Remember the good ol’ days when all you needed was a Netflix subscription and you were covered? Nowadays, there are many streaming services to choose from, and we’re comparing twelve of the best ones for fans of movies and TV. Check out the list in the gallery below, and stay tuned for Part 2 in which we look at even more streaming services.
Subscribing to a streaming service can run you over $100 a year, and while it’s easy enough to click the button to subscribe, it’s a lot harder to carve out time to watch all the programming available, especially if you have multiple services. Yet in the age of Netflix, Amazon and Hulu, streaming is in many cases the only way to watch popular, critically-acclaimed shows like Stranger Things, Transparent or The Handmaid’s Tale. There are also specialty services for fans of specific genres like horror, anime or British television, and figuring out which to shell out for can be difficult.
Which streaming services do you subscribe to? Are there any out there that you’re looking to try out? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @comingsoonnet.
Comparing Streaming Services
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Netflix
PRICE: $7.99-$13.99/month
BEST FEATURES: The granddaddy of all streaming services has evolved from a movie and TV outlet to an original content machine churning out billions of dollars worth of entertainment a year. Hot button dramas like Stranger Things, Orange Is the New Black, House of Cards, Narcos, 13 Reasons Why and the Marvel shows (Daredevil, Luke Cage, etc) share space with comedy series like Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Grace and Frankie, Fuller House and more. There's also original films with stars like Will Smith, Brad Pitt and Adam Sandler, as well as fantastic documentary selections.
DOWNSIDE: As Netflix became more competitive with their original programming, their selection of shows and movies from other studios has dwindled as they jumped to other streaming sites.
WHO SHOULD SUBSCRIBE: There's something for pretty much everyone here, although movie fans will definitely have to augment with at least one or two other services.
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Amazon Prime
PRICE: $10.99/month or $99 for annual subscription.
BEST FEATURES: Take away the actual streaming service and you still get the advantages of Amazon Prime, i.e. free 2-day shipping for eligible purchases. Besides that, though, you get to stream a huge library of movies and TV series, as well as the ability to purchase films and shows digitally through Amazon Video. Their Emmy-winning lineup of acclaimed series, including The Man in the High Castle, Transparent and Mozart in the Jungle, have amassed a considerable following. Their original movies like Manchester by the Sea, Love & Friendship or The Handmaiden have a more prestige, awards-caliber, upscale quality than the Netflix movies, and have actually played in theaters beforehand.
DOWNSIDE: While Netflix has a habit of keeping most of its series alive for multiple seasons, Amazon has very few shows that made it past Season 1 (ala The Last Tycoon, Good Girls Revolt, or the two-season series Hand of God). So be careful which series you get addicted to, there may not be more coming. Also, the big studio movie selection is similar to Hulu, i.e. a mix of a few new films like The Magnificent Seven or Sicario with a lot of older undesirables.
WHO SHOULD SUBSCRIBE: Much more film-oriented than Netflix or Hulu, so cineastes or anyone who wants to save money on Amazon shipping should definitely shell out for this.
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Hulu
PRICE: $5.99-$11.99/month
BEST FEATURES: A popular repository for network and cable series both old and new, Hulu is definitely very TV-centric. There's also a burgeoning swath of original shows like The Handmaid's Tale and Difficult People emerging, as well as shows like The Mindy Project continuing after being initially cancelled by the networks. There's also acclaimed miniseries like Stephen King's 11.22.63.
DOWNSIDE: Although there are some recent big movies from Paramount (Arrival, Daddy's Home, etc.), the film selection leaves much to be desired, with many of the budget films that used to dwell on Netflix winding up here. Also many of their movies are also available through Amazon Prime. While there are some promising shows on the horizon (Marvel's Runaways, Future Man, Castle Rock, Locke & Key), Hulu is still new to the originals game and hasn't hit their stride yet.
WHO SHOULD SUBSCRIBE: If you're trying to catch up with network shows, this is your best bet, but those coming for original programming may want a "wait-and-see" approach.
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HBO Now
PRICE: $14.99/month, $9.99 for students
BEST FEATURES: The cord cutter's version of HBOGO has all the benefits of HBO (the premium movies, the brilliant series) without the hassle of actually subscribing to the cable channel. You'll get new movies like Split, Fifty Shades Darker and La La Land, while also having access to series like Game of Thrones, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Ballers and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.
DOWNSIDE: With an industry leader like HBO, it's really hard to find a downside, though the price could be a point of contention, especially if you're already subscribing to several other services. Depending on your provider, it may be cheaper simply to opt into a cable package that includes HBO and Cinemax.
WHO SHOULD SUBSCRIBE: People who don't have HBO already.
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Starz
PRICE: $8.99/month
BEST FEATURES: Cheaper than both HBO and Showtime's streaming service, Starz has a cavalcade of popular series like Outlander, Ash vs Evil Dead and American Gods along with classic TV, anime, kids series and even fitness videos.
DOWNSIDE: The movie selection is okay, with a decent combo of new releases like Inferno or Ghostbusters and old favorites, but many of the Disney titles that were a staple of the channel will go bye-bye once Disney launches their new streaming service next year.
WHO SHOULD SUBSCRIBE: Fans of Starz's original series, which have the creative freedom to go much further than the average network show.
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CBS All Access
PRICE: $5.99-$9.99/month
BEST FEATURES: Star Trek: Discovery. That's right, the new critically-acclaimed Star Trek series is the main selling point for CBS's subscription service. Of course you also gain access to new and library content from the network, but c'mon, you're here for the Star Trek.
DOWNSIDE: Beyond Discovery there's not much to recommend the service. The Good Wife spin-off The Good Fight has been renewed, and the comedy series No Activity will drop soon, but we're several years away from CBS having a decent library of exclusive content. This one's a grower.
WHO SHOULD SUBSCRIBE: Star Trek fans.
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Shudder
PRICE: $3.99-$4.99/month, plus a 30% discount for students
BEST FEATURES: First of all, the price for a service devoted entirely to horror is terrific, and the selection toggles tastefully between classics (Frankenstein, Black Sunday, Evil Dead 2), newer films (Grand Piano, Prevenge, 31) and cult oddities (Cathy's Curse, Nekromantik, Cannibal Ferox). There's also guest curators (Kumail Nanjiani, Barbara Crampton) and fun sub-categories like animal horror, eco horror, Sundance films, etc.
DOWNSIDE: Those seeking newer mainstream horror films may still have to get their fix somewhere else. While the cult titles are very well curated, they may skew too weird or esoteric for some. As with any service that deals in ephemeral B-movies, some of the prints of older fare are not the best.
WHO SHOULD SUBSCRIBE: Full-on horror fans, not weekend warriors.
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FilmStruck
PRICE: $6.99-$10.99/month
BEST FEATURES: This is the exclusive streaming home to The Criterion Collection, the world's most prestigious collection of new, classic and foreign cinema. Moreover, the movies are exquisitely curated by director, subject (Punk, Toshiro Mifune samurai films, etc) and genre.
DOWNSIDE: The interface can be very frustrating, especially if you're watching from a computer. It also should be noted that while it does have many Criterion titles to choose from, it's certainly not EVERY Criterion release by a longshot, with more an emphasis on the older foreign films.
WHO SHOULD SUBSCRIBE: Classic movie buffs and cineastes of all varieties will find a bounty of great films to watch, and it may save you hundreds of dollars in purchasing expensive Criterion Blu-rays!
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Acorn TV/Britbox
PRICE: Britbox - $6.99/month, Acorn TV - $4.99/month
BEST FEATURES: BritBox is the BBC and ITV streaming service which serves as the exclusive American streaming home for Classic Doctor Who. You'll also find classic Britcoms like Absolutely Fabulous and The Office alongside great mystery programs like Father Brown, Poirot and the timeless Jeremy Brett-era Sherlock Holmes. Acorn TV is RLJ entertainment's streaming service that provides shows from the United Kingdom, as well as Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. They have exclusive American streaming rights to hit shows like Doc Martin, Foyle's War and Loch Ness, as well as an abundance of great documentary content and, best of all, a low price.
DOWNSIDE: BritBox is more for classic British TV fans than those looking for American premieres. Likewise, Acorn has less to offer classic TV fans while providing plenty of newer shows. Each has a little of both, though.
WHO SHOULD SUBSCRIBE: Fans of British TV would do well to shell out for both of these services, but if you have to choose one choose it based on content.
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Funimation Now/Crunchyroll
PRICE: Crunchyroll Premium - $6.95/month or $59.95 for annual subscription, Funimation Now - $4.95-$7.95/month or $59.95 for annual subscription
BEST FEATURES: In the battle of the Anime streaming services is complicated, since a deal between Funimation and Crunchyroll means there's lots of crossover of shows. Crunchyroll takes the advantage for more current shows such as One Piece, Dragon Ball Super and Naruto Shippuden. Funimation has a bigger lineup of dubbed classic shows like Fullmetal Alchemist, Cowboy Bebop, Dragon Ball Z. Both are also ad-free.
DOWNSIDE: Funimation can be slightly more expensive for monthly subscribers, unless you want dubs only, in which case it's cheaper. Crunchyroll has more to offer those trying to keep current and less for nostalgia-prone fans.
WHO SHOULD SUBSCRIBE: Depending on what kind of anime fan you are they're both a great bargain.
