Best Movies to Stream this Weekend on Hulu, Including ‘Brittany Murphy: An ID Mystery’

New drops and timely catalog arrivals make Hulu a handy weekend hub right now, with a couple of fresh premieres, a recent festival pick-up, and several influential crowd-pleasers back in rotation. To keep things simple, the picks below start with this week’s newest arrivals, then pivot to notable classics and modern must-watches from the October batch. Each entry includes who made it, who’s in it, and when it lands on Hulu so you can press play without extra digging.

’40 Acres’ (2025)

This post-apocalyptic thriller follows the Freeman family as they defend their rural homestead after society collapses, testing hard survival rules against escalating raids. Danielle Deadwyler leads the cast alongside Michael Greyeyes, with R.T. Thorne directing. Notes from coverage describe a survival drama threaded with action and themes of land, heritage, and resilience. It begins streaming on Friday, October 17.

‘What Happens Later’ (2023)

A romantic two-hander set overnight in a snowed-in regional airport reunites former partners played by Meg Ryan and David Duchovny. Ryan also directs, from a screenplay by Steven Dietz, Kirk Lynn, and Meg Ryan adapted from Dietz’s stage play ‘Shooting Star’. The story unfolds through conversation across gates and concourses as the pair revisit old fault lines. It arrives on Hulu on Friday, October 17.

‘Brittany Murphy: An ID Mystery’ (2020)

This Investigation Discovery special re-examines the 2009 death of actor Brittany Murphy through archival material and interviews, including perspectives from family members and investigators. The documentary surveys timelines, allegations, and the intense public interest that surrounded the case. Built as a single-episode true-crime deep dive, it revisits key questions and the subsequent death of Simon Monjack. It premieres on Hulu on Saturday, October 18.

‘The Cabin in the Woods’ (2012)

Drew Goddard’s feature debut follows a group of college friends whose forest getaway is manipulated by an underground facility with a chilling global purpose. The ensemble includes Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams, Richard Jenkins, and Bradley Whitford, with Goddard co-writing. Behind-the-scenes credits highlight Peter Deming’s cinematography and Lisa Lassek’s editing. It joins Hulu on Thursday, October 16.

‘The Sixth Sense’ (1999)

M. Night Shyamalan directs Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment in a suspense drama about a child who claims he can see the dead and the psychologist trying to help him. Toni Collette co-stars, with Donnie Wahlberg in a key appearance. The film’s understated approach and careful visual storytelling made it a defining supernatural hit. It returned to Hulu as part of the October 1 additions.

‘Scream’ (1996)

Wes Craven’s meta-slasher tracks Sidney Prescott as a masked killer terrorizes Woodsboro, with reporters and local law enforcement racing to piece together the pattern. Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette lead the cast, with a screenplay by Kevin Williamson. The film revitalized slasher conventions through self-aware rules and genre riffs. It’s included in Hulu’s October 1 drop.

‘Edward Scissorhands’ (1990)

Tim Burton’s suburban fable follows an unfinished creation with bladed hands who’s brought into a pastel neighborhood and becomes the focus of fascination and fear. Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder star, with Dianne Wiest in a pivotal role. The film blends gothic imagery with tender character work and production design that underscores its outsider theme. It’s part of the October 1 arrivals on Hulu.

‘The Tree of Life’ (2011)

Terrence Malick’s family chronicle traces memory and meaning across childhood, parenthood, and creation itself, centering on the O’Brien family. Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain play the parents, with the story moving between intimate domestic scenes and vast cosmological vistas. Emmanuel Lubezki’s cinematography and the film’s impressionistic structure are central to its impact. It’s available via Hulu’s October 1 batch.

‘Halloween’ (2018)

David Gordon Green’s legacy sequel brings Laurie Strode face-to-face with Michael Myers decades after the original rampage, reframing their confrontation across three generations. Jamie Lee Curtis returns, joined by Judy Greer and Will Patton, with production by Blumhouse. The film emphasizes preparation, trauma, and a fortified home showdown. It’s included in the October 1 slate on Hulu.

‘Underwater’ (2020)

A deep-sea drilling facility suffers a catastrophic event, forcing a crew to cross the ocean floor while confronting something lurking in the dark. Kristen Stewart leads the ensemble with Vincent Cassel, under the direction of William Eubank. Production design and creature effects support a contained survival narrative. It’s part of Hulu’s October 1 lineup.

Tell us what you’re queuing up—drop your weekend picks in the comments!