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Digital Trends
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
10 best Hulu original movies to watch this summer
Hulu's status over the course of the past decade has changed several times. The streaming service, which is now owned by Disney, still has original movie releases, but it has never competed for Oscars in quite the way that a service like Netflix does. As a result, Hulu original movies can be a little bit of everything, although many of them are the kind of mid-budget movies that have been disappearing from theaters. While all of them are definitely not good, we've pulled together a list of 10 excellent ones that are worth watching this summer. Palm Springs (2020) One of the great pandemic watches of 2020 was Palm Springs, a Groundhog Day-style story that followed two people attending a wedding who find themselves trapped living the same day over and over again. Recommended Videos While time loop stories are nothing new, Palm Springs manages to inject some fresh life into the genre by trapping two people in this purgatory together as they slowly fall in love and deal with personal demons that predate the time they've shared together. Anchored by great performances from Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti, Palm Springs is still just as good today. You can watch Palm Springs on Hulu. Happiest Season (2020) A holiday romcom with some real bite, Happiest Season tells the story of two women in a committed relationship who visit one of their families for the holidays. When her partner learns that she is not out to her family, she's forced to pretend to be her friend through a deeply awkward weekend that leaves her questioning their entire relationship. Happiest Season is a fairly light comedy about bigotry, but it works because of Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis's committed central performances and because it's got some festive holiday zest to it. You can watch Happiest Season on Hulu. Summer of Soul (2021) One of the great documentaries of the past decade, Summer of Soul tells the story of the Harlem Cultural Festival, a music festival that did not receive the attention of Woodstock but occurred during the same summer. Thanks to archival footage of many of the performers, as well as contemporary interviews with experts and some of the performers themselves, the film is deeply emotional and a reminder of the wealth of Black history that often goes unexplored in mainstream culture. You can watch Summer of Soul on Hulu. Fresh (2022) Fresh is silly, to be sure, but it knows what it is and is pretty effective at creating a tense, thrilling atmosphere. The movie follows a young woman who is struggling to find any datable men until she comes across a charming man who, it turns out, wants to slowly carve her up and eat her. Sebastian Stan and Daisy Edgar-Jones are both excellent and utterly committed here, and the movie also has some pretty heavy-handed things to say about misogyny and what men really value in the women around them. You can watch Fresh on Hulu. Prey (2022) This prequel to the original Predator executed what everyone had basically always wanted from this franchise. It tells the story of a Native American girl living in the 18th century who stumbles upon a predator and has to figure out how to defeat it. Amber Midthunder delivers a hugely compelling central performance. In director Dan Trachtenberg's hands, Prey becomes a movie much more about one woman's survival and self-actualization than it is about the larger mythology of this universe, and it's all the better for it. You can watch Prey on Hulu. Rye Lane (2023) A hugely colorful and charming romantic comedy, Rye Lane is told over the course of a single day and follows two single people who meet in London in the wake of bad breakups. As they slowly form a connection, they have to work through their baggage and figure out whether they're really interested in pursuing a serious relationship. Filled with actual jokes and riveting banter, Rye Lane would be nothing without the natural chemistry between its stars, David Jonsson and Vivian Oparah. You can watch Rye Lane on Hulu. No One Will Save You (2023) A sci-fi movie with a high-minded premise, No One Will Save You is an almost entirely wordless film that follows a young woman who lives alone as she begins to suspect that aliens are invading her home. As she works to battle them off, we learn more about how she came to be so isolated. Anchored by the remarkable Kaitlyn Dever, who conveys so much without saying a word, No One Will Save You is more than just its interesting premise. It's a genuinely exciting sci-fi movie that, thankfully, demands that you actually look at the screen while you watch it. You can watch No One Will Save You on Hulu. Predator: Killer of Killers (2025) A sort of pseudo-sequel to Prey, but animated this time, Predator: Killer of Killers is an anthology story that follows three different characters from Earth who all took on predators over the course of history. A Viking, a samurai, and a World War II fighter pilot all get their turns taking on the unkillable hunters. After they emerge victorious, the warriors are taken to the Predator homeworld, where they are forced to compete to see who is the ultimate killer of killers. Featuring stylish animation, innovative action sequences, and a breakneck pace, Predator: Killer of Killers is one of the best entries in the franchise. You can watch Predator: Killer of Killers on Hulu. Minding the Gap (2018) One of the best documentaries on Hulu, Minding the Gap follows the story of three friends who bond over skateboarding as they grow and change over the course of years. In that time, we come to appreciate the economic hardships facing each of them and the way skateboarding becomes less of an escape as the realities of their lives start to close in around them. Minding the Gap features some impressive skateboarding footage, but what really makes the movie stick are all the moments where you see someone trying to escape from the circumstances they were born into, with mixed results. You can watch Minding the Gap on Hulu. Fire Island (2022) A modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice, Fire Island offers a remarkable and humorous glimpse into the culture of gay travelers enjoying a summer vacation on the island. The film is vibrant and captures the complexity of gay culture. The romance at the movie's center is also deeply charming, anchored by writer and star Joel Kim Booster, who delivers a star-making turn at the center of this movie. Rarely has a retelling of Jane Austen felt as vibrant and modern as it does here. You can watch Fire Island on Hulu.
New York Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Andy Samberg reacts to Lorne Michaels 'SNL' retirement rumors
Weekday update. Former 'Saturday Night Live' star Andy Samberg is weighing in about the rumors that his former boss, Lorne Michaels, 80, may retire. 'He's going to do it when he decides to do it, and we're all just sort of like – no one wants him to [retire],' Samberg, 46, exclusively told The Post while promoting his Comedy Central show 'Digman!' (airing Wednesdays at 10:30 p.m.). 7 Andy Samberg and Lorne Michaels at the premiere of 'Hot Rod' at the Chinese Theater on July 26, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images 7 Andy Samberg talking to the New York Post in a video interview about 'Digman.' The New York Post 'He'll just do it until he decides he absolutely can't anymore,' Samberg added. 'And then, the show either will end or he'll ask someone else.' When asked if he would want the job, Samberg said, 'No. I could never do that. That job is very specific. But I loved working there, and I loved going back.' The actor returned for the show's 50th anniversary special, 'SNL50,' which aired in February. Other names such as Tina Fey have been suggested as Michael's replacement. In September, 'Weekend Update' hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che told Howard Stern: 'Could you imagine having to do that? I don't know that any – I don't know how – you do that job and not be Lorne.' Che quipped: 'To me, it's like, imagine being the stepfather of a 50-year-old! It's just impossible.' 7 Bowen Yang and Andy Samberg in the 'Andy's Song' sketch on Sunday, February 16, 2025. Holland Rainwater/NBC via Getty Images 7 Keenan Thompson, Darrell Hammond, Lorne Michaels, Andy Samberg, and Bill Hader at the NBC Univesal Cable portion of the Television Critics Association Press Tour at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 16, 2007 in Beverly Hills, California. Getty Images 7 Lorne Michaels at the 2025 Met Gala. Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue Samberg's 'Digman' co-creator, Neil Campbell, went on to joke who should takeover for Michaels. 'Weren't you telling me you thought A.I. should do it?' he asked Samberg. The actor replied: 'I don't remember saying that – but now that you've brought it up, it is a really good idea.' Samberg was on 'SNL' from 2005 to 2012, and became popular for his iconic 'Digital Short' sketches such as 'Dick in a Box' with Justin Timberlake, and 'Lazy Sunday,' his rap about his quest to see the 'Chronicles of Narnia' movies. His career after 'SNL' has been successful, with cult hit movies such as 2016's comedy 'Popstar: Never Stop Stopping,' the 2020 sci-fi rom com 'Palm Springs' with Cristin Milioti and his hit police sitcom 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine,' which ran for eight seasons, from 2013 to 2021. 7 Seth Meyers Andy Samberg, Lorne Michaels, and Colin Jost at the New York premiere of 'Staten Island Summer'l on July 21, 2015 in New York City. Getty Images 7 Andy Samberg during the 'Finest Girl' sketch on May 21, 2016. NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images Michaels created 'SNL' in 1975 and has helmed it ever since – save for a brief departure from 1980 to 1985 – and his comeback Season 11 nearly got the show axed. Although Michaels hasn't announced retirement plans, he told Gayle King on 'CBS Mornings' in 2021 that he thinks he's 'committed to doing the show until its 50th anniversary, which is in three years… I'd like to see that through, and I have a feeling that would be a really good time to leave.' The show is currently airing its landmark 50th season, and he hasn't made a retirement announcement. Michaels told the New York Times in a June 2024 interview, 'I'm going to do it as long as I feel I can do it. But I rely on other people and always have.' 'SNL' vet Dan Aykroyd, 73, meanwhile, told The Post in November: 'That ain't happening No. Lorne is not retiring.' 'He's got the greatest gig in New York City. He has influence and power,' the 'Ghostbusters' star went on. 'And he works in a job that keeps him laughing every day. So why would he want to leave that?'
New York Post
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Andy Samberg on 'Digman!' role: 'Deep insecurity' like me
Move over, Indiana Jones – Andy Samberg is here. Andy Samberg's Comedy Central animated series 'Digman!' has returned for Season 2. Co-created by Samberg and showrunner Neil Campbell, the show is set in a world where archaeologists are celebrities, and follows Rip Digman (voiced by Samberg), a washed-up archeologist. Advertisement Samberg quipped that Digman's quality that he finds most relatable is, 'Probably his deep insecurity and propensity to spiral at the drop of a hat.' 'I think it speaks to our modern moment, frankly,' the former 'Saturday Night Live' star exclusively told The Post. 'His hair trigger, and his spirals. It doesn't take much to spin him out. And I feel like that is one of my favorite things comedically about him – but I'll admit it, it's relatable.' 8 Andy Samberg in his video interview with The New York Post. The New York Post Advertisement 8 Neil Campbell with Andy Samberg in a 2023 Instagram photo. neilerdude/Instagram 8 Rip Digman, voiced by Andy Samberg, on 'Digman!' Comedy Central Samberg, who shares two kids with his wife, singer Joanna Newsom, 43, explained that the show's premise started because he and Campbell were laughing about, 'how, growing up watching movies like 'Indiana Jones' and 'National Treasure' where there's a [message] from the filmmakers to the audience that 'this is a world where archeologists are the coolest people.'' He added, 'Which we all just accepted a face value. And, in re-examining that as adults, we found it very funny.' Advertisement 'Digman!' showrunner and co-creator Campbell, who worked on 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' with Samberg, told The Post, 'We both like goofy, absurd comedy, where we can just be like 'how do we take this joke as far as possible?'' 'But then I think the nice thing about working on 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' is we wrote half hour stories that have characters you care about, and moments of poignancy,' he explained. 'And so, I think we wanted to find a way to combine those things – but if you just heard the story, would it sound funny on its own, and not sound like a drama?' They focused on that tone for 'Digman!' but also wanted to fill up time with jokes that just made them laugh. 'We wanted it to be joyful,' he said. 8 'Digman!' poster art. Comedy Central Advertisement 8 Andy Samberg attends the UK Premiere of 'Lee' at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on September 3, 2024 in London, England. Getty Images Samberg based his voice performance on Nicolas Cage. 'It also tied into the fact that we had been talking about my voice being sort of like my Nic Cage impression, and he was in a franchise like that,' he said, referring to 'National Treasure.' 'And it sort of all just fell into place.' The rest of the Season 2 cast includes big name guest stars, such as Tim Robinson, Tim Meadows, Fred Armisen, Stephanie Beatriz, Mark Hamill, Nathan Lane, Seth Meyers, and Kate Winslet. 'You ask people because you think they're good and they're right for the part. But if you have a relationship, it makes it easier to ask,' Samberg said about reuniting with old colleagues like Beatriz, Armisen, and Meyers. 'It's wonderful to have worked in the business long enough to know so many people that you respect and admire, and would want to include,' he told The Post. 8 Andy Samberg and his wife Joanna Newsom at 'SNL50: The Anniversary Special' on February 16, 2025. Getty Images Advertisement 8 'Digman' showrunner Neil Campbell in an Instagram photo. neilerdude/Instagram 8 Andy Samberg in the 'Andy's Song' sketch on 'SNL' on Sunday, February 16, 2025. Holland Rainwater/NBC via Getty Images Samberg, who rose to fame on the high-pressure environment of 'SNL,' which he was on from 2005 to 2012, said that this show is a walk in the park compared to the NBC variety show. Advertisement 'There's not a lot of stress for me around making 'Digman!' For Neil, maybe. He's really running point on every single department and pulling it all together and making it happen,' he said. '[But], I don't generally get stressed out unless it's like time pressure, like, something has to be done – and done to the quality that we want – by a certain time.'
Forbes
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
'Digman!' Hunts Down The Antichrist in Season 2 Clip (EXCLUSIVE)
'Digman!' Season 2 Andy Samberg's washed-up archaeologist Rip Digman 'will not hesitate to decapitate' his possessed wife in an exclusive clip from the Season 2 premiere of Digman! (premiering on Comedy Central Wednesday, July 24 at 10:30 p.m. ET). The first-look footage finds Rip, his Arky assistant Saltine (Mitra Jouhari), and trusty pilot Swooper (Tim Robinson) making their way through a dimly-lit cave in search of the Rip's newly-resurrected spouse, Bella (Melissa Fuermo), whose body is currently serving as host to the Aunty-Christ. And no, that isn't a misspelling of the famous apocalyptic harbinger. But where there is an Aunty-Christ, there must also be an Uncle-Christ, right? Well, duh! That avuncular evil takes the form of Quail Eegan's father (Jeffrey Wright). Before he can chop off their heads, though, Rip must first show off his impressive mastery of the English language. Watch an exclusive clip from Season 2 of animated Andy Samberg comedy Digman! Speaking over Zoom, Samberg and fellow series co-creator Neil Campbell recall how the show began to take shape during their time on Brooklyn Nine-Nine. 'In between takes, we'd talk about how much we'd love to create an animated show, how much we loved the genre,' Campbell says. 'It was also a way to sort of combine what we loved about Brooklyn, which was getting to tell these stories about characters you care about, with our sketch backgrounds. Obviously Andy with SNL and Lonely Island, and I worked on the TV show Comedy Bang! Bang!" He continues: 'What's nice about those, is you can just have a sketch heightened to infinity and be absurd and crazy in a way that maybe you can't always do on a live-action TV show that's set in reality. So we just started talking about how we'd love to do something that combined those things. Eventually, Andy had the idea of a dickhead archeologist and we started building from there; brainstorming other characters that would be fun, or people we knew who would be fun to have in the cast and and how to write for them.' 'It was a show that we had been talking about for years before it actually happened,' adds Samberg. 'It was the pandemic and having everything come to a screeching halt that allowed the space for that. We just started Zooming every day, writing the pilot and conceiving it all. Once we actually had the space to start working on it, it came really quickly, and we had a blast.' Given that they weren't beholden to any studio or network at the time, the creative duo were free 'to write the show we wanted to make,' finishes Campbell. 'We hadn't pitched it and weren't dealing with notes from anybody or anything like that. We were just like, 'Alright, let's write it first, and then take it out and see if anyone wants to make it.'' Season 2 of Digman! premieres on Comedy Central this Wednesday — July 23 — at 10:30 p.m. ET, immediately following the Season 27 premiere of South Park. All Season 1 episodes are now streaming on Paramount+.
Forbes
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
'Digman!' Creators Talk Season 2 & Potentially Landing Nicolas Cage
'Digman!' Season 2 The Arky-based adventures of Rig Digman (Andy Samberg), Saltine (Mitra Jouhari), Swooper (Tim Robinson), Agatha (Dale Soules), and Fleety the fast loris will officially continue this Wednesday (July 23) Digman! Season 2 premieres on Comedy Central. You may recall that we last saw our favorite underdog archaeology crew dealing with the fact that Rip's beloved wife, Bella (Melissa Fuermo), had been resurrected from the dead, only to serve as a vessel for the Aunty-Christ. Her evil soulmate, the Uncle-Christ, meanwhile, possessed the body of Quail Eegan's father (Jeffrey Wright). 'Hearing you say it sounds crazy,' Samberg, who co-created the series with Brooklyn Nine-Nine writer Neil Campbell, says after I give a quick recap of the Season 1 finale over Zoom. He goes on to promise that the show's sophomore outing will tie 'that story up a little' before the characters begin to seek out new MacGuffins in an effort to restore Rip's once-great standing in the Arky community. Campbell also teases further character development for Saltine as she continues her training under Rip's tutelage. 'Can Rip train her into becoming a full-blown Arky? Not just his assistant, [but] more of a partner?" he muses. "It doesn't dominate storylines, but it's an arc that's prevalent throughout the season.' A comedic riff on swashbuckling action-adventure films like Raiders of the Lost Ark, Romancing the Stone, The Mummy, and National Treasure, Digman! takes place in a reality where archaeologists (better known as 'Arkies') are revered as rock star-level celebrities by the public and hired by museums to track down valuable artifacts. 'There's nothing that I would rather watch … than an Indiana Jones movie,' Samberg admits. 'Those big, '80s tentpole, franchise-y things were the fabric of our youth and really important to us. A lot of work I do is dealing in genre and in tropes — and finding a comedic angle on them. I had never done it with [the action-adventure genre], and it just seemed like a really fun world to [play in], especially if you're doing an episodic where you get to choose an adventure of the week." The ultimate goal with Digman!, continues the Saturday Night Live alum, is that the show appeals to both genre fanatics and casual viewers alike. 'The hope is that the show feels like a reward for people who know everything about it, because they love it the way we love it,' he adds. 'The references are like a fun extra layer to everything, and then, hopefully, you're also just laughing because the joke writing is good enough.' Samberg, who also serves as executive producer on the series alongside Campbell and fellow Lonely Island members Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone, doesn't shy away from the fact that his performance as Rip is based on the fan favorite Nicolas Cage character he often played on SNL's 'Weekend Update' segment — one of which featured the real Cage alongside his outlandish TV counterpart (see below). 'Imitation," goes the old saying, 'is the highest form of flattery.' Or, in the words of Samberg's unhinged take on the National Treasure star: 'That's high praise!' 'Part of it was I loved writing jokes for that [bit]. It's an impression, but it really became its own kind of psychotic character,' Samberg explains. 'The moves I got to do in that voice were a lot different [compared to] the other stuff I did at SNL and elsewhere. I missed doing it and getting in that tone. So when we first started talking about this, I was like, 'Oh, that's a good entry point, comedically and performance-wise.' Because of National Treasure, but also because of Indiana Jones, The Mummy, and the genre having existed for so long, it's not going to be just 100% one for one that. It's a really good comedy starting place for me. One of the things I've been really happy about, working on the show, is seeing the character kind of evolve as we work on it, as we try new things, and as he does things comedically and character-wise that are not part of the Nic Cage impression at all. It turns into its own thing.' Still, the question remains: will Cage ever guest star on the show was Rip's father? It seems like the easiest slam dunk bit of casting…well, ever. The idea has occurred to the creators, who describe it as a Digman! bucket list item they're looking to make a reality. 'You're not first person to actually bring that up,' says Samberg. 'It seems like we really should." 'It is the dream, yeah,' echoes Campbell. Samberg continues: "Let's just keep the show going. I can't imagine it won't happen eventually, if we just keep begging him…" While the creators continue to chip away at Mr. Cage's resolve, however, fans can still look forward to a slew of A-list guest voices in Season 2. The list includes, which Comedy Central announced earlier this month, includes such mega-talents as Kate Winslet (Mare of Easttown), Tatiana Maslany (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law), Tom Kenny (SpongeBob Squarepants), Mark Hamill (Star Wars), Nathan Lane (The Lion King), Seth Meyers (Late Night With Seth Meyers), Amy Sedaris (BoJack Horseman), Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Geraldine Viswanathan (Thunderbolts*), Beck Bennett (Superman), Fred Armisen (Portlandia), and Kayvan Novak (What We Do in the Shadows), and cult filmmaking icon John Waters (Pink Flamingos). 'You have a responsibility to do something with those people,' Samberg affirms. 'It's not just asking them to come on so you can put their name in the trailer or something. You want them to really score and have something interesting.' 'We would never really ask someone to do a guest voice unless we felt like the A) the role was funny and B) they would be the person to really take it up to another level and make it as funny as possible,' finishes Campbell. Season 2 of Digman! premieres on Comedy Central this Wednesday — July 23 — at 10:30 p.m. ET, immediately following the Season 27 premiere of South Park. All Season 1 episodes are now streaming on Paramount+.
