3 must-watch Hulu movies to stream this weekend (May 23 – 26)

      As we approach the extended Memorial Day weekend, Hulu is bringing in The Last Showgirl, a film that didn't gain much attention last year but would likely have been overlooked entirely if not for Pamela Anderson's stellar performance. This made it an obvious choice as the top recommendation among the three prominent Hulu films to watch this weekend.

      Our other selections include one of Tom Cruise’s standout entries in the Mission: Impossible franchise, which is particularly relevant now that Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning has hit theaters. The final recommendation for the weekend is a comedy/drama featuring Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper, following just three years after their praised performances in Silver Linings Playbook.

      Looking for more suggestions? We also provide guides for the best movies on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Max, and Disney+.

      The Last Showgirl (2024)

      Roadside Attractions

      Some industry experts speculated that Pamela Anderson might receive an Oscar nomination for her lead role in The Last Showgirl. While that ultimately didn't happen, Anderson delivered a compelling performance that altered perceptions of her acting abilities. She portrays Shelly Gardner, a showgirl who's performed in a single Las Vegas revue for thirty years. Shelly has devoted her life to the show, even at the risk of neglecting her only daughter, Hannah Gardner (Billie Lourd).

      However, Shelly is blindsided when she discovers that the revue is set to close in two weeks, and this job does not offer any comfortable retirement. For the first time in years, Shelly is genuinely fearful of her future, as being a Las Vegas showgirl is all she knows. Removing that aspect of her life could be devastating for her.

      Watch The Last Showgirl on Hulu.

      Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)

      Paramount Pictures

      Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol is arguably the fourth or fifth best film in the Mission: Impossible franchise… yet it remains quite impressive! Animation director Brad Bird made his live-action debut with this sequel, which exposes the entire Impossible Mission Force to dire circumstances. Kurt Hendricks (Michael Nyqvist) has framed the IMF for the bombing of the Kremlin, leading Russian agents to pursue Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his field team, which includes Jane Carter (Paula Patton) and Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg). Officially, the U.S. government has disavowed and disbanded the IMF. However, Ethan still has some room to clear their names.

      Ethan receives extra support from William Brandt (Jeremy Renner), who harbors secrets of his own. Brandt's combat skills are surprisingly advanced for someone not meant to be in the field, and his connection to Ethan weighs heavily on him. But before they can confront those emotional issues, they must first collaborate to prevent Hendricks’ plan from instigating a nuclear war between the United States and Russia.

      Watch Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol on Hulu.

      Joy (2015)

      20th Century Studios

      The team behind Silver Linings Playbook—director David O. Russell, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, and Bradley Cooper—came together again in 2015 for Joy, a biopic about the inventor of the Miracle Mop. Joy Mangano (Lawrence) is a beleaguered young woman supporting not only her children but also her mother, Terri Mangano (Virginia Madsen), her ex-husband, Rudy Mangano (De Niro), and even her former spouse, Tony Miranne (Édgar Ramírez).

      Joy's invention leads her to QVC executive Neil Walker (Cooper), who aids her in transforming her life as the mops gain popularity. However, Joy doesn’t experience a straightforward happy ending. Certain family members attempt to undermine her success, alongside some unscrupulous tactics from a business competitor that could jeopardize everything Joy has worked for.

      Watch Joy on Hulu.