It is time for the monthly streaming shuffle, when movie titles shift between streaming services and new titles make their debut. Hulu is highly favored this June, as various stellar titles are entering the streamer’s virtual shelves starting on the first of the month.
Hulu is perhaps best known for its extensive TV library and live-streaming capabilities, and several original shows are debuting or returning this month. Still, the streamer offers various must-see movies, and its library is expanding with the upcoming arrival of new and classic features. Disney Entertainment has acquired the rights to various top titles that were previously streaming on Netflix, and those features are arriving to Hulu this June.
Major blockbusters are flooding into Hulu this month, including a popular superhero trilogy and a few animated franchises. Behind these major franchise films, some incredible hidden gems are also sneaking onto the streamer. Though they did not make this list amid the array of coming blockbusters, three must-see independent movies will be available on the streamer—Kneecap, Between The Temples, and Queens of the Dead.
The unique films are nothing alike. The first is an Irish hip-hop comedy, the second a Jewish dramady, and the last a drag queen zombie horror. Though distinct from one another, all three are critically acclaimed indie comedies with a strong cult following, and are worth the watch. With a mix of indies and blockbusters, there is a movie for viewers of all ages and interests on Hulu this June.
Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby (2006)
Ricky Bobby is speeding into Hulu on June 1. Directed by Adam McKay, Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby is considered one of the best Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly comedies.
NASCAR champion Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell) falls from greatness and nearly loses his career, family, and best friend (John C. Reilly). With the help of his elusive father, Bobby regains his place as a NASCAR superstar and mends his relationships. This sidesplitting comedy features reliably entertaining performances from the dynamic leading duo, with additional stellar showings from Amy Adams, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Jane Lynch.
Sony is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Talladega Nights this summer, with a theatrical re-release. For viewers who would like to relive the classic at home, Talladega Nights will be streaming on Hulu in English and Spanish starting June 1.
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Brokeback Mountain (2005) is a groundbreaking romantic drama that explores ideas of stoic masculinity and repression in the cowboy context. The Western is an adaptation of Annie Proulx’s 1997 short story, published in The New Yorker. The heartbreaking narrative follows the torrid 20-year affair of cowboy Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) and ranch hand Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) in 1963 Wyoming.
Brokeback Mountain received eight nominations at the 78th Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The film won Oscars for Ang Lee’s directing, Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana’s adapted screenplay, and Gustavo Santaolalla’s original score.
Brokeback Mountain arrives to Hulu on June 1, the first day of Pride Month. The critically acclaimed romantic drama will likely join other acclaimed LGBTQ+ titles in the “Hulu Has Pride” hub.
The Sandlot (1993)
The narrative of The Sandlot unfolds in the glowing space of remembered youth. Dripping in nostalgia, it is one of the greatest ‘90s kids movies of all time.
During their childhood, neighborhood bullies sent David Mickey Evans’s brother to retrieve a ball from a yard, leaving him with a nasty dog bite (via People). Director and co-writer Evans turned the bullies into friends in The Sandlot, and crafted a story about finding community through an ongoing neighborhood baseball game.
The cast of kids craft a perfectly heartwarming and hilarious dynamic throughout, and the film draws to a close with the epic reveal of James Earl Jones as a mysterious character at the narrative’s center. The 20th Century Studios feature is currently streaming on Disney+, and will become available to all Hulu subscribers on June 1.
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
The original Captain America trilogy enters Hulu on June 1—The First Avenger (2011), The Winter Soldier (2014), and Civil War (2016). While Disney+ bundle subscribers have already had the luxury of streaming the popular trilogy, Hulu exclusive subscribers will soon get the opportunity.
Civil War is perhaps the most exciting of the three arrivals. The Civil War ushered in a new era of the MCU, both narratively and at the box office, making way for the record-breaking Avengers: Endgame. The superhero epic holds the record for the highest-grossing Captain America movie of all time, with a lifetime gross of $408 million.
Civil War depicts the feud between Captain America (Chris Evans) and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.). The blockbuster also introduces Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, who is swinging into his fourth solo feature this summer. Civil War arrives on Hulu this summer amid the film’s 10th Anniversary.
Independence Day (1996)
Independence Day became an instant hit following its release in July 1996. An unknown force descends from the skies over the Fourth of July weekend with the goal of complete human elimination in Independence Day. The film is directed by Roland Emmerich and stars Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, and Bill Pullman.
The disaster thriller grossed $306 million at the U.S. box office and $817 million worldwide. A new generation of viewers found Independence Day on streaming, and the film topped the Netflix viewing charts during its time on the service. The sci-fi flick lands on Hulu June 1, amid its 30th anniversary.
Independence Day is one of several features shifting hands from Netflix to Hulu this month. The extraterrestrial film offers Hulu subscribers a fantastic pre-watch to Steven Spielberg’s upcoming alien feature, Disclosure Day, which opens June 12.
12 Years A Slave (2013)
Searchlight Pictures’ 12 Years A Slave won the 2014 Academy Award for Best Picture, one of its nine nominations. Directed by Steve McQueen, the historical drama tells the true story of Solomon Northup, a free black man who was kidnapped and trafficked into slavery in 1841.
The film is an adaptation of Northup’s 1853 memoir of the same title, which was ghostwritten by David Wilson. According to subject-matter expert William Andrews, the 2013 film is largely faithful to the source material (via NPR).
The historical figures are played by Chiwetel Ejiofor (Northup), Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong’o, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, and Sarah Paulson. Arriving on June 1, 12 Years A Slave joins Best Picture winner Anora (2024) in the Hulu streaming library.
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Allegedly, 19-year-old Frank Abagnale Jr. amassed a small fortune through years of forgery during which he posed as a pilot, a doctor, and a prosecutor. Abagnale recounted his adventure in a semi-autobiographical book, though he later admitted to embellishing certain aspects of the story (via Cosmopolitan).
Steven Spielberg’s feature adaptation of Catch Me If You Can spins Abagnale’s alleged antics into a thrilling crime comedy. Leonardo DiCaprio plays the cunning young conman, and Tom Hanks plays the frustrated FBI agent hot on his trail. The leading actors have an enthralling dynamic in this cat-and-mouse game.
Catch Me If You Can grossed $352 million worldwide during its 2002 theatrical release, and found a new crop of viewers on streaming, with a successful stint on Netflix. The popular film sneaks into Hulu on June 1.
Gladiator (2000)
Ridley Scott’s Gladiator is a thrilling piece of cinematic history. The 155-minute epic made way for future mainstream action blockbusters, including the 2024 sequel. For this, Gladiator boasts a perfect 10 out of 10 from Screen Rant. In the historical action, Emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) usurps General Maximus (Russell Crowe) from power and forces him to battle in the gladiator arenas.
Gladiator earned $465.5 million at the worldwide box office and enjoys an 87% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The star-studded sequel also received popular praise for delivering the epic action audiences craved, but it could not touch the legendary original. The ferocious first film enters Hulu on June 1, joining Scott’s other historical fiction, The Last Duel (2021).
Kung Fu Panda (2008)
Kung Fu Panda enters Hulu on June 1, along with the second and third films. For Hulu-Disney bundle holders, the arrival of this DreamWorks Animation franchise will help round out Disney+’s already hefty animated collection.
In the first Kung Fu Panda, Po (Jack Black) is unexpectedly named by an ancient prophecy and goes to study kung fu alongside his fighting idols, to their chagrin. The hilarious cast is rounded out by Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Ian McShane, Jackie Chan, and Seth Rogen.
Directed by Mark Osborne and John Stevenson, Kung Fu Panda boasts an 87% on Rotten Tomatoes and 8/10 on Screen Rant. The family favorite tells a story of acceptance, inner strength, and mindfulness. Kung Fu Panda also features some surprisingly wise quotes, particularly from Grand Master Oogway: “There is a saying: yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.”
It Ends With Us (2024)
It Ends With Us is the first film adaptation of a Colleen Hoover novel, predating Regretting You (2025) and Reminders Of Him (2026). The 2024 romance tells the story of Lily Bloom as she falls in love with neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid. Then, a traumatic incident and the reappearance of her high-school sweetheart force Bloom to make an impossible choice.
Justin Baldoni directs and stars in the romantic drama, across lead Blake Lively and co-star Brandon Sklenar. The romance film enjoys mass popularity and has spurred future Hoover adaptations. Following a lengthy run on Netflix, per the Sony Pictures distribution deal, It Ends With Us moves to Hulu on June 9.
The film was heavily viewed on Netflix and may experience another surge in viewership following its Hulu debut.
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
