40 Best Shows On Hulu

While there's an abundance of fantastic streaming platforms putting out new content nowadays, Hulu still manages to stand apart, thanks to their excellent TV shows. Whether you're into science fiction, psychological horror, or thrilling crime stories, Hulu offers plenty of quality programming to choose from, with new series and episodes coming out every week.

There's so much good content on Hulu, in fact, that it's easy to become overwhelmed. Is it better to start with acclaimed original dramas like "The Handmaid's Tale" or charming sitcoms like "The Wonder Years?"  What about animated productions like "Rick and Morty"? To help you stay on top of the best new shows on Hulu, we've compiled this list of the platform's stand-out series. From award-winning sci-fi adventures to searing family sagas, these are the 40 best shows on Hulu.

Based on Terry Gilliam's 1995 film of the same name, "12 Monkeys" is a sci-fi story built around a mind-bending causality loop. Virologist Cassandra Railly gets tangled up in a time-travel story after encountering a man named James Cole, who claims to be from a bleak future where most of humanity has succumbed to a fast-moving virus. As in so many time travel stories, their efforts to save the future only seem to further muddy the timeline. With clever, twisty time travel rules and enough comic relief sprinkled in to ease the sting of darker content, "12 Monkeys" establishes itself as one of the most satisfying sci-fi series of the modern era.

• Starring: Aaron Stanford, Amanda Schull, Kirk Acevedo
• Creators: Terry Matalas, Travis Fickett
• Years: 2015 – 2018
• Rating: TV-14
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%

"Animaniacs" is an utterly zany and improbably smart '90s cartoon revived by Hulu in 2020. It follows the adventures of the Warner siblings, Yakko, Wakko, and Dot, who frequently escape the Warner Bros. Water Tower and get tangled in various hijinks around the production lot. "Animaniacs" is packed with satire of current events, pop culture spoofs, and even the occasional adult innuendo, which makes it a treat for all ages. Fans of the original show will be pleased to reunite with beloved recurring characters like Chicken Boo and Pinky and the Brain, while newbies will love getting to know them for the first time.

• Starring: Rob Paulsen, Jess Harnell, Tress MacNeille
• Creator: Tom Ruegger
• Year: 1993 – 1998, 2020 – present
• Rating: TV-PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

From the creator of "Ramy," "The Bear" looks at a stressful world that will be familiar to anyone who's spent time working in a restaurant. When James Beard-winning fine-dining chef Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto returns to his hometown of Chicago to save the iconic Italian beef restaurant left behind by his late brother, he finds himself literally scraping together change to pay off meat vendors. The series depict the intensity and struggle behind the restaurant world, with showrunner Christopher Storer explaining to Esquire that he set out to depict the back-of-the-house experience realistically, drawing on experiences shared with him by chefs and his own experiences living in Chicago. With an outstanding performance from Jeremy Allen White as Carmy, immersive storytelling, and fast pacing, this is a great series to add to your watch list.

• Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri
• Creator: Christopher Storer
• Year: 2022
• Rating: TV-MA
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%

Told across three jarringly different timelines, "Cruel Summer" is a mystery that explores what happens before and after Kate, a popular teenager, is abducted. In her absence, Jeanette, an awkward loner, gains friends and status. But when Kate is rescued a year later, she accuses Jeanette of knowing where she was all along and saying nothing. This accusation becomes national news and damages both of their families. But where does the truth actually lie? A twisty teen drama that deals with heavy subject matter, "Cruel Summer" is a darkly enjoyable thrill ride.

• Starring: Olivia Holt, Chiara Aurelia, Froy Gutierrez
• Creator: Bert V. Royal
• Year: 2021 – present
• Rating: TV-14
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%

Set in the same universe as "The Walking Dead," "Fear the Walking Dead" follows a group of survivors living amidst a zombie apocalypse. Thanks to vivid core characters, a Season 4 reboot that reimagines the story as a zombie Western, and a couple of crossovers with the original series, "Fear the Walking Dead" builds a strong identity of its own. Fans of the parent show might find "Fear the Walking Dead" a little more over-the-top, especially with its end-times cults and nuclear wastelands, but many will love it for exactly these reasons.

• Starring: Kim Dickens, Cliff Curtis, Frank Dillane
• Creators: Robert Kirkman, Dave Erickson
• Year: 2015 – present
• Rating: TV-MA
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 75%

Based on actual events, "The Girl From Plainville" begins with sweet teen Conrad's death by suicide. When police look into his text messages, they find a troubling pattern of communication between him and his girlfriend Michelle. Thus begins an investigation that ends with Michelle in prison. While a lesser series might have leaned into easy vilification, "The Girl from Plainville" offers a more nuanced exploration of this tragedy. What results is a deeply human drama and a potent warning to all parents to keep a close watch on their kids' communication.

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline​ at​ 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.

• Starring: Elle Fanning, Chloë Sevigny, Cara Buono
• Creators: Liz Hannah, Patrick Macmanus
• Year: 2022
• Rating: TV-MA
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

A beautifully crafted adaptation of Margaret Atwood's 1985 novel, "The Handmaid's Tale" depicts life under the authoritarian theocracy of Gilead. Years ago, amid a catastrophic fertility crisis, an extremist group displaced the United States government and stripped women of their rights. Under this new system, fertile women endure ritualized assault and forced childbearing. June is one of these women, who are known as Handmaids. As the series goes on, she learns to fight back — and so do the women around her. Led by a powerful and nuanced performance from Elisabeth Moss and featuring a chillingly beautiful score, "The Handmaid's Tale" offers a powerful warning about the dangers of misogyny.

• Starring: Elisabeth Moss, Joseph Fiennes, Yvonne Strahovski
• Creator: Bruce Miller
• Year: 2017 – present
• Rating: TV-MA
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 83%

"Killing Eve" is a wickedly good spy thriller that follows the titular Eve Polastri, an MI6 agent with a messy personality and a brilliant mind. When Eve crosses paths with super assassin and psychopath Villanelle, they develop a mutual obsession with each other that brings new meaning to the phrase "toxic relationship." Their cat-and-mouse game unfurls across the globe, spanning near-death experiences, attempted career changes, and international conspiracies. No matter what happens, they just can't seem to let go of each other — and that might just be their undoing.

• Starring: Sandra Oh, Jodie Comer, Fiona Shaw
• Creator: Phoebe Waller-Bridge
• Year: 2018 – 2022
• Rating: TV-14
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%

Middle school can be hell for some kids. But for 13-year-old Chrissy, things go a step further when she suddenly learns her dad is the devil — which makes her the Antichrist. The first day of seventh grade is an eventful one when Chrissy meets a new friend, kills some guys, and finds out her mom has been training to take out her demonic dad ever since she was conceived. It might not be the most groundbreaking adult animation on television, but the characters are unexpectedly relatable, and there's plenty of humor to go around. Between the gory animation, wicked gags, and outstanding cast, fans of this genre will find it an enjoyable watch.

• Starring: Aubrey Plaza, Danny DeVito, Lucy DeVito
• Creators: Darcy Fowler, Seth Kirschner, Kieran Valla
• Year: 2022
• Rating: TV-MA
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 82%

No matter who you are or what you do for a living, finding a good work-life balance is tough. For Ray Shoesmith, the antihero protagonist of "Mr Inbetween," it's even harder, as he must manage his family life and his career as a hitman. Though Ray tries to compartmentalize the vastly different aspects of his existence, they begin to bleed into one another. A dark comedy that soars in its deadpan delivery, "Mr Inbetween" creates a morally compromised lead viewers can't help but relate to — even if it's against their better judgment.

• Starring: Scott Ryan, Justin Rosniak, Brooke Satchwell
• Creator: Scott Ryan
• Years: 2018 – 2021
• Rating: TV-MA
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%

When true crime podcast fans and New York neighbors Mabel, Charles, and Oliver stumble onto their very own murder mystery, they quickly find themselves in over their heads. Standing too close to a crime scene can make anyone look awfully suspicious, after all. But the trio can't help but get up to all manner of Scooby-Dooing in and around their apartment building — and creating their own podcast around it. A tribute to amateur sleuths and true crime devotees, "Only Murders in the Building" is a charming and witty mystery series with scads of good-natured intergenerational humor.

• Starring: Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez
• Creators: John Hoffman, Steve Martin
• Year: 2021 – present
• Rating: TV-MA
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%

Lovably unlikeable South London flatmates Mark and Jez are the stars of "Peep Show," a cringe-y look at 30-somethings stuck in a state of stalled adolescence. Loan manager and war history buff Mark is abrasive, pessimistic, and socially inept, while Jez is a free-spirited slacker with no concept of financial responsibility and a mom who foots the bill. Point-of-view camera angles and inner monologues add to the sense of awkward claustrophobia that permeates every moment of this laugh-out-loud series, while colorful characters like Mark's ex Sophie, ruthless loan manager Alan, and bizarre bandmate Super Hans round out the series.

• Starring: David Mitchell, Robert Webb, Olivia Colman
• Creators: Jesse Armstrong, Sam Bain, Andrew O'Connor
• Years: 2003 – 2015
• Rating: TV-MA
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%

From co-creator and star Ramy Youssef comes "Ramy," a comedy-drama about a first-generation American Muslim struggling to reconcile the pieces of his identity. Ramy deals with a number of challenges, from dating issues to close-to-home cultural clashes to sugar addiction. Much of the series is focused on his search for spiritual meaning in the murky world of modern New Jersey, where he feels eternally caught between worlds. Every moment is heartfelt and nuanced, giving an insightful look into an all-American story.

• Starring: Ramy Youssef, Hiam Abbass, Amr Waked
• Creators: Ramy Youssef, Ari Katcher, Ryan Welch
• Year: 2019 – present
• Rating: TV-MA
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%

Perhaps the most NSFW cartoon ever made, "Rick and Morty" plunges to new depths of depravity while also managing to be a clever and insightful sci-fi adventure. The series centers around Morty, an anxious teen, and Rick Sanchez, his mad scientist grandfather. Rick spends his days making weird inventions, getting drunk, and dragging Morty through the multiverse on various adventures. Their journeys range from the horrifying to the deeply emotional, and eventually develop into a genuinely affecting story about family dysfunction. It's all rendered in brilliantly colorful and frequently trippy visuals that bring new complexity to the genre.

• Starring: Justin Roiland, Chris Parnell, Spencer Grammer
• Creators: Justin Roiland, Dan Harmon
• Year: 2013 – present
• Rating: TV-14
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%

A journalist at an alternative paper, 20-something Annie is eager to move forward in life and possesses the gumption to do so. However, she isn't interested in losing weight, much to everyone's surprise. As the series goes on, the life she wants comes into sharper focus — but the world is cruel to confident women. Annie must learn to draw upon her own strength if she's going to thrive. "Shrill" is an honest, hilarious, and deeply body positive look at what it takes to become the person you want to be.

• Starring: Aidy Bryant, Lolly Adefope, Luka Jones
• Creators: Aidy Bryant, Lindy West, Alexandra Rushfield
• Years: 2019 – 2021
• Rating: TV-MA
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%

Judging by the premise of "Schitt's Creek" alone, it's hard to believe how quickly viewers quickly come to root for the Roses, the wealthy family central to this wholesome comedy series. The story begins with the Roses losing almost everything — from their mansion to their furniture — thanks to their embezzling business manager. When they realize they still own a small town called Schitt's Creek (once purchased as a gag gift), the Roses relocate to the community, moving into a hotel while they work out their next move. The heartfelt and hilarious fish-out-of-water tale finds the family eventually integrating with and endearing themselves to the locals while getting to truly know and love each other as a family for the first time. Endless running gags, whimsical storylines, and a love story for the ages make this one of the best sit-coms on television.

• Starring: Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Dan Levy
• Creators: Dan Levy, Eugene Levy, Fred Levy
• Year: 2015
• Rating: TV-14
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%

An adorable and optimistic series, "This Fool" follows the story of two cousins in Los Angeles after one is released from prison. The buttoned-up Julio works for a gang rehabilitation center called Hugs Not Drugs where reformed ex-gang members bake and sell cupcakes. After his older, more chaotic cousin Luis is released from prison after eight years, Julio brings him into the Hugs fold and starts to realize maybe Luis could teach him a thing or two as well. A quirky and whimsical buddy comedy and odd couple pairing all rolled into one, "This Fool" is one of the best sit-coms on Hulu.

• Starring: Chris Estrada, Frankie Quiñones, Michael Imperioli
• Creators: Chris Estrada, Pat Bishop, Matt Ingrebretson
• Year: 2022
• Rating: TV-MA
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%

When popular Veronica Mars, daughter of the local sheriff, discovers her best friend has been murdered, her charmed life is shattered. Things soon get worse when her dad's investigation runs afoul of some powerful folks, costing him the next sheriff's election and leading to the family's ostracization. In the wake of these events, Daddy Mars starts up his own P.I. business, with Veronica on his investigation team. A delightful noir drama ensues. The series earned a cult following during its original run, then got a long-awaited revival in 2019.

• Starring: Kristen Bell, Percy Daggs III, Teddy Dunn
• Creator: Rob Thomas
• Year: 2004 – 2019
• Rating: TV-14
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%

Told in the style of the original 1988 series of the same name, "The Wonder Years" follows Dean, a 12-year-old growing up in 1960s Alabama. While the original show focuses on a white family, this series centers around a Black family, who face systemic racism, the Vietnam War, and a changing culture. While it tackles these heavy issues head-on, it's also a comedy enlivened by a fantastic cast and witty writing. "The Wonder Years" offers a nostalgic and heartfelt look at life in a bygone time that's a bit closer to our own than we often realize.

• Starring: Elisha Williams, Dulé Hill, Saycon Sengbloh
• Creator: Saladin K. Patterson
• Year: 2021 – present
• Rating: TV-PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%

When every living mammal with a Y chromosome mysteriously dies within a short time frame, the world is irrevocably changed. Inexplicably, Yorick, a struggling magician, and his pet monkey Ampersand survive this tragedy. Thus begins "Y: The Last Man," a dystopian tale unlike any other. In the wreckage of civilization, Yorick finds himself traveling across a land now dominated by women trying to recreate the world they knew, determine what caused such mass death, and find ways to carry on. What saved him from oblivion? Can it be captured and replicated? And what will happen to Yorick if answers to these questions are found? Though it only spans a single season, "Y: The Last Man" is worth any sci-fi fan's time.

• Starring: Diane Lane, Ashley Romans, Ben Schnetzer
• Creator: Eliza Clark
• Year: 2021
• Rating: TV-MA
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 76%