Over the years, Hulu has transcended its reputation from a fun streaming service to an established platform, with its top tier shows among the best TV of 2024. It quickly became a trusted destination for viewers, and in 2024, the streaming service has some serious original content to offer. Whether intense dramas or laugh-out-loud comedy, Hulu consistently delivers top-tier content. As highlighted by the best TV shows on Hulu as of December 2024, this year’s harvest has truly elevated standards.
2024 has seen Hulu debut some of the most exciting shows. Whether capturing the cultural pulse of 1600’s Japan or delivering the next chapter of Carmen Berzatto’s restaurant, Hulu’s diverse slate has something for everyone. Many of these standout debuts have earned their place among the best TV shows that premiered in 2024. Others are even strong contenders for the overall best TV shows of 2024. No matter what, Hulu’s lasting influence in the ever-competitive streaming landscape is something to be studied, and more importantly, enjoyed.
10
Solar Opposites
A Sci-Fi Comedy That Still Pushes Creative Boundaries
Solar Opposites is a Hulu adult animation series that centers on a family of aliens. After moving to America, they bicker about whether the country is better than their home planet. The series was created by Mike McMahan and Rick and Morty co-creator Justin Roiland, with characters voiced by Thomas Middleditch, Sean Giambrone, and Mary Mack.
Solar Opposites is among Hulu’s best output in 2024, highlighting the versatility of the streamer’s shows. Season 5 boasted bizarre and hilarious storylines revolving around different plots sci-fi battles, a futuristic What-If?! Device, and a return to the Wall. This chaotic energy is full of surprises, with inventive sci-fi gadgets and biting satire all delivered through comforting, artistic animation. The alien family’s misadventures offered laugh-out-loud moments while still managing to explore themes of belonging and identity, which adds a surprising emotional depth to this show.
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Despite an electric season, Solar Opposites’ wild humor and more cohesive storytelling purposefully clash amidst the show’s chaos. No matter what, the show is a standout for its bold creativity, which at least ensures it retains a ranking among Hulu’s best TV shows of 2024. Its unique blend of absurdity and heart secures a place at the top of Hulu’s output, keeping Solar Opposites a go-to choice for fans of weird, animated sci-fi comedies.
9
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
A Surprisingly Gripping Drama
A scandalous group of Mormon mom influencers, known as #MomTok, faces the fallout of their controversial “soft swinging” lifestyle that rocked the internet in 2022. As their friendships and reputations are put to the test, the docuseries explores the intense drama, broken trust, and the public’s reaction to their choices.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives debuted in 2024 as one of Hulu’s most intriguing new series. It sounds like a basic reality TV show, which on a certain level it is. However, this show is just fun to watch. It’s not only perfectly shot, cast, and executed, but the overall idea is genius. Even from an outsider’s perspective, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives focuses on the otherwise untold stories of a cloistered community, with richly drawn characters and compelling performances.
As reported by Screen Rant, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives has been renewed for a second season.
Hulu reality TV has a knack for stealing the spotlight. Although other notable shows like The Bear and Say Nothing are better crafted and more thoughtful in their executions, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives has a golden formula for addictive, guilty-pleasure-inducing entertainment. Its exploration of forbidden secrets and personal awakenings makes it a compelling watch, firmly earning a spot among Hulu’s best shows of the year.
8
Futurama
An Animation Classic That’s Still As Sharp And Relevant As Ever
Futurama follows the exploits of Philip J. Fry, a pizza delivery boy from 1999 who is cryogenically frozen for 1000 years. Waking up in the year 3000, Fry befriends a cyclops named Leela and a roguish robot named Bender, and the three find employment with Planet Express, an interplanetary delivery service. Their work takes them to all corners of the universe, exploring space and the future as imagined by Matt Groening and the creators of The Simpsons.
After a triumphant revival in 2023, the Fox, then Comedy Central, then Hulu show Futurama delivered a fresh season in 2024 that stayed true to its roots while updating its humor for modern audiences. This series, already iconic for its clever writing and memorable characters, proved it still has plenty to say about sci-fi and life in general. Futurama’s most recent season combined nostalgia with fresh commentary, offering fans both classic laughs and new surprises. This even extended to the show giving Fry & Leela a perfectly tragic ending (while still leaving room open for more adventures).
Broadcast Seasons Of Futurama
Network/Streamer
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Fox
6
Direct-To-Video
7, 8, 9, 10
Comedy Central
11, 12
Hulu
Futurama’s ability to stay culturally relevant while remaining true to its hilarious roots is a testament to Hulu’s double-edged abilities as a streaming service and production company. While the season does rely on some established characters tropes and dereitive plot ideas, the season’s best episodes stand up well against the grand legacy of the show’s earlier years. Futurama’s knack for blending absurd humor with poignant storytelling forever ensures its legacy, making it one of Hulu’s standout offerings of 2024.
7
Interior Chinatown
A Layered Exploration Of Identity And Ambition
Interior Chinatown, adapted from Charles Yu’s novel, follows Willis Wu, a background character in a TV police procedural. After witnessing a crime, he uncovers a criminal conspiracy in Chinatown and his family’s hidden past while exploring what it means to take the lead in his own story.
Blending dark comedy with social commentary, Interior Chinatown brought a fresh perspective to Hulu in 2024. The show features a standout story that riffs on “chosen one” plots, with a unique narrative structure and deeply relatable themes that tackle issues of representation across multiple facets of life. The show’s focus on the pursuit of dreams is told with wit and poignancy, as the series excels in turning its unconventional format into a powerful storytelling tool.
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Charles Yu’s Interior Chinatown is a wonderfully mind-bending exploration of Asian-American representation in Hollywood brought down by one thing.
While some moments felt overly ambitious, the show’s willingness to take creative risks paid off in spades. By combining humor with heartfelt moments, Interior Chinatown carved out its place among the best of 2024. It showcases the importance of authentic storytelling, melding real characters into an absurd plot. Willis Wu’s journey is certainly one to follow, and Interior Chinatown has a lot of room to grow into one of the best Hulu originals of all time.
6
Say Nothing
A Historical Thriller That Kept Everyone Guessing
Say Nothing is a film examining the perspectives of Irish Republican Army members, delving into the intense commitment to beliefs, the transition from division to conflict, and the enduring impact of radical violence. The narrative reflects on the emotional and psychological burdens resulting from a culture of silence.
Say Nothing secured its place in Hulu’s 2024 output with a gripping narrative that was filled to the brim with blindsiding twists and turns. Across 9 episodes, the show about the IRA unfolded like a puzzle. Each chapter revealed a different stake-raising, shocking secret in the world of Northern Ireland, with a tightly woven plot and stellar performances. This contributed to an experience that was virtually impossible to turn away from.
Based on a gripping true story, the show’s masterful pacing and relentless tension are as rewarding as it is anxiety-inducing. While some plot points may stretch credibility, Say Nothing has a peculiar ability to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. This adaptation of a 2018 book of the same name earned its spot as one of the year’s most compelling Hulu originals, in large part due to the show’s ability to explore heavy themes without losing a thrilling core.
5
Reasonable Doubt
A Legal Drama That Delivers On The Tension With Every Twist
Reasonable Doubt – Season 2
Reasonable Doubt returned in 2024 for season 2 packed with more moral dilemmas and courtroom drama. It continued to explore the intersection of justice and ambition, creating its unique tension that kept audiences glued to the screen. Reasonable Doubt’s tightly crafted cases and powerful performances made every episode a standout, reinforcing the show’s potential (a sentiment encouraged by the confirmation that season 3 is already on the way).
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Reasonable Doubt excels at balancing legal thrills with emotional resonance. The show’s overall commitment to character-driven storytelling elevated it above most Hulu original competition, with a compelling core character drama that elevates it above other legal procedurals. Reasonable Doubt is still up there as one of the best Hulu shows this year, and a highlight of the streamer’s dramatic output.
4
Davey & Jonesie’s Locker
A Survival Drama Elevated By A Darkly Comedic Twist
Davey & Jonesie’s Locker is a 2024 film about two best friends who discover a portal to alternate universes hidden within a school locker. As they escape their mundane high school lives, Davey and Jonesie embark on adventures that challenge their friendship and perceptions of reality.
Davey & Jonesie’s Locker brought something completely new to Hulu in 2024, which is a big reason why this show stands out so well compared to other productions. The show contains a highly unique tone as it blends grim scenarios with consistent jokes. Its charismatic lead roles and inventive storytelling stood out, creating another newborn series that balanced tension and levity in a way few shows could.
Davey & Jonesie’s Locker was co-commissioned by Amazon Prime Video and Hulu, with filming taking place in Toronto.
This innovative approach to a youth show heavily merited Davey & Jonesie’s Locker, even if some moments leaned a bit too heavily on humor. With some further growth and development, Davey & Jonesie’s Locker could become even better, so it’s promising to see what the future holds for this young show. It’s a bold attempt at a stimulating concept, and a near-perfect recipe for Gen-Z entertainment.
3
How to Die Alone
A Comedy That Turns Awkward Moments Into Heartfelt Storytelling
A down-on-her-luck JFK airport employee who’s never been in love and is struggling to find motivation gets a new lease on life and newfound determination after a near-death experience.
How to Die Alone features yet another young but powerful force in the television industry, with a deeply intriguing plot that relies less on zany realities to keep viewers engaged. This unexpected masterpice in the making focuses on the need to grow as a person, especially in the face of mortality. The pure insight on human experience in How to Die Alone makes the show a compelling journey as well as a solid comedy.
This eclectic blend of comedy and drama is almost synonymous with the average individual’s life…
This production is a refreshing addition to the streaming service’s roster, possessing a rare ability to connect on a deeply human level. While some jokes occasionally missed the mark, the overall emotional depth and relatability made How to Die Alone one of the year’s most compelling comedies. This eclectic blend of comedy and drama is almost synonymous with the average individual’s life, creating a surreal experience for anyone watching this fresh 2024 show.
2
The Bear
An Award-Winning Dramedy That Raises The Bar With Each New Bite
Set in a Chicago sandwich shop, The Bear follows Carmy Berzatto, a young professionally trained chef who returns to take over his family business after the unexpected death of his brother. At odds with many of the shop’s employees due to his culinary training, Carmy struggles to maintain order and keep the shop from failing entirely. Jeremy Allen White stars as Carmy alongside Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Ayo Edebiri.
Returning in 2024 with season 3, The Bear remains one of Hulu’s best originals until further notice, as well as one of the biggest TV shows returning in 2025. Pushing characters to their emotional and physical limits in a tense food service setting, The Bear returned with even more intensity than its prior season. This year’s episodes dove even deeper into the chaos of running a restaurant, offering raw, high-pressure moments for viewers to reflect on. The Bear’s unflinching portrayal of ambition and relationships made it impossible to look away from.
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Aside from its relentless energy, the beloved show also excels with its dry humor, something constantly butchered in both entertainment and real life. The Bear keeps up with these positives well into season 3, with no signs of stopping. The series continued to explore the crushing toll of success alongside crystal-clear character growth. It’s a show people wish they had their whole lives. Despite being so stressful, it’s an intoxicatingly fun watch, and remains one of the best original available on Hulu.
1
Shōgun
An Epic Masterpiece That Redefines Historical Dramas
Shogun – Season 1
Shōgun claims the top spot as Hulu’s best show of 2024, standing out as a visually stunning and emotionally powerful representation of 1600’s feudal Japan. It revisits James Clavell’s 1975 novel with a powerful adaptation that brings survival, power, and cultural conflict to life with breathtaking detail. Its rich storytelling and cinematic scope elevated it to an entirely new level, making it a must-watch for fans of historical epics (and even for audiences who don’t love that genre).
Nearly 70% of Shōgun’s dialogue is in Japanese, a bold choice that prioritizes cultural authenticity.
Shōgun is the best Hulu original of the year, and it’s arguably one of the best shows in 2024 period. It possesses an unparalleled ability to balance intimate character arcs with a sweeping, ambitious story. Each detail is intricate. From world-building to performances, this show showcased a commitment to excellence in its impressive debut season. With all the impressive releases from Hulu this year, Shōgun without a doubt takes the cake.
Source: Screen Rant
