As the colder temperatures chase us indoors, we’ll be hunkering down in family rooms and dens to watch movies provided by streaming services such as Hulu. In December, Hulu is offering a host of animated films, thrillers, and rom-coms, as well as movies exploring the gay experience. Most of the motion pictures were recently released. (Here’s a list of the best LGBTQ+ movies of all time.)
To determine the best movies to stream on Hulu this December, 24/7 Tempo developed an index using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of December 2022, weighting all ratings equally. We considered only movies with at least 5,000 audience votes on either IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes. (Documentaries were not considered.) Data on streaming availability, current as of this month, comes from the streaming guide Reelgood. Directorial credits are from IMDb.
Also on the Hulu docket are the thrillers “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” “Unbreakable,” “Looper,” and “The Fugitive.” The latter two are among the 14 on the list that have a Rotten Tomatoes critics score of more than 90%. Another is “Arthur Christmas,” with a score of 92%, one of the animated films represented here, along with “A Cat in Paris,” “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron,” and “Surf’s Up.”
Click here to see the best movies to stream on Hulu this December
Gay and coming-of-age themes are explored in the movies “The Miseducation of Cameron Post,” “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” and “Love, Simon.” (These are the 50 best coming-of-age movies.)
Some of the comedies on the list are also among the oldest offerings – “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” “Tootsie,” “Office Space,” and “Blazing Saddles,” and “Liar, Liar.”
50. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)
> IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (186,833 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (210,311 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 56% (225 reviews)
> Directed by: Wes Anderson
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49. The Art of Self-Defense (2019)
> IMDb user rating: 6.6/10 (34,003 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 63% (631 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 84% (166 reviews)
> Directed by: Riley Stearns
48. White Men Can’t Jump (1992)
> IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (80,745 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 68% (161,822 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 77% (56 reviews)
> Directed by: Ron Shelton
47. Saw (2004)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (396,891 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (853,003 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 51% (188 reviews)
> Directed by: James Wan
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46. The Infiltrator (2016)
> IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (71,492 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 71% (19,098 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 72% (179 reviews)
> Directed by: Brad Furman
45. Surf’s Up (2007)
> IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (73,563 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 70% (631,286 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 79% (147 reviews)
> Directed by: Ash Brannon & Chris Buck
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44. The Patriot (2000)
> IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (262,681 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (423,277 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 62% (137 reviews)
> Directed by: Roland Emmerich
43. Julie & Julia (2009)
> IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (113,388 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 70% (363,553 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 77% (227 reviews)
> Directed by: Nora Ephron
42. Desperado (1995)
> IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (177,979 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (188,414 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 66% (47 reviews)
> Directed by: Robert Rodriguez
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41. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002)
> IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (71,290 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 77% (59,909 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 69% (127 reviews)
> Directed by: Kelly Asbury & Lorna Cook
40. Boss Level (2021)
> IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (48,731 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 78% (730 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 74% (81 reviews)
> Directed by: Joe Carnahan
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39. Unbreakable (2000)
> IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (400,845 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 77% (291,199 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 70% (174 reviews)
> Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
38. Warm Bodies (2013)
> IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (224,580 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 73% (131,644 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 81% (209 reviews)
> Directed by: Jonathan Levine
37. The Hundred-Foot Journey (2014)
> IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (79,523 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (32,505 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 68% (148 reviews)
> Directed by: Lasse Hallström
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36. A Cat in Paris (2010)
> IMDb user rating: 6.9/10 (11,007 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 72% (6,448 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (64 reviews)
> Directed by: Jean-Loup Felicioli & Alain Gagnol
35. Devil in a Blue Dress (1995)
> IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (18,971 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 70% (10,510 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (62 reviews)
> Directed by: Carl Franklin
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34. Liar Liar (1997)
> IMDb user rating: 6.9/10 (292,887 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 75% (988,700 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 82% (62 reviews)
> Directed by: Tom Shadyac
33. Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (486,836 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (23,599 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 60% (411 reviews)
> Directed by: Bryan Singer
32. Dawn of the Dead (2004)
> IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (245,727 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 77% (404,207 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 76% (193 reviews)
> Directed by: Zack Snyder
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31. The Miseducation of Cameron Post (2018)
> IMDb user rating: 6.6/10 (20,501 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 76% (1,560 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 86% (187 reviews)
> Directed by: Desiree Akhavan
30. Super Dark Times (2017)
> IMDb user rating: 6.6/10 (21,403 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 72% (2,803 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (48 reviews)
> Directed by: Kevin Phillips
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29. Run (2020)
> IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (59,044 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 74% (1,255 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (138 reviews)
> Directed by: Aneesh Chaganty
28. Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)
> IMDb user rating: 6.9/10 (51,020 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 71% (19,433 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (211 reviews)
> Directed by: Sean Durkin
27. Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
> IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (155,172 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 77% (140,200 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 79% (197 reviews)
> Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson
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26. Robot & Frank (2012)
> IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (63,139 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 75% (25,245 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 86% (140 reviews)
> Directed by: Jake Schreier
25. Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (2007)
> IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (100,426 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 71% (86,616 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (178 reviews)
> Directed by: Sidney Lumet
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24. Luce (2019)
> IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (11,498 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 77% (284 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (162 reviews)
> Directed by: Julius Onah
23. American Animals (2018)
> IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (41,862 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (2,945 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (215 reviews)
> Directed by: Bart Layton
22. Arthur Christmas (2011)
> IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (54,530 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 76% (15,497 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (169 reviews)
> Directed by: Sarah Smith
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21. X-Men (2000)
> IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (588,150 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (1,067,961 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 82% (175 reviews)
> Directed by: Bryan Singer
20. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
> IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (137,996 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (366,538 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 80% (44 reviews)
> Directed by: Jim Sharman
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19. Pleasantville (1998)
> IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (125,076 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (230,983 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 85% (97 reviews)
> Directed by: Gary Ross
18. The Way, Way Back (2013)
> IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (144,143 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (55,664 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (185 reviews)
> Directed by: Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
17. The Sessions (2012)
> IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (42,040 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (23,542 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (203 reviews)
> Directed by: Ben Lewin
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16. Tootsie (1982)
> IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (101,856 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (58,575 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (51 reviews)
> Directed by: Sydney Pollack
15. The Fisher King (1991)
> IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (82,472 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (45,843 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 84% (61 reviews)
> Directed by: Terry Gilliam
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14. Looper (2012)
> IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (550,438 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (180,475 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (269 reviews)
> Directed by: Rian Johnson
13. Office Space (1999)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (251,954 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (325,914 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 80% (102 reviews)
> Directed by: Mike Judge
12. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (440,178 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (119,228 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 86% (256 reviews)
> Directed by: David Fincher
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11. Cast Away (2000)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (551,582 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (744,162 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (158 reviews)
> Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
10. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (481,434 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (139,126 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 85% (168 reviews)
> Directed by: Stephen Chbosky
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9. Say Anything (1989)
> IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (85,993 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (138,784 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (46 reviews)
> Directed by: Cameron Crowe
8. Casino (1995)
> IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (488,082 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (285,398 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 79% (68 reviews)
> Directed by: Martin Scorsese
7. Fruitvale Station (2013)
> IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (78,679 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (39,286 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (214 reviews)
> Directed by: Ryan Coogler
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6. Love, Simon (2018)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (106,016 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (7,815 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (239 reviews)
> Directed by: Greg Berlanti
5. Blazing Saddles (1974)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (131,541 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (218,474 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (59 reviews)
> Directed by: Mel Brooks
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4. Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (100,832 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (41,047 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (55 reviews)
> Directed by: James Foley
3. The Fugitive (1993)
> IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (279,123 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (267,937 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (79 reviews)
> Directed by: Andrew Davis
2. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (530,779 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (498,702 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (213 reviews)
> Directed by: Edgar Wright
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1. Ford v Ferrari (2019)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (335,748 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 98% (24,159 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (351 reviews)
> Directed by: James Mangold
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