Like nearly every other major streaming service, Hulu was behind a handful of original films in 2021. There were fewer than subscribers got in 2020 and these were met with mixed reviews. Some were ranked among the best movies of the year and won Academy Awards while others were poorly received by critics and audiences.
Not counting documentaries or specials, these original feature films span all sorts of genres from sci-fi to drama to raunchy comedies and more. For the most part, 2021 continued Hulu's underrated trend of putting out quality movies and the s at IMDb gave out ratings to let you know which ones are the best to check out.
Mother/Android (4.1)
The latest release on Hulu is Mother/Android, a sci-fi thriller written and directed by Mattson Tomlin. It's another in a long line of movies set in a post-apocalyptic world. In this one, androids who were once used as workers have risen up against humans and have taken over.
In this harrowing new world, a pregnant woman (Chloë Grace Moretz) and her partner (Algee Smith) struggle to travel to safety in Boston. While the performances were considered solid, as was the work of Tomlin, some reviewers felt there were a lot of generic and somewhat bland aspects here.
False Positive (4.7)
Ilana Glazer has become one of the more respected people working in Hollywood due to her impressive skills as an actor, producer, writer, and whatever else she tries her hand at. So, hearing that she was co-writing, co-producing, and starring in False Positive made a lot of people interested in checking it out.
This psychological horror centers on a couple who finally finds a fertility doctor that helps them get pregnant, only to find that there's something sinister going on with their doctor. The cast of Glazer, Pierce Brosnan, Justin Theroux, and Sophia Bush received some praise though critics didn't love the way things all came together in the end.
The United States vs. Billie Holiday (6.3)
Heading into awards season at the start of 2021, it seemed like The United States vs. Billie Holiday started making unexpected waves. That's because Andra Day, in her feature film debut role (her prior role was voice work in Cars 3), earned an Academy Award nomination as the titular Holiday while winning the Golden Globe for Best Actress.
Based on the book Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs, the film depicts the real life story of how Holiday, a famous singer, was targeted by the government in their war on drugs. Although the screenplay received some criticism, the performance of Day was more than enough to raise the overall quality.
Vacation Friends (6.3)
On paper, this might be the simplest of original movies released on Hulu but that's actually a major reason why it works so well. Ron (John Cena) and Kyla (Meredith Hagner).
After cutting ties following vacation, Ron and Kyla show up for Emily and Marcus's wedding, reigniting their sometimes unhinged antics with the addition of awkward consequences from their time spent together months earlier. The film received praise because even when the screenplay or comedic elements lack, the chemistry of the hilarious cast more than makes up for it.
The Ultimate Playlist Of Noise (6.6)
You likely won't find a sweeter original movie on Hulu than The Ultimate Playlist of Noise. The plot focuses on Marcus (Keean Johnson), an audio-obsessed teen who must undergo brain surgery that will cause him to lose his ability to hear. So, he decides to make a final big playlist of all of his favorite noises before that happens.
In the midst of this endeavor, he falls for Wendy (Madeline Brewer) and they make up one of the more adorable couples in any film of 2021. While some reviews felt that this didn't do anything too new within the genre, it was praised for being heartfelt and for the electric chemistry between Johnson and Brewer.
Plan B (6.7)
Those who saw a lot like 2020's Unpregnant. Plan B sees Sunny (Kuhoo Verma) lose her virginity and need the morning-after pill but the closest place to get one without her parents knowing means a road trip is on tap.
Sunny travels with her slacker best friend Lupe (Victoria Moroles) and the two have quite the adventure while on their way to Planned Parenthood. Plan B was met with widespread acclaim for delivering a timely message, featuring talented young actors, and having a sharp script. Natalie Morales also did phenomenal work in their directorial debut.
Boss Level (6.8)
One of many films that went through various delays, Boss Level finally arrived on Hulu in March 2021. The sci-fi action flick ittedly doesn't have the most original premise though. It sees a retired special forces agent (Frank Grillo) trapped in a time loop that ends with his murder, so he must solve the mystery of how it all happens.
The genre of Palm Springs. However, this one was considered a success that stood out in a crowded field because it is delightfully over the top. Grillo is ed by the likes of Naomi Watts, Ken Jeong, Michelle Yeoh, and Annabelle Wallis.
Nomadland (7.4)
Technically, Nomadland is a 2020 movie since it premiered at the Venice Film Festival that year. However, it didn't officially hit theaters until 2021 and was made widely available on Hulu about a month later. Co-distributed with Searchlight Pictures, the film is based on Jessica Bruder's book Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century.
The movie tells the tale of a widow (s McDormand) who loses everything in the Great Recession and starts living as a nomad in her van, finding community among other nomads. McDormand won Best Actress at the Oscars, while Chloé Zhao made history by winning Best Director, and the film took home Best Picture as well.
