Why Hulu is still one of the best streamers for TV lovers
Why Hulu is still one of the best streamers for TV lovers
Hulu stands out for its deep library and steady stream of fresh shows.
When I think of Hulu, a whole bunch of different things come to mind. And I think that’s a pretty good indicator of what Hulu is. This is a streamer that doesn’t box itself into one vibe or genre lane. Instead, it’s got a little of everything. World-class comedy? Got it. Prestige dramas? Check. Sitcom reruns? Yup. Reality chaos, animated comedies, docuseries, true crime, anime… it’s all here. Hulu hasn’t niched itself the way HBO Max or Apple TV+ have. If anything, it’s vibe is a lot more like Netflix: broad, sprawling, and full of options no matter what kind of show you’re in the mood for.
So I wanted to take a closer look at where things stand in 2025. What does Hulu do really well? What’s missing or could use a boost? How often does new stuff drop, and is the back catalog still worth exploring? I’ll walk you through what I like, love, and wish when it comes to their TV lineup — and hopefully help you figure out if this is still the right place for your next binge.
Feel free to share your thoughts about Hulu’s offerings in the comments below.
Everything you need to know about the Hulu streaming library:
What TV genres does Hulu do really well?
When I think of Hulu, two genres immediately jump out: comedy (including edgy and animated) and prestige drama. “Only Murders in the Building” is the crown jewel in the comedy lane for me, and it’s only getting stronger. I loved the most recent season and think it may have been their strongest yet! Then there’s comedies like “The Great,” “How to Die Alone,” “Such Brave Girls” and the ridiculously funny and strange “Pen15.”
But Hulu’s secret comedy weapon is really its partnership with FX and ABC. That brings one of my favorite shows of all time to the platform in “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” Having all 17 seasons in one place is a huge win. That same FX pipeline also brings you hits like “What We Do in the Shadows,” “The Bear” (is it really a comedy though?), the really funny and heartbreaking “Dying For Sex,” the brand-new “Adults” and the masterpiece, “DAVE.”
And I haven’t even gotten to ABC yet! You can stream “Abbott Elementary,” “High Potential” (which returns for a Season 2 in September), along with older shows like “Home Economics” and “Shifting Gears” (more on Hulu’s back catalogue shortly).
Prestige drama is another area where Hulu really delivers. “The Handmaid’s Tale” was a defining streaming drama for years (my wife and I just finished it), and newer series like “Washington Black,” “Paradise,” “Deli Boys,” and “Good American Family” keep that momentum going. Plus, you’ve got shows like “Tell Me Lies” and “Nine Perfect Strangers” capturing attention with new seasons. Oh, and I can’t forget “The Dropout” which was one of my favorite shows of 2022 (Amanda Seyfried is incredible).
Then FX gets in on the party, adding shows like “Fargo,” “Snowfall,” “Under the Banner of Heaven,” “Under the Bridge,” and “The Old Man” that all make it clear: if you want gritty, character-driven drama, this is a solid place to go.
Then there’s the animated shows, which might just be Hulu’s most underrated strength. I actually broke down why I think Hulu is the best streamer for animated comedy TV shows, so I won’t get too deep into this. But suffice to say that when you have legacy hits like “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy,” along with FX originals like “Archer,” it’s clear your platform is stacked. There’s even new stuff like “Grimsburg” and “Krapopolis” keeping things weird and fresh.
Lastly, I have to give Hulu props for its reality and docuseries game. “The Kardashians” might not be for everyone, but it’s a major exclusive, and Hulu quietly pulls in a ton of next-day unscripted TV from ABC and Fox. Shows like “Bachelor in Paradise,” “Love Island, and “90 Day Fiancé” and a bunch of cooking and competition series like “Celebrity Family Feud” help fill out the lineup. Add in buzzy true crime docuseries pulled from A&E and you’ve got a pretty solid lane for fans of true stories.
What TV genres could Hulu do more of?
If I had one big request for Hulu, it’s this: give me more shows like “Only Murders in the Building.” Smart, funny, character-driven comedies with a strong hook and a tight single-cam format. Apart from “Only Murders,” there’s not really a newish Hulu comedy that has broken through the noise. Obviously, having Martin Short, Steve Martin, and Selena Gomez as the leads of your cast doesn’t hurt. But I’d love to see more originals in that lane, where the writing’s clever, the cast is stacked, and the story keeps you coming back. Now, one reason why Hulu may not really pursue it is because they have an absolutely stacked comedy library of older hit shows, but more on that shortly.
The other thing I’d love to see is a few fresh procedurals. While Hulu has tons of licensed procedurals (many are CBS shows) from “Criminal Minds” to “Bones” — it hasn’t done much to develop original ones. Outside of shows like “High Potential” (which is an ABC show) and “Reasonable Doubt,” (through the ONYX Collective partnership), there’s still a lot of room for Hulu to grow its own slate of case-of-the-week dramas. A great legal or crime procedural with Hulu’s signature tone could fill a nice gap in the lineup, especially for people who want something bingeable, character-driven, and just familiar enough to settle into.
How often does new content drop on Hulu?
If you’re someone who likes having something new to watch every week, Hulu delivers, especially thanks to all the next-day network shows. Between ABC, Fox, CBS, and FX, new episodes hit the platform almost daily during the TV season. Whether it’s a new “Grey’s Anatomy” on Thursday night or fresh episodes of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” straight from FXX (Season 17 is airing now), the release schedule doesn’t really slow down. Even reality TV — stuff like “The Bachelorette” or “The Masked Singer” — lands the morning after it airs. So if you follow broadcast shows but don’t watch live, Hulu basically turns your queue into a DVR.
On top of that, Hulu’s Originals drop pretty steadily. Obviously not at the Netflix firehose pace, but you’re looking at a handful of new shows or seasons every month. Big-name series like “Only Murders in the Building” or “The Bear” get weekly rollouts that turn into mini-events. Then you’ve got new stuff like “Washington Black” or “Good American Family,” which help fill the gaps between bigger returning hits.
So while Hulu’s not throwing a dozen new originals at you every Friday, it does have one of the steadiest flows of fresh content thanks to its hybrid model. The combo of originals, FX drops, and next-day network episodes from ABC, Fox, CBS, and A&E (along with a few others) makes it feel like the service is always dropping something new. Some months are heavier than others, but I rarely open the app and feel like there’s nothing new to check out — even if I’m just grabbing the latest “Bob’s Burgers” while I wait for the next big premiere.
How deep is Hulu’s show library?
The Hulu library runs deep, especially if you’re the type who loves to sink into a long, well-loved series. We’re talking full-season runs of legacy dramas like “Lost” and “ER,” plus over 19 seasons of “Grey’s Anatomy” and counting. These aren’t just old shows that happen to be available… they’re foundational binge-watches with full arcs, emotional payoffs, and episode counts that’ll keep you busy for months.
Then there’s the sitcom bench, which is simply stacked. Hulu’s basically a sitcom hit machine, with full runs of “New Girl,” “Modern Family,” “Schitt’s Creek,” and “Superstore” all ready to binge. And if you want to go even deeper? “Gilmore Girls,” “Broad City,” “Cheers,” “Frasier,” “Malcolm in the Middle,” “The Mindy Project,” “How I Met Your Mother,” and “Will & Grace” are all in the mix too. Plus Hulu’s got deep cuts and classics like “MAS*H,” “30 Rock,” “Full House,” “King of the Hill,” and “Mad About You.” It’s a ridiculous lineup. Whether you’re revisiting old shows (my wife and I just watched “New Girl” again as our dinner show) or catching them for the first time, this catalog holds up.
And if you love procedurals? Hulu’s got an embarrassment of riches. “Law & Order: SVU,” “Criminal Minds,” “CSI,” and “Bones” are all here, and many have full multi-season runs ready to stream. That kind of depth makes Hulu a go-to for background binges or comfort rewatching. Honestly, it might be one reason Hulu hasn’t really leaned into producing its own procedural originals. The platform already has so many great ones from its licensing deals, there’s just no need to compete with itself.
What really sets Hulu apart, though, is how many of these shows are pop cultural icons. A lot of platforms stockpile older content, but Hulu’s got titles that are both iconic and still in the pop culture mix. You can rewatch “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” or “The X Files” just as easily as you can dive into something that’s still airing new episodes. Whether you’re chasing nostalgia or just trying to finally watch that one classic you missed, Hulu gives you the space to do it.
Too long didn’t read summary
My wife and I have been subscribed to Hulu for as long as we can remember, and that’s not changing anytime soon. At $10 per month, it’s got a deep mix of comfort rewatches, next-day network drops, and original shows that are usually worth committing to. My wife takes advantage of the reality TV side of things much more than I do, but even if you’re not into unscripted TV, there’s a lot here. Whether we’re binging something brand new like “Paradise” or just throwing on “New Girl” while we eat, there’s always something great on Hulu.
Hulu
Hulu is a video streaming service that gives access to thousands of full seasons of exclusive series, hit movies, kids shows, and Hulu Originals like “Only Murders in the Building,” and “The Handmaid’s Tale.”