20 Best Reality TV Shows On Hulu

May 31, 2024, 11:30 p.m.

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20 Best Reality TV Shows On Hulu

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Summary Hulu offers a diverse array of reality TV shows, catering to every viewer's preferences and interests.

Streaming platforms like Hulu have been acquiring more reality TV content, offering a wide range of intriguing stories.

Reality TV has evolved to showcase extraordinary people and their unique stories, transporting viewers into entirely new worlds.

When it comes to reality TV, Hulu has a massive array of shows that cater to every viewer, from high-stakes competitions and dramatic confrontations to heartwarming tales of personal triumph. Reality TV has become one of the most common pastimes for regular viewers, even with an influx of scripted content. Streaming platforms have been churning out content at a higher volume, and at the same time, they've been acquiring the rights to reality TV series from other networks in recent years.

The evolution of reality TV has been extraordinary to watch, as the genre has come a long way since the premieres of original reality competitions like Survivor, and dating series like The Bachelor. With viewers looking for reality TV content that meets every need, some shows combine different styles of drama and intrigue. While there are shows for nearly everyone on every streaming platform, some platforms have more variety than others.

One of the most important parts of reality TV is its ability to introduce viewers to extraordinary people with compelling stories. Reality TV stars have been able to create a new niche that allows stars to speak on their perspectives surrounding different scenarios, whether that be a survivalist strategy game, a cooking competition, or a docuseries surrounding sports. In showing off the variety of "real" life, reality TV has been able to bring its viewers into entirely new worlds.

As one of the leading streaming platforms in the game, Hulu has been able to acquire the rights to many reality TV shows for viewers to enjoy. Collecting series for different networks and producing its own content as well, Hulu has become one of the leaders in reality TV content, whether it's new or old. With some of the most interesting reality TV series streaming on the platform, Hulu viewers have access to some tremendous content.

While reality TV can be polarizing for some, the genre has quickly become one of the most watched and most discussed of all time. With stories that are relatable, reality TV has something for everyone and the streaming platforms that host reality TV shows have a variety of intricate, interesting stories to offer. As platforms like Hulu acquire more content, there's more and more for viewers to watch, comment on, and learn from. With viewers from all over the country watching new content, Hulu's viewers have access to some of the most interesting, exciting content in the world.

Related 20 Best Reality TV Shows Right Now Reality TV is more popular than ever. With so many to choose from, here are some of the best reality TV shows to stream or watch right now.

20 Hot Ones

1 Season Available

Originally a Crackle series, Sean Evans’ Hot Ones was brought to Hulu as an original series in 2020. The premise of Hot Ones is simple: host Sean and a celebrity guest sit down with ten increasingly spicy chicken wings to challenge their tastebuds throughout an interview. While the majority of the guests are there to promote a project, Hot Ones has an incredibly unique spin as an interview-style talk show.

As guests chat with host Sean about their lives, careers, and specific moments in pop culture, they’re tasked with showing off how they handle some of the hottest hot sauce in the world. Though it seems like an easier interview than most, the celebrities on Hot Ones typically share that they find concentrating and filtering themselves while eating the wings tough. While there are many episodes of Hot Ones on YouTube, the season on Hulu is well worth the watch.

19 The Bachelor (Franchise)

15 Seasons Available

The Bachelor is one of the longest-running reality TV dating series on the air, and the numerous spin-offs have kept Bachelor Nation growing throughout the years. After its first season, which aired in 2002, The Bachelor took its place as the most sought-after reality TV series for singles, who desperately wanted to be part of the show. The series produced spin-offs quickly, beginning with The Bachelorette in 2003, focusing on a female lead choosing suitors rather than a male lead at the forefront.

The Bachelor and The Bachelorette were joined by a spin-off series, inspired by the success of Love Island UK, called Bachelor In Paradise. Taking contestants from both shows, Bachelor In Paradise has produced some incredible couples, which have been the most successful of the franchise. More recently, The Golden Bachelor captivated Bachelor Nation, introducing the franchise’s first mature lead, and ushering in a whole new era.

The Bachelor Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available The Bachelor is a reality dating series that premiered in 2002. It follows one man's search for his potential fiancé among several different women. As they travel the world and have exciting one-on-one and group dates, romance and drama develop. The Bachelor has led to many popular spin-offs, including The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise.

18 The Masked Singer

9 Seasons Available

One of the most fascinating competition series on the air, The Masked Singer has become a staple for the mainstream reality TV audience. Adapted from a Korean series, the show casts a group of celebrity performers and outfits them in some of the most elaborate costumes in reality TV history. The intricately made costumes hide their identities but allow them to give some tremendous performances on the Masked Singer stage.

The cast members compete in groups throughout the season, performing show-stopping numbers while providing clues about who they are to the panel of judges and The Masked Singer audience. The judges were originally comprised of Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Nicole Scherzinger, and Robin Thicke, but Nicole has recently left and been replaced by Rita Ora. While the judges are a great addition, they’re only there to provide more insight into who could be behind the masks.

The Masked Singer Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available The Masked Singer is the American version of the popular Masked Singer competition. Developed by Craig Plestis, the series sees an array of celebrities dress up in elaborate costumes and masks, and then sing against one another in a competition format to be the last one standing. The American version is hosted by Nick Cannon.

17 America’s Next Top Model

11 Seasons Available

America’s Next Top Model has been one of the most realistic portrayals of the modeling industry on reality TV. The competition series, which was created by Tyra Banks in 2003, has been one of the most intriguing reality TV competitions of all time. America’s Next Top Model seeks out contestants who are looking to break into the modeling industry, hoping to give them a taste of what it takes to succeed and, at the same time, win their way to a modeling contract with help of some of the biggest names in the industry.

Originally, Tyra was joined on the judging panel with industry titans like J. Alexander, Nigel Barker, Nina Garcia, Janice Dickenson, and Paulina Porizkova. The series originally aired on The CW, but moved to VH1 in its second era to continue to help foster new models in the industry. Though there have been some contestants who don’t move forward with professional modeling, America’s Next Top Model has produced successful models by the dozen during its time on the air.

America's Next Top Model Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available America's Next Top Model is a VH1 original competitive reality series created by Tyra Banks which sees several women hoping to break into the modeling industry. The show focuses on several contestants who compete in various competitions, and one is eliminated each week. Judges occasionally change between seasons, with drama erupting between contestants and judges - sometimes from within.

16 Chopped

11 Seasons Available

Food Network’s Chopped is a hugely successful reality TV competition series that invites groups of chefs to try their hand at some interesting recipes. Each episode, three chefs are invited into the Chopped kitchen and given some interesting ingredients to create their dishes. Tasked with serving an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert incorporating the unusual ingredients from their basket, the contestants are judged each round.

While the panel of judges on Chopped rotates from episode to episode, there are some who are on the series more often. Some of the regular judges featured on the series include Alex Guarnaschelli, Geoffrey Zakarian, Amanda Freitag, and Maneet Chauhan. Competitors on Chopped are able to win $10,000 per episode, and as they go through the competition, they’re eligible to compete in higher levels of the series, like Chopped Champions.

Chopped Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available Chopped is a cooking competition television series where four chefs face off in a timed battle, preparing a three-course meal using a basket of mystery ingredients. Each round's dishes are judged based on taste, presentation, and creativity, with one chef being eliminated per round. The last remaining chef wins a cash prize. Hosted by Ted Allen, Chopped airs on the Food Network and has been praised for its intense culinary challenges.

15 Vanderpump Villa

1 Season Available

After the drama of Vanderpump Rules season 10, viewers were excited for another series from Lisa Vanderpump, this one with a European flair. Lisa’s newest show, Vanderpump Villa, has the vibes of the early seasons of Vanderpump Rules with a whole new cast. The series follows the lives of the staff of Lisa’s luxurious French chateau, Chateau Rosabelle. While it doesn’t quite capture the magic of its predecessor, Vanderpump Villa has its own style of reality TV drama.

With the cast hand-picked to work at Chateau Rosabelle, Lisa’s opulent style is a hallmark of the new series. The Vanderpump Villa season 1 cast, made up of a mix of American imports and native Europeans, is able to hone in on the right level of drama mixed in with their work serving Lisa’s chateau guests, all of whom are looking for the most decadent experience possible. The first season of the series is a must-watch for Vanderpump Rules fans.

Vanderpump Villa Lisa Vanderpump returns in Vanderpump Villa, a documentary reality series created by and starring the Vanderpump matriarch herself. Building a team of staff to work at her prestigious french estate, Chateau Rosabelle, Lisa pushes forward with her new venture while the team learns to work together the best they can, with drama bubbling under the sruface at every turn.

14 The Kardashians

5 Seasons Available

The current version of The Kardashians is the family’s second iteration of their reality TV series, giving them more control over how they come across on screen. While Keeping Up With The Kardashians, E!’s version of the family’s reality show, was a long-running series full of lore and family stories, the newer version of the series is a sleeker, more polished version of the original. With The Kardashians season 5 just getting started, the show is finding new levels of drama.

While previous seasons of The Kardashians have been criticized for withholding drama until it feels irrelevant to the viewers, it’s a great retrospective on what’s happened within the family outside of their tabloid personas. With an in-depth look at their personal lives, The Kardashians is a fascinating presentation of a glamorized version of what it’s like to live within one of the world’s most famous families. As new episodes roll out, rewatching the beginning of the series is well worth it.

The Kardashians Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available The follow-up series to Keeping Up With The Kardashians, The Kardashians continues to follow the family drama of the Kardashian-Jenner family through their personal and professional lives.

13 American Idol

1 Season Available

One of the longest-running reality competition shows, American Idol got new life breathed into it after being picked up by ABC in 2018. The show, which originally aired on Fox for 15 seasons prior to its move, has a simple talent competition premise. After auditions are held nationwide for a panel of superstar judges, a group of contestants are selected to compete on a live stage for the audience's votes.

While the majority of American Idol’s earliest contestants and winners, like Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, and Carrie Underwood, have all found fame in their time post-series, the newer stars have struggled to find the same success. The most recent seasons have brought out some of the most talented performers in the world, regardless of where their careers go after the fact. With American Idol season 23 on the horizon, there’s no better time to catch up.

American Idol American Idol is a reality singing competition that adds to the international "Idol" brand, conceived initially in the U.K. as Pop Idol. Holding massive auditions across the U.S., American Idol invited several contestants to perform in front of a panel of judges that would determine whether or not they'd go on to future rounds for a chance at competing in the fully televised premiere of the show. Contestants are voted off each week by American participation via voting through various mediums, and the winner of the competition would be given a contract with a record label to secure a future as America's next musical idol. See at Walmart

12 Life Below Zero

11 Seasons Available

Life Below Zero is one of the most revered survivalist series of all time. Created by National Geographic, the series shows viewers what the most remote corners of Alaska are like during the brutal winter months. The show features some of the most resilient residents of Alaska’s most difficult terrain, shining a light on some of the most isolated corners of the world.

This docuseries features Alaskans who struggle to meet their basic needs from time to time, having to hunt and forage for their meals and barter for supplies. The subjects of the docuseries are used to living in the most difficult of conditions but have their own troubles that often make life more difficult in the tundra. With 11 seasons of the series to binge through, Life Below Zero sheds light on an often-ignored subset of the world.

11 Project Runway

4 Seasons Available

Originating on Bravo in the early 2000s, Project Runway is a reality TV competition series that pushes fashion to another level. With original hosts Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn creating an iconic competition with cut-throat stakes, Project Runway became one of the most exciting reality shows on the air. Plucking up-and-coming fashion designers out of obscurity, the series provided weekly challenges for the competitors.

Each week, the designers were given a brief, taken to buy supplies, and given a short amount of time to create a custom look. Their designs were modeled on a runway by professional models, and then judged by some of the most important faces in fashion. Discovering some of the top models of all time such as Christian Siriano, Project Runway has provided a platform for new faces in fashion for years and continues to do so.

Project Runway Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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10 Shark Tank

14 Seasons Available

Shark Tank has consistently been one of the top-performing reality TV shows on the air for decades. The Sharks, a group of financial titans of industry who have the ability to invest in small businesses, are given the opportunity to hear from entrepreneurs who are just getting started. After listening to their pitches, the Sharks are able to decide if they’d like to be involved with the new business or expansion.

The competition of Shark Tank is unique, as the stakes are incredibly high for the entrepreneurs who are presenting to the Sharks, but low for the audience in general. Having introduced the world to some of the most interesting new products created in years, Shark Tank has connected consumers to some incredible items. With several seasons to stream, Shark Tank is a must-watch for viewers from any walk of life.

Shark Tank Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available Several successful investors and financial moguls sit in on pitches from professional and amateur American entrepreneurs in Shark Tank. This reality television series sees a group of five "sharks" who give hopeful people with a dream a chance to secure funding and support from some of the most well-known figures in the business world. Products and services come from all over as the sharks judge and try to determine if the pitches are investable.

9 Survivor

12 Seasons Available

Another survivalist series, Survivor is a long-running competition series that asks its contestants to outwit, outplay, and outlast each other in a game of strategy. Having spanned over the last 20 years, Survivor has created its own brand of unique competition and fandom surrounding the show. Premiering in 2000, Survivor’s original concept dropped the first cast into the jungle of Borneo and pit them against each other in a battle of strategic wits.

As the game has changed through the years, things have become more complicated with Survivor stars getting more strategic. With the cast members using quite a bit more knowledge than they have in the past, Survivor has consistently shifted through the years its been on the air. As the winner of Survivor wins a $1 million grand prize each season, there’s a lot on the line for the castaways once they enter the game.

Survivor Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available In this long-running reality competition show, sixteen people are split into two tribes and must survive off the land in various rural locales. Each week, they compete in challenges for resources, luxuries, or immunity — and each week, one person is voted out by their teammates, losing their chance at being the sole Survivor.

8 RuPaul’s Drag Race

3 Seasons Available

RuPaul’s Drag Race has been a part of the drag lexicon for the duration of its time on the air, and some of the best drag queens of all time have graced its stage. Developed by RuPaul, Drag Race is a competition like no other. Pitting the Queens against one another to see who is the ultimate drag queen, the series involves some of the most kitschy, campy competitions on TV.

Each season, the Queens on RuPaul’s Drag Race are given the opportunity to perform in front of their audience, as well as the coveted judges on the show. The panel, made up of RuPaul and a rotating cast of judges, are able to discuss the Queens looks and performances to see who takes the top spot. With iconic games played on the series, which has produced Queens like Trixie Mattel, RuPaul’s Drag Race is an absolute must-watch.

RuPaul's Drag Race Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available Each season of this reality competition series shows a new pool of contestants compete to become the star drag queen. As host and judge RuPaul presides over the competition, the contestants provide the glamor and the drama. RuPaul's Drag Race has inspired similar shows in over a dozen other countries, and made huge strides in popularizing the art of drag performance all over the world.

7 Undercover Boss

5 Seasons Available

A series with an original concept, Undercover Boss is exactly what the title offers. Each episode sees a high-level employee of a large, successful company going undercover to see what’s happening in a lower-level store or retail space. With episodes featuring well-known companies all over the United States, the series offers a look into the difficulties that everyday employees face in their workplaces.

Typically, the high-level bosses on Undercover Boss wind up seeing that their companies aren’t functioning in the way they hoped when they go down to the retail or store level. The bosses are exposed to policies not working in the field, difficult employees, and other issues in their stores that they weren’t expecting. While Undercover Boss can feel repetitive at times, the series is eye-opening from the boss’ perspective from episode to episode.

6 Naked & Afraid

3 Seasons Available

An extreme survivalist series, Naked And Afraid puts some of the most extreme survivalists to the test as they brave the elements with a partner, but without clothes. With each episode featuring a pair of partners who are put into the wilderness to survive without supplies, the series asks survivalists to be as skilled as possible without any luxuries. The pairs aren’t aware of who their partner will be before the experiment starts, and personalities can clash as things grow tense.

Throughout the episodes, the partners have to figure out how to create shelter, find food, and take care of each other in the chance of illness or injury. Naked And Afraid takes place over the course of three weeks, giving the contestants 21 days to last in the wilderness. The series gives a whole new meaning to survivalist TV shows, upping the stakes dramatically.

Naked and Afraid Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available Naked and Afraid is a survival reality series that sees two people thrust into the wilderness with no supplies and must survive their harsh environments for twenty-one days. Pairs will meet in the wild, where they will partner to create shelter, hunt for food, and care for each other's wounds as the unpredictable three-week period forces them to be creative with solutions on the fly.

5 Farmer Wants A Wife

2 Seasons Available

A dating reality TV competition with a twist, Farmer Wants A Wife is one of the most unique shows on the air. While dating shows feel like they’re everywhere, Farmer Wants A Wife is a spin on the classic style of reality TV dating. The series brings together a group of farmers who are looking for love, along with a group of women who are searching for the same. While some of the women are city slickers, others are used to a farmers’ lifestyle.

The series has had an interesting time on the air, starting out on The CW before revamping its style and moving to Fox for the last several seasons. Farmer Wants A Wife season 2 has been a huge success for the network. Though the success rate for the show may not be at its highest, viewers have enjoyed watching the romance unfold.

The Farmer Wants A Wife Known as the world's biggest dating show, Farmer Wants A Wife has aired in 35 countries, resulting in 180 weddings and 410 babies. In the United States, FOX has rebooted the show after it aired on the CW in 2008. Farmer Wants A Wife features four farmers meeting and dating women from the city with the hopes of finding their wives.

4 Claim To Fame

1 Seasons Available

Claim To Fame brings together a group of contestants who all share one interesting familial fact: they have some sort of relationship with an ultrafamous celebrity. Their identities are kept a secret, and the contestants have to work to figure out how their competitors are connected to fame and fortune. Though the concept sounds simple, it can be difficult to figure out who’s related to who in this mysterious competition.

The series has brought some incredibly famous family members and friends to the forefront, having cast Eddie Murphy’s daughter, Dolly Parton’s niece, and Tom Hanks’ niece into the game in the past. The upcoming Claim To Fame season 3 is promising another round of mysterious celebrity hijinks, hosted by Frankie Jonas and Kevin Jonas. The series provides strategy and mystery, giving viewers something to think about in every episode.

Claim To Fame Claim to Fame is a reality television competition series that brings together lesser-known celebrity relatives. These contestants must live together and compete in challenges, while keeping their identities and celebrity family members a secret. Hosted by brothers Kevin and Frankie Jonas, the show awards $100,000 to the last contestant standing.

3 Hell’s Kitchen

22 Seasons Available

Starring the infamous Gordon Ramsay, Hell’s Kitchen is a cooking competition that pushes chefs to their limits in order to cook in one of the most famous kitchens in the country. The surly chef invites a group of contestants to compete in cooking challenges that push them to the limits of their abilities, expanding their skills as they work from week to week. While there have been some seasons that bring better competitors than others, Hell’s Kitchen has produced some incredible chefs.

While there are competitors eliminated from the competition from week to week, the chefs want to stick around for as long as possible. The opportunity to cook for Gordon, as well as the opportunity to become a chef at the famous Hell’s Kitchen restaurant, is the prize of a lifetime. Competitors are able to show off their skills, despite getting berated by Gordon, as they continue in the competition.

Hell's Kitchen Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available Hell's Kitchen is a reality cooking competition series that sees celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay as a coach and judge a group of chefs from multiple backgrounds to win the job of head chef at a high-performing new restaurant appointed by Ramsay himself. Contestants will deal with Ramsay's dramatized berating as they are pushed under intense cooking conditions and various challenges, as a new competitor is eliminated each week.

2 Married At First Sight

10 Seasons Available

A series that uses the framework of other popular reality TV dating series Love Is Blind, Married At First Sight is an incredible look at arranged marriages in the modern era. Participants of the series meet their spouses sight unseen, marry them on the spot, and continue on to see if they can build a connection. Those who sign up for Married At First Sight are typically at the end of their rope surrounding commitment and don’t know where else to turn.

The couples on Married At First Sight are pushed by the experts, who have rotated out throughout the run of the series, and given as much advice as possible through their marriages. While many of the marriages on MAFS don’t work out, the couples are able to face their issues head-on if they choose. With many seasons of Married At First Sight marriages to watch and dissect, the series is a must-watch for reality TV dating fans.

Married At First Sight Based on the Danish version of the series, Married at First Sight is a reality show/social experiment that gives singles a chance to find a lifelong partnership with one particular caveat: they must agree to marry a stranger arranged the moment they meet. Experts provide counseling and guidance as they help couples navigate their new marriage with their unknown partner and highlight the journey of the newlyweds from wedding to honeymoon to beginning their new lives together. At the end of eight weeks, couples will decide to stay married or divorce. See at Amazon

1 Alone

10 Seasons Available

A survivalist series from the History channel, Alone follows a group of competitors who are left alone in the wilderness and asked to simply survive with a small amount of gear and the knowledge they possess. Competitors can be out in the wilderness for up to a year on the series. The contestants must work to find food, build shelter, and battle the elements as they work through mental and physical issues during their time in the wilderness.

Although competitors are given a minimal amount of gear to start with, they’re unclear on the terrain they’ll be encountering when they’re left alone in the wilderness. The contestants must think quickly, react, and explain what they’re doing as they move along in their journey. For fans of survivalist television, Alone provides one of the most exciting examples of true survival.