The Best Limited Series on Hulu to Watch Right Now

In the streaming wars, Max (formerly known as HBO Max) seems to be leading the race when it comes to limited series. Their original content, at least in drama, is noticeably better produced and scripts are infinitely more interesting than those of Netflix shows getting released on an obscure schedule that has little to no marketing. But this doesn’t mean Max should win all the time.

If there’s a service that could give them a run for its money, it could be Hulu. Perhaps, their original content isn’t vast, but their distribution rights allow them to stream very good shows that sometimes, we don’t even know are available. That’s how we put together a list of these shows that put Hulu alongside its most powerful competitors.

Updated on Mar. 21st, 2024, by Soniya Hinduja: This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.

25 Fleishman Is In Trouble (2023)

Taffy Brodesser-Akner adapts her own bestselling novel for the screen and provides an intimate and realistic look at relationships. The limited series follows a recently separated hepatologist, Toby Fleishman, who navigates life as a single man in his 40s. Having just gotten used to going out and meeting new people through dating apps, his life is suddenly turned upside down when his ex-wife Rachel disappears without a clue, leaving their two children, 11-year-old Hannah and nine-year-old Solly, under his care. As he juggles his profession and responsibilities, Fleishman must also understand how his marriage fell apart.

Realistic and Fascinating

Fleishman Is In Trouble is an outstanding limited series that delves into the messy realities of marriage and divorce, as well as how strange it is to explore the dating world after decades of being in a relationship. Jesse Eisenberg leaves fans bewildered with his character, a man cruising through uncharted waters while still being likable. We not only find ourselves rooting for him to succeed but also are deeply invested in Rachel’s disappearance. The tightly-coiled plot paired with stellar performances and mention of relatable themes is what makes the series so good.

24 A Murder at the End of the World (2023)

Fans of Knives Out would delight in this seven-episode limited series, which centers around Debby Hart. As a tech-savvy hacker, amateur detective, and author of a true-crime book, Hart is spellbound when she is invited to a remote retreat along with eight other guests by a reclusive billionaire. When a murder takes place on the glorious island, she jumps straight into investigating the matter and unveils the most shocking details.

A Compelling Story With Charismatic Characters

Created by Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij, A Murder at the End of the World is a brilliant whodunit. It balances suspense, mystery, horror, and humor with extreme authenticity and deft skill. Emma Corrin plays the lead character, a Gen Z sleuth retracing the steps of an intimate and unexpected story. Supporting her are Brit Marling, Harris Dickinson, Clive Owen, and more. Each episode is ripe with shocking revelations, increases the sense of danger, and does an outstanding job of keeping viewers hooked until the final moments.

23 Normal People (2020)

Based on Sally Rooney’s bestselling novel, Normal People is considered to be one of the most illuminating and beautiful romantic dramas of the 21st century. It traces the soft but complicated relationship between Marianne and Connell from their high school days through their university years. Growing up in a small Irish town with different social backgrounds, the two find an intense connection. However, they struggle to define what they mean to each other. As they leave home and move on with life, Marianne and Connell wonder if what they share will last forever.

A Hugely Complex Emotional Journey

Ripe with the most graceful and heartbreaking small-screen performances of all time, Normal People brings to life Rooney’s story with mesmerizing depth. Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal share a phenomenal chemistry; it’s present in every tender touch and longing gaze. But beyond that, their characters are poised, beautiful, and deep. They forge an understanding through trials and turmoil and capture the universal experience of letting go of your past and establishing a place in the world while also learning to love yourself.

22 Pride and Prejudice (1995)

There is no doubt about the popularity of this Jane Austen-inspired BBC miniseries. A luminous adaptation, Pride and Prejudice takes you to 19th-century rural England, where an overly excited Mrs. Bennet wishes to marry her five daughters off to eligible suitors. The second-oldest daughter, Elizabeth, is a headstrong woman who clashes with the handsome yet arrogant Mr. Darcy at a ball. Thus begins their battle of wits and repressed desires of the heart. Through observations of class and society, the beloved series depicts a timeless tale of love.

The Ultimate Classic Romance

Eternal and entertaining, Pride and Prejudice is one of those period dramas you never get tired of rewatching. The first nod of respect goes to the casting. Colin Firth smolders as the initially aloof yet ultimately swoon-worthy Mr. Darcy. As opposed to him, Jennifer Ehle brings an effortless spirit and intelligence to Elizabeth. Faithful, lavish, and absolutely gorgeous in depicting Regency-era Britain, this BAFTA-winning limited series honors Austen’s sharp social commentary. There is a great balance of drama and humor too, which makes the series simply too magnificent.

21 The Accident (2019)

Set in a small fictional Welsh town named Glyngolau, The Accident is a four-part limited series that explores the aftermath of a tragic accident that shakes the entire town’s population. As a financially backward community, their one hope of employment and a better future was the new chemical plant being built by the town council. Leona, a 15-year-old, takes her eight friends to the site before opening day, but an explosion causes a building to collapse and many of her friends die. Grief-stricken and confused, the townsfolk try to seek answers and find sinister cover-ups and inconvenient truths about the incident.

A Compelling Crime Drama

Gripping from the very first frame itself, this solemn series has a premise filled with jarring twists and turns. Not only does it boast grand Hollywood-like production values, but the drama also examines ordinary lives and how they’re upended. Sarah Lancashire, Mark Lewis Jones, and Jade Croot deliver strong and multi-faceted performances. But more than just an engaging and deceptively smart mystery, The Accident highlights universal human relationships and how we unite in the face of tragedy to generate hope and empathy.

20 Shōgun (2024)

The biggest and most ambitious limited series on television right now, Shōgun is a Japanese-American period piece based on a novel written by James Clavell. The high-budget event series transports you to a pivotal year in 17th-century Japan. As the country faces political and religious upheaval following the death of Taikō, one adventurer slips through the cracks and rattles them all. Shipwrecked, risk-taking English sailor Blackthorne arrives in Lord Toranaga’s dangerous court and finds himself entangled with Lady Mariko, a mysterious woman samurai.

One of the Best New Shows of 2024

Shōgun became an instant hit. The world of feudal Japan is often dramatized, but the 1600s were a transformative period, and the epic and sumptuous production values make every detail truly captivating. Backed by international talents both in front of and behind the camera, with Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai leading the series, Shōgun is a feast for the eyes. The intrigue, the portrayal of warring factions, the brutal fight sequences, and the high-stakes adventure, all combine to form an entertaining series. If early signs hold true, Shōgun could easily become a new benchmark for historical dramas.

19 Mrs. America (2020)

Mrs. America tells the dramatized story of a poignant moment in political history and chronicles the struggles of the movement that sought to have the Equal Rights Amendment ratified. The movement faced unexpected resistance from a conservative activist, Phyllis Schlafly, leading to a dramatic showdown during the epic culture wars of the period.

A Wonderfully Dramatized True Story

A brilliant limited series, Mrs. America stars the legendary Cate Blanchett in the lead, which tells you everything you need to know about the quality of the show. The ensemble cast also features the likes of Rose Byrne, Elizabeth Banks, and Roberta Colindrez and its terrific female cast comes in handy since much of the show is dedicated to iconic feminist figures like Gloria Steinheim and Betty Friedan. Unsurprisingly, the show has been highly acclaimed and holds a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

18 Fosse/Verdon (2019)

Bob Fosse and Broadway star Gwen Verdon made a potent team as a choreographer and dancer respectively. In Fosse/Verdon, the pair are wonderfully depicted by Sam Rockwell and Michelle Williams. A legendary pair for their dance achievements, they were known for the choreography and direction they brought to stage shows and films like Cabaret. However, despite their electric chemistry together, their time together was also often marred by the complex shifts in the power dynamic between them and what caused the imbalances.

Packed With Chemistry and Charisma

Known in equal parts for their professional and personal relationships, like most artists are, the limited series explores the lives of Fosse and Verdon through both of these prisms with quiet brilliance and rare authenticity. With great performances from the leads and some brilliant nods to their work, the show is an especially enjoyable one for dance lovers, with a lot of high drama thrown in.

17 High Fidelity (2020)

Zoë Kravitz plays Robyn Brookes, a young woman who owns a record store. She’s just had a terrible date with a nice guy, following which, she decides to walk down memory lane and look back at her top five heartbreaks. Through her love of music, Robyn revisits past relationships. Obsessed with records and pop culture, the show was a great rendition and plays out as a very binge-able romantic comedy.

Impossible Not to Love

Based on the popular novel and the 2000 movie adaptation that starred John Cusack, High Fidelity takes the form of a great little miniseries this time. For anyone looking for a wonderful dose of nostalgia, the show stars Zoë Kravitz in the lead. This was a poignant casting since, for those who remember it, the film adaptation starred her mother, Lisa Bonet. Kravitz earned high praise for her performance in it, with the show being a hit with critics and a treat for music fans.

16 I Am the Night (2019)

Inspired by Fauna Hodel’s memoir, the series follows Eisley as the young Fauna Hodel, who sets out to discover the truth about her past. Since Hodel was given up by her birth mother, she intends to learn more about her parentage. However, her inquiries soon send her down a dark path as she learns the truth about her grandfather, George Hodel. Hodel was the prime suspect in the notorious Black Dahlia case, adding some great layers of intrigue to the show as it fleshes these aspects out.

Thrilling and Engrossing

An enjoyable six-part limited series featuring Chris Pine and India Eisley in the lead, I Am the Night brilliantly weaved a mystery story with the true events of an infamous murder. Stories like these are prone to attracting viewership, but the credit for making the miniseries captivating goes to director Sam Sheridan, who creates a stunning and visceral portrait of Old Hollywood, making you relive the headlines and news pieces of the real-life case.

15 The Patient (2022)

The Patient follows Allan Strauss, a therapist who is held captive by an unhinged serial killer named Sam Fortner. Sam’s reasons for holding Allan captive make for some very tense moments since he wants Allan to help him curb his homicidal urges. Tragically for Allan, this nightmarish ordeal comes at a time when he’s mourning the loss of his wife and isn’t fully stable himself.

An Impressive Departure for Carell

For lovers of Steve Carell, don’t expect to see him up to his usual comedic antics in this one. The Patient proves that he has some amazing depth as a dramatic actor too. The way he plays with the thought-provoking premise and delivers a somber yet engrossing performance is the main reason why the series is so good. Moreover, the show is a chilling one, and though completely unlike the usual parts he’s known for, Carell shines in the role.

14 Little Fires Everywhere (2020)

Adapted from the 2017 novel of the same name written by Celeste Ng, Little Fires Everywhere tells the stories of two families with radically different social statuses in late ’90s Ohio. On one side are the Richardsons, who adopt a Chinese-American baby, and on the other is Mia Warren, a woman with a compromising past. At one point, their clash becomes inevitable, and the show gets tense enough to turn the drama elements into a subtle thriller.

For Fans of Big Little Lies

Little Fires Everywhere stars the excellent Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington as the two mothers leading opposite sides of a suburban war that escalates with each episode. Witherspoon plays the traditional middle-class white woman obsessed with control and Washington brings a sympathetic ease to her role of a mother fighting for the custody of a child. From a drama perspective, the series gets quite intense despite its short length.

13 National Treasure (2016)

He’s a former comedian who’s now in the TV business, but suddenly countless accusations of rape throw the family into a spiral. Paul Finchley’s entire life is thrown into an ambush when he’s suddenly arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing a woman back in 1993. His Catholic wife and recovering daughter are unable to comprehend the news, which sends the family into a spiral.

A Horrifying Story that You Can’t Look Away From

The British drama National Treasure consists of only four episodes. Luckily, they’re enough to portray the anguish a family is forced to go through when its leader is accused of the unspeakable. It stars three icons of acting: Robbie Coltrane, Andrea Riseborough, and Julie Walters. Jack Thorne is responsible for penning the show, and let’s just say he does a brilliant job with the story. Trust us when we say you don’t want to miss this one.

12 11.22.63 (2016)

Based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name, 11.22.63 tells the story of a teacher who’s presented with the opportunity to go back in time and prevent John F. Kennedy’s assassination. It appears to be an easy mission until Jake Epping starts spending time with a certain woman from the past and ends up falling in love with her, endangering both the past and the future.

A Time Travel Drama Done Well

The miniseries is based on a script that doesn’t focus so much on the thrilling part of the story but on Jake’s dilemma to prevent, escape, leave, or stay. Of course, the plot’s dark twist is shocking: we should be certain that the protagonist will be messing with events from the past. James Franco is the perfect choice for the role of a man struggling to right the wrongs that led to a monumental and historical event.

11 The Act (2019)

The Act is based on the true life story of Dee Dee Blanchard and her daughter Gypsy Rose. The case is notoriously known as the most important case of Munchausen syndrome by proxy in recent history. Dee Dee makes unfair use of her daughter by fabricating disabilities, and perhaps that is what led to her murder. That mystery is for you to unfold.

A Stranger than Fiction True Story

The performance by Joey King as Gypsy is the best of her career. Patricia Arquette is also quite spectacular as the tarnished mother. As for the writing, dialogue, and toxic atmosphere, creators Nick Antosca and Michelle Dean show just how skilled they are at their jobs. If you know nothing about what happened, and documentaries aren’t exactly your thing, check this one out. It goes by in a flash.

10 Candy (2022)

This is another true crime entry. Candy is Hulu’s version (Max has one as well titled Love & Death) of the true case of Candy Montgomery. Montgomery was a religious housewife who got herself tangled in a weird relationship with a man whose wife found out about the affair at some point. What happened after she found out? Let’s just say Montgomery used an axe to solve the whole thing.

Biel and Lynskey at their Best

Jessica Biel in the starring role is amazing. The way she morphs into Candy, and showcases two opposite personalities — one of a churchgoer and the other of a maniacal woman wanting freedom — is simply stunning. The creators have done a fantastic job making the series impactful and disturbing but breezy enough to binge in one setting. Melanie Lynskey plays Betty Gore, and you cannot help but feel bad for her.

9 Under the Banner of Heaven (2022)

Under the Banner of Heaven tells the story of a detective trying to solve a mystery in a Mormon-based community that he’s also part of. Brenda Wright Lafferty and her baby were strangled and stabbed to death in Salt Lake Valley. As he investigates the case and goes deeper into it, Jeb Pyre learns of the LDS fundamentalism connected to the murder.

A Sinister True Crime Story

Andrew Garfield’s exceptional performance in Under the Banner of Heaven is only one of many things good about the show. It was based on Jon Krakauer’s book of the same name, and it’s a great true crime adaptation you shouldn’t miss. The supporting cast includes Daisy Edger-Jones, Sam Worthington, and Rory Culkin, who are all fantastic as well.

8 Devs (2020)

The science fiction thriller Devs was overlooked by some because some viewers simply didn’t get it — and that’s okay. Quantum computing is complex. The show tells the story of an engineer who starts digging deep into the company that may be responsible for the death of her significant other. What she finds is a project that will make her, and the audience, question things on a philosophical level.

An Underrated Sci-Fi Series From Alex Garland

All episodes are written and directed by Alex Garland, and if you know who he is, then you’ll understand just how complicated the show can get. The series also boasts a stellar cast, including Nick Offerman and Sonoya Mizuno, both of whom are incredible as two complex characters. The attention to detail and overall cinematography also adds to the experience of fully immersing yourself in its plot. Moreover, Devs also received a lot of critical acclaim for the way it tackled subjects of reality and its nature.

7 Storm of the Century (1999)

Storm of the Century is probably the only material Stephen King has written exclusively for television. It tells the story of a small town that’s terrorized by two forces: an evil man and a destructive blizzard. Given that King is behind the story, the reason for this man’s acts is a major shock. Colm Feore has never been better in anything, and his repeatedly saying, “Give me what I want and I’ll go away,” is the peak of the series.

Classic King

Storm of the Century is a gripping limited series. It excels in its twisty storytelling and creates an atmosphere of dread and suspense. King’s masterful direction is partly responsible for keeping the viewers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The chilling narrative dives straight into the darkness that plagues the human mind and leads it to commit unspeakable crimes.

6 Dopesick (2021)

The limited series Dopesick snatched every award it deserved a couple of years ago, and it’s one of the best shows you can catch on Hulu today. The thrilling drama tells the story of different families going through and facing the opioid crisis. It was created by Purdue Pharma when they began selling OxyContin and the government didn’t exactly care for the effects.

A Devastating Look at the Opioid Crisis

Dopesick emerges as a powerful show that deals with the devastating impact of the opioid crisis with sensitivity and depth. Will Poulter’s performance as Billy Cutler prove he should be in more shows and movies. Accompanying him is a talented cast of actors like Peter Sarsgaard, Michael Keaton, Kaitlyn Dever, and Rosario Dawson, who play their respective roles with equal parts emotion and grit.