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100 Hidden Gem Movies on Hulu
Hulu’s catalogue of high-quality movies is deep and broad; while the service is not as known for its original films in the same way Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are, its collection of non-original titles is huge – the kind of hit-after-hit collection that could have you rabbit-holing for days. Which is kind of what we did to come up with this list of hidden gem movies available on the streamer.
Here, you’ll find movies you may not have heard of, movies we feel didn’t get quite the level of attention they deserved, as well as a few nostalgic favorites you might be surprised to see available on Hulu. The movies didn’t have to be Fresh – we went to bat for a few Rotten faves, too – but the majority are critically lauded, with a bunch earning the Certified Fresh stamp of approval.
We broke the list into genres, to help you jump to exactly what you’re in the mood for. Scroll though and you’ll find winning comedies (Hearts Beat Loud, Support the Girls), incredible action flicks (The Villainess), moving dramas (BPM, Monsters and Men), and plenty to scare the s–t out of you (The Lodge, Southbound). Hulu has a particularly strong documentary collection, and we’ve highlighted some choice picks among those, too.
If you’re after the very best movies available on Hulu, we’ve got a guide for that, too, along with the best Hulu series and hidden gem series on Hulu if you’re in the mood for a binge. But if you’re looking for something a little more off-the-beaten track, add one of the movies below to your queue.
Found a hidden gem on Hulu that’s not on our list? Let your fellow fans know in the comments.
Comedies
83%
Critics Consensus: The Art of Self-Defense grapples compellingly with modern American masculinity -- and serves as an outstanding calling card for writer-director Riley Stearns.
Synopsis: After getting attacked on the street, Casey enlists in a local dojo that's led by a charismatic and mysterious sensei. He soon uncovers a sinister... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Alessandro Nivola, Imogen Poots, Steve Terada
Directed By: Riley Stearns
58%
Critics Consensus: The role of a lifetime for Matthew McConaughey, The Beach Bum is set apart by Harmony Korine's distinctive style, but that isn't always enough to offset the unfocused story.
Synopsis: Moondog is a fun-loving, pot-smoking, beer-drinking writer who lives life on his own terms in Florida. If he can put down the drugs for just... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Snoop Dogg, Isla Fisher, Stefania Owen
Directed By: Harmony Korine
65%
Critics Consensus: The Boy Downstairs finds a few fresh moments in its familiar setup and benefits from Zosia Mamet's charismatic performance, both of which are enough to keep viewers interested.
Synopsis: Diana moves back to New York City after a few years abroad and finds the perfect Brooklyn apartment for a fresh start. During the first... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Zosia Mamet, Matthew Shear, Deirdre O'Connell, Sarah Ramos
Directed By: Sophie Brooks
65%
Critics Consensus: Absurd yet anchored in knotty real-world themes, The Day Shall Come adds another bleakly funny satire to director/co-writer Christopher Morris' filmography.
Synopsis: An impoverished preacher who brings hope to the Miami projects is offered cash to save his family from eviction. He has no idea his sponsor... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Marchánt Davis, Anna Kendrick, Danielle Brooks, Kayvan Novak
Directed By: Christopher Morris
82%
Critics Consensus: Colossal's singular strangeness can be disorienting, but viewers who hang on may find that its genre-defying execution -- and Anne Hathaway's performance -- is well worth the ride.
Synopsis: Gloria is an out-of-work party girl who leaves New York and moves back to her hometown after getting kicked out of her apartment by her... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Jason Sudeikis, Austin Stowell, Tim Blake Nelson
Directed By: Nacho Vigalondo
83%
Critics Consensus: Greener Grass is far from the first comedy to skewer suburbia -- but it might be among the most bizarre and surreally distinctive.
Synopsis: Soccer moms Jill and Lisa compete for approval and acceptance in a bizarre suburbia while their kids battle it out on the playing field.
Starring: Jocelyn DeBoer, Dawn Luebbe, Beck Bennett, Neil Casey
Directed By: Jocelyn DeBoer, Dawn Luebbe
92%
Critics Consensus: Thoroughly sweet, comfortably familiar, and elevated by the chemistry between Nick Offerman and Kiersey Clemons, Hearts Beat Loud offers feel-good father-daughter drama.
Synopsis: In the hip Brooklyn neighborhood of Red Hook, single dad and record store owner Frank is preparing to send his hard-working daughter Sam off to... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Nick Offerman, Kiersey Clemons, Ted Danson, Sasha Lane
Directed By: Brett Haley
82%
Critics Consensus: Juliet, Naked's somewhat familiar narrative arc is elevated by standout work from a charming cast led by a well-matched Rose Byrne and Ethan Hawke.
Synopsis: Annie breaks up with her longtime boyfriend Duncan -- a teacher who's obsessed with former 1990s rocker Tucker Crowe. She soon develops an unexpected bond... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Rose Byrne, Chris O'Dowd, Megan Dodds
Directed By: Jesse Peretz
55%
Critics Consensus: Lemon succeeds in its aim as a tart satire, but audiences may find this foray into abrasiveness too sour to swallow.
Synopsis: After Isaac's blind girlfriend walks out on him, his life goes into free fall, and he directs an unhinged staging of Chekhov's "The Seagull," attends... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Brett Gelman, Judy Greer, Michael Cera, Nia Long
Directed By: Janicza Bravo
87%
Critics Consensus: Let the Sunshine In pairs a powerful performance from Juliette Binoche with a layered drama that presents director Claire Denis at her most assured.
Synopsis: Isabelle, a Parisian artist and divorced mother, is looking for love.
Starring: Juliette Binoche, Xavier Beauvois, Philippe Katerine, Josiane Balasko
Directed By: Claire Denis
77%
Critics Consensus: Like a favorite song you know by heart, Military Wives offers few surprises -- but its pleasures are no less formidable for their familiarity.
Synopsis: Faced with their loved ones serving in Afghanistan, women from different backgrounds come together to form the very first military wives choir, helping each other... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Kristin Scott Thomas, Sharon Horgan, Jason Flemyng, Emma Lowndes
Directed By: Peter Cattaneo
68%
Critics Consensus: Mister America misses a number of its targets, but fans of Tim Heidecker's unique brand of comedy will find moments worth savoring in this dry political satire.
Synopsis: Despite being completely inexperienced and broke and having just defeated a murder charge, a man mounts a campaign to unseat the San Bernardino district attorney.
Starring: Tim Heidecker, Gregg Turkington, Terri Parks, Curtis Webster
Directed By: Eric Notarnicola
86%
Critics Consensus: Well-acted and sharply written, Non-Fiction finds writer-director Olivier Assayas working in a comedic vein that channels classic forebears while remaining utterly fresh.
Synopsis: Alain is in his 40s and runs a famous publishing house which publishes novels by his friend Léonard, a bohemian writer. Alain's wife, Selena, is... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Guillaume Canet, Juliette Binoche, Vincent Macaigne, Christa Théret
Directed By: Olivier Assayas
63%
Critics Consensus: The Oath draws on hyper-partisan modern politics for a pointedly funny satire that hits its targets hard and often enough to more than achieve its desired discomfort.
Synopsis: When Chris, a high-strung news junkie, and his more levelheaded wife learn that citizens are being asked to sign a loyalty oath to the president,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Ike Barinholtz, Tiffany Haddish, Nora Dunn, Chris Ellis
Directed By: Ike Barinholtz
98%
Critics Consensus: Oh Lucy! roots its narrative quirks in universal themes and deep empathy for its characters, all brought to life by strong performances from a talented cast led by the thoroughly charming Shinobu Terajima.
Synopsis: A lonely woman in Tokyo discovers her alter ego when she takes an English class.
Starring: Shinobu Terajima, Josh Hartnett, Kaho Minami, Kôji Yakusho
Directed By: Atsuko Hirayanagi
83%
Critics Consensus: Witty and unpredictable, The Overnight benefits from writer-director Patrick Brice's sure-handed touch and strong performances from a talented cast.
Synopsis: A seemingly innocent invitation to dinner turns into a night of seduction and temptation when two couples get together for an evening.
Starring: Adam Scott, Taylor Schilling, Jason Schwartzman, Judith Godrèche
Directed By: Patrick Brice
27%
Critics Consensus: Practical Magic's jarring tonal shifts sink what little potential its offbeat story may have -- though Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock's chemistry makes a strong argument for future collaborations.
Synopsis: Sally and Gillian Owens, born into a magical family, have mostly avoided witchcraft themselves. But when Gillian's vicious boyfriend, Jimmy Angelov, dies unexpectedly, the Owens... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Dianne Wiest, Stockard Channing
Directed By: Griffin Dunne
87%
Critics Consensus: The Sisters Brothers rides familiar genre trails in occasionally unexpected ways - a satisfying journey further elevated by its well-matched leading men.
Synopsis: It's 1851, and Charlie and Eli Sisters are both brothers and assassins, boys grown to men in a savage and hostile world. The Sisters brothers... View Full Synopsis
Starring: John C. Reilly, Joaquin Phoenix, Jake Gyllenhaal, Riz Ahmed
Directed By: Jacques Audiard
91%
Critics Consensus: Support the Girls handles serious themes with wit and humor, and provides a strong showcase for Regina Hall and a talented ensemble cast.
Synopsis: Lisa is the general manager of Double Whammies, a sports bar that features skimpily dressed waitresses. Always nurturing and protective of her staff, she soon... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Regina Hall, Haley Lu Richardson, Shayna McHayle, James Le Gros
Directed By: Andrew Bujalski
96%
Critics Consensus: Tangerine shatters casting conventions and its filmmaking techniques are up-to-the-minute, but it's an old-fashioned comedy at heart -- and a pretty wonderful one at that.
Synopsis: After hearing that her boyfriend/pimp cheated on her while she was in jail, a transgender sex worker and her best friend set out to find... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor, Karren Karagulian, Mickey O'Hagan
Directed By: Sean Baker
89%
Critics Consensus: Familiar in form but winsome in its execution, Top End Wedding takes audiences on a romantic road trip with an appealing view.
Synopsis: Lauren and Ned have 10 days to find Lauren's mother, who has gone AWOL in the remote far north of Australia, so they can reunite... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Gwilym Lee, Kerry Fox, Miranda Tapsell, Rob Collins
Directed By: Wayne Blair
Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
82%
Critics Consensus: Before We Vanish finds Kiyoshi Kurosawa working within well-established genre guidelines to take a poignant, surprisingly sincere look at the human condition.
Synopsis: Three aliens travel to Earth on a mission in preparation for a mass invasion. Having taken possession of human bodies, the visitors rob their hosts... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Masami Nagasawa, Ryuhei Matsuda, Hiroki Hasegawa, Mahiro Takasugi
Directed By: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
66%
Critics Consensus: A better-than-average sci-fi shoot-em-up with a satirical undercurrent, Demolition Man is bolstered by strong performances by Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, and Sandra Bullock.
Synopsis: With innocent victims caught in the crossfire in Los Angeles' intensifying war on crime, both cop John Spartan (Sylvester Stallone) and violent thug Simon Phoenix... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, Sandra Bullock, Nigel Hawthorne
Directed By: Marco Brambilla
83%
Critics Consensus: A grounded superhero story with more on its mind than punching bad guys, Fast Color leaps over uneven execution with a singular Gugu Mbatha-Raw performance.
Synopsis: Hunted by mysterious forces, a young woman who has supernatural abilities must go on the run when her powers are discovered. With nowhere else to... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Lorraine Toussaint, Saniyya Sidney, David Strathairn
Directed By: Julia Hart
93%
Critics Consensus: Fearlessly ambitious, scathingly funny, and thoroughly original, Sorry to Bother You loudly heralds the arrival of a fresh filmmaking talent in writer-director Boots Riley.
Synopsis: In an alternate reality of present-day Oakland, Calif., telemarketer Cassius Green finds himself in a macabre universe after he discovers a magical key that leads... View Full Synopsis
Starring: LaKeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Jermaine Fowler, Omari Hardwick
Directed By: Boots Riley
85%
Critics Consensus: The Villainess offers enough pure kinetic thrills to satisfy genre enthusiasts -- and carve out a bloody niche for itself in modern Korean action cinema.
Synopsis: Honed from childhood to be an elite assassin, Sook-hee embarks on a rampage of violence and revenge to finally earn her freedom and escape her... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Kim Ok-bin, Shin Ha-kyun, Sung-joon, Kim Seo-hyung
Directed By: Jeong Byeong-gil
Dramas and Mysteries
93%
Critics Consensus: Led by a powerhouse performance from Julia Garner, The Assistant offers a withering critique of workplace harassment and systemic oppression.
Synopsis: Jane, a recent college graduate and aspiring film producer, just landed her dream job as a junior assistant to a powerful entertainment mogul. Her day... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Julia Garner, Matthew Macfadyen, Makenzie Leigh, Juliana Canfield
Directed By: Kitty Green
97%
Critics Consensus: A Taxi Driver brings a ground-level perspective and a refreshingly light touch to a fact-based story with sobering implications.
Synopsis: In 1980, a foreign journalist hires a down-on-his-luck taxi driver to take him to Gwangju, South Korea. They soon arrive to find a city under... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Song Kang-ho, Thomas Kretschmann, Ryu Jun-yeol, Yoo Hae-jin
Directed By: Jang Hoon
84%
Critics Consensus: Empathetic and powerfully acted, Beach Rats takes a clear-eyed yet dreamlike look at a young man's adolescent turmoil.
Synopsis: An aimless teenager on the outer edges of Brooklyn is having a miserable summer. With his father on his deathbed and his mother wanting him... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Harris Dickinson, Madeline Weinstein, Kate Hodge, Nicole Flyus
Directed By: Eliza Hittman
99%
Critics Consensus: Moving without resorting to melodrama, BPM offers an engrossing look at a pivotal period in history that lingers long after the closing credits roll.
Synopsis: Nathan is a young man who joins an AIDS activist group in 1990s Paris. As he attends the weekly meetings, he learns that some members... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Nahuel Pérez Biscayart, Arnaud Valois, Adèle Haenel, Antoine Reinartz
Directed By: Robin Campillo
88%
Critics Consensus: Rising on the strength of Rebecca Hall's gripping performance, Christine offers an empathetic look at its subject's public career and painful private life.
Synopsis: In Sarasota, Fla., circa 1974, an ambitious, 29-year-old reporter is relentlessly motivated to succeed. She knows she has talent, but being a driven career woman... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Rebecca Hall, Michael C. Hall, Tracy Letts, Maria Dizzia
Directed By: Antonio Campos
74%
Critics Consensus: Destroyer's grueling narrative is as uncompromising as Nicole Kidman's central performance, which adds extra layers to a challenging film that leaves a lingering impact.
Synopsis: As a young cop, Erin Bell went undercover to infiltrate a gang in the California desert -- with tragic results. Bell continues to work as... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Toby Kebbell, Tatiana Maslany, Sebastian Stan
Directed By: Karyn Kusama
82%
Critics Consensus: Detroit delivers a gut-wrenching -- and essential -- dramatization of a tragic chapter from America's past that draws distressing parallels to the present.
Synopsis: In the summer of 1967, rioting and civil unrest starts to tear apart the city of Detroit. Two days later, a report of gunshots prompts... View Full Synopsis
Starring: John Boyega, Will Poulter, Algee Smith, Jacob Latimore
Directed By: Kathryn Bigelow
93%
Critics Consensus: A small-scale drama rich with meaning, Diane offers audiences an uncommonly empathetic and wise look at life -- and stellar work from Mary Kay Place in the title role.
Synopsis: For Diane, everyone else comes first. Generous but with little patience for self-pity, she spends her days checking in on sick friends, volunteering at her... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mary Kay Place, Jake Lacy, Estelle Parsons, Andrea Martin
Directed By: Kent Jones
94%
Critics Consensus: Gleefully uncomfortable, Force Majeure is a relationship drama that's hard to watch -- and just as difficult to ignore.
Synopsis: A man's selfish reaction to the danger posed by an avalanche causes cracks in his marriage and relationships with his children.
Starring: Johannes Kuhnke, Lisa Loven Kongsli, Clara Wettergren, Vincent Wettergren
Directed By: Ruben Östlund
70%
Critics Consensus: A kaleidoscopic neo-noir, Gemini is a visually striking murder mystery with a convoluted but largely compelling plot and an impressive showing from Lola Kirke.
Synopsis: A heinous crime tests the complex relationship between a Hollywood starlet and her tenacious personal assistant. As the assistant unravels the mystery, she must confront... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Lola Kirke, Zoë Kravitz, John Cho, Ricki Lake
Directed By: Aaron Katz
98%
Critics Consensus: Sleek, well-acted, and intelligently crafted, The Guilty is a high-concept thriller that wrings maximum impact out of a handful of basic - and effective - ingredients.
Synopsis: Alarm dispatcher and former police officer Asger Holm answers an emergency call from a kidnapped woman. When the call is suddenly disconnected, the search for... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jakob Cedergren, Jessica Dinnage, Omar Shargawi, Johan Olsen
Directed By: Gustav Möller
80%
Critics Consensus: Violent, darkly comic, and full of strong performances, Killer Joe proves William Friedkin hasn't lost his touch, even if the plot may be too lurid for some.
Synopsis: A cop (Matthew McConaughey) who moonlights as a hit man agrees to kill the hated mother of a desperate drug dealer (Emile Hirsch) in exchange... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Juno Temple, Gina Gershon
Directed By: William Friedkin
79%
Critics Consensus: Loro uses the larger-than-life exploits of an infamous public figure to present a messily compelling snapshot of how power attracts -- and corrupts.
Synopsis: A wheeler-dealer weasels his way into the inner circle of Silvio Berlusconi, a wealthy and controversial Italian politician.
Starring: Toni Servillo, Elena Sofia Ricci, Riccardo Scamarcio, Kasia Smutniak
Directed By: Paolo Sorrentino
90%
Critics Consensus: As unconventional and unwieldy as the life and legacy it honors, Love & Mercy should prove moving for Brian Wilson fans while still satisfying neophytes.
Synopsis: In the late 1960s, the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson stops touring, produces "Pet Sounds" and begins to lose his grip on reality. By the 1980s,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: John Cusack, Paul Dano, Elizabeth Banks, Paul Giamatti
Directed By: Bill Pohlad
91%
Critics Consensus: Luce brings a stellar ensemble to bear on a satisfyingly complex story that addresses its timely themes in thought-provoking fashion.
Synopsis: A liberal-minded couple are forced to reconsider their image of their adopted son after he writes a disturbing essay for a class assignment.
Starring: Naomi Watts, Octavia Spencer, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Tim Roth
Directed By: Julius Onah
87%
Critics Consensus: Smart, tightly wound, and solidly acted, Margin Call turns the convoluted financial meltdown of '08 into gripping, thought-provoking drama.
Synopsis: When an analyst uncovers information that could ruin them all, the key players (Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany) at an investment firm take extreme measures to... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Zachary Quinto
Directed By: J.C. Chandor
86%
Critics Consensus: Moving at a contemplative speed unseen in most westerns, Meek's Cutoff is an effective, intense journey of terror and survival in the untamed frontier.
Synopsis: During the 1840s, six settlers and their guide are caught in a dangerous situation: They are lost, food and water are running out, and the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Michelle Williams, Bruce Greenwood, Will Patton, Zoe Kazan
Directed By: Kelly Reichardt
84%
Critics Consensus: Well-acted and visually stylish, Monsters and Men tells its timely story with enough compassion and complexity to make up for occasionally uneven execution.
Synopsis: Tensions rise when a young man records a police officer shooting a black motorist in a Brooklyn, N.Y., neighborhood.
Starring: John David Washington, Anthony Ramos, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Chanté Adams
Directed By: Reinaldo Marcus Green
96%
Critics Consensus: As fleshy as it is funny, Bong Joon-Ho's Mother straddles family drama, horror and comedy with a deft grasp of tone and plenty of eerie visuals.
Synopsis: A widow (Kim Hye-ja) resides with her mentally challenged son (Won-bin) in a small South Korean town, where she scrapes out a living selling medicinal... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Kim Hye-ja, Won-bin, Jin Goo, Yoon Je-moon
Directed By: Bong Joon Ho
80%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Two closeted Muslim teens living in Brooklyn struggle to come clean about their sexuality.
Starring: Curtiss Cook Jr., Kerwin Johnson Jr., Annie Grier, Ashleigh Awusie
Directed By: Jay Dockendorf
87%
Critics Consensus: The Nightingale definitely isn't for all tastes, but writer-director Jennifer Kent taps into a rich vein of palpable rage to tell a war story that leaves a bruising impact.
Synopsis: Clare, a young Irish convict, chases a British officer through the rugged Tasmanian wilderness and is bent on revenge for a terrible act of violence... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Aisling Franciosi, Sam Claflin, Baykali Ganambarr, Damon Herriman
Directed By: Jennifer Kent
73%
Critics Consensus: Anchored by a sensitive performance from Tobey Maguire, Pawn Sacrifice adds another solidly gripping drama to the list of films inspired by chess wiz Bobby Fischer.
Synopsis: American chess legend Bobby Fischer (Tobey Maguire) and Soviet Grandmaster Boris Spassky (Liev Schreiber) enthrall the world with their intense battle of wills and strategy... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tobey Maguire, Peter Sarsgaard, Liev Schreiber, Michael Stuhlbarg
Directed By: Edward Zwick
93%
Critics Consensus: Premature transcends its familiar trappings with sharp dialogue and a strong sense of setting that further establish Rashaad Ernesto Green as a gifted filmmaker.
Synopsis: On a summer night in Harlem during her last months at home before starting college, 17-year-old poet Ayanna begins a summer romance with Isaiah, a... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Zora Howard, Joshua Boone, Michelle Wilson, Alexis Marie Wint
Directed By: Rashaad Ernesto Green
87%
Critics Consensus: Professor Marston & The Wonder Women winds a lasso of cinematic truth around a fascinating fact-based tale with strong performances from its three stars.
Synopsis: If behind every great man is a great woman, then Harvard psychologist and inventor Dr. William Moulton Marston has the good fortune of having two... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Luke Evans, Rebecca Hall, Bella Heathcote, Connie Britton
Directed By: Angela Robinson
88%
Critics Consensus: Elevated by outstanding work from Elisabeth Moss, Shirley pays tribute to its subject's pioneering legacy with a biopic that ignores the commonly accepted boundaries of the form.
Synopsis: A famous horror writer finds inspiration for her next book after she and her husband take in a young couple.
Starring: Elisabeth Moss, Michael Stuhlbarg, Odessa Young, Logan Lerman
Directed By: Josephine Decker
99%
Critics Consensus: Understated yet ultimately deeply affecting, Shoplifters adds another powerful chapter to director Hirokazu Koreeda's richly humanistic filmography.
Synopsis: On the margins of Tokyo, a dysfunctional band of outsiders is united by fierce loyalty and a penchant for petty theft. When the young son... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Lily Franky, Sakura Andô, Mayu Matsuoka, Kirin Kiki
Directed By: Hirokazu Koreeda
63%
Critics Consensus: The Sound of Silence occasionally struggles to control its tone and convey its message, but it benefits from compelling performances and intriguing ideas.
Synopsis: There are a symphony of almost undetectable sounds that make up a moment of silence, and Peter Lucian (Peter Sarsgaard) is determined to catalogue them... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Peter Sarsgaard, Rashida Jones, Tony Revolori, Austin Pendleton
Directed By: Michael Tyburski
83%
Critics Consensus: Tom of Finland honors its subject with an empathetic, even-handed, and above all entertaining look at the pioneering art he produced from private turmoil.
Synopsis: Finnish artist Touko Laaksonen becomes famous for his homoerotic works.
Starring: Pekka Strang, Lauri Tilkanen, Jessica Grabowsky, Werner Daehn
Directed By: Dome Karukoski
62%
Critics Consensus: Intriguing albeit flawed, Vox Lux probes the allures and pitfalls of modern celebrity with intelligence, visual style, and an assured Natalie Portman performance.
Synopsis: Celeste is a 13-year-old music prodigy who survives a horrific school shooting in Staten Island, N.Y., in 1999. Her talent shines through during the memorial... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Natalie Portman, Raffey Cassidy, Jude Law, Stacy Martin
Directed By: Brady Corbet
92%
Critics Consensus: There's no shortage of star-is-born stories, but Wild Rose proves they can still be thoroughly entertaining -- and marks its own transcendent moment for lead Jessie Buckley.
Synopsis: Fresh out of prison, a Scottish woman juggles her job and two children while pursuing her dream of becoming a country music star. She soon... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jessie Buckley, Julie Walters, Sophie Okonedo, James Harkness
Directed By: Tom Harper
Documentaries
99%
Critics Consensus: Brilliantly capturing a remarkable performer near the peak of her prodigious power, Amazing Grace is a thrilling must-watch documentary for Aretha Franklin fans.
Synopsis: Singer Aretha Franklin performs gospel songs at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles in 1972.
Starring: Aretha Franklin, The Rev. James Cleveland, Alexander Hamilton
Directed By: Alan Elliott
91%
Critics Consensus: Uplifting, educational, and entertaining, The Biggest Little Farm is an environmental advocacy documentary with a satisfying side dish of hope for the future.
Synopsis: A couple are followed through their successes and failures as they work to develop a sustainable farm on 200 acres outside of Los Angeles.
Starring: John Chester, Molly Chester, Matthew Pilachowski, Lydia Marie Hicks
Directed By: John Chester
97%
Critics Consensus: A hard-hitting documentary with imagery as powerful as its message, The Cave poses heartbreakingly urgent questions -- and leaves them for the viewer to answer.
Synopsis: As Syria is brutally ravaged by war, a fearless 30-year-old aspiring pediatrician and her team work tirelessly to save lives in a secret makeshift hospital... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Amani Ballour, Salim Namour, Alaa
Directed By: Feras Fayyad
83%
Critics Consensus: As an investigation into a real-life tragedy, Cold Case Hammarskjöld might struggle with discipline -- but it remains an intriguing, entertaining jumble of ideas.
Synopsis: Danish director Mads Brügger and Swedish private investigator Göran Bjorkdahl are trying to solve the mysterious death of Dag Hammarskjöld. As their investigation closes in,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mads Brügger
Directed By: Mads Brügger
96%
Critics Consensus: Dina presents a clear-eyed and uncommonly detailed view of one couple's relationship, offering insights as broadly illuminating as they are compassionate.
Synopsis: Dina is an eccentric and outspoken woman who invites her fiance, Scott, to move in with her. The couple face many challenges as Dina copes... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Dina Buno, Scott Levin, Frank Costanzo, Jeannie Levin
Directed By: Antonio Santini, Dan Sickles
97%
Critics Consensus: Jawline uses one man's bid for online stardom to offer a compassionate, clear-eyed view of the risks and seductive allure of social media.
Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Austyn Tester, a rising star in the world of digital celebrities, builds his following on wide-eyed optimism and teen girl adoration as he tries... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Austyn Tester, Michael Weist
Directed By: Liza Mandelup
94%
Critics Consensus: Life, Animated offers a heartwarming look at one family's journey, and a fascinating message that's more than enough to outweigh its unanswered questions.
Synopsis: "The Little Mermaid," "The Lion King" and other animated Disney movies help a young autistic man to develop reading, writing and communication skills.
Starring: Owen Suskind, Ron Suskind, Jonathan Freeman, Gilbert Gottfried
Directed By: Roger Ross Williams
86%
Critics Consensus: Meeting Gorbachev plays to filmmaker Werner Herzog's endlessly inquisitive strengths -- and reveals the fascinating story of a pivotal political figure.
Synopsis: Mikhail Gorbachev, former president of the Soviet Union, sits down with filmmaker Werner Herzog to discuss his many achievements. Topics include the talks to reduce... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mikhail Gorbachev, Werner Herzog
Directed By: Werner Herzog, André Singer
100%
Critics Consensus: Minding the Gap draws on more than a decade of documentary footage to assemble a poignant picture of young American lives that resonates far beyond its onscreen subjects.
Synopsis: Three young men bond together to escape volatile families in their Rust Belt hometown. As they face adult responsibilities, unexpected revelations threaten their decade-long friendship.
Starring: Bing Liu
Directed By: Bing Liu
95%
Critics Consensus: As sharp, funny, and scathingly irreverent as its subject, Raise Hell: The Life & Times of Molly Ivins pays entertaining tribute to a brilliant writer.
Synopsis: The life and work of Molly Ivins, a political journalist from Texas, best-selling author, and Bill of Rights warrior.
Starring: Rachel Maddow, Dan Rather, Anne Lamott, Cecile Richards
Directed By: Janice Engel
94%
Critics Consensus: An environmental advocacy documentary with the suspense of a thriller, Sea of Shadows exposes lawlessness on the high seas -- and promotes efforts to thwart it.
Synopsis: The world's smallest whales near extinction as Mexican cartels and the Chinese mafia destroy their habitat.
Starring: Andrea Crosta, Carlos Loret, Cynthia Smith
Directed By: Richard Ladkani, Sean Bogle, Matthew Podolsky
87%
Critics Consensus: Spaceship Earth achieves liftoff as an engaging behind-the-scenes record of an audacious experiment -- and settles into orbit as poignant proof of the power of a shared dream.
Synopsis: In 1991 eight visionaries embark on a two-year experiment to quarantine themselves inside Biosphere 2 -- a self-engineered replica of Earth's ecosystem.
Starring: John Allen, Larry Winokur, Tony Burgess, Mark Nelson
Directed By: Matt Wolf
96%
Critics Consensus: Surreal and surprising, Three Identical Strangers effectively questions the nature of reality and identity.
Synopsis: Identical triplets become separated at birth and adopted by three different families. Years later, their amazing reunion becomes a global sensation but also unearths an... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Robert Shafran, David Kellman, Lawrence Wright, Will Ennis
Directed By: Tim Wardle
97%
Critics Consensus: Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am honors its acclaimed subject with a comprehensive, illuminating, and fittingly profound overview of her life and work.
Synopsis: Author Toni Morrison leads an assembly of her peers, critics and colleagues on an exploration of race, history, America and the human condition.
Starring: Toni Morrison, Oprah Winfrey, Russell Banks, Walter Mosley
Directed By: Timothy Greenfield-Sanders
98%
Critics Consensus: Whose Streets? takes a close-up look at the civil unrest that erupted after a shocking act of violence in Ferguson, Missouri - and the decades of simmering tension leading up to it.
Synopsis: An account of the Ferguson uprising as told by the people who lived it. The filmmakers look at how the killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown... View Full Synopsis
Directed By: Sabaah Folayan
68%
Critics Consensus: Wrinkles the Clown is an unsettling yet entertaining look at a bizarre modern myth that offers a uniquely thought-provoking, albeit slightly uneven, experience.
Synopsis: Mysterious videos appear on the internet of a clown who likes to scare misbehaving children in Florida.
Starring: D.B. Lambert
Directed By: Michael Beach Nichols, Christopher K. Walker
Horror and Fantasy
97%
Critics Consensus: Thrilling, unpredictable, and brilliantly acted, Border (Gräns) offers a singular treat to genre fans looking for something different.
Synopsis: Customs officer Tina is known for her extraordinary sense of smell. It's almost as if she can sniff out the guilt on anyone hiding something.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Eva Melander, Eero Milonoff, Viktor Åkerblom, Matti Boustedt
Directed By: Ali Abbasi
87%
Critics Consensus: Wringing a seemingly impossible amount of gripping drama out of its claustrophobic premise, Buried is a nerve-wracking showcase for Ryan Reynolds' talent.
Synopsis: A civilian truck driver in Iraq, Paul Conroy (Ryan Reynolds) falls victim to a band of insurgents. An unknown length of time later, Paul awakes... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Robert Paterson, José Luis García-Pérez, Stephen Tobolowsky
Directed By: Rodrigo Cortés
79%
Critics Consensus: The Clovehitch Killer patiently dials up the tension with a story that makes up for a lack of surprises with strong performances and a chilling wit.
Synopsis: After Tyler finds a cache of disturbing images in his father's possession, he begins to suspect that the man he trusts most in the world... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Dylan McDermott, Charlie Plummer, Samantha Mathis, Madisen Beaty
Directed By: Duncan Skiles
85%
Critics Consensus: Ghost Stories offers a well-crafted, skillfully told horror anthology that cleverly toys with genre tropes while adding a few devilishly frightful twists.
Synopsis: Professor Phillip Goodman devotes his life to exposing phony psychics and fraudulent supernatural shenanigans. His skepticism soon gets put to the test when he receives... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Martin Freeman, Andy Nyman, Paul Whitehouse, Alex Lawther
Directed By: Jeremy Dyson, Andy Nyman
88%
Critics Consensus: Smartly constructed and powerfully acted, Hounds of Love satisfies as a psychological thriller with a few nasty surprises -- and marks writer-director Ben Young as a promising talent.
Synopsis: In 1987, murderous couple John and Evelyn roam the streets of Perth, Australia, searching for their latest victim. Fate leads them to Vicki Maloney, a... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Emma Booth, Ashleigh Cummings, Stephen Curry, Susie Porter
Directed By: Ben Young
69%
Critics Consensus: Knives and Skin's daunting ambitions occasionally elude its grasp, but this remains a powerfully written and uniquely timely coming-of-age thriller.
Synopsis: In the wake of a high school student's mysterious disappearance, a collective awakening seems to overcome the town's teenage girls -- gathering in force until... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Marika Engelhardt, Grace Smith, Ireon Roach, Kayla Carter
Directed By: Jennifer Reeder
74%
Critics Consensus: The Limehouse Golem offers old-school Hammer-style horror anchored by rich period detail and strong work from a solid cast.
Synopsis: Victorian London is gripped with fear as a serial killer is on the loose and leaving cryptic messages written in the blood of his victims.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Bill Nighy, Olivia Cooke, Douglas Booth, Daniel Mays
Directed By: Juan Carlos Medina
67%
Critics Consensus: Little Joe's unorthodox approach may baffle horror fans lured in by its premise -- but like its title character, the end result exerts a creepy thrall.
Synopsis: A plant created via genetic engineering appears to produce curious changes in the people and animals it comes into contact with.
Starring: Emily Beecham, Ben Whishaw, Kit Connor, Kerry Fox
Directed By: Jessica Hausner
79%
Critics Consensus: Led by typically outstanding work from Lupita Nyong'o, Little Monsters is a horror/rom-com hybrid that proves the zombie genre still has fresh brains to savor.
Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, Josh Gad, Stephen Peacocke, Kat Stewart
Directed By: Abe Forsythe
75%
Critics Consensus: Led by an impressive Riley Keough performance, The Lodge should prove a suitably unsettling destination for fans of darkly atmospheric horror.
Synopsis: During a family retreat to a remote winter cabin over the holidays, the father is forced to abruptly depart for work, leaving his two children... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Riley Keough, Jaeden Martell, Lia McHugh, Richard Armitage
Directed By: Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala
73%
Critics Consensus: Lords of Chaos presents a grimly compelling dramatization of a real-life music scene whose aggressively nihilistic aesthetic spilled over into fatal acts of violence.
Synopsis: In 1987 Oslo, 17-year-old Euronymous becomes fixated on creating "true Norwegian black metal" with his band Mayhem. He mounts shocking publicity stunts to put the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Rory Culkin, Emory Cohen, Sky Ferreira, Jack Kilmer
Directed By: Jonas Akerlund
74%
Critics Consensus: Mom and Dad's gonzo premise serves as an effective springboard for a wickedly dark, bloody comedy - and an appropriately over-the-top performance from Nicolas Cage.
Synopsis: A teenage girl and her little brother try to survive a wild 24 hours during which a mass hysteria of unknown origins causes parents to... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Selma Blair, Anne Winters, Zackary Arthur
Directed By: Brian Taylor
83%
Critics Consensus: Pyewacket builds its atmospheric, patiently encroaching chills on a well-told story concerned more with emotional trauma than supernatural threats.
Synopsis: A frustrated, angst-ridden teenage girl awakens something in the woods when she naively performs an occult ritual to evoke a witch to kill her mother.
Starring: Nicole Muñoz, Laurie Holden, Chloe Rose, Eric Osborne
Directed By: Adam MacDonald
81%
Critics Consensus: Southbound doesn't entirely avoid the jarring shifts common to anthology films, but thanks to some thrilling twists and turns, this horror road movie is a surprisingly smooth ride.
Synopsis: Interlocking tales of highway terror revolve around malevolent spirits at a truck stop, a mysterious traveler, a car accident and a home invasion.
Starring: Chad Villella, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Kristina Pesic, Fabianne Therese
Directed By: Roxanne Benjamin, David Bruckner, Patrick Horvath, Radio Silence
70%
Critics Consensus: Kevin Bacon's acting is so genuine that it's creepy and director David Keopp knows how to create true suspense.
Synopsis: Blue-collar family man Tom Witzky (Kevin Bacon) scoffs at supernatural phenomena -- until he lets his wife's sister, Lisa (Illeana Douglas), put him into a... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Kevin Bacon, Kathryn Erbe, Illeana Douglas, Liza Weil
Directed By: David Koepp
92%
Critics Consensus: Thelma plays with genre tropes in unexpected ways, delivering a thoughtfully twisty supernatural thriller with a lingering impact.
Synopsis: A college student starts to experience extreme seizures while studying at a university in Oslo, Norway. She soon learns that the violent episodes are a... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Eili Harboe, Kaya Wilkins, Henrik Rafaelsen, Ellen Dorrit Petersen
Directed By: Joachim Trier
85%
Critics Consensus: Tragedy Girls injects familiar teen tropes with just enough up-to-the-minute commentary -- and pitch-black humor -- to work as an irreverently entertaining diversion.
Synopsis: Teenage crime reporters Sadie and McKayla are hot on the trail of a crazed serial killer. After capturing the maniac and holding him hostage, they... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Alexandra Shipp, Brianna Hildebrand, Josh Hutcherson, Craig Robinson
Directed By: Tyler MacIntyre
84%
Critics Consensus: Led by a quartet of strong performances, Villains offers genre fans a delightfully dark thriller with a sharp comic streak.
Synopsis: Amateur criminals stumble upon a dark secret in a sadistic couple's home.
Starring: Bill Skarsgård, Maika Monroe, Jeffrey Donovan, Kyra Sedgwick
Directed By: Dan Berk, Robert Olsen
72%
Critics Consensus: We Are What We Are is elevated horror that combines family drama and social politics, with plenty of gore on top.
Synopsis: When his father dies unexpectedly, Alfredo (Francisco Barreiro) must step up and become the man of the house, providing for his mother and siblings by... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Francisco Barreiro, Alán Chávez, Paulina Gaitán, Carmen Beato
Directed By: Jorge Michel Grau
Family
83%
Critics Consensus: Working with admittedly familiar ingredients, Abominable offers audiences a beautifully animated and overall engaging adventure that the whole family can enjoy.
Synopsis: After discovering a Yeti on the roof of her apartment building, teenage Yi and her two friends embark on an epic quest to reunite the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Chloe Bennet, Albert Tsai, Tenzing Norgay Trainor, Joseph Izzo
Directed By: Jill Culton
97%
Critics Consensus: Chicken Run has all the charm of Nick Park's Wallace & Gromit, and something for everybody. The voice acting is fabulous, the slapstick is brilliant, and the action sequences are spectacular.
Synopsis: This engaging stop-motion, claymation adventure tells the story of an American rooster who falls in love with a gorgeous hen on a British farm. The... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mel Gibson, Julia Sawalha, Miranda Richardson, Jane Horrocks
Directed By: Peter Lord, Nick Park
70%
Critics Consensus: Curious George is a bright, sweet, faithful adaptation of the beloved children's books.
Synopsis: In this animated film, explorer Ted journeys to Africa hoping to recover an important artifact for his friend Bloomsberry, a museum director. Instead, however, he... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Will Ferrell, Drew Barrymore, David Cross, Eugene Levy
Directed By: Matthew O'Callaghan
85%
Critics Consensus: Led by a winning performance from Isabela Moner, Dora and the Lost City of Gold is a family-friendly adventure that retains its source material's youthful spirit.
Synopsis: Having spent most of her life exploring the jungle, nothing could prepare Dora for her most dangerous adventure yet -- high school. Accompanied by a... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Isabela Merced, Eugenio Derbez, Michael Peña, Eva Longoria
Directed By: James Bobin
81%
Critics Consensus: It misses perhaps as often as it hits, but Jim Carrey's manic bombast, Cameron Diaz' blowsy appeal, and the film's overall cartoony bombast keep The Mask afloat.
Synopsis: When timid bank clerk Stanley Ipkiss (Jim Carrey) discovers a magical mask containing the spirit of the Norse god Loki, his entire life changes. While... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jim Carrey, Cameron Diaz, Peter Riegert, Peter Greene
Directed By: Chuck Russell
79%
Critics Consensus: The Prince of Egypt's stunning visuals and first-rate voice cast more than compensate for the fact that it's better crafted than it is emotionally involving.
Synopsis: In this animated retelling of the Book of Exodus, Egyptian Prince Moses (Val Kilmer), upon discovering his roots as a Jewish slave, embarks on a... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sandra Bullock
Directed By: Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner, Simon Wells
88%
Critics Consensus: Rango is a smart, giddily creative burst of beautifully animated entertainment, and Johnny Depp gives a colorful vocal performance as a household pet in an unfamiliar world.
Synopsis: A chameleon who has lived as a sheltered family pet finds himself in the grip of an identity crisis. Rango wonders how to stand out... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Ned Beatty
Directed By: Gore Verbinski
69%
Critics Consensus: A visually stunning film that may be too predictable and politically correct for adults, but should serve children well.
Synopsis: Follows the adventures of a wild and rambunctious mustang stallion as he journeys through the untamed American frontier. Encountering man for the first time, Spirit... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Matt Damon, James Cromwell, Daniel Studi, Chopper Bernet
Directed By: Kelly Asbury, Lorna Cook
Thumbnail image: © Magnolia Pictures, © Well Go USA, © Magnet Releasing




