Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Entertainment
  3. Guides

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

By , and

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.

Recently added to Hulu

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.

Editors’ Recommendations

Movie images and data from:
Topics
Michael Bizzaco
Michael Bizzaco

Michael Bizzaco has been writing about and working with consumer tech for well over a decade, writing about everything from A/V components and smart home devices to encryption software, cloud backup platforms, search engine tools, and more. He has written for Digital Trends for over three years, covering entertainment content, A/V, and smart home devices.

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 Toronto-based technology journalist, editor, and content specialist whose work has appeared in publications such as Toronto Life, Canadian Business, The Globe and Mail, Business Insider, Today's Parent, The Huffington Post, and IT World Canada. Derek has been covering the worlds of technology and entertainment for more than 20 years and is currently a Contributing Editor and Writer for the AV and Home Theater section at Digital Trends. When he's not obsessing over turntables, vintage audio gear, streaming devices, or what movies and shows to binge, Derek can be found at home spinning vinyl with his daughter.

The best free movies on YouTube right now (August 2023)
Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games.

Streaming services aren't nearly as budget-friendly as they used to be, but there is a hidden internet secret for those who seek free movies. YouTube isn't just for short-form content; it has an extensive collection of ad-supported free movies and TV shows available to all users.
Frankly, it's not a great collection. There are some gems, though, and the library is frequently updated. As such, we keep tabs on it every month to surface the best options available to you each month. These are the best free movies on YouTube right now.
Looking for more stuff you can watch for free? Check out our guides to the best free shows on YouTube and the best sites for watching free movies online.

Recently added to YouTube

Read more
The best movies on Peacock right now (August 2023)
Mario, Peach, and Toad in "The Super Mario Bros. Movie."

Peacock doesn't always have the top movie titles of any given year. But in 2023, Peacock has the biggest hit of the year: The Super Mario Bros. Movie. If you haven't seen it in theaters dozens of times with your children, then be prepared for it to be on repeat for any child who ever loved Nintendo's famous plumber.

Having that title certainly gives Peacock bragging rights for the month of August. Also this month, Animal House, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and more return to Peacock, and they're terrific films. But keep in mind that some titles are only available to stream on the Peacock's paid tiers.

Read more
The best shows on Apple TV+ right now (August 2023)
A woman wearing a protective suit touches a glowing orb in a scene from Invasion on Apple TV+.

Go ahead and name some of your favorite TV shows of the last year or two. I'll bet that many of them are from Apple TV+. The streaming service might not have as big a catalog as some of the others, but Apple TV+ is continuously releasing quality TV shows. From Severance to Ted Lasso, Shrinking to Silo, Apple TV+ is a leader in genres like sci-fi and comedy.

If you haven't yet signed on for Apple TV+, you're missing out. And this month, as you enjoy the rest of the summer, you can check out new seasons of favorite shows, like Physical and Foundation, or start watching shows you never got around to yet, like Schmigadoon! and Platonic.

Read more