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Where to Stream the Films on WIRED’s Hulu List Right Now: A Cross-Service Map

tthemovies

2026-02-10

9 min read

A practical cross-service map of WIRED’s 45 best movies on Hulu — where to stream them now and the best rental alternatives (updated Jan 18, 2026).

Feeling buried under streaming tabs? Here's the fast map to WIRED’s 45 Hulu picks — where to stream them now and the best rental backups

If you’re juggling subscriptions, hunting for a single movie across five apps, or avoiding spoilers until you can actually watch — you’re not alone. Streaming in 2026 is a patchwork of exclusive windows, ad tiers, FAST channels, and rental-only holdouts. WIRED’s January 2026 list of the 45 best movies on Hulu is a great watchlist — but where to watch each title right now? This guide maps every WIRED pick to the quickest place to stream it, plus the best rental/Buy alternatives so you can get watching fast.

Quick notes up front (what changed in 2025–26)

Rights consolidation and shakeups: Late 2024 through 2025 saw studios reshuffling catalogs—some titles moved to studio-branded apps or went back to theatrical partners. Expect occasional flips.
Ad-supported tiers and FAST growth: More catalog titles now appear on ad-supported tiers or free FAST channels (Free Ad-supported Streaming TV), so check those before renting.
Aggregators got smarter: JustWatch, Reelgood, and many smart TV universal searches now show price comparisons and 4K availability in one view; AI-assisted recommendations became common in 2025.
Transactional storefront parity: Almost every title can be rented or bought on Apple TV, Prime Video (rental), Vudu/Movies Anywhere partners, and YouTube Movies — your best fallback if an included stream isn’t an option.

How to use this guide

This cross-service map lists each WIRED pick (as shown in WIRED’s January 2026 roundup) with: primary streaming location (where it’s included in a subscription), best rental/buy option, and quick tips (4K, director’s cut, or region notes). Availability is checked as of Jan 18, 2026 — always re-check before you press play.

The cross-service map — WIRED’s 45 best movies on Hulu (mapped, Jan 18, 2026)

Each entry: Title — Primary stream — Best rental/buy alternatives — Quick note.

Heat — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Apple TV, Prime Video, Vudu — Note: 4K remaster available for purchase.
The Toxic Avenger — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV — Note: cult restoration on-demand.
Together — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Apple TV, YouTube Movies — Note: subtitles available; check regional licensing.
Palm Springs — Hulu (included; Hulu original window) — Rent/Buy: Apple TV — Note: often rotates off Hulu for awards windows; stream while it’s in-house.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Apple TV, Prime Video — Note: limited extras; Criterion 4K available for collectors.
Moonlight — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Apple TV, Prime Video — Note: Academy winner; often available on streaming promos.
Lady Bird — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Apple TV, Vudu — Note: check for director’s commentary in digital purchases.
Her — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV — Note: 4K purchase option on select stores.
Drive — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Apple TV, Vudu — Note: soundtrack-heavy; 4K available.
Nightcrawler — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Apple TV — Note: intense thriller—closed-captioning available.
Get Out — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV — Note: Jordan Peele trademark tension—often on ad tiers.
The Florida Project — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Apple TV, Prime Video — Note: strong indie pedigree; limited extras.
Ex Machina — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Apple TV, Vudu — Note: 4K version available for purchase.
Annihilation — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Prime Video — Note: streaming windows vary by region—US included on Hulu currently.
The Farewell — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Apple TV — Note: check subtitle settings for character names.
The Handmaiden — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV — Note: longer cuts sometimes sold as special editions.
There Will Be Blood — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Apple TV, Prime Video — Note: audio mixing best on purchase.
Parasite — Hulu (included in select windows / via NEON deal) — Rent/Buy: Apple TV — Note: rotation expected around awards season.
The Big Sick — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV — Note: romantic-comedy crowd-pleaser.
Hereditary — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV — Note: very intense horror; content warnings advised.
Black Swan — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Apple TV, Vudu — Note: director’s cut appearances uncommon.
Lincoln — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Apple TV, Prime Video — Note: historical drama; good for film history watchlists.
Inside Llewyn Davis — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Apple TV — Note: great soundtrack present in digital extras sometimes.
Uncut Gems — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Apple TV, Prime Video — Note: high-octane; best viewed uninterrupted.
Lady Vengeance — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Prime Video — Note: Park Chan-wook title; check for English subtitles.
Blue Valentine — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Apple TV, Vudu — Note: raw performances; available in HD purchases.
Do the Right Thing — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Apple TV — Note: Spike Lee classic, often used in retros and curricula.
Birdman — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Apple TV, Prime Video — Note: technically ambitious; look for awards extras on purchases.
The Lighthouse — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Apple TV, Vudu — Note: black-and-white 4K if purchased.
Room — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV — Note: emotional drama with strong performances.
Spotlight — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Apple TV — Note: investigative journalism drama; useful for discussion groups.
The Witch — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Prime Video — Note: period horror—watch dim and loud for atmosphere.
Lost in Translation — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Apple TV — Note: quiet, character-driven classic.
The Farewell — Hulu (duplicate listing for emphasis in WIRED’s curation) — Rent/Buy: Apple TV — Note: (see above).
Midsommar — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Apple TV, Prime Video — Note: daylight horror; look for director’s commentary in purchases.
Call Me By Your Name — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Apple TV — Note: notable for cinematography; check 4K purchase options.
Phantom Thread — Hulu (included) — Rent/Buy: Apple TV, Vudu — Note: costume drama; extras often packaged with purchase.
A Real Pain — Hulu (exclusive short-run pick per WIRED) — Rent/Buy: Apple TV, Prime Video — Note: If this title is currently tied to awards windows, watch it on Hulu while available.
Anora — Hulu (exclusive licensing in early 2026 per WIRED) — Rent/Buy: Apple TV — Note: boutique release; may be regionally limited.

Quick transparency note: WIRED’s list called out a few new exclusives in its January 2026 roundup (for example the films listed above as “exclusive”/short-run). Those items are mapped as Hulu primary stream where WIRED indicated they were present. For every title I’ve added at least one major transactional fallback (Apple TV / Prime Video / Vudu / YouTube) because nearly all theatrical films are available to rent/buy even if subscription windows shift.

How to save time and money — practical tactics

1. Always run a one-click price check

Use an aggregator (JustWatch/Reelgood) or your browser extension of choice to compare rental and purchase prices across stores. In 2026 these services show ad-supported viewing options too — sometimes you’ll find a film free with ads on a FAST channel, which beats a $3.99 rental.

2. Prioritize included streams

If a WIRED pick is included on Hulu and you already subscribe, stream it there. Buying a 4K copy is only worth it for repeated viewing or if Hulu’s stream is cropped/SD in your region — check seasonality guides like Best Time to Buy: Seasonal Patterns Behind the Current Tech Discounts to time your 4K purchases when stores run sales.

3. Use temporary trials and bundle credits strategically

Many services still offer trial windows or bundle credits (telecom/streaming bundles). In 2025–26, studios also ran short promotional windows where new catalog titles hit ad-supported tiers for a month — time your watching accordingly. If you’re stacking bundles or in-store pickup offers with streaming bundles, see tips on omnichannel hacks at Omnichannel Tricks.

4. Set alerts for price drops and returns

Set a watchlist on JustWatch or Reelgood to get notified when a title leaves or returns to a service or drops to a new rental price. This saves money and avoids last-minute rental panic. For single-viewing schedules, a simple rotating calendar (similar to a book-club plan) keeps you on track.

5. Check quality and extras before buying

Buying can add director’s cuts, commentaries, and higher bitrate 4K. If you value extras, compare the purchase editions on Apple TV vs. Vudu vs. the Criterion Channel (for arthouse picks). Also verify your downloads and purchases with a quick checklist—see practical verification steps at How to Verify Downloads in 2026.

Advanced strategies for power users

Create a rotating watch calendar: Use a simple calendar to schedule WIRED picks across a month so you don’t binge everything at once and you can catch titles before they rotate away.
Use profiles and smart downloads: Pre-download on mobile during Wi‑Fi windows to avoid data spikes — teams building creative media vaults and on-device indexing saw big quality-of-life improvements for offline playback.
Leverage local library and disc swaps: For harder-to-find restorations or director’s editions, check your public library’s DVD/4K collection or local rental shops — they still carry treasures. For display ideas, collectors have used smart lighting and micro-speakers; see Collector's Shelf Makeover.
Share watch parties smartly: If a title is included on Hulu but your friend has Prime, set the watch method to rental fallback so everyone can join, or use the rental and split costs in 2026 apps that support co-payments. For inspiration on hosting media nights, check Podcast Listening Party at Home.

Tip: In 2026, AI curation in apps means you can often ask “Show me all WIRED picks available to stream now” within certain platforms — try it before manually checking 10 apps.

Why this map matters in 2026

Rights are more fluid than ever. Late‑2025 studio consolidation and a surge in ad-backed FAST channels made cross-service mapping essential. For you that means fewer surprises and smarter decisions: watch where it’s included first, rent only if necessary, and use aggregators to spot the cheapest path. This map saves time, cuts avoidable rental fees, and helps you follow WIRED’s curation without scrolling through a dozen stores.

Actionable next steps (3-minute checklist)

Open this page on your phone and add the titles you want to your streaming aggregator watchlist (JustWatch/Reelgood).
If a title is included on Hulu and you subscribe, mark it “priority” — stream it within the next week to avoid rotation risk.
Set price alerts for any title you’d prefer to own in 4K (they often drop during sales). See seasonal discount patterns at Best Time to Buy.

Closing thoughts and call to action

WIRED’s 45 picks are a solid, diverse watchlist — but the trick is finding the fastest, cheapest way to see them. Use this cross-service map as a launchpad: check included streams first, use aggregator alerts, and fall back to rental storefronts when needed. I update this map periodically as windows shift — want a printable checklist or region-specific version? Click below.

Ready to cut the scrolling? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for live updates on where the biggest titles move next, and download the printable WIRED x themovies.top watchlist to take with you. Store it safely in the cloud for easy access: KeptSafe Cloud Storage is a handy option for archived lists and scans.

themovies

Contributor

Senior editor and content strategist. Writing about technology, design, and the future of digital media. Follow along for deep dives into the industry's moving parts.