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Is Netflix still worth it?
The streaming giant once again raised subscription prices, ranging from $8-25 a month.
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On a recent Tuesday night, my phone began buzzing with activity. The reason? Someone had gained access to my family’s Netflix account.
Looking through the viewing history of our various profiles, it was clear that the breach occurred a few weeks earlier. That’s when our kid-free, English-speaking households apparently became obsessed with watching Spanish-language soap operas and “CoComelon” at all hours of the day.
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Once we got over the initial shock and changed the account password, a closer examination of our viewing histories showed just how infrequently some members of my family — the ones who don’t write about streaming entertainment for a living, anyway — were using Netflix.
With the recent news that the streaming giant once again raised subscription prices (ranging from $8-25 a month), we asked the same question that many Boston.com readers have asked before:
Is Netflix even worth it anymore?
The answer, in my opinion, is a tepid yes – for three reasons.
1. It has (almost) everything.
Netflix has spent hundreds of billions of dollars to build out the most complete library of content to suit any tastes. When you come home from work after a long day and want to turn your brain off, it may not have the exact show you want, but it almost certainly has something that appeals to you.
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2. It has the most subscribers.
Watching a movie or show isn’t just about watching something “good.” It’s also a means of social connection, whether you’re hosting a “Love is Blind” watch party or talking about “Squid Game” with your coworker. With 302 million worldwide subscribers, chances are the person you’re gossiping with subscribes to Netflix.
3. It’s easy to use.
Because Netflix has been doing this streaming thing for a long time, its recommendation algorithm is second to none, and its design is the most intuitive of any service. That’s a great recipe for subscriber retention.
If you’re dead-set on canceling Netflix, however, here are a few alternatives:
Want to choose from a large selection of movies? Try Prime Video.
Netflix rose to prominence as a Blockbuster-killer that let you watch almost any movie at home. But right now, if you wanted to watch an English-language movie made before 1980 on Netflix, your choices would number in the single digits. Because Netflix now spends more on original content than licensing, more than 90% of its titles were produced in the last decade.
Compare that with Prime Video, which has more than 20,000 movies in its library, including more than 2,000 made before 1980. It’s included with a $15 monthly Amazon Prime subscription, but is also available as a $9 monthly standalone.
Want the most buzz-worthy shows? Try Max or Hulu. (Or bundle them!)
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Despite the asinine branding decision to remove HBO from the name of HBO Max, HBO (and thus Max) remains the leader in shows that are both high quality and highly entertaining. In the next few months, we’ll see a new season of “The White Lotus,” “The Last of Us,” and “The Righteous Gemstones,” to name a few.
Hulu has been neck and neck with HBO in terms of recent Emmys as well, thanks to the likes of “Shogun,” “The Bear,” and “Only Murders in the Building.” Bundling Max, Hulu, and Disney+ costs $16.99 a month with ads or $29.99 without.
Want the most content for no money? Try Tubi.
With more than 50,000 movies and shows, the single-largest streaming library by far belongs to Tubi, the free, ad-supported television (FAST) streaming service owned by FOX.
A lot of the movies and shows on Tubi are low-budget trash, which can be entertaining in its own right. But if you’re searching for quality, Tubi’s algorithm learns quickly and feeds you Oscar winners like “Fargo” and “The Pianist” or classic TV shows like “Columbo” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”
Play or Skip
Press play on these movies and shows:
- “Paradise”: I love shows that upend viewer expectations after a single episode. The plot of “Paradise” — a Secret Service agent finds the President of the United States dead, and becomes the primary suspect in his death — is juicy enough on its own. But an early twist completely changes the game. (Hulu)
- “Groundhog Day”: Even if you missed the back-to-back-to-back-to-back airings on AMC on February 2, every day in early February feels like Groundhog Day. (Prime Video)
- “Invincible” Season 3: While Marvel finds its footing, the best superhero stories are on Prime Video, between “The Boys” and “Invincible,” about the son (Steven Yuen) of the world’s most powerful superhero (J.K. Simmons) (Prime Video)
But go ahead and skip these:
- “Blink Twice”: Zoe Kravitz tries to stage her own “Get Out,” but on a Jeffrey Epstein-esque sex slave island (with Channing Tatum playing the lecherous billionaire) instead of suburbia. Boring, repetitive, misanthropic, and vacuous. (Prime Video)
- “The Hunting Party”: A cool idea for a show – a group of serial killers escape prison, and a new one is hunted down each episode – that is horribly executed on every level. (Peacock)
End Credits
That’s a wrap on this edition of The Queue. If you’re a fan, please consider recommending this newsletter to your friends.
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Until next time, good stream hunting, everyone!
— Kevin
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