Hidden Gems on Hulu: 10 Under-the-Radar Picks From WIRED’s 45

Can’t decide what to watch on Hulu? Here are 10 hidden gems from WIRED’s 45 that deserve prime placement on your queue

If your streaming queue is a graveyard of half-watched titles and you’re tired of brittle algorithm picks, you’re not alone. Finding trustworthy, spoiler-free recommendations and knowing where to stream them is one of the most common pain points for movie fans in 2026. WIRED’s January 2026 feature, "The 45 Best Movies on Hulu," is a great starting point — but buried in a list that mixes big names and safe bets are genuinely underrated movies that reward discovery.

Source: WIRED’s 45 Best Movies on Hulu (January 2026).

This guide pulls out 10 under-the-radar picks from that list, with short synopses, why each film deserves attention in 2026, and who will get the most out of them. Use this as a quick decision guide and a springboard for more movie discoveries.

Quick navigation

• Columbus (2017)
• Blue Ruin (2013)
• A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)
• The Fits (2015)
• The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019)
• The Invitation (2015)
• Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010)
• The Endless (2017)
• First Cow (2019)
• The Florida Project (2017)

Why this matters in 2026

Streaming in 2026 is different: platforms lean harder on personalization and short-form discovery tools, and ad-supported tiers now account for a larger share of subscribers than they did in 2023–24. That means lots of great indies and cult films are available — but harder to find unless you know where to look. These picks are hidden gems for readers who want curated streaming recommendations without wading through noise.

1. Columbus (2017) — Quiet architecture drama that steadies the pulse

Synopsis: When a young man returns to his Midwestern hometown to care for his hospitalized father, he meets a thoughtful architecture nerd who guides him through the city's modernist landmarks. Kogonada’s debut is meditative, image-driven, and emotionally precise.

Why it deserves attention: In an era of fast, plot-heavy streaming fare, Columbus reminds viewers why contemplative filmmaking matters. The cinematography treats architecture as character, and the film’s low-key emotional intelligence has aged well among viewers who want movies that let them breathe.

• Ideal for: Fans of slow-burn dramas, lovers of cinematography and design, viewers who appreciate character-driven stories.
• Watch tip: Watch at home with subtitles to catch the quiet cadences and spatial details that reward rewatching.

2. Blue Ruin (2013) — Ragged revenge that redefined indie thrillers

Synopsis: A near-wordless drifter returns to his hometown to carry out a violent act of vengeance. Jeremy Saulnier’s breakout is tense, lean, and memorable for its practical filmmaking and moral ambiguity.

Why it deserves attention: Before larger-scale revenge films saturated streaming, Blue Ruin proved how restraint and craft fuel dread. Its DIY production and intense focus on atmosphere make it feel fresh in 2026’s era of glossy thrillers.

• Ideal for: Fans of gritty indie thrillers, readers tracking the evolution of American micro-budget cinema, viewers who prefer atmosphere over exposition.
• Watch tip: Don’t expect neat moral frames — the film interrogates consequences rather than offering catharsis.

3. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014) — Stylish, subversive vampire noir

Synopsis: Set in a fictional Iranian-American ghost town, Ana Lily Amirpour’s black-and-white indie blends vampire mythology with punk romance, centering on an enigmatic female vampire who stalks the streets at night.

Why it deserves attention: Its bold visual palette and genre-mashing sensibility prefigure 2020s indie experimentation. The film’s cultural specificity and feminist undercurrents feel even more relevant to audiences seeking diverse cult films on mainstream platforms.

• Ideal for: Cult-film fans, viewers who like genre reinvention, people interested in global indie cinema on U.S. platforms.
• Watch tip: Pair it with a short director Q&A or commentary (if available) to unpack its visual and political choices.

4. The Fits (2015) — An intimate, hypnotic study of adolescent belonging

Synopsis: A young tomboy joins a dance troupe and becomes fascinated — and unnerved — by a mysterious fainting phenomenon that sweeps the group. Anna Rose Holmer’s debut is elliptical and intense.

Why it deserves attention: As streaming audiences grow hungrier for personal, female-centered stories, The Fits stands out for its sensory approach to adolescence. The film’s short runtime and precise performances make it an ideal late-night discovery.

• Ideal for: Viewers who like mood-driven films, young adult themes handled with subtlety, short-form arthouse experiments.
• Watch tip: Keep the lights low — the film is about immersion and mood more than plot beats.

5. The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019) — Lyrical city portrait with a beating heart

Synopsis: A man tries to reclaim his childhood home in a gentrifying San Francisco, exploring memory, friendship, and what it means to belong. Joe Talbot’s film is both elegy and love letter.

Why it deserves attention: In 2026, conversations about urban displacement and memory have intensified. This film’s poetic approach to those themes is more resonant than ever — and its visuals and performances reward viewers who want films that linger.

• Ideal for: Socially minded viewers, fans of poetic realism, cinephiles who appreciate production design and ensemble acting.
• Watch tip: Follow up with contemporary short documentaries on gentrification to deepen context.

6. The Invitation (2015) — Slow-burn dread that evolves into a gut punch

Synopsis: A tense dinner party turns ominous as old wounds and cult-like beliefs bubble to the surface. Karyn Kusama’s thriller is a masterclass in escalating paranoia.

Why it deserves attention: With a renewed interest in social-thriller mechanics (and cult storytelling) in 2026, The Invitation offers a template for how restraint and character detail generate horror without spectacle.

• Ideal for: Fans of psychological horror, viewers who prefer interrogative dread to jump scares.
• Watch tip: Host a spoiler-free post-watch discussion — its ambiguities are best digested communally.

7. Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010) — Crowd-pleasing horror-comedy that flips tropes

Synopsis: Two well-meaning hillbillies are mistaken for killers by a group of college students, and comic violence ensues. It’s an affectionate, self-aware send-up of slasher clichés.

Why it deserves attention: As cult-film fandom migrates to mainstream platforms, comedies that subvert genre expectations stand out. The film has grown as a communal favorite — ideal for watch parties and light-hearted re-watches.

• Ideal for: Group watch parties, fans of meta-comedy, audiences who want a palate cleanser after heavy dramas.
• Watch tip: Perfect for one-off watch parties with friends who enjoy riffing on horror tropes.

8. The Endless (2017) — Mind-bending sci-fi horror from indie auteurs

Synopsis: Two brothers return to a cult they escaped years ago to find time loops and cosmic weirdness. Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead fuse indie sensibility with high-concept mystery.

Why it deserves attention: Its melding of intimacy and speculative stakes is emblematic of the best of 2010s indie sci-fi — and in 2026 its practical effects and narrative daring still feel invigorating compared to formulaic studio efforts.

• Ideal for: Viewers who like puzzle-box narratives, fans of low-budget but creative sci-fi, audiences who appreciate ambiguous endings.
• Watch tip: Take notes — thematic callbacks are easy to miss on a single viewing.

9. First Cow (2019) — Quiet, food-centric frontier story

Synopsis: Two outsiders in 19th-century Oregon start a small baking operation around a stolen cow. Kelly Reichardt’s film is meditative, textured, and unexpectedly delightful.

Why it deserves attention: With food narratives and slow cinema enjoying a resurgence on streaming platforms, First Cow is a reminder that small acts of creation can be radical. Its emphasis on friendship and survival resonates in today’s economic and cultural climate.

• Ideal for: Fans of slow cinema and food films, viewers who like subtle social commentary.
• Watch tip: Try it with a simple snack inspired by the film to enhance tactile connection to the story.

10. The Florida Project (2017) — A childhood told from the margins

Synopsis: A six-year-old spends the summer at a motel near Disney World, navigating poverty and precarious adulthood. Sean Baker’s film is compassionate, raw, and vivid.

Why it deserves attention: In 2026, social realist films that amplify marginalized perspectives are in demand. This movie’s balance of playfulness and heartbreak makes it a must-watch for anyone seeking emotional depth in streaming recommendations.

• Ideal for: Viewers who want socially aware storytelling, fans of cinéma vérité aesthetics.
• Watch tip: Give yourself time after watching — the emotional stakes linger and benefit from reflection.

How to find more hidden gems on Hulu — practical, actionable steps

WIRED’s list is a curated shortcut, but if you want to become your own discovery engine on Hulu, here’s a compact playbook:

1. Use layered search: Combine genre + year + director in the search bar (e.g., "indie 2017 Kogonada") to surface less-promoted titles.
2. Follow curator channels and lists: In 2026, Hulu and third-party editorial brands publish themed playlists (restorations, festival winners, cult favorites). Bookmark curator lists for ongoing discovery.
3. Leverage third-party trackers: Use services like JustWatch, Reelgood, and Letterboxd to cross-reference availability and user ratings. They’re still the fastest way to verify platform rights.
4. Create micro-playlists: Build short collections (3–6 films) around a theme and rotate them monthly. That reduces decision fatigue and surfaces subtler picks.
5. Join spoiler-managed communities: Many fandom threads and niche Discords now host "spoiler-free" channels for first-time watches — ideal for sharing quick recommendations.

2025–2026 trends that make hidden-gem hunting more rewarding

Streaming in late 2025 and early 2026 pushed a few notable developments that change how we discover and enjoy under-the-radar films:

• Algorithmic playlists and AI-curated recommendations: Platforms experimented with generative-playlist features that assemble shortlists based on mood tags. Use these to generate starter picks, then refine manually.
• Ad-tier catalog growth: As ad-supported tiers expanded, more indie and recovered catalog titles appeared on lower-cost plans — great for exploratory viewing.
• Festival-to-stream premieres: More festivals (especially regional and genre festivals) struck deals for same-year streaming, bringing fresh indie fare onto Hulu faster than before.
• Community features: Co-watching and synchronized playback became more integrated across platforms, making communal discovery (and spoiler-controlled discussions) easier.

Smart ways to watch these picks (and not waste your time)

Here are tactical viewing strategies to get the most out of these hidden gems:

• Limit commitment: If you don’t click in the first 20 minutes, record one note then revisit later — many slow-burn films reward patience, but not all will reward you.
• Pair films deliberately: Watch two complementary films in a row (e.g., Columbus then First Cow) to explore recurring motifs like landscape and solitude.
• Use watch parties for ambiguous endings: Films like The Endless and The Invitation are richer when you process them with others — schedule a short, spoiler-managed chat afterward.
• Track context: Keep a simple watch note (date, mood, one-line takeaway). Over time you’ll build a personal discoverability profile that beats any algorithm.

Final takeaways — why these hidden gems matter for your queue

These ten under-the-radar titles from WIRED’s list are the kind of films that flourish inside a thoughtful viewing practice. They’re not blockbuster staples, but they’re precisely the kinds of underrated movies that convert passive viewers into cinephiles: small-cinema experiments, genre flips, and human-scale dramas that reward attention.

Use the tips above to build a smarter, quieter streaming habit: layer search terms, follow curator playlists, and take advantage of 2026’s improved co-watching and AI playlist tools. When you find a true hidden gem on Hulu, it becomes more than a watch—it's a discovery you can share with your community.

Call to action

Ready to unearth your next favorite film? Add one of these picks to your Hulu watchlist tonight and try one of the watch tips above. Then come back here and tell us which film surprised you — drop a spoiler-free comment, join our watch-party events, or sign up for our weekly newsletter for more curated Hulu picks and cult-film discoveries.

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