Since its 2007 launch, Hulu has been a significant player in the streaming market and routinely creates high-quality original content for its users. But with so much original material being created by streaming platforms these days in an effort to draw in users and excel at what they do, it can be difficult to keep up.
Although Hulu joined the original content party a little later than its rivals, it doesn't appear to lose its edge with each new production. As evidenced by their IMDb scores, several of Hulu's most popular shows have won accolades from both viewers and critics, making them worthwhile to be added to moviegoers’ watch lists.
Updated on June 23, 2023, by Jessie Nguyen:
As the award-winning Hulu original series, The Bear is back for season 2 with more kitchen chaos, now is a great time for fans to check out Hulu's highest-rated original series, ranked according to IMDb.
13 'Ramy' (2019 - )
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
Ramy focuses on a first-generation American Muslim, Ramy Hassan (Ramy Youssef) who is on a spiritual quest in his politically polarized New Jersey neighborhood. The show examines the difficulties of being stuck between an Egyptian community that views life as a moral test and a generation that believes there are no consequences to one's actions in life.
Ramy's portrayal of the Muslim-American experience, the experience of first-generation immigrants, and the experience of being bilingual is an essential and necessary addition to the millennial dramedy subgenre. Additionally, Ramy is cerebral rather than belly-laugh amusing, yet it approaches its introspective subject matter with levity. Also, the fact that the show is based on deeply personal experiences for Youssef contributes to part of what makes Ramy work so well.
12 'The Looming Tower' (2018)
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
The Looming Tower is a miniseries that explores the growing influence of Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda in the late 1990s and how the competition between the CIA and FBI at that time may have unintentionally paved the way for the tragedy of 9/11. It follows agents from the FBI and CIA's counterterrorism divisions as they traverse the globe fighting for control of information while ostensibly attempting to stop an impending attack on American soil.
For those who couldn't read the 9/11 Commission Report transcripts, The Looming Tower serves as an accurate, educational, and occasionally startling account of real historical events in America. Moreover, the show, which is supported by outstanding performances from Jeff Daniels, Peter Sarsgaard, and Tahar Rahim, turns an unblinking eye on its subject without converting its American protagonists or its enemies into perfect villains or two-dimensional bad guys.
11 'Love, Victor' (2020 - 2022)
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
Inspired by and set in the same cinematic world as the 2018 film Love, Simon, Love, Victor follows Victor (Michael Cimino), a new student at Creekwood High School, as he navigates issues at home, gets used to a new environment, and wrestles with his sexual orientation. He then turns to Simon (Nick Robinson) for assistance in navigating the ups and downs of high school when it all becomes too much.
Love, Victor embraces and continues giving other young people who reside in conservative places or far from other LGBTQ+ people a sense of community and a myriad of possible futures to which they might aspire. Also, it is an almost flawless spin-off series that somehow outperforms the original film.
10 'Pen15' (2019 - 2021)
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Pen15 is a humorous tale of middle school as witnessed by two girls in the 7th grade, played by 31-year-old actresses Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle by the time season 1 of the show began, as they navigate the social awkwardness of adolescence.
With its dial-up modems, bubblegum pop, and frosted lip gloss, PEN15 is both a subversive portrayal and the ideal trip down memory lane for Old Millennials. The show also bravely confronts the awkwardness, horribleness, and magnificence of adolescence with a large heart. Additionally, even when the treatment of the subject matter sometimes cringes, Konkle and Erskine maintain a charmingly wacky chemistry.
9 '11.22.63' (2016)
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Based on the 2011 novel of the same name by Stephen King, 11.22.63 follows an English teacher Jake Epping (James Franco), who is a newly divorced man from Lisbon, Maine, and is offered by his lifelong friend, Al Templeton (Chris Cooper), to go back in time to 1960.
11.22.63 is a must-see TV show due to its captivating, wholly original plot and great performances by Franco and Sarah Gadon. It’s also a classic example of science fiction/horror hokum with a welcome edge that breathes new life into the time-travel subgenre.
8 'Only Murders in the Building' (2021 - )
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Only Murders in the Building follows three neighbors, played by Martin Short, Steve Martin, and Selena Gomez, whose shared interest in true crime podcasts brings them together to investigate a murder in the apartment building in which they all live.
The show is an entertaining adventure that captures both the appeal of Agatha Christine-style whodunnits and the bizarre absurdity of a culture that utilizes real-life murder as entertainment. Elements of solitude, camaraderie, and humor are all present in the series, giving everyone something to linger too. Also, Only Murders in the Building beautifully highlights and bridges the generational gap, luring viewers from all age groups.
7 'The Great' (2020 - )
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Loosely based on the rise to power of Catherine the Great, Empress of All Russia, The Great is a historical and satirical black comedy-drama TV series that discusses Catherine the Great's (Elle Fanning) transition from an outsider to the woman who ruled Russia as the most extended period of time.
The Great is a classy and boisterous genre-busting history lecture that is equally full of witty banter, idealistic principles, and heinous vice. Moreover, Fanning and Nicholas Hoult’s amazing on-screen chemistry is one of the show’s highlights along with its dark sense of humor and a critical look at the history and women in power.
6 'Wu-Tang: An American Saga' (2019 - 2023)
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Set in New York City in the early 1990s, at the peak of the crack cocaine epidemic, Wu-Tang: An American Saga follows the birth of the Wu-Tang Clan amid the perils and excesses associated with the epidemic, which Bobby Diggs inspired, alias The RZA (Ashton Sanders).
Wu-Tang: An American Saga portrays this world realistically and vividly while yet making room for moments of tranquility, silence, love, and unity. It excels at capturing everyday life on the streets in unassuming, commonplace plainness, allowing viewers to see New York through the eyes of the man who would later become the RZA. Moreover, the musical aspects of the show come to life when the coming-of-age crime narrative is put in the background as a powerful plot device.
5 'Normal People' (2020)
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Sally Rooney, Normal People centers on Marianne Sheridan (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Connell Waldron's (Paul Mescal) relationship as they negotiate adulthood from their last days of secondary school to their student years at Trinity College.
The two excellent young actors with a great load of chemistry, drive it forward as they shed light on the highs and lows of a relationship that lasts through college. Moreover, the show perfectly captures the "touch" that is much more than just physical contact, as was mentioned in the original source material. Hence, the evocative force of literature is transferred to a pleasant television drama that gives that narrative structure the potent advantages of performance and visual storytelling.
4 'The Handmaid's Tale' (2017 - )
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale is set in a dystopian future and follows June (Elisabeth Moss), who is arrested while attempting to flee with her husband and kid, is sentenced to serve as a handmaid for childless government officials and bears their children.
The ordinariness of such tyranny even today is what makes The Handmaid's Tale so remarkable, not only in this world where all illusion of female equality has been removed. The hard-hitting dystopian show is a difficult watch for some viewers, yet, it’s also expertly put together a serious theme, scary score, and stunning performances by the cast. In addition, the show successfully replaces pure reflection with feeling while maintaining the original novel's tone and purpose.
3 'The Bear' (2022 - )
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
After his elder brother, Michael, (Jon Bernthal) died by suicide, leaving behind debts, a dilapidated kitchen, and an unruly workforce, The Bear follows a young chef named Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) from the world of fine dining returns to his family's Italian beef sandwich shop in Chicago to operate it.
The Bear offers a detailed portrayal of the hectic speed of kitchen work and the harsh reality of restaurant society including standout performances from White and Ayo Edebiri as Sydney Adamu, the sous-chef. The Bear also examines grief and addiction in a truthful and respectful manner, and it beautifully angles the beauty of the city it is based in, Chicago through not only cinematic decisions but also soundtrack choices.
2 'Dopesick' (2021)
IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
Based on Beth Macy's non-fiction book Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America, Dopesick is a miniseries that focuses on the center of America's problem with opiate addiction in the U.S, on how it affects people and families individually, on the potential conflicts of interest among Purdue Pharma and other government organizations, and on the legal case against Purdue Pharma for their creation, evaluation, and distribution of the medication OxyContin.
Dopesick demonstrates the horrifying, terrible effects of opiate addiction as well as how the checks and balances that were in place clearly failed and how this had a devastating effect on the lives of regular people. Most people find it difficult to watch, especially those who had to go through this, but it's necessary and crucial viewing.
1 'Letterkenny' (2016 - )
IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
Letterkenny centers on the titular small rural Ontario community and features siblings Wayne (Jared Keeso) and Katy (Michelle Mylett) who work along with Wayne's friends Daryl (Nathan Dales) to run a small farm and produce stand.
The extreme moral integrity at Letterkenny's core, rather than the foot-tapping fights and frenzied character assassinations, is its real star. One of the show's highlights is its clever use of language and vocabulary, which occasionally makes it difficult for viewers to follow without subtitles but really just demonstrates how much thought the screenwriters put into it.
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