Hulu Sci-Fi Comedy Classic Brings Together Marvel, Harry Potter, and The Lord of the Rings

By Chris Snellgrove | Published 1 second ago

These days, it seems like filmmakers and audiences alike are obsessed with crossovers, whether it's Deadpool and Wolverine teaming up to save more people or Superman teaming up with characters like Mr. Terrific and Guy Gardner to save the world. But would you believe that a movie that came out nearly 20 years ago is now a blockbuster, featuring stars from Marvel, Harry Potter, and Lord of the Rings? The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is now available to stream on Hulu, and it may be the most exciting way to enter the world of Douglas Adams' sci-fi fiction.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (based on Adams' book of the same name) is about a man who receives a warning from a friendly alien that the Earth is about to be destroyed by extraterrestrials. This leads them both to the stars, where they are soon caught up in the galactic president's quest to answer the Great Question of Life. The answer may be enough to save the galaxy. If we think that, our heroes can survive that long.

The film serves as a faithful (relatively) adaptation of the icon The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxyand features an amazing cast, including Lord of the Rings legend Martin Freeman as our hapless protagonist. He is joined by other Harry Potter stars, including Warwick Davis as the robot voiced by Alan Rickman. Meanwhile, Marvel's memorable villain Sam Rockwell plays the role of the President of the Galaxy, and the cast includes other big names like Zooey Deschanel, Helen Mirren, John Malkovich, and Stephen Fry.

Apart from this star cast, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy grossed $104.5 million at the box office against a budget of $45-50 million. Initially, there were loose plans to make a sequel, effectively creating a film franchise in Douglas Adams' seminal sci-fi series. Unfortunately, Freeman later confirmed that the movie's small box office wasn't enough to warrant a big-budget follow-up.

As for the critics, they were slightly divided The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a critical rating of 60 percent, with critics generally complaining that the film may be a satire and that it may not be accessible to those who have not read the book. Audiences, on the other hand, loved the film a bit, and it currently has a 65 percent Popcornmeter rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

In other words, this is a movie that is a bit “new” among critics and didn't shock audiences enough to warrant a sequel. Why then, I recommend you broadcast The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? First, the movie feels fresher than ever. In an age of endless Marvel slop and audience hero fatigue, it's amazing to see a big-budget genre feature come into its own.

In addition, director Garth Jennings got what he paid for when it comes to this killer game. Freeman brings an awkward, everyman look while Rockwell delivers a great performance and an even bigger laugh. Mos Def is all smoothness and grace while Fry embodies the understated beauty and Deschanel… yes, she's as wide-eyed jealous as the girl next door.

Finally, the film has a lot of heart and often feels stretched Doctor Who the episode in its presentation is absolutely delicious as usual. There is something Zen-like about the many advice Ford Prefect gives Arthur Dent in the face of unimaginable tragedies. In the end, you'll feel like Dent himself: ready to take on the entire galaxy (all while delivering various snarls, of course).

In short, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy it's full of high-value plots and big-name characters, and the result is a bigger and better team than most of what we've seen from Marvel or DC. Will you find this sci-fi classic as entertaining as we did, or will turning off the TV be your answer to life, the universe, and everything? You'll never know, until you stream the excellent adaptation of Douglas Adams' sweeping story on Hulu.