Whether you’re in the mood for tangled love stories, mouthwatering cooking competitions, or gag-worthy drag moments, if you’re a reality show buff, Hulu’s got you covered. Here’s our roundup of the most binge-worthy, tea-spilling shows the streaming service has to offer.
“The Kardashians” (2022–present)
A continuation of the E! reality series that spawned a new generation of celebrity worship, Hulu’s “The Kardashians” picks up where “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” left off in 2021. The revival series follows the famously famous family in much the same way as its predecessor, but with better production and a new perspective on the celebrity dynasty. “The Kardashians” offers a few key shifts in the way we view this family. Gone are the days of partying and scantily clad photo shoots; now, the Kardashians, particularly Kim, are all business. Well, mostly—there’s still family drama as Kris, Kim, Khloé, Kourtney, Kendall, and Kylie balance their lives with their inordinate wealth and status.
A more-than-a-little-trashy revamp for the first family of reality TV, “The Kardashians” speaks to our morbid curiosity with the rich and famous, as proven by the reality show’s status as “the most-watched unscripted series premiere this year on all Disney streaming platforms,” per Deadline.
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” (2009–present)
The reality show that brought drag to America’s living rooms, MTV’s “RuPaul’s Drag Race” is a competition series that needs little in the way of introductions. Aspiring drag queens duke it out in competitions of creativity and skill, clawing their way toward the title of “America’s next drag superstar.”
Originally airing on Logo TV and then VH1, “Drag Race” marked a huge shift in the cultural understanding of drag queens, introducing many to an art form that had previously been foreign to them. These queens have character, and it’s an absolute delight watching them grow in their craft. Plus, the drama’s not half bad, either: The performers on “Drag Race” are known to be more than a little feisty, and there’s nothing better to stir up tension than a high-stakes competition. Perhaps the best part of this reality show, though, are the hilarious challenges and stunning performances from a diverse crowd of wildly talented drag queens, including fan favorites from across the seasons like Trixie Mattel, Bob the Drag Queen, and Katya.
“Catfish: The TV Show” (2012–present)
A spinoff of the 2010 documentary, this series sees original subject Nev Schulman, filmmaker Max Joseph, and a rotation of co-hosts investigate the online entanglements of initiating “hopefuls” who want to uncover the truth of the far-away lovers they’ve never met in real life. Each episode follows a new request, with the hosts researching who the potential “catfish” is, finding where they live, and eventually confronting them on camera. Of course, the whole thing is planned ahead of time, but that doesn’t mean that the investigations have no merit. What truly separates the show from its controversial film counterpart is its commitment to telling the stories of these would-be romantic partners, whether the alleged catfish is a scammer or the real deal.
“Living for the Dead” (2023–present)
Created by C.J. Romero and actor Kristen Stewart, Hulu’s “Living for the Dead” puts a new spin on the classic ghost-hunting reality show. Instead of antagonizing the restless spirits à la “Ghost Adventures,” this group of paranormal investigators hopes to communicate more amiably and heal these haunts. Each of the experts is also a member of the LGBTQ+ community, meaning the hosts all bring a unique perspective to the paranormal world.
Fueled by their own experiences of being othered and in need of understanding, the hosts embrace the spiritual world in a way that is healing for themselves and audiences. As one of the five hosts, podcaster and spiritual healer Juju Bae explained to TV Insider, “We were able to give a voice to the dead in a way that maybe we also needed.”
“Shark Tank” (2009–present)
The five-time Emmy Award–winning reality series “Shark Tank” has been a fan favorite since its premiere on ABC in 2009. The American equivalent of the British “Dragons’ Den,” “Shark Tank” invites a series of entrepreneurs to pitch their brilliant—and sometimes brilliantly terrible—business plans to a panel of investors called Sharks. The Sharks, including business titans Mark Cuban, Kevin O’Leary, and Lori Greiner, host a wide variety of creative inventors who have brought us a smorgasbord of stellar products like the Scrub Daddy, the Squatty Potty, and Bombas socks.
Of course, there are also the products that just don’t make the cut—the “what were they thinking” ideas that seem destined to do little more than rot on store shelves, such as Throx (socks sold in sets of threes) and the Wake N’ Bacon (an alarm clock that broils bacon in sync with the time to rise and shine). A classic of bingeable business talk, “Shark Tank” shows off wacky inventions, genuinely good ideas, and some truly bonkers critiques from the Sharks themselves.
“Love & WWE: Bianca & Montez” (2024–present)
At first glance, the wrestling ring seems like a strange place to find love, and an even stranger place to find love stories. And yet, that’s exactly what the Hulu reality show “Love & WWE: Bianca & Montez” offers. Following wrestlers Bianca Belair and Montez Ford, aka “WWE’s hottest couple,” “Love & WWE” takes a look into the personal lives of these two on their road to WrestleMania. In wrestling and reality TV, there’s one rule that stands above all else: Never break kayfabe. And while that dedication to keeping the magic alive might disappoint viewers hoping to get a completely real, raw look behind the scenes of WWE, it’s still absolutely delightful to watch these wrestlers as they take the next steps in their lives and careers. The series is already renewed for a second season, which promises to focus on the wrestling power couple as they continue to navigate the new adventures of family life.
“The Masked Singer” (2019–present)
Though Fox’s “The Masked Singer” definitely isn’t for everyone, there are plenty of viewers who can’t get past the strange charm of the mysterious competition show. Hosted by Nick Cannon and featuring a rotation of celebrity panelists that include Ken Jeong and Rita Ora, “The Masked Singer” puts celebrities head-to- oversized-costume-head in a competition of their performance prowess. What makes this show stand out from the crowd of other singing competition reality shows are the elaborate costumes inspired by haute couture and the mystery behind each strange character’s identity.
There’s been some wild reveals on “The Masked Singer” over the years, including Tommy Chong, T-Pain, and Billie Jean King, proving what’s most fun about this weird show: far from every contestant is a singer, and it is an absolute treat to watch these wacky characters get unmasked.
“Drag Me to Dinner” (2023)
Hosted by drag icon Murray Hill and featuring judges Bianca Del Rio, Haneefah Wood, and power couple Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka, Hulu’s “Drag Me to Dinner” is a delightful competition series that highlights the joy of drag. Each episode, two teams of drag artists must make the most of their 90-minute prep time to craft the best themed dinner party possible. There was a time when seeing such out-and-loud queer representation on TV would’ve felt like an impossibility, but “Drag Me to Dinner” illustrates that anyone can join in on the fun aspects of LGBTQ+ culture. And anyone who’s already a fan of drag will love seeing favorite queens like Jinkx Monsoon, Nina West, Kim Chi, and Peaches Christ (just to name a few) getting down and dirty for their dinner parties. It’s unclear if this reality competition will be returning for another soiree; but even if not, the series’ 10 episodes exude raucous joy that’s absolutely worth an afternoon binge.
“Dance Moms” (2011–2019)
The epitome of mid-2010s trash TV, Lifetime’s “Dance Moms” introduced the world to tyrannical instructor Abby Lee Miller and her never-ending cavalcade of young talent; most notably, JoJo Siwa and Maddie Ziegler both got their careers started through the reality series. But while it’s great to see young talent find success, the real entertainment behind this reality TV show comes from the drama between Abby and the titular moms who are willing to put it all out there for the sake of their talented daughters. The series has rightfully been called out for its toxic treatment of young talent; however, it’s a tradition it seems the 2024 Hulu reboot, “Dance Moms: A New Era,” is trying to uphold, and unfortunately for good reason: It makes for great TV.
“Cutthroat Kitchen” (2013–2017)
No list of best reality shows would be complete without at least one cooking show; and while classics like “MasterChef” and “Kitchen Nightmares” are also available to stream on Hulu, there’s another cooking competition show that turns up the heat. Food Network’s “Cutthroat Kitchen,” hosted by beloved network staple Alton Brown, showcases cooking talent in a whole new light. Four contestants compete in a three-round elimination contest to create the best dishes according to a broad theme. The catch? Each chef has a budget of $25,000 that they can use to bid on sabotaging their opponents; the overall winner gets to keep whatever money remains in their individual budget. “Cutthroat Kitchen” offers a nice shakeup from other reality cooking show fare, combining the style of “Chopped” with the contrived drama reality TV fans crave.
Want to be a part of the drama? Check out our comprehensive guides on how to get cast on reality TV and how to audition for Hulu.