The 18 best documentaries on Hulu for deepdives into niche topics Ilana Gordon, Ilana Gordon, Devan Herenda, and Kevin JacobsenFebruary 1, 2026 at 6:00 AM 0 Dr. Ruth in 'Ask Dr. Ruth'; Andrew McCarthy in 'Brats'; 'Food, Inc. 2' Hulu (3) The new year is here: Time to strengthen the neural pathways that were damaged by the festive hedonism of the holiday season. Consider Hulu's documentary tab your local brain gym. It's a great place to get in educational reps, with subject categories ranging from culture and history to science and sports. Learn about pioneering sexual educator Dr.
- - The 18 best documentaries on Hulu for deep-dives into niche topics
Ilana Gordon, Ilana Gordon, Devan Herenda, and Kevin JacobsenFebruary 1, 2026 at 6:00 AM
0
Dr. Ruth in 'Ask Dr. Ruth'; Andrew McCarthy in 'Brats'; 'Food, Inc. 2'
Hulu (3)
The new year is here: Time to strengthen the neural pathways that were damaged by the festive hedonism of the holiday season. Consider Hulu's documentary tab your local brain gym. It's a great place to get in educational reps, with subject categories ranging from culture and history to science and sports. Learn about pioneering sexual educator Dr. Ruth in Ask Dr. Ruth or watch real-life volcanologists fall in love against a backdrop of lava and ash in Fire of Love.
Intrigued? Read on for EW's list of the 18 best documentaries on Hulu.
01 of 18
Ask Dr. Ruth (2019)
Dr. Ruth Westheimer in 'Ask Dr. Ruth' Austin Hargrave/Hulu
The late Dr. Ruth Westheimer is still one of America's most enigmatic media figures. An orphaned Holocaust survivor turned sexual therapist, Westheimer became a media darling in the '80s thanks to her radio and television shows, and her regular recommendation that her viewers "get some." Ryan White's documentary joins Westheimer as she prepares to turn 90, then doubles back to examine her past, and to contemplate how she arrived here.
As EW's reviewer writes, "the doc's heart lies in one simple truth that emerges through White's framing of her story — that Dr. Ruth's compassion and capacity for empathy stemmed from her own deep loss." —Ilana Gordon
Where to watch Ask Dr. Ruth: Hulu
EW grade: B
Director: Ryan White
Cast: Dr. Ruth Westheimer
02 of 18
Ballet Now (2018)
A silhouette of ballet dancer Tiler Peck in 'Ballet Now'
Courtesy Hulu
Set over one week, Ballet Now follows New York City Ballet's prima ballerina Tiler Peck as she curates, directs, and dances in The Music Center's Ballet NOW program in L.A. The first woman ever to receive this opportunity, Peck feels the pressure as she works to combine the worlds of tap, hip-hop, clowning, and ballet into one cohesive performance featuring the world's most gifted and diverse dancers. As Peck dances, directs, and readies her show for its live audience, the viewer gets a front-row seat into what goes into creating a world-class dance performance. —I.G.
Where to watch Ballet Now: Hulu
Director: Steven Cantor
Cast: Tiler Peck
03 of 18
Brats (2024)
Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Andrew McCarthy, and Demi Moore in a still from 'St. Elmo's Fire' being used as the advertisement for 'Brats'
Hulu
In 1985, New York magazine dubbed a group of young up-and-coming actors the "Brat Pack," thus changing the trajectory of their careers. Now, 40 years later, Andrew McCarthy — star of movies like Pretty in Pink and one of the alleged brats — decided to contact all the members of the Brat Pack to discuss what that title meant to them and their work, and how their perception of the name has changed after four decades. A shortcut to understanding one facet of '80s culture, Brats is an investigation into a moment in Hollywood led by those who lived it. —I.G.
Where to watch Brats: Hulu
Director: Andrew McCarthy
Cast: Emilio Estevez, Ally Sheedy, Timothy Hutton, Demi Moore, Rob Lowe
04 of 18
Fire of Love (2022)
A volcanologist near an active volcano in 'Fire of Love' Courtesy of Sundance Institute
Burning desire has never been quite so literal. This Oscar-nominated nature documentary tells the story of Katia and Maurice Krafft, French volcanologists who made a name for themselves in the '70s and '80s with their stunning reels of volcanic eruptions.
The film weaves in the Kraffts' own love story with some of the most dazzling archival footage of fire and ash ever captured, made all the more stunning when you remember it was filmed decades ago. Miranda July's lyrical narration brings what EW's critic calls a "hushed awe and diaristic intimacy" to the film, making the Kraffts' story all the more bittersweet. —Kevin Jacobsen
Where to watch Fire of Love: Hulu
EW grade: A–
Director: Sara Dosa
Cast: Katia Krafft, Maurice Krafft, Miranda July, Roland Haas, Jaques Durieux
05 of 18
Food, Inc. 2 (2023)
A man in a hat crouching in the middle of a group of six pigs in 'Food, Inc.'
River Road and Participant
The way to someone's heart is through their stomach; the way to change someone's mind is by showing them a documentary about the food they're putting into their body. Food, Inc. is one such documentary. That documentary interrogated what goes into the modern foods we eat, and the laws and conglomerates that work to keep consumers in the dark about how those foods came to be. The movie made a splash when it premiered in 2008, earning an Oscar nod for Best Documentary. And the first film left enough on the table that this doc, Food, Inc. 2, was released 15 years later. —I.G.
Where to watch Food, Inc. 2: Hulu
Directors: Robert Kenner, Melissa Robledo
Cast: Eric Schlosser, Michael Pollan
06 of 18
Free Solo (2018)
Alex Honnold in 'Free Solo' National Geographic
Documentaries centered on single-minded people continue to be subjects of fascination for audiences and filmmakers alike. One such case is this tense Oscar-winning doc about rock climber Alex Honnold and his determination to conquer the El Capitan rock formation at Yosemite National Park via free solo climb, which is to say, without any ropes to protect him.
While Honnold's efforts are gripping to behold, we also get a fascinating glimpse into what it means to love a person who is constantly putting himself in harm's way, as seen through the eyes of his girlfriend, Sanni. As EW's critic writes, "What makes it more than just ghoulish voyeurism is how it paints a surprisingly rich character study of a young man and the obsession that drives him." —K.J.
Where to watch Free Solo: Hulu
EW grade: A–
Directors: Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
Cast: Alex Honnold
07 of 18
Fyre Fraud (2019)
A row of domed tents and some unidentified festival-goers standing around in 'Fyre Fraud' Courtesy of The Cinemart/Hulu
This true crime documentary details how entrepreneur Billy McFarland organized the infamous Fyre Festival, a supposedly luxurious music event in the Bahamas that cost attendees thousands and boasted endorsements from celebrities like rapper Ja Rule, Kendall Jenner, and Bella Hadid. Upon arrival, however, guests found that their accommodations were nothing close to glamorous.
Instead, the festival consisted of unorganized travel protocols, cold cheese sandwiches for dinner, and a limited amount of shelter. Fyre Fraud explores the class-action lawsuits and tarnished reputations that followed, offering a commentary on the dominance of influencer culture and social media propaganda. —Devan Herenda
Where to watch Fyre Fraud: Hulu
Directors: Jenner Furt, Julia Willoughby Nason
Cast: Billy McFarland, Ja Rule, Jake Horowitz, Polly Mosendz, Calvin Wells
08 of 18
Jane (2017)
Jane Goodall in 'Jane'
Courtesy Hulu
In 2017, director Brett Morgen (Moonage Daydream) released his cinematic portrait of primatologist, ethologist, and anthropologist Jane Goodall. Known as the foremost expert on chimpanzee research, Goodall's pioneering research and perspective on the natural world helped pave the way for female scientists today.
Featuring musical composition by Philip Glass, Jane showcases more than 100 hours of lush, never-before-seen National Geographic footage. Morgen's documentary tells the story of Jane Goodall the conservationist, but also of Jane Goodall the woman who sacrificed her personal life to prioritize her work. —I.G.
Where to watch Jane: Hulu
Director: Brett Morgen
Cast: Jane Goodall
09 of 18
Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story (2025)
Director Steven Spielberg on the set of 'Jaws' in 'Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story'
Courtesy of Universal Studios Licensing LLC
Steven Spielberg called the making of his 1975 film Jaws a "life-altering experience," and in the documentary Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story, audiences learn why. Hollywood's first blockbuster movie was celebrating half a century of cinematic excellence, so Spielberg and company reunited for the milestone to share the origin story of one of the scariest — and most production-challenged — films ever made.
Featuring interviews with the filmmaker, as well as artists influenced by the film's storytelling and success, Jaws @ 50 sheds light on the movie's flawed shooting schedule and technology, Spielberg's stress levels and fears, and the woes of making a movie at sea for five months. After 50 years, there's still more to say about Jaws, and even Spielberg super fans will learn something new from this documentary. —I.G.
Where to watch Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story: Hulu
Director: Laurent Bouzereau
Cast: Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, James Cameron, J.J. Abrams, Guillermo del Toro
10 of 18
Joan Baez: I Am a Noise (2023)
Joan Baez in 'Joan Baez: I Am a Noise'
Magnolia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
Joan Baez's I Am a Noise invokes the spirit of Boston's folk scene in the early '60s, where she began her 60-year-long career as a musician and activist. Thought-provoking and self-reflective, I Am a Noise digs into Baez's past traumas, including her issues with her father, and her tumultuous romantic relationship with Bob Dylan.
A story told personally and beautifully thanks to the subject's artwork, home videos, therapy tapes, interviews, diary entries, and more, it took three directors (Miri Navasky, Maeve O'Boyle, and Karen O'Connor) to tell one beautiful and introspective story about a singer, her voice, and her journey towards healing herself. —I.G.
Where to watch Joan Baez: I Am a Noise: Hulu
Directors: Miri Navasky, Maeve O'Boyle, Karen O'Connor
Cast: Joan Baez, Bob Dylan
11 of 18
Lakota Nation vs. United States (2022)
Members of the Lakota protesting to protect their sacred land in 'Lakota Nation vs. United States'
IFC Films/Courtesy Everett Collection
Historical context is so much more compelling when it's accompanied by beautiful cinematography and Lakota Nation vs. United States offers both. The film tells the story of the Lakota people's fight to regain control of South Dakota's Black Hills — land that is sacred to them and which was seized by the government in 1876. Told using archival footage, interviews with indigenous people, and lots of history that never made it into classroom textbooks, Lakota Nation is as poetic as it is powerful.
A film that explores all the ways the United States government has exploited indigenous trust — from violating treaties to forcing cultural assimilation — Lakota Nation vs. United States shows the power of resistance. —I.G.
Where to watch Lakota Nation vs. United States: Hulu
Directors: Jesse Short Bull, Laura Tomaselli
Cast: Layli Long Soldier, Nick Tilsen, Phyllis Young, Krystal Two Bulls, Candi Brings Plenty
12 of 18
Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery (2025)
Lilith Fair concert in 'Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery'
Merri Cyr/ABC
Without Lilith Fair, there would be no Eras Tour. As lore has it, late-'90s music business standards frowned upon booking two women on the same concert bill, believing that female artists didn't sell. Lilith Fair was female artists' attempt to prove everybody wrong.
Spearheaded by Canadian musician Sarah McLachlan, the festival was the first to book an all-female lineup. Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery retells the story of the underdog music festival that surpassed expectations and helped revolutionize the industry. Featuring never-before-seen footage and interviews with artists like Sheryl Crow, Brandi Carlile, Erykah Badu, Bonnie Raitt, Jewel, and the Indigo Girls, Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery is the '90s music nostalgia story you need now. —I.G.
Where to watch Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery: Hulu
Director: Ally Pankiw
Cast: Sarah McLachlan, Terry McBride, Dan Fraser, Sheryl Crow, Paula Cole
13 of 18
Minding the Gap (2018)
Keire Johnson in 'Minding the Gap' Hulu
Director Bing Liu reflects on his adolescent years for Minding the Gap, capturing the skateboarding culture in the Illinois Rust Belt region, where he and friends Zack Mulligan and Keire Johnson faced economic struggles as they transitioned into adulthood. Amid memories of childhood abuse and strained relationships, skating was a cathartic outlet for the trio, whose most revealing moments appear through flashback footage and more recent recordings.
Liu's gritty coming-of-age film tugs at the heartstrings of audiences, with EW's review calling it an embodiment of "youthful escapism, personal expression, and the cold realization that you can't stay a kid forever." —D.H.
Where to watch Minding the Gap: Hulu
EW grade: A–
Director: Bing Liu
Cast: Bing Liu, Zack Mulligan, Keire Johnson, Kent Abernathy, Mengyue Bolen
14 of 18
Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields (2023)
Brooke Shields in 'Pretty Baby'
Hulu
Brooke Shields spent her formative years as a young actress and model being sexualized by directors, audiences, and the media. Decades later, Shields is taking back control of her narrative in the form of a two-part documentary series. The story of who Brooke Shields is — the Lolita of the '80s, the daughter of an alcoholic, a former Ivy Leaguer, a survivor of postpartum depression — is laid out clearly by Shields in her own words, with help from her celebrity friends and loved ones.
A vulnerable and insightful look into child stardom by one of the few actors who survived it, Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields is a must-see for anyone who likes peering into all the garbage hidden behind Hollywood's glamour. —I.G.
Where to watch Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields: Hulu
Director: Lana Wilson
Cast: Brooke Shields
15 of 18
Sally (2025)
NASA astronaut Sally Ride in 'Sally'
Sally Ride was once one of the most famous people in the world. As the first American woman and youngest American astronaut to go to space, she broke barriers and forged new paths for future scientists. But as famous as she was, Ride chose to keep her personal life quiet, which is why the public didn't realize she had been in a 27-year-long partnership with former professional tennis player Tam O'Shaughnessy until Ride's death in 2012.
Ride's relationship with O'Shaughnessy — and her decision to keep her sexuality private — are some of the film's driving focuses, and they give the audience new insight into Ride's life, and the commitment with which she approached her work. A brilliant woman deserves a brilliant documentary, and Sally is a tribute fit for an American hero. —I.G.
Where to watch Sally: Hulu
Director: Cristina Costantini
Cast: Sally Ride, Tam O'Shaughnessy, Molly Tyson, Lynn Sherr, Kathryn D. Sullivan
16 of 18
The Stones and Brian Jones (2023)
Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Keith Richards, Bill Wyman, and Charlie Watts in a 1964 portrait of the Rolling Stones in 'The Stones and Brian Jones'
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
Brian Jones is the Rolling Stones' greatest tragedy. He founded the band in 1962, posting a newspaper ad that attracted the notice of several young British musicians. Seven years later, the Rolling Stones kicked Jones out of the group. One month later, he died by drowning.
Jones was a complicated man — a brilliant and talented musician with a vulnerability for women, drugs, and alcohol — and the film does a good job of paying homage to his legacy, while still acknowledging the ways in which his behavior contributed to his problems. The Stones' original bass guitarist, Bill Wyman, is featured in this doc, providing insight and anecdotes from the band's perspective. —I.G.
Where to watch The Stones and Brian Jones: Hulu
Director: Nick Broomfield
Cast: Brian Jones, Bill Wyman, Nick Broomfield, Linda Lawrence, Lewis Jones
17 of 18
Summer of Soul (...or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021)
Nina Simone in 'Summer of Soul (...or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)' Searchlight Pictures
Many of us associate 1969 with the "Summer of Love" thanks to Woodstock, but that pivotal year was also the "Summer of Soul" thanks to a lesser-known but equally impactful music event: the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. With powerful performances by B.B. King, Nina Simone, the 5th Dimension, and Stevie Wonder to name a few, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson's Oscar-winning documentary explores how the gathering honored Black artistry, marked a cultural movement, and continues to ripple through music today.
As EW critic writes, "The interviews are their own historical document, though it's the visceral thrill of being inside all those archival clips — the flick of Simone's wrist, an ecstatic face in the crowd — that makes Summer of Soul comes most fully alive, somehow both as fresh as yesterday and as far away as the moon." —D.H.
Where to watch Summer of Soul (... or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised): Hulu
EW grade: B+
Director: Questlove
Cast: Hal Tulchin, Billy Davis Jr., Greg Tate, Gladys Knight, Greg Errico
18 of 18
Too Funny to Fail (2017)
Dana Carvey in 'Too Funny to Fail'
Hulu
The Dana Carvey Show had the potential to be ABC's next big hit in 1996. The sketch comedy show — Dana Carvey's first gig after leaving Saturday Night Live — was created by Carvey and Robert Smigel and had the foresight to cast both Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert in their first TV gigs. But the show tanked, defying all expectations, losing advertisers by the week, and creating tensions between the cast and network over content and tone.
If you like I Think You Should Leave, you'll love The Dana Carvey Show, and the history behind the series' rise and fall, as told by the people who lived through it, is both fascinating and deeply funny. —I.G.
Where to watch Too Funny to Fail: Hulu
Director: Josh Greenbaum
Cast: Dana Carvey, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Robert Smigel
on Entertainment Weekly
Source: "AOL Entertainment"
Source: Entertainment
Published: February 01, 2026 at 04:45PM on Source: MORNING MAG
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