Hulu's catalog may not get the attention that Netflix's does, but a deep dive into its archives reveal a whole host of excellent movies. Particularly strong is its documentary offerings, which tell the stories of people as diverse as Neil Armstrong, Aretha Franklin and beekeepers in Macedonia, and topics including racism, satanism, veganism and autism.
All of these feature on this list of Hulu's most critically-acclaimed documentaries, ranked by their Rotten Tomatoes scores. Read on for the 35 best docs on the service, including true crime terrors, rocking music docs and powerful political pieces.
The 35 best documentaries on Hulu, according to critics
35. Love, Gilda (RT score 88%)
A starry line-up of SNL alums and comedians pay tribute to one of the seven original cast members, Gilda Radner.
34. My Scientology Movie (89%)
Beloved British documentarian Louis Theroux gives his unique take on the Church of Scientology, whilst under surveillance of the church itself.
33. Framing John DeLorean (90%)
The rise and fall of the auto magnate is told via interviews and dramatic reconstructions, with Alec Baldwin playing DeLorean as he goes from developing cars to being arrested for cocaine trafficking to being acquitted of all charges.
32. Neil Young: Heart of Gold (90%)
One of the most acclaimed music docs of all time sees Stop Making Sense and Silence of the Lambs director Jonathan Demme capture the magic Neil Young on stage.
31. Cartel Land (90%)
An Oscar-nominated look at the Mexican Drug War and the vigilante groups in the U.S. and Mexico taking on the cartels.
30. Eating Animals (91%)
A documentary adaptation of the Jonathan Safran Foer book of the same name that delves into the reality of the meat industry in the modern world.
29. The Biggest Little Farm (91%)
Married couple John and Molly Chester tell the story of their move from Los Angeles to taking over a 200-acre farm in southern California.
28. Ask Dr. Ruth (92%)
The legendary sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer is profiled as she approaches her 90th birthday.
27. Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World (93%)
Master documentary maker Werner Herzog explores the technological revolution, from the first piece of the internet ever installed to the potential future it could create.
26. RBG (93%)
Released two years before her death, RBG explores the life and career of Supreme Court Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, as well as following her in her everyday life (including one of her famous workouts).
25. The Mole Agent (94%)
The stranger-than-fiction true story of an elderly man who went undercover to investigate a Chilean nursing home.
24. Kusama: Infinity (94%)
The fascinating story of the life and art of the internationally acclaimed Japanese artist and mental hospital resident Yayoi Kusama.
23. Life, Animated (94%)
Disney+ does not have a monopoly on Disney wonder, as this doco about one autistic man's relationship with the Mouse House demonstrated.
22. Mike Wallace Is Here (95%)
A biographical documentary about American journalist Mike Wallace, who hosted CBS' 60 Minutes for 40 years and interviewed most of the 20th century's key figures.
21. The Queen of Versailles (95%)
One of the best documentaries about the 2008 financial crisis sees one of the U.S.'s wealthiest couples try and fail to finish building America's biggest private home.
20. The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years (96%)
Ron Howard brings the live performances of The Beatles back to life, giving Fab Four fans the chance to hear live songs previously drowned out by fans screaming.
19. The Painter and the Thief (96%)
An art documentary telling the bizarre story of artist Barbora Kysilkova and the man who stole her artwork before the subject of her work.
18. Hail Satan? (96%)
A far from diabolical political doc about the grassroots activism of the Satanic Temple and their efforts to preserve the separation between church and state.
17. The Cave (97%)
A poignant fly-on-the-wall look at an underground Syrian hospital run by a fearless female pediatrician.
16. Pick of the Litter (97%)
Billing itself as a "service dog-umentary," Pick of the Litter explores the world of puppies learning to be guide dogs.
15. Three Identical Strangers (97%)
Perhaps the ultimate seeing-is-believing documentary, Three Identical Strangers tells the true story of three triplets who met by chance after being raised by separate families.
14. Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am (97%)
Shot just before the Nobel laureate died, The Pieces I Am tells the story of Morrison's remarkable career and explores what drove her to create some of the most powerful books ever written.
13. The Last Waltz (98%)
Martin Scorsese tries his hand at music documentary making in this classic film about the last concert by The Band.
12. Dina (98%)
Before Love on the Spectrum on Netflix there was Dina, the "real life romantic comedy" (per its poster) about two people on the autistic spectrum.
11. The Fight (98%)
The ACLU's fights against the Trump administration are profiled in this 2020 film, produced by Scandal star Kerry Washington.
10. Nothing Like a Dame (98%)
Like sitting in on a tea party with British acting royalty, Nothing Like a Dame allows us to listen in on conversations between Dames Eileen Atkins, Judi Dench, Joan Plowright and Maggie Smith.
9. Jane (98%)
One of 40 documentaries made about another Dame, naturalist Jane Goodall, Jane is one of the best reviewed.
8. Blackfish (98%)
The controversial film that took aim at SeaWorld, leading to many a war of words between the company and the documentary makers.
7. Totally Under Control (99%)
We may still be in a COVID-world, but Totally Under Control has already been released to detail what it sees as the way the pandemic was mismanaged.
6. McQueen (99%)
The tragically cut short life of fashion genius Alexander McQueen is recounted with never before seen footage and a visually striking style.
5. Amazing Grace (99%)
A long-abandoned Aretha Franklin concert film showing the soul legend at the peak of her powers was finally released in 2018, 45 years after it was first filmed.
4. Apollo 11 (99%)
The 1969 moon landings are recreated with archive footage in this immersive look at that inspirational voyage to the stars.
3. I Am Not Your Negro (99%)
Samuel L Jackson brings to life the ever-prescient words of James Baldwin in this key work of Black film.
2. Minding the Gap (100%)
An Oscar-nominated, critically beloved experimental look at the Rockford, Illinois skateboarding community.
1. Honeyland (100%)
Though 'a Macedonian documentary about beekeeping' sounds like a joke description used to mock arthouse film, critics were delighted by this visually striking look at climate change told through the lives of bees.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
