Top Movies to Watch on Hulu in February 2023

In an era where Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney + seem to be running rampant, Hulu is making admirable strides in this space. Hulu has cemented itself as one of the biggest names in the world of streaming. Over the last few years, it has slowly been growing its selection of films and shows. There are countless to choose from, including a mixed variety of indie movies, timeless classics, blockbusters, and many more. There is so much to go around that one wonders if we could ever watch all of them.

Let’s dive into the list of good movies on Hulu to watch in February 2023. The beauty of video-on-demand is the ability to watch on a host of devices and all you really need is a screen and an internet connection. Luckily, using Spectrum internet will have you watching effortlessly and to your heart’s delight—all without any lag or delay.

Best Movies on Hulu

We have rounded up the best movies you can watch on Hulu this February to embark on your movie-marathon journey. So, let’s get started!

Sputnik

Released: 2020

Director: Egor Abramenko

Runtime: 113 minutes

The Alien franchise has set the bar incredibly high when it comes to movies about intergalactic beings paying earth a visit. With long tentacles, dark hues, and incredible VFX that ties in everything together, these movies have definitely set the bar for this genre. Sputnik belongs to the same category but where Alien is more flamboyant and exciting, Sputnik has made a movie that makes the audience shift in their seat at every moment. Instead of bursting into the frame, the aliens in Sputnik will slowly slither out of Konstantin’s mouth, twisting and turning the audience’s insides.

Using incredibly intricate outfits and a spectacularly designed alien coupled with amazing audio and VFX, this movie will keep you on the edge of your seat at all times.  

Akira

Released: 1988

Director: Katsuhiro Otomo

Runtime: 124 minutes

Anime is one of the most popular genres of our age. This is thanks in part to Akira which was one of the first films to really make a name for itself outside of Japan. At the time, Akira was one of the most expensive Anime ever created and its performance set a benchmark that the industry held itself to. Akira is set in a post-WW3 world where Tokyo is now known as neo-Tokyo—as a consequence of an explosion that damaged the old city. The city is littered with remnants of better times that seem like a distant memory at this point.

The story revolves around two friends, Kaneda Shotaro and Tetsuo Shima. They are part of a motorcycle gang made up of different youths that unfortunately find themselves in deep trouble after they crash into an unsuspecting child. Tetsuo is dragged away by the military while Kaneda and co. helplessly watch. As the story progresses, Tetsuo discovers new psychic abilities he didn’t know he had. Kaneda is desperately trying to find his friend. Down the line, the two friends clash as Akira—a dark power—begins to rear its hellish head. Akira is considered a forerunner for the boom in Anime content and is considered the pivotal Anime that garnered attention in the West.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire

Released: 2020

Director: Celine Sciamma

Runtime: 119 minutes

Set just before the French revolution, Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a story of an artist—Marianne, played by Noémie Merlant—who has been tasked with painting a portrait of a young aristocrat—Heloïse, played by Adèle Hannel. Being completely against the idea of marriage, Heloïse has no idea of what is going on under her nose as the artist takes a rather unconventional approach. Instead of asking Heloïse to pose for the portrait, Marianne decides to befriend the subject of her painting to keep her motive hidden. The two go on afternoon walks where Marianne is constantly studying Heloïse’s features to etch an image in her mind which is then recreated on a canvas.

The film wonderfully depicts the class differences in society and does an admirable job of showing how power dynamics in a relationship can drive it in different directions.

Cast Away

Released: 2000

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Runtime: 143 minutes

One of the most iconic films in modern history, Cast Away is the story of the FedEx executive—Chuck Noland, played by the legendary Tom Hanks. He is training employees in Moscow, Russia while waiting eagerly to return home to his girlfriend Kelly, played by Helen Hunt. After a joyous Christmas break, Chuck is desperately trying to find time to meet Kelly in New York where he intends to ask Kelly to marry him.

On the plane ride over, the aircraft crashes into the Pacific Ocean, six hundred miles to the south of Cook Islands. Noland finds himself alone, washed ashore on an uninhabited island where he must now fend for himself and clamor to any and every effort for survival. His only companion? A volleyball named Wilson was made by the now iconic Wilson Sporting Goods. The film sees Chuck breathe life into Wilson as he now considers Wilson his only compatriot on the Island as he makes an effort to get through every day.

Cast Away wonderfully captures how Chuck struggles to accept the reality that he now lives in while fighting an uphill battle to maintain his sanity. The movie was an overwhelming success, allowing Tom Hanks to win a Golden Globe for an iconic performance. 

Her Smell

Released: 2019

Director: Alex Ross Perry

Runtime: 134 minutes

Her Smell is a film that perfectly emulates director Alex Ross Perry’s fixation on the human gaze. It only made sense that the film casts Elisabeth Moss as Becky Something. Moss plays the frontwoman for the punk rock band—Something She—in this film, which uses her iconic gaze to leave an imprint on her costars and the audience.

A lethal combination of a toxic personality and a drug addiction shows the implosion of Becky’s world as she maneuvers her way through subpar success in a punk rock world. However, akin to Alex Ross Perry’s films, Becky is allowed to redeem herself after all these bad decisions. The film shows Becky as an abusive individual who makes life miserable for her ex-husband, bandmates, and mother—something the audience will see her repent and regret as the movie progresses. Her Smell is a film that wonderfully captures the reality of life and delves into the very real consequences that our actions can cause.

Flee

Released: 2021

Director: Jonas Poher Rasmussen

Runtime: 90 minutes

A masterstroke of a documentary, Flee is a wonderfully rendered depiction of the life of Amin who finally opens up about the ordeal of living in Afghanistan governed by the Taliban. Living life as a gay, non-fundamentalist in Kabul under the manic Taliban is perhaps a grim reminder of the atrocities that mankind is able to enact on each other.

In Flee, you will see how Jonas Poher Rasmussen has beautifully recreated the death-defying journey to Denmark from Afghanistan. The director has beautifully found a way to recreate the different perils that Amin had to go through in his journey from obscurity to safety. As the film is recreated from the memory of Amin and his experiences, it comes as no surprise that there are certain fuzzy details he has either buried deep into his mind or chooses not to recollect. The power of animation runs wild as some of the most heinous conditions known to mankind are made to put Amin’s struggles into reality. One might think Jonas is using Amin’s trauma for personal gain but Flee has been made with input from Amin himself. It is his way of acknowledging his traumatic past while paving the way for a better future for himself.

Refugee stories are often terrifying to hear about but Jonas Poher Rasmussen paints a wonderful picture of it and sheds light on one of the most terrible experiences that millions of people have to live through.

There You Are!

Hulu does not get the credit it deserves for being one of the finest streaming services out there. With several offerings to choose from, the platform stands toe-to-toe with all the other big names in the market. These titles are just a drop in a vast ocean of remarkable content that calls Hulu its home.

You can enjoy the best movies on Hulu right now on your phone, tablet, computer, or smart TV. All you need is a smooth, strong, and reliable internet connection, like Optimum internet, for effortless streaming and no buffering. Happy streaming!