By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man –Follow me on X.
Hulu this month (May 2024) will remove 71 titles from its subscription Video on Demand service. Here are the five you should definitely watch before they leave, in my humble opinion:
The Wrestler (2008)
The absorbing 2008 drama stars Mickey Rourke as a washed-up professional wrestler who tries to reconcile with his rebellious daughter, played by Evan Rachel Wood. Directed by Darren Aronofsky, The Wrestler is a brutally honest and realistic portrayal of an athlete who will do anything to regain his previous success, even at the expense of his physical and emotional well-being. Rourke has never been better, capturing an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Leaving May 31.
Scarface (1983)
The brilliant Brian De Palma-directed drama stars Al Pacino as Cuban refugee Tony Montana who discovers crime does pay, and exceedingly well, in coke-fueled 1980s Miami. While Scarface may be — okay, is — too violent for some, the film perfectly chronicles the era’s thirst for excess and hedonism through the eyes of Montana. Michelle Pfeiffer is flawless as Montana’s ice-cold, white powder-sniffing moll and the splendid supporting cast also includes Steven Bauer, Robert Loggia, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and F. Murray Abraham. Great movie, and don’t forget to say hello to Tony’s little friend. Leaving May 31.
The Big Lebowski (1998)
The 1998 cult comedy from the Coen Bros. features an iconic Los Angeles slacker (Jeff Bridges) named ‘The Dude’ who accidentally becomes the focus of a murder investigation. Only Joel and Ethan Coen could take this farfetched plot and turn it into a cultural mainstay and masterpiece that resonates with multiple generations. The flawless supporting cast includes John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Philip Seymour Hoffman, David Huddleston, Julianne Moore, and John Turturro as Jesus, a bowler with a strange fetish for his ball. Leaving May 31.
Elvis (2022)
Austin Butler is sensational as the King of Rock n’ Roll in this raucous Baz Luhrmann-directed biofilm which chronicles Presley’s rise and fall. Tom Hanks plays Colonel Parker, the controlling mastermind behind Elvis’ commercial success. Leaving May 30.
LA Confidential (1997)
The 1997 Curtis Hanson-directed neo-noir drama about corrupt cops in the City of Angels in the 1950s is the best of pulp fiction on screen. Rapier dialogue, over-the-top action, stylish cinematography and juicy performances from Russell Crowe, Guy Pierce, Kevin Spacey and Kim Basinger, among many, many others. It’s based on the James Ellroy novel. (Although Ellroy didn’t like the film; he’s wrong. It’s great.) Leaving May 31.
Complete List of Titles Leaving Hulu In May 2024
Leaving May 7
War Dogs
Leaving May 11
The Last Unicorn
Leaving on May 13
Empire of Light
Leaving on May 14
The Brass Teapot
The Cleaner
Dior and I
Dramarama
Elena Undone
Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room
The Etruscan Smile
Hurricane Bianca
One Last Thing…
Pit Stop
Sordid Lives
We The Animals
Leaving on May 15
The Fabulous Filipino Brothers
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
The Tiger Rising
Leaving on May 16
Under the Eiffel Tower
Leaving on May 18
Sophie’s Choice
Leaving on May 25
How to Please a Woman
Leaving on May 30
Elvis
Leaving on May 31
Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem
Ali
Bad Teacher
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Bend It Like Beckham
The Big Lebowski
Blockers
Dangerous Beauty
The Descendants
Divergent
The Divergent Series: Insurgent
The Divergent Series: Allegiant
Don’t Worry Darling
Dune
Drive Angry 3D
Epic
Ever After
Firehouse Dog
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
The Huntsman: Winter’s War
Ice Age: Continental Drift
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Kingdom Come
L.A. Confidential
The Little Hours
Life of Pi
Masterminds
Melancholia
Night School
No Good Deed
Ocean’s Eleven
Ocean’s Twelve
Ocean’s Thirteen
Pokémon Detective Pikachu
Salt
Scarface
Sexy Beast
Shark Tale
Street Kings
Taken
Takers
Thank You for Smoking
Thirteen
The Tree of Life
Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family
Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail
A Walk in the Woods
The Upside
Win Win
The Wrestler
21 & Over
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The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered the TV technology scene for more than three decades. He will report on the latest news and answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.
