In a highly saturated marketplace, it has become increasingly difficult for industry newcomers to make inroads against the well-established competition, with this being particularly apparent in the world of streaming services, with Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and Apple TV+ dominating the terrain.
However, the likes of Hulu symbolize somewhat of a shift, and as such, we've certainly begun to see a more level playing field as far as the standards of the aforementioned are concerned. With that being said, Hulu has a December offering that will make the mouths of even the hardest-to-please cinephiles water. Let's look at all the films heading to Hulu in the lead-up to Christmas.
The Bourne Franchise
Streaming on Dec. 1
The Bourne Identity
PG-13
- Release Date
- June 14, 2002
- Director
- Doug Liman
- Cast
- Matt Damon , Franka Potente , Chris Cooper , Clive Owen , Brian Cox , Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
- Runtime
- 111
- Main Genre
- Action
We must confess, Hulu hasn't completely gone to town with the Bourne franchise, with neither the 2007 nor the 2016 editions included in their latest offering. However, Bourne Identity, Supremacy, and Legacy are all set to be added to Hulu's back catalog at the beginning of December.
Unsurprisingly, this is an exciting time to be a Bourne fan, with the rough-and-ready former CIA assassin ready to return to the small screen as he seeks to regain his senses after severe amnesia and attempts to evade the capture of the CIA. For those deterred by James Bond's misogynistic propensities and grandiose stunts, Jason Bourne provides a more realistic form of escapism that doesn't spare us the blood, guts, and all-out action it promises.
Related: 18 Best Hulu Original Films and Television Series to Watch Right Now
District 9
Streaming on Dec. 1
District 9
R
- Release Date
- August 5, 2009
- Director
- Neill Blomkamp
- Cast
- Sharlto Copley , Jason Cope , Nathalie Boltt , Sylvaine Strike , Elizabeth Mkandawie , John Sumner
- Runtime
- 112
- Main Genre
- Action
Neil Blomkamp's low-budget sci-fi feature, District 9, brought alien life in South Africa to the fore in this intriguing exploration of humans and aliens essentially living side-by-side. Set against the backdrop of a nigh-on apocalyptic Johannesburg, whereby extra-terrestrial beings have landed in the city and have subsequently been confined to the slums of South Africa's City of Gold, District 9 traverses the nationwide pursuit of Wikus van der Merwe (Sharlto Copley) who is relentlessly hunted after he is exposed to a foreign chemical. While some flaws have been cited from a narrative perspective, District 9 is a compelling watch that offers an alternative take on the alien invasion trope.
Juno
Streaming on Dec. 1
Juno
PG-13
- Release Date
- December 5, 2007
- Director
- Jason Reitman
- Cast
- Elliot Page , Michael Cera , Jennifer Garner , Jason Bateman , Allison Janney , J.K. Simmons
- Runtime
- 92
- Main Genre
- Comedy
Up In the Air's Jason Reitman oversaw this charming rom-com from the directorial hot seat, and it is feasibly his best work to date. 2007's Juno, starring Michael Cera and Elliot Page (then Ellen Page) in the titular roles, follows the story of adolescent Juno (Page), who inadvertently falls pregnant.
As such, she is left to make a crucial decision concerning her and her unborn child's future. This coming-of-age comedy is a heartwarming, quirky, and full-bodied tale of courage, wit, and a future mother's deep-rooted love for her child. Cera and Page both put in career-making displays, with Cera having just come off the back of another dazzling showing in Superbad.
Tombstone
Streaming on Dec. 1
Tombstone
R
- Release Date
- December 25, 1993
- Director
- George P. Cosmatos
- Cast
- Kurt Russell , Val Kilmer , Sam Elliott , Bill Paxton , Powers Boothe , Michael Biehn
- Runtime
- 130
- Main Genre
- Action
Tombstone has frequently fallen victim to being perennially underrated despite being, debatably, one of the best Westerns of all time. Featuring an unmistakable Kurt Russell with his iconic handle-bar mustache and thousand-yard stare, this epic examines the true story of O.K. Corral in the late 19th century in the town of Tombstone.
Russell delivers a career-defining portrayal of the morally conscientious lawman Wyatt Earp, who heads to Tombstone with his two brothers, Virgil (Sam Elliott) and Morgan (Bill Paxton), in pursuit of a quiet retirement, having served as peace officers. Staying faithful to this true tale of valor, Tombstone details the brothers and their confidant, Doc Holliday's (Val Kilmer) daring efforts to restore law and order in a town run by cowboys. Russell and Kilmer are flawless and consequently made this film what it is: a Western for the ages.
Related: 20 Best Limited Series on Hulu to Watch Right Now
The Hustler
Streaming on Dec. 1
The Hustler
NR
- Release Date
- September 25, 1961
- Director
- Robert Rossen
- Cast
- Paul Newman , Jackie Gleason , Piper Laurie , George C. Scott , Myron McCormick , Murray Hamilton
- Runtime
- 134
Depicting a silver screen icon, Paul Newman, in his irrefutable pomp, 1961's The Hustler places the Before the Devil Knows You're Dead star front and center stage as Eddie Felson, a pool hustler, who decides to go head-to-head with the lauded pool player, Minnesota Fats over a high stakes game.
Nominated for eight Academy Awards and subsequently claiming two in the Best Cinematography and Best Art Design categories, this screen adaptation of novelist Walter Tevis' 1959 novel of the same name is a must-watch on Hulu when December swings into action.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Streaming on Dec. 25
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
R
- Release Date
- July 24, 2019
- Director
- Quentin Tarantino
- Cast
- Margot Robbie , Brad Pitt , Leonardo DiCaprio , Damon Herriman , Dakota Fanning , Sydney Sweeney
- Runtime
- 165
- Main Genre
- Crime
It is well-publicized that Quentin Tarantino only wants to make 10 movies due to his belief that directors seem to make pretty terrible final films and, therefore, doesn't want to succumb to the same fate. If that is to be believed, 2019's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood could be Tarantino's panachey penultimate.
The film confronts matters of ageism and the death of one era of acting. It follows the lives of Hollywood television star Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stunt double, Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), as they navigate the cut-throat acting climate of Manson-era LA. Grappling with existentialism and staring down the barrel at his own demise, Rick attempts to stave off the inevitable in what is a deeply poignant, often funny, and irresistibly likable Tarantino special.
For a complete list of movies coming to Hulu in December 2023, you can click here.
