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The best classic movies on Hulu right now (October 2022)

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Kathleen Turner in Peggy Sue Got Married.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

How do you feel about the classics of cinema? It may sound strange, but there are some film lovers whose affection for the medium doesn’t extend beyond the 21st century. Conversely, we suggest that it’s a mistake for anyone to limit themselves to what they’re willing to watch. The films of the 20th century gave us some of the all-time classics and chronicled the rise of movies as we’ve known them. Sadly, Hulu’s lineup of classic films is a bit sparse at the moment. Regardless, there are still some cinematic gems from yesteryear that deserve to be rediscovered by a new generation. To begin your film education, check out our latest picks for the best classic movies on Hulu right now.

We’ve also curated a guide to the best movies on Hulu and the best movies on Netflix if you’re looking for additional recommendations.

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Peggy Sue Got Married (1986)

Peggy Sue Got Married
75%
6.4/10
pg-13
103m
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Stars
Kathleen Turner, Nicolas Cage, Helen Hunt
Directed by
Francis Ford Coppola
Watch on Hulu
Not quite as a classic in age as most on this list, Peggy Sue Got Married is as classic as it gets when it comes to fantasy, time-travel, romance comedies. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the story follows the titular Peggy Sue (Kathleen Turner), a middle-aged mom in 1985 whose high-school sweetheart husband (Nicolas Cage) turns out to be not so sweet and the couple has separated. Things get wacky at Peggy Sue’s high school reunion, though, when she passes out on stage and wakes up in 1960 during her senior year and has a chance to do it all over again. Will she make the same mistakes or will she change her future life forever? 
Related

A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1969)

A Boy Named Charlie Brown
7.3/10
g
86m
Genre
Family, Animation, Comedy
Stars
Peter Robbins, Pamelyn Ferdin, Glenn Gilger
Directed by
Bill Melendez
Watch on Hulu

Charles M. Schultz started producing his beloved Peanuts comic strip in 1950, and this animated musical comedy is the first feature film based on his works. The story is classic Charlie Brown — our forever hard-done-by hero, always convinced that he’s the worst at everything, enters the school spelling bee. When he actually wins, Charlie Brown feels the pressure as he heads to New York City to compete at the nationals. Full of all the characters we know and love, including Snoopy and Woodstock, Lucy, Peppermint Patty, and more, this classic Peanuts cartoon is a must-watch for fans of Schultz’s timeless comics. 

The Princess Bride (1987)

The Princess Bride
77%
8.1/10
99m
Genre
Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance
Stars
Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin
Directed by
Rob Reiner
Watch on Hulu
The Princess Bride has earned its reputation as one of the most beloved films ever made. Cary Elwes stars as Westley, a young man who is hopelessly in love with a woman he can never have: Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright). But when Buttercup is forcefully engaged to be married to Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon), Westley recruits the outlaw, Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin), and a gentle giant named Fezzik (Andre the Giant) to help him rescue his true love. Even the framing sequence for the film is great, with Peter Falk as a grandfather who relates the story to his sick grandson (Fred Savage).
The Princess Bride - 30th Anniversary Trailer - In Cinemas Oct 23

Hondo (1953)

Hondo
79%
7/10
pg
83m
Genre
Western
Stars
John Wayne, Geraldine Page, Ward Bond
Directed by
John Farrow
Watch on Hulu
John Wayne made his name in Westerns, and Hondo is one of his best. In the film, Wayne plays Hondo Lane, an army cavalry member who befriends Angie Lowe (Geraldine Page) and her young son, Johnny (Lee Aaker). The local Apache tribe respects Angie and her son, but they give her a deadline to take a husband from their people if her own missing husband does not return. To save Hondo’s life, she tells the Apache that he is her husband. However, the rising tensions between the army and the Apache put Hondo and Angie in a very difficult situation. And there is no way to avoid bloodshed when the two sides converge.

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Michael Bizzaco
Michael Bizzaco
AV Contributor

Michael Bizzaco has been selling, installing, and talking about TVs, soundbars, streaming devices, and all things smart home for the better part of 15 years. He even knows a thing or two about how to fix this stuff when it starts misbehaving (because no tech is perfect!).

Mike has been writing for Digital Trends and several other publications since 2020. Fortunately, he’s still able to write after he got his index finger stuck in a vending machine at the Ramada Inn the summer before fourth grade! From hands-on reviews to best-of roundups, Mike does his best to share his expertise in a friendly and informative way with all readers, and loves staying on top of the latest AV and smart home trends.

When he’s not thanking his father for dislodging his finger from that vile vending machine in New Jersey, Mike enjoys playing guitar, reading, and indulging in horror films with his girlfriend.

Blair Marnell
Blair Marnell

Blair Marnell has been an entertainment journalist for over 15 years. His bylines have appeared in Wizard Magazine, Geek Monthly, SYFY Wire, Superhero Hype, Collider, DC Universe, and the official sites for Star Trek and Marvel. He also lends his pop culture expertise to Digital Trends on a variety of TV, movie, and streaming features.

Derek Malcolm
Derek Malcolm
Contributing Editor, A/V

Derek Malcolm is a contributing editor and evergreen lead for the A/V and Home Theater section of Digital Trends. Derek joined the DT team in 2020, spending his days wrangling the movie and TV streaming guides before getting the chance to nurture his obsession with the latest audio/video gear. A former musician and practicing vinyl nerd, his passion for sound can be found in his writing, whether it’s a guide to the best speakers and turntables, or a review of a party speaker that’ll blow your roof off.

Derek studied journalism at Toronto’s Humber College, graduating in 1999. He started his career writing about music, movies, and TV, back when people still read things on paper, working at such magazines as TV Guide and celebrity mag Hello! Canada. Derek counts Matt Damon, Britney Spears, and Coldplay among his favorite interviews.

From 2006 to 2018 Derek was the editor-in-chief of Canadian tech and entertainment magazine Connected, where he steered the publication through the invention of the iPhone and the rise of streaming to the demise of BlackBerry and the print industry.

One of two Canucks on the Digital Trends A/V team, Derek is based in Toronto where he lives with his wife, daughter, two cats, and his prized vintage Marantz stereo receivers.

When Derek isn’t cussing at the labyrinthine setup menus of the latest projectors, he can be found at home listening to records or counting the days to ski season.

You can find Derek on Threads and sharing his vinyl exploits on Instagram.

The best feel-good movies on Netflix right now
Stephan James runs as Jesse Owens in Race.

There probably isn't a certified doctor who would prescribe a feel-good movie to lift your spirits, but sometimes it really helps. Feel-good movies are a subgenre that ranges from comedies to dramas. The secret to their success is that the main characters overcome their anxieties, their personal roadblocks, and all other obstacles to achieve their goals. Who doesn't want to follow that example?

Netflix doesn't have a very robust selection of feel-good movies, but it does have some very good ones. As it happens, this month's new additions, Race and The World's Fastest Indian, are both true stories that share some common elements with each other. Neither film was made for Netflix, so they may not stick around for long. But for now, they have a prime place among the best feel-good movies on Netflix.
Need more recommendations? Then check out the best new movies to stream this week, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.

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The best fantasy movies on Netflix right now
Kate Beckinsale and Hugh Jackman in Van Helsing.

Finding great fantasy movies on Netflix is a bit of a fantasy in and of itself. The king of the streamers neglects this category, and it also relies heavily on Universal Pictures' catalog to bail out its shortcomings. That's why it's The Scorpion King and Van Helsing's turn to be on this list while Conan the Barbarian waits for yet another Netflix return.

The Scorpion King and Van Helsing aren't bad movies, but fantasy fans deserve a better selection from Netflix than films that are two decades old. Even this month's third addition, The Covenant, is closing in on 20 years. Netflix has made some original fantasy movies of its own, but not lately. For the most part, the best fantasy movies on Netflix are pretty stagnant. But when something new arrives, we'll be here to add it to the list.
Need more recommendations? Then check out the best new movies to stream this week, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.

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The best kids movies on Netflix right now
A carrot and a stalk of broccoli prepare to do battle in Daddy Day Care.

The countdown to the holiday season has begun, and now's the time to get the best kids movies on Netflix on deck to keep your kids entertained throughout the long holiday break. Whether you're hosting or going somewhere else for the holidays, it's always good to have some quality entertainment for the kids to fall back on. That's why we scour the streamer's extensive collection every month to highlight the best options for your kids.

December, somewhat surprisingly, is another slow month for kids' movies on Netflix. There's just one addition to the list this month: Daddy Day Care. Read on for the rest of our picks of the best kids movies on Netflix now.

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