The 20 best reality shows on Hulu
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From Kardashians to catfishing, if reality television is your preferred form of entertainment, check out the must-see shows on Hulu right now.
For some of us, there is literally nothing better than settling in with our favorite snack and a juicy reality show at the end of a long day. Whether it's cooking, dating, lifestyle, survival, home improvement, talent competitions, or another type of exposé, the genre connects us to our own goals, dreams, or guilty pleasures.
Maybe it's the part of us that wants to learn a new skill, or improve our eye for interior design, or the part that wants to see the world, to laugh, to empathize. But whatever thirst we're quenching with reality television, there are, undoubtedly, an overwhelming amount of shows to choose from. To make the decision easier, we've narrowed down the best reality shows on Hulu, as of April 2024.
Alone (2015–present)
For those who love Survivor but don't care for the backstabbing, Alone is your best alternative. Focusing strictly on survival, the History series strands 10 individuals by themselves in the wilderness, testing their primal instincts and adaptability. The contestants are isolated from each other completely, with the only goal being to outlast everyone else and avoid tapping out. Each of the winners thus far has lasted multiple months in the wilderness. The experience has had a lasting effect on many of its participants, with one winner who survived 74 days telling EW, "One of the biggest benefits of doing something like this is you get undistracted time to look inward and think about yourself. Like, when's the last time you had undistracted time to be introspective?" —Kevin Jacobsen
Related content: How the women of Alone survived isolation, starvation, and grizzlies — and why they'd do it again
The Amazing Race (2001–present)
For those with intense wanderlust and without the funds for an action-packed trip around the world, The Amazing Race is a must. Basically an ad for all of the coolest and most beautiful places on earth, the show is also fascinating on a micro-level, with two-person contestant teams ranging from family members to couples to best friends to co-workers. Host Phil Keoghan has helmed the show for more than 20 years and remains as neutrally pleasant as ever, even as the contestants get more interesting and diverse (middle-aged YouTubers, twin radio hosts, a man who spent nearly 10 years wrongfully imprisoned for a murder, etc.). The Amazing Race is a great watch for anyone, overflowing as it is with interpersonal connection (and chaos), incredible views, terrifying feats, and near-constant thrills. A select group of early and more recent seasons is streaming on the site. —Sophie van Bastelaer
Where to watch The Amazing Race: Hulu
Related content: Phil Keoghan explains why The Amazing Race has 'a new lease on life'
The Bachelorette (2003–present)
Bachelor Nation has dominated reality TV since the early-2000s, and The Bachelorette has become one of ABC's flagship shows. The dating competition centers on a single woman looking for love as she fields a group of more than 20 suitors, narrowing her prospects down to one lucky guy over the course of several weeks. While the relationships don't always last after the show, the drama is enough to keep viewers hooked year after year. Numerous Bachelorettes have been chosen based on their previous stints on The Bachelor, while some have gone on to compete on other reality shows like Dancing With the Stars, such as Andi Dorfman, Hannah Brown, and Gabby Windey. Seasons 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 18 are available in full on the streamer. —K.J.
Where to watch The Bachelorette: Hulu
Related content: Kaitlyn Bristowe says Chris Harrison ghosted her when she landed The Bachelorette hosting gig
Catfish: The TV Show (2012–present)
During the height of the pandemic, most reality shows took a season off, or had to drastically alter their formulas — but not Catfish: The TV Show (a spinoff of the 2010 documentary). The series, which you may be surprised to learn is still airing (how are so many people still getting catfished?!), took itself entirely onto Zoom, which could have gone poorly. But the show kept itself fresh, emotional, cringey, and funny — all the best parts of a dating show — thanks in small part to interesting cases and good editing, and in large part to hosts Nev Schulman and Kamie Crawford. The well-rounded pair weathered their pandemic-influenced production changes with grace and good humor, and came out ever stronger for it. While the series is currently airing on MTV, you can go back and watch every episode from 2012 to 2022 on Hulu. —SvB
Where to watch Catfish: The TV Show: Hulu
Related content: Catfish: Nev Schulman and Max Joseph break down that bonkers season 6 premiere
Claim to Fame (2022–present)
Kevin and Frankie Jonas host this ABC competition series in which 12 contestants enter a house for a game of deception. Sound familiar? Yes, there are surface-level comparisons you could make to Big Brother, but there's a unique twist here: Each player is a relative of a famous figure. After a competition for immunity, a vote is held for which of the two worst competitors must guess the relative of a non-immune player. If the guesser is correct, they get to stay and the other player is eliminated; if they're incorrect, the guesser is eliminated. As EW's Kristen Baldwin wrote in her review, "Claim to Fame is a bit of a Frankenstein's monster — part Big Brother, part The Masked Singer, a pinch of The Other Two — but the result is more addictive than terrifying." Two seasons are available to stream now. —K.J.
Where to watch Claim to Fame: Hulu
Related content: Claim to Fame season 2: Get a first look at the celeb-adjacent contestants
Cutthroat Kitchen (2013–2017)
If standard cooking shows are too low-stakes for you, Food Network's Cutthroat Kitchen may be a juicier item on the menu. Hosted by Alton Brown, each episode pits four chefs against each other as they try to concoct the best dish. The judges then eliminate the contestant with the weakest dish per round until only one remains. The catch is, each chef can bid on opportunities to sabotage their fellow contestants along the way, though it would mean dwindling their $25,000 prize money should they win the competition. Hulu is currently streaming seasons 1, 2, 3, and 8 of the addictive series. —K.J.
Where to watch Cutthroat Kitchen: Hulu
Related content: Alton Brown reveals why he left Food Network for Netflix's new Iron Chef series
The Golden Bachelor (2023–present)
Viewers tired of the immature singles featured on the flagship Bachelor/Bachelorette series now have a decidedly more grown-up alternative dating show. The Golden Bachelor features 22 women ages 60–75 vying for the affection of 72-year-old widower Gerry Turner, a former restauranteur looking for another chance at love. The general format may be the same as the regular Bachelor (one-on-one dates, rose ceremonies, etc.), but the maturity of the participants makes for a more emotionally resonant watch. Like Turner, these women have experienced life and losses of their own, allowing the producers to tell a different kind of story than we normally see on network television. —K.J.
Where to watch The Golden Bachelor: Hulu
Related content: Meet The Golden Bachelor star Gerry Turner
Hot Ones (2015–present)
There's something exciting about watching other people contest with hot sauce — and when those people are also celebrities, it's even better. The generic celebrity interview was upgraded in a fiery way with Hot Ones, hosted by Sean Evans, in which guests consume increasingly hotter chicken wings while answering questions about themselves (a few especially entertaining guests include Paul Rudd, Kristen Bell, and Idris Elba). Some celebs thrive under the pressure and others have an absolutely miserable time. Either way, it's a smart, fun, and very-watchable talk show that tries to answer the age-old question: How does putting well-known figures in a great deal of physical discomfort affect how candid they are willing to be? —SvB
Related content: Behold! Jenna Ortega, Hot Ones hero, unflinching master of the devil's wings
The Kardashians (2022–present)
Love 'em, hate 'em, love to hate 'em, or hate to love 'em, they're one of the world's most famous families — and this show keeps proving why. The Kardashians' entertainment value is high, as is its production value, and the socialites' humanity (and relatability) as portrayed in the show may just shock you. It doesn't feel as overproduced and contrived as its predecessor, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, and is as lighthearted as it is poignant. From unique perspectives on Kim, Kourtney, and Khloé's highly-publicized relationships to surprisingly tender conversations on what it means to be a family, The Kardashians gives us the glitzy drama the KarJenners are known for with a new candor and vulnerability we didn't know we were missing. The show's fifth season premieres May 23. —SvB
Where to watch The Kardashians: Hulu
Related content: Kim Kardashian embraced disordered diet, exercise plan to fit into Marilyn Monroe's dress due to FOMO
Kitchen Nightmares (2007–2014; 2023–present)
After successfully launching the cutthroat Hell's Kitchen in 2005, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay took on a more charitable approach with this Fox reality show. Each episode found Ramsay traveling across America to lend a helping hand to struggling restaurants, hoping to turn their businesses around. While the chef's blunt personality remained, the tough love was ultimately put to good use, with the show running for seven seasons through 2014. Now, Fox has brought back Kitchen Nightmares after nine years, which aired in fall 2023. The original run is available in its entirety on Hulu, with episodes of the new season available here. —K.J.
Where to watch original Kitchen Nightmares: Hulu
Related content: Gordon Ramsay, Kitchen Nightmares take over Brooklyn
Life Below Zero (2013–present)
Jayce Kolinski/BBC Studios Reality Productions
Sue Aikens on 'Life Below Zero'Nat Geo's long-running reality series Life Below Zero is a testament to resilience against a harsh environment. The docuseries follows Alaskan subsistence hunters as they survive brutally low temperatures and make a living on their own terms. Among the cast are the blunt Kavik River Camp owner Sue Aikens; Chip and Agnes Hailstone and their growing family; and Ricko DeWilde, an Alaskan Athabaskan raising his children to respect their culture. The series has won multiple Emmys over its 20-plus seasons for its cinematography and editing; seasons 11 through 21 are available on Hulu now, with season 22 dropping on March 20. —K.J.
Where to watch Life Below Zero: Hulu
Related content: Watch the opening footage of Deadliest Catch's new spinoff, The Viking Returns
The Masked Singer (2019–present)
Some shows commit so thoroughly to their concept, however limited it may be, that you can't help but keep watching. Such is the case with The Masked Singer, which became a ratings sensation when it premiered in 2019 and continues with two seasons per year on Fox. The series features celebrities donning elaborately designed costumes and performing song covers, with clues as to their identities embedded in clip packages. The all-star panel of judges are then tasked with determining who may be underneath the mask. Part of the fun of The Masked Singer is its interactive element, with the audience provided just enough hints (but not too many) to keep us guessing. It also is a fascinating showcase of the vocal talents (or otherwise) of the star contestants, without the baggage of their well-known personas. Season 11 is airing on Fox now, with episodes available to stream on Hulu the day after they air. —K.J.
Where to watch The Masked Singer: Hulu
Related content: The most shocking Masked Singer reveals ever
MasterChef (2010–present)
Gordon Ramsay expanded his TV cooking empire with MasterChef, adapted from the British series of the same name. The show features chefs competing in a series of challenges, highlighting technique and creativity. Ramsay and his fellow judges then critique the results of the Elimination Test, with contestants voted out every week until a winner is crowned. "Anyone who enjoys food can tune into MasterChef and learn something," said Ramsay in 2019. "It takes amateur cooks with a passion and a desire to become the very best, we mentor them, we put them through the mill, and we produce talent." The series has also been spun off with MasterChef Junior (also on Hulu), on which young cooks ages 8–13 compete, with the same general format as the parent show. —K.J.
Where to watch MasterChef: Hulu
Related content: MasterChef: Meet 'scary but friendly' judge Christina Tosi
Naked and Afraid (2013–present)
Perhaps the most shocking aspect of Naked and Afraid is that in return for spending three weeks in the wilderness, naked and starving, with a stranger of the opposite sex, contestants get...nothing. No reward, other than the pride of having survived. That alone is enough to garner this show's status on this list; watching contestants suffer and knowing they don't get any remuneration for said suffering adds a whole new level of intrigue. While certain survivalist shows, like Survivor, have been around for decades, there's been a surge recently in programs about life in the wilderness. Intended to emulate the earliest known iterations of society — the cave-dwellers — Naked and Afraid is both one of the crudest and most fascinating survivalist shows streaming at the moment. Seasons 4–6 are currently streaming on Hulu. —SvB
Where to watch Naked and Afraid: Hulu
Related content: Naked and Afraid: Solo first look reveals survivalists are naked, afraid — and alone in new spinoff
Project Runway (2004–present)
Budding fashion designers have been "making it work" since 2004. The Peabody Award-winning Project Runway centers on a group of designers who square off against each other in crafting the best looks as dictated by the week's theme. A panel of judges, all with experience in the fashion world, deliver their criticisms and eliminate the weakest contestants until only one remains. At a time when reality TV was dominated by deception and humiliation, Project Runway proved that there was a market for a different kind of reality competition, one that foregrounds talent above all else. The long-running series has served as inspiration for several popular talent-based competitions in the years since, including Top Chef and RuPaul's Drag Race. Seasons 7–10 are available to stream now. —K.J.
Where to watch Project Runway: Hulu
Related content: Heidi Klum discusses Project Runway cheating incident
RuPaul's Drag Race (2009–present)
RuPaul's Drag Race took the world by absolute storm when it premiered in 2009, and its popularity hasn't waned since. A performance competition show wherein a panel of judges (headed by the iconic RuPaul) evaluate drag queens throughout a series of challenges, Drag Race has spawned spinoffs, given rise to superstars — Trixie Mattel, for one — and successfully incorporated drag into mainstream media. Drag Race fans have become their own subset of pop culture, and for good reason; the show is hugely culturally significant as one of the most successful LGBTQ+ television shows in history, and is beloved for giving audiences so much triumph, drama, talent, and, above all, style. Seasons 8, 9, and 10 are available to stream. —SvB
Where to watch RuPaul's Drag Race: Hulu
Related content: Michelle Visage reveals her favorite RuPaul's Drag Race lip-sync of all time
Shark Tank (2009–present)
Sometimes, after a long day at work, there's nothing more comforting than watching a bunch of richer-than-rich investors squabbling over the inventions of eager entrepreneurs. Perhaps it's the familiar rhythms, the banter between the "sharks," or the ingenuity of the inventors, but, either way, it's kept Shark Tank thriving since it premiered in 2009. The panel, which includes Kevin O'Leary, Robert Herjavec, Daymond John, Barbara Corcoran, Mark Cuban, and Lori Greiner, have all earned Emmy nominations, while the show won four consecutive Emmy awards for Outstanding Structured Reality Program from 2014 to 2017. Several episodes from the first 13 seasons are available to stream now, while new episodes are dropping each week of season 15. —K.J.
Where to watch Shark Tank: Hulu
Related content: Weirdest Shark Tank pitch ever? Watch the Sharks remember the time someone licked a cat
Survivor (2000–present)
While this list includes numerous long-running reality series, few can say they have the legacy and goodwill of Survivor. Numerous twists and format changes have been introduced to the show since its 2000 premiere but its core concept remains: 16 to 20 people stranded on an island, forced to work together while also plotting their tribemates' demise. What's made Survivor last as long as it has is its focus on the unpredictability of human nature. Often hailed as one of the great "social experiments," the show reflects humanity's greatest strengths and weaknesses, and there isn't a set template for how to win the game. All that matters is surviving to the next day, by whatever means necessary, even if it means voting out your closest friend. Twelve past seasons of the reality staple can be streamed on Hulu. —K.J.
Related content: Jeff Probst says he makes Survivor for kids
Undercover Boss (2010–present)
Beyond the baseline entertainment that comes with watching a CEO cluelessly clean a milkshake machine or scrub a toilet, Undercover Boss is one of the most heartwarming reality shows out there. Each episode is fairly predictable: A boss joins their blue-collar staff undercover as a trainee, is put through the wringer, and later enacts policies to change how the company is run. The character arcs include giving special bonuses or opportunities to the hardworking "co-workers" and "bosses" they interacted with during their time as a trainee, but that doesn't make it any less interesting or meaningful a watch. A degree of comfort comes from watching someone learn important lessons — both literal and metaphorical — and the show serves as a nice reminder that underneath individual circumstances, human emotions are universal. Seasons 1, 7, 9, 10, and 11 are streaming, in addition to a celebrity edition, featuring Gabby Douglas, Jewel, Idina Menzel, and more. —SvB
Where to watch Undercover Boss: Hulu
Related content: Undercover Boss: Celebrity Edition to feature Gabby Douglas, Idina Menzel
Wife Swap (2004–2010; 2013; 2019–2020)
How does the other half live? Wife Swap attempted to answer this question, with everyday families with differing lifestyles swapping matriarchs for a couple weeks. For the first week, the wife must follow the rules of the family they're visiting, while the second week allows them to introduce their own mandates, to which the family must adhere. At the end of two weeks, the two families come together to discuss what they've learned — which sometimes results in conflict. The series aired from 2004 to 2010 on ABC (all seven original seasons are streaming now), with brief revivals in 2013 and 2019, plus the spinoff Celebrity Wife Swap from 2012 to 2015. —K.J.
Where to watch Wife Swap: Hulu
Related content: Wife Swap scraps episode after dad's arrest
Related content:
Jeff Probst explains why they let players cheat on Survivor challenges
Phil Keoghan explains why The Amazing Race has a 'new lease on life'
Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.
