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Top 15 Best Period Dramas & Romances New to Hulu May 2018

Top 15 Best Period Dramas & Romances New to Hulu May 2018

No matter what you’re in the mood for, whether’s it’s a good romantic drama, a genre series with a great TV couple to root for, a fantastic historical drama, or even a Jane Austen adaptation (or two), Hulu’s got you covered this month! We’ve zoned in on 15 of the best to choose from.

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 And

12 Monkeys; Cole and Cassie; Top 15 Best Period Dramas & Romances New to Hulu May 2018
Amanda Schull as Dr. Cassandra Railly and Aaron Stanford as James Cole. Photo Credit: SyFy

Hulu Synopsis: The show follows the journey of a time traveler, Cole, from the post-apocalyptic future. Using a dangerous and untested method of time travel, Cole arrives in the present day on a mission to locate and eradicate the source of a deadly plague that will eventually decimate 93.6% of the human race.

Why You Should Watch: If you enjoy time travel series with a healthy dose of romance, you’ll love this show and the relationship between Cassie and Cole. This underrated series is definitely worth checking out.

 TV-14

 Available as of May 16

Baby Boom (1987)

Hulu Synopsis: In this light-hearted comedy, high-powered management consultant J.C. Wiatt (Diane Keaton) claims her inheritance from a distant relative, only to find out it’s a baby.

Why You Should Watch: This Golden Globe-nominated romantic comedy stars Diane Keaton and Sam Shepard and is a whole lot of fun to watch.

 PG

 Available as of May 1

Barefoot; Top 15 Best Period Dramas & Romances New to Hulu May 2018
Photo: Roadside Attractions

Hulu Synopsis: The “black sheep” son of a wealthy family meets a young psychiatric patient who’s been raised in isolation her entire life. He takes the woman home for his brother’s wedding to convince his family that he’s changed his life.

Why You Should Watch: If you love sweet romances and swoony leading men, this one’s for you!

 PG-13

 Available as of May 1

bride and prejudice; Top 15 Best Period Dramas & Romances New to Hulu May 2018
Photo: Miramax films

Hulu Synopsis: In this modern musical retelling of Jane Austen’s classic, sparks fly as a love/hate relationship ignites between a small-town beauty and a wealthy American who’s visiting her modest Indian village.

Why You Should Watch: If you love Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Darcy, or Bollywood, then this is a must-see adaptation. It’s full of singing and dancing as well as many scenes with Mr. Darcy gazing at Lalita (aka Elizabeth). It’s a fabulous contemporary adaptation.

 PG-13

 Available as of May 1

Hulu Synopsis: A dramatization about the infamous 1919 “Black Sox Scandal,” in which eight members of the Chicago White Sox conspired with gamblers to throw the World Series in return for cash.

Why You Should Watch: A well-written and acted historical drama for fans of films like Field of Dreams.

 PG

 Available as of May 1

Hulu Synopsis: Orlando Bloom stars as Drew Baylor, a hot-shot designer whose life becomes completely unraveled when he loses his father and his job on one fateful day.

Why You Should Watch: If you love romantic dramas with relatable characters who always feel forgettable or like the second choice, then you should enjoy this heartwarming film. Plus, it has a great cast including Orlando Bloom, Kirsten Dunst, and Susan Sarandon. Not to mention, there’s this crazy theory that the character of Claire (Kirsten Dunst) is actually a fallen angel! VERY interesting. You can read the theory HERE. That alone makes the film worth watching just to find the clues!

 PG-13

 Available as of May 1

Hulu Synopsis: After Emperor Hirohito’s World War II surrender, General MacArthur suddenly finds himself the ruler of a foreign nation. He asks his advisor to provide evidence to decide if the Emperor, should be punished or saved.

Why You Should Watch: While I haven’t seen this film yet, the trailer looks epic and promising. Matthew Fox and Tommy Lee Jones star in this historical drama based on a true story. There’s also a romantic subplot.

 PG-13

 Available as of May 1

Mansfield Park 1999; Top 15 Best Period Dramas & Romances New to Hulu May 2018
Mansfield Park (1999). Photo: Miramax

Hulu Synopsis: Adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel. When a spirited young woman is sent to live with her cousins at their estate, Mansfield Park, the family hopes to assure her a position in society, but she has her own ideas about love.

Why You Should Watch: This is a brilliant adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel. Perfectly cast, a witty script, an artistic approach, the best interpretation of Edmund to date, and more. It’s not to be missed! Does it follow the book exactly? No. But what the Screenwriter and Director do wonderfully is combine the book with some elements from Jane Austen’s own life. Just an excellent film I regularly re-watch and absolutely recommend.

 PG-13; While this is a Jane Austen adaptation, there is brief nudity and brief violent images connected to raping and abusing slaves. So, just be aware!

 Available as of May 1

 (2008)

IMDB Synopsis: In the Far East, Alex O’Connell, the son of famed mummy fighters Rick and Evy O’Connell, unearths the mummy of the first Emperor of Qin — a shape-shifting entity cursed by a witch centuries ago.

Why You Should Watch: While not as good as the previous films, if you’re a fan of the series, it’s still fun and worth checking out.

 PG-13

 Available as of May 16

Hulu Synopsis: Tom Thompson’s social life is DOA – until he’s asked to be a pallbearer at the funeral of a classmate he can’t remember. Comic chaos follows as he fends off the grieving mother’s advances and tries to ask out his dream girl – who can’t remember him!

Why You Should Watch: If you enjoy dark romantic comedies, you may enjoy this strange film. Plus, it stars a young Gwyneth Paltrow on the verge of breaking out into stardom.

 PG-13

 Available as of May 1

Hulu Synopsis: A young man is recruited to be the star quarterback at an elite New England prep school. When his religious identity is revealed, the new friendships and bonds he has formed with his classmates are tested.

Why You Should Watch: If you enjoy films like Dead Poets Society or Swing Kids, then you should definitely check out School Ties – a 1950s period drama which also boasts an all-star cast including Brendan Fraser, Matt Damon, and Ben Affleck.

 PG-13

 Available as of May 1

Hulu Synopsis: Stung when his girlfriend abruptly dumps him, big man-on-campus Zack Siler bets that he can quickly turn any girl into the prom queen. After an amazing makeover, the school’s biggest nerd, Laney Boggs, is transformed from a nobody to a knockout.

Why You Should Watch: A guilty pleasure teen romance if ever there was one! It’s entertaining from beginning to end.

 PG-13

 Available as of May 1

Hulu Synopsis: Christian Slater and Marisa Tomei star in this tender romance about lonely souls destined to find one another.

Why You Should Watch:  It’s one of those romances that stays with you! Be prepared to cry though…

 PG-13

 Available as of May 16

Valkyrie (2008)

Hulu Synopsis: At the height of WWII, a group of German officers hatched a plot to assassinate Hitler and seize control of the military command in order to end the war. The operation was code-named “Valkyrie.”

Why You Should Watch: If you enjoy WWII dramas, then this one is a must-see! While imperfect, overall it’s a great historical drama with an all-star cast including Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, and Bill Nighy.

 PG-13

 Available as of May 16

IMDB Synopsis: When her fiancé bows out on the eve of her wedding, Michal refuses to cancel the wedding arrangements. An Orthodox Jew, she insists that God will supply her a husband. As the clock ticks down.

Why You Should Watch: I haven’t seen this one yet but it looks like a wonderful and unique romantic comedy. If you love international films, then this indie film looks like a great choice!

 PG

 Available as of May 27

 

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By on May 5th, 2018

About Amber Topping

Amber works as a writer and digital publisher full-time and fell in love with stories and imagination at an early age. She has a Humanities and Film Degree from BYU, co-created The Silver Petticoat Review, contributed as a writer to various magazines, and has an MS in Publishing from Pace University, where she received the Publishing Award of Excellence and wrote her thesis on transmedia, Jane Austen, and the romance genre. Her ultimate dreams are publishing books, writing and producing movies, traveling around the world, and forming a creative village of talented storytellers trying to change the world through art.

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