While most people are storming the multiplex to watch the latest Marvel movie, Thunderbolts*, or watch Sinners a second or third time, some moviegoers are staying inside for various reasons or maybe no reason at all.
After all, why venture outside when there are hundreds of quality movies at your fingertips? That’s certainly the case if you’re a Hulu subscriber, which has an extensive library of classics, cult films and new hit movies.
This weekend, try streaming any one of the following hidden gems in this list. Rom-com lovers will like Austenland, while war hawks will dig Courage Under Fire. And if you’re in the mood for some cheap laughs, queue up the ‘80s retro comedy, Take Me Home Tonight.
‘Austenland’ (2013)
Before Bridgerton, there was Jane Austen and the many, many movie and TV adaptations of her 19th-century novels. The English author inspired Shannon Hale’s 2007 book Austenland and the subsequent 2013 feature film adaptation starring Keri Russell as Jane, a lovelorn woman who wants to be the main character in an Austen-like love story.
She gets her chance when she visits the titular resort that caters to Austen fans like her. But Jane forgets that a Jane Austen love story often involves a little bit of treachery, some deceit and plenty of broken hearts. When she falls in love with Mr. Nobley (JJ Feild), an actor tasked with mimicking Pride and Prejudice’s Mr. Darcy, Jane has to figure out if Nobley’s affections are real or if her romance is nothing more than fiction.
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Austenland will appeal not only to fans of the author but also to anyone who enjoys formulaic rom-coms with charming leads. Russell excels as a heroine who feels out of place even in a place designed solely for her, and Jennifer Coolidge pops up briefly in a fun supporting part as Jane’s rival, Elizabeth Charming.
Austenland is streaming on Hulu.
‘Courage Under Fire’ (1996)
War movies are common, but war movies with a female protagonist are still rare. One of the best is Courage Under Fire, a 1996 drama that tells the same story from different perspectives. Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling (Denzel Washington) is tasked to find out if Captain Karen Walker (Meg Ryan) is worthy of a posthumous Medal of Honor. She died during a botched rescue attempt in the Persian Gulf War, and the survivors offer conflicting accounts of her actions during that tragic event. Will Nathan ever discover the truth?
Courage Under Fire isn’t well known today, but it’s a solid drama that keeps you in suspense about Karen’s actions. Is she a war hero or a war criminal? Washington’s Serling is an unwilling investigator who gradually respects a woman he’s never met, and Matt Damon is outstanding in an early role as a fellow soldier who knows far more than he’s willing to tell.
Courage Under Fire is streaming on Hulu.
‘Take Me Home Tonight’ (2011)
Matt (Topher Grace) is a college graduate unsure of what to do with his life. His indecision has led him to take a menial job at a video store, where he encounters his high school crush, Tori (Teresa Palmer). Ashamed about his current lifestyle, he lies to her and says he’s a big shot at Goldman Sachs. Impressed, Tori invites him to a Labor Day party to cement their romance. With his twin sister Wendy’s help (Anna Faris), can Matt keep the illusion alive long enough to win Tori’s heart?
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While Take Me Home Tonight is your standard rom-com involving unforgivable acts of deception, it’s still entertaining and charming enough to warrant a relaxed watch over the weekend. A big part of that is due to Faris, who excels at playing dim blondes (or, in this movie, a brunette) who are wiser than they initially appear. The movie shamelessly traffics in ‘80s nostalgia, so if you don’t like big shoulder pads and hairspray, you should give this movie a pass.
Take Me Home Tonight is streaming on Hulu.
