How Streaming Editors Build a ‘Best Of’ List — Inside WIRED’s Hulu Picks

Stop hunting through 10 apps — here’s how WIRED builds a crisp “best on Hulu” list and how you can too

Too many catalogs, too much noise. If your watchlist feels like a mess of recommendations, trending clips, and half-watched titles, you’re not alone. Editorial teams at outlets like WIRED have developed a repeatable system for turning the chaos of streaming catalogs into a single dependable "best of" list. This is a behind-the-scenes look at that process — with plug-and-play tactics you can use to curate your own Hulu picks (or any platform) in under an hour.

Why this matters in 2026

Streaming catalogs in late 2025 and early 2026 moved into a new phase: more rights consolidation, faster windows for awards content landing on platforms, and the rise of AI-assisted discovery. Platforms such as Hulu are increasingly the home for exclusive Oscar contenders and cult rediscoveries, so a curated list is more valuable than ever. Editorial curation no longer competes just with algorithms; it competes with viral short-form signals, FAST channel churn, and platform licensing swings.

What you’ll learn

• How editorial teams choose and score films for a platform-specific list
• Tools and metrics editors use in 2026 (human + machine workflows)
• Exact scoring templates and weighting to reuse
• Case studies from WIRED’s Hulu picks and why certain films make the cut
• A 7-day blueprint to build your own “Best of Hulu” watchlist

The inverted-pyramid: editors put essentials up front

Top editorial lists open with decisive answers: the what, the why, and the best picks. WIRED’s 2026 Hulu roundup exemplifies this: the staff start with the strongest titles, then broaden into categories (cult, awards, rewatchables). That front-loading is intentional — it solves your pain point of slow discovery. When you curate, mirror that: lead with a short top-10, then expand into niches and honorable mentions.

How WIRED’s curation team actually works (step-by-step)

Editorial curation is a process, not inspiration. Below is the distilled workflow used by staff curators at outlets like WIRED adapted for a single-platform list.

1. Define the brief — Platform (Hulu), scope (movies only), and constraints (current streaming rights as of publication). The brief sets your curation perimeter and tells you what to ignore.
2. Build the candidate pool — Combine catalog scrape, platform top-10, third-party aggregators (eg JustWatch or Reelgood), awards lists, and social signals from TikTok and Shorts. Editors aim for 150–300 candidates for a 40–50 item final list.
3. Apply editorial filters — Drop titles behind paywalls, obvious duplicates, or ones with poor availability across regions. Keep originals, exclusives, and titles with renewed cultural momentum.
4. Score with a rubric — Score each title across 5–7 categories (see the reusable template below). Scores are weighted and summed to produce a ranked list.
5. Qualitative pass — Critics and editors watch or rescan contenders, applying human judgment for nuance: performances, directorial vision, and context that metrics miss.
6. Audience-signal check — Cross-check with social trends, search spikes, streaming measurement firms (eg Luminate or Comscore), and user ratings to validate that the picks map to audience interest.
7. Edit for balance — Ensure variety across eras, genres, runtime, and accessibility. A good list has heavy hitters, rediscoveries, and guilty pleasures.
8. Finalize with transparent notes — Short copy explains why each film is on the list, plus viewing tips or trigger warnings when applicable.

Scoring template you can reuse (simple, effective)

Use this weighted rubric to transform opinion into reproducible output. Scores go 1–10 for each category. Multiply by weight, then sum.

• Cultural impact (weight 25%) — Awards, influence on other media, meme presence.
• Rewatch value (weight 20%) — Scenes that reward repeat viewing, quotability.
• Critical reception (weight 15%) — Aggregated critic score, historical reception.
• Audience interest (weight 15%) — Social mentions, search trends, streaming charts.
• Uniqueness on platform (weight 10%) — Is this the best way to see it on Hulu right now?
• Timeliness (weight 10%) — New acquisitions, awards season relevance.
• Accessibility (weight 5%) — Subtitles, audio descriptions, regional availability.

Example: a film scores 8 in Cultural (8x0.25=2.0), 9 in Rewatch (1.8), 7 in Crit (1.05), 6 in Audience (0.9), 10 in Uniqueness (1.0), 5 in Timeliness (0.5), 8 in Accessibility (0.4). Total = 7.65. Rank by total score and then apply editorial override if needed.

Data sources and tools editors rely on in 2026

Editorial curation blends human taste with measurable signals. Here are practical tools you can adopt:

• Catalog aggregators — JustWatch, Reelgood for live availability scraping and price tracking.
• Streaming measurements — Third-party firms such as Luminate and Comscore provide viewership snapshots and trending lists.
• Social listening — TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts data for viral spikes; Talkwalker or Brandwatch for deeper sentiment tracking.
• Critical benchmarks — Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, and legacy critic reviews for context.
• Editorial analytics — Internal pageviews, time-on-page, and click-through data to see what resonates with readers.
• AI assistants — Use LLMs to generate synopses, suggest hooks, and draft social cards, but always fact-check and add human tone.

3 mini case studies from WIRED’s Hulu picks — editorial reasoning

Below are condensed examples of why a title like Heat, a rediscovery like Together, and a cult pick like The Toxic Avenger would make an editorial list. These mirror the kinds of judgments WIRED’s curators make.

Case study: Heat — The canonical rewatch

Why it’s on the list: Heat is a technical and cultural landmark with decades-long rewatch value. It scores high on cultural impact, rewatchability, and uniqueness when it’s available on a mainstream platform. Editors include it early to anchor the list with a known quantity that readers trust.

Case study: Together — The awards-season insert

Why it’s on the list: A recent awards-season title that landed exclusively on Hulu in late 2025 adds timeliness. Editors weigh its awards pedigree and critical buzz heavily in the short term. These titles drive traffic and signal that the list is current.

Case study: The Toxic Avenger — The cult discovery

Why it’s on the list: Cult titles diversify the list and reward curious viewers. The Toxic Avenger brings social-sharing potential — short-form clips that trend on TikTok, quotable moments, and midnight-movie energy. Editors use these picks to attract younger audiences and encourage sharing.

Editorial instincts: when to override the numbers

Numbers provide a backbone, but human editors make final calls for several reasons:

• Historical significance not reflected in short-term metrics
• Artist representation and diversity of voice
• Coverage gaps — a well-made indie that deserves exposure
• Platform exclusives that are strategically important to readers

"A great list is persuasive; it tells readers not just what to watch, but why it matters now."

How to build your own "Best of Hulu" in 60 minutes — step-by-step

Follow this timed workflow to create a personal curated list that’s useful to you and shareable with friends.

1. 5 min: Set a brief — Decide the lens (eg: best crime dramas, rewatchable comedies, or a general top 25). Keep it specific.
2. 10 min: Compile candidates — Use Hulu’s catalog view, JustWatch, and a quick scan of social trends to capture 70–150 titles into a spreadsheet.
3. 20 min: Score quickly — Apply the scoring template above but use 1–5 scales for speed. Sort by weighted total.
4. 15 min: Quick watch checks — Watch a few key scenes or the trailer for top-scoring items. Adjust scores where context matters.
5. 10 min: Finalize top 25 and write tiny notes — One-line reason per pick, plus one viewing tip (eg best time of day or mood cue).

Checklist for a balanced list

• Mix blockbuster canon with 20% discoveries
• Include at least one short film or under-90-minute pick for low-effort nights
• Label trigger warnings and content notes
• Tag by mood, runtime, and genre for quick sorting
• Schedule an update cadence: monthly or quarterly depending on platform churn

Publishing and social strategy — make your list shareable

Editorial teams think beyond the list — they plan how users will discover and share it. Reuse these tactics:

• Top-10 lead — Drop a concise top-10 in your social posts to hook readers.
• Short-form clips — Use 30–45 second clips for TikTok and Shorts to spotlight unexpected picks.
• Shareable cards — One-liners plus runtime on Instagram carousels for quick saves.
• Interactive watchlist — Publish as a interactive watchlist or a public Reelgood/JustWatch list.

2026 trends that will shape your next list

Keep an eye on these currents when you curate in 2026:

• AI-assisted discovery — LLMs and semantic search make personalized micro-curations possible. Use AI to draft synopses but keep human edits.
• Short-form virality as a pipeline — TikTok trends increasingly revive older films; a viral clip can push a 1990s title into your top picks overnight.
• Consolidation and windows — More awards films land on single platforms quickly post-season; lists must adapt fast to capture that value.
• Cross-platform context — Readers expect to know where else a film is available and if multiple viewing qualities exist (4K, HDR).

Advanced tips: personalizing lists for different audiences

Want to go deeper? Create multiple list layers:

• The Essentials — 10 titles everyone should see (low disagreement) — high authority.
• The Hidden Gems — Discovery-first list for adventurous viewers.
• The Quick Wins — Under-100-minute picks for short attention spans or a busy night.
• The Family Shelf — Kid-friendly and multi-generational picks with content flags.

Measuring success — what editors track after publishing

Post-publication, editorial teams monitor these KPIs to refine future lists:

• Engagement (clicks, time on page, shares)
• Referral spikes from social platforms
• Search rank for keywords like WIRED Hulu list or best movies on Hulu
• Feedback and corrections from readers (availability changes, regional issues)

Final checklist: ship a great list

• Lead with a strong top-10
• Include scoring transparency or a short note about method
• Offer viewing tips and content notes
• Make it easy to share: social cards, short clips, and public watchlists
• Schedule a refresh date and keep track of rights changes

Wrap: editorial curation is a craft you can learn

WIRED’s Hulu picks are the product of a repeatable system: a clear brief, a sizable candidate pool, a weighted rubric, a human qualitative pass, and an audience-validation check. That process produces lists that readers trust because they balance data with taste. In 2026, that balance now includes AI tools and short-form social trends — but the fundamentals remain the same.

Takeaway actions — start your list now

• Download the scoring template above and run your top 50 candidates through it this weekend
• Create two public share formats: a top-10 for social and a 25-item list with notes for friends
• Set a calendar reminder to refresh your list monthly during awards season

Ready to level up your watchlist? Make a list, share it with your squad, and tag your favorite picks. Editorial curation isn’t reserved for critics — it’s a tool for anyone who wants better nights in front of the screen.

Call to action: Use this template to build your own “Best of Hulu” list today and share it with us. Follow hits.news for weekly viral roundups and a downloadable scoring sheet to jumpstart your curation.

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