SOULM8TE is a sci-fi horror movie out on Hulu now (and Disney+ internationally). Is it worth checking out? Yes, very much so. This is the kind of movie that both entertains and makes you stop and think about leaving everything in the “hands” of AI. Well, it ought to, anyway. Read our full Soulm8te movie review here!
SOULM8TE on Hulu (and Disney+ internationally) is the kind of sci-fi horror movie that I may not watch again, but I enjoyed watching it now. And yes, I think most viewers will enjoy this one as well. Especially those who already love the M3gan universe.
The runtime is 1 hour and 39 minutes, which the storyline utilizes well. Overall, I found myself enjoying this movie more than I expected. Also, for horror fans, there are some moments in the final act that get very brutal!
Continue reading our Soulm8te movie review below. Find it on Hulu from October 1, 2026, or on VOD where it’s been out since August 1, 2026.
Fatal Attraction meets Terminator
Soulm8te is essentially a story that reminds us that terminators may not come in the form of Arnold Schwarzenegger. It could also be in the form of a gorgeous woman who worships you. Or, more accurately, who becomes obsessed with you and can overpower anyone – both in mind and body!
We meet David (David Rysdahl), who agrees to be a beta tester for a new AI companion. David lost his wife more than a year earlier. He has been working from home and is still grieving. However, now that a ruthless tech giant has acquired his workplace, the beta tester opportunity comes along.
David is reluctant at first, but after simply chatting with an AI chatbot, he agrees to be a beta tester for the AI Companion. He names her Sara (Lily Sullivan), but realizes she is much more restricted in her physical form than she was online.
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She’s too subservient and polite, which doesn’t feel natural. Even if some buyers would surely love that version as well. I mean, with the way the internet and much entertainment have evolved, selling pleasure to the (primarily male) population, this AI Companion is practically already a reality in the simple version.
All I’m saying is that there’s a reason why this iconic Avenue Q song is still as poignant and relevant as ever.
Anyway, David wants to improve Sara to become more human, which means he removes certain guardrails. Well, a lot of them. Most, really.
To quote Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, as one always should when possible: Big mistake. Huge!
What’s in a name?
On a personal note, this 2026 movie won me over when it – very early on – did a whole meta take on the title. You see, the title of the movie is also the name of a new creation. And if you read it out loud, it would be “Soulm-eight-ate”.
After all, the number 8 doesn’t replace just the “a” in “Soulmate”, but rather the entire last half of the word.
It’s a small thing, I know, but I love that the one thing about this movie that annoyed me before watching it – the fact that the title with a number made no sense – was highlighted in the movie. Kudos for facing that little odd detail head-on.
To me, this immediately said that this movie wasn’t trying to outsmart its audience. Instead, it wanted everyone to be in on the joke and the issues we were about to see covered.
Watch Soulm8te on Hulu now
The director of Soulm8te is Kate Dolan (You Are Not My Mother). Also, Kate Dolan co-wrote the screenplay alongside Rafael Jordan. The story comes from screenwriter Rafael Jordan, James Wan & Ingrid Bisu (Malignant).
Soulm8te is the latest movie in this AI thriller universe. It all began in 2022 with M3gan, and now Blumhouse Atomic Monster introduces yet another “evil android”. Their choice of words, not mine. I would say dangerous more than evil, as I don’t think androids can “be evil”.
The movie was originally expected to be released theatrically before suddenly coming out on VOD to rent or purchase. This was on August 1, 2026, and now the Hulu release is coming two months later. Just in time for the spooky season of Halloween.
Please do not see the lack of a theatrical release as a sign that the movie isn’t good. It’s actually very entertaining.
Soulm8te began streaming on Hulu (and Disney +) on October 1, 2026.
📺 Watch trailer
Plot
After a ruthless tech giant acquires his company, a grieving engineer is tasked with testing their new AI companion. But when he attempts to program her to be a truly sentient soulmate, she develops needs of her own—unleashing a relentless spree of precision-engineered mayhem.
Details
Director: Kate Dolan
Script: Rafael Jordan, Kate Dolan
Story: James Wan, Ingrid Bisu, Rafael Jordan
Cast: Lily Sullivan, David Rysdahl, Claudia Doumit, Arty Froushan, Elijah Cook, Mara Huf, Emma Ramos
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