 13th

The character of Jason Voorhees has been through many, many iterations throughout the decades, but this film, about a summer camp being targeted by a killer disguised behind a hockey mask, gives us his origin story. [TRAILER | WATCH ON HBO MAX]

A Nightmare on Elm Street

Much like Jason, Freddy Kreuger (Robert Englund) is at this point such a legendary film character that it's almost difficult to imagine a time when he wasn't around. This film, though, takes us back to the beginning, revolving around four teenagers who are attacked and killed by Kreuger in their dreams and in real life. [TRAILER | WATCH ON HBO MAX]

What We Do in the Shadows

In this horror-comedy, three vampire roommates are the subjects of a mockumentary about the hardships and daily pitfalls of modern-day life as a member of the undead community. This is one of those "Halloween movies for people who are scared of Halloween movies" movies, and once you finish it, you can go check out the excellent FX comedy series based on the film, which is just as much fun (if not even more) as the source material. [TRAILER | WATCH ON AMAZON]

Hubie Halloween

Adam Sandler threatened that if he wasn't nominated for an Oscar for Uncut Gems, he'd make the "worst movie ever." While this was his direct follow up to Gems, it's not the worst movie ever! It's actually goofily charming, starring Sandler as Hubie, the bumblingly earnest resident punching bag in his hometown of Salem, Massachusetts, who somehow finds himself involved in a very real murder case on Halloween. [TRAILER | WATCH ON NETFLIX]

His House

A refugee couple from South Sudan find their new housing in England is not what it seems in this chilling and stylish horror movie from writer-director Remi Weekes. If you love ghosts and grief but are ready for a little more intensity, His House is a must-watch; it's a haunted house story that blends serious scares with thoughtful commentary on immigration and trauma. Plus, it's anchored by unmissable performances from stars Wunmi Mosaku and Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù. -Kelly Connolly [TRAILER | WATCH ON NETFLIX]

ParaNorman

This inventive animated movie follows Norman, a kid with the ability to communicate with the dead, as the only person who can save his town from a centuries-old curse. [TRAILER | WATCH ON NETFLIX]

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