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Disney Plus Grows to 137.7M Members After Netflix's Subscriber Skid
Disney Plus Grows to 137.7M Members After Netflix's Subscriber Skid
Disney Plus grew to 137.7 million subscribers as of April 2, Disney said Wednesday. That's a 33% increase from a year earlier, but more importantly it shows Disney Plus subscriber growth held up relatively well in its latest quarter -- climbing by 7.9 million from the previous three months -- soon after world leader Netflix shocked Hollywood with its first membership decline in a decade.
Netflix, the biggest subscription video service globally, has amassed 221 million subscribers, but last month it reported that its subscriber ranks shrank by 200,000 accounts in the first three months of this year -- the company's first overall decline in membership since the days when DVDs-by-mail were still a meaningful part of its business. Netflix's decline, and its expectation to lose even more members before the middle of the year, has buffeted Hollywood's confidence in streaming as the path to a sustainable future.
Disney Plus' latest net increase of 7.9 million subscribers in the latest period is more sedate than the 11.7 million jump in the previous one, but it's still stronger than the 2.1 million additions in the quarter before that. Disney also noted that Hulu subscribers grew to 45.6 million and that ESPN Plus membership rose to 22.3 million.
Up until last month, Netflix's years of unflagging growth pushed nearly all of Hollywood's major media companies to pour billions of dollars into their own streaming operations. These so-called streaming wars brought about a wave of new services, including Apple TV Plus, HBO Max, Peacock, Paramount Plus and, of course, Disney Plus.
This headlong dive into streaming has profound implications for the future of Hollywood, but it has complicated how many services people must use -- and pay for -- to watch their favorite shows and movies online.
Early on, Disney Plus proved to be the standout success of the so-called streaming wars. Disney Plus' growth has outstripped that of all the new competitors, with one media analyst calling Disney Plus "one of the greatest product launches of all time."
Disney has forecast that Disney Plus will have between 230 million and 260 million global subscribers by the time the service is five years old, in late 2024.
Not all Disney Plus subscribers are created equal. In Europe and India, Disney Plus is bundled as part of a broader streaming offering. And in countries like India, the price of a subscription is a fraction of what it costs in other markets of the world.
Correction, 2:58 p.m. PT: The original version of this story reported an incorrect percentage increase in Disney Plus' subscribers from a year earlier. The increase was 33%.
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Streaming Services to Cancel or Keep in September 2022
Streaming Services to Cancel or Keep in September 2022
September ushers in fall premiere season for traditional and cable networks, bringing new episodes of primetime TV shows and sports back to the screen. Whether you're a cord-cutter or not, it's likely your streaming plate will get a little fuller. Between The Rings of Power on Prime Video, House of the Dragon on HBO Max and Hulu's lineup of network premieres it's a busy time, making the "keep" section of this month's list heftier.
Starting Sept. 19, Peacock will have new episodes of NBC and Bravo shows exclusively on its platform the day after their network debuts. Series such as Law & Order will no longer stream on Hulu, but Hulu has new content arriving from Fox, ABC and other networks. With that in mind, both services may be keepers for you in September -- or not.
Each month I give advice on which streaming services to cancel and which ones to keep, based on their new releases and current lineup. You may be thinking about canceling a few streaming subscriptions to cut costs, and I'd like to offer my strategy: Churn like ice cream.
This means you subscribe for a period, cancel, choose a different service and later resubscribe, putting your favorites in a rotation. Feel free to pick one or two must-haves for the year and treat other streaming platforms like seasonal add-ons. The upside is that you can save money when Netflix, Disney Plus, HBO Max and others don't have the content you want to watch at a given time. Just remember to shut off auto-renewal for your monthly subscriptions. Rotating may not be an option if you're sharing your accounts with people outside your household, but if you can work out a system with your streaming clique, go for it.
Here are my recommendations for which streamers to keep or drop for September, primarily based on new TV shows and movies arriving on each platform. This time, there's a little bit of live sports thrown in the mix because it's football season. Of course your tastes may be different, but if nothing else, I urge you to at least consider the concept of rotating for savings. It's easier than you might think.
Streaming Service Rotation for September 2022
Keep
Cancel
Prime Video
X
Hulu
X
Netflix
X
Apple TV Plus
X
Disney Plus
X
Paramount Plus
X
HBO Max
X
Peacock
X
Starz
X
You should probably keep these subscriptions in September
Prime Video: Don't miss The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power on Sept. 1 and its two-episode premiere. Season 1 has eight episodes total that will air into October. Sports fans can catch the NFL's Thursday Night Football beginning Sept. 15.
Netflix: The biggest drops this month are Cobra Kai season 5 on Sept. 9, anime Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (Sept. 13) and Blonde, the fictionalized story based on Marilyn Monroe's life. Debuting on Sept. 28, Blonde is Netflix's first NC-17 original movie. Other releases include the Ivy + Bean movie trilogy (Sept. 2), a K-Drama version of Little Women (Sept. 3), The Anthrax Attacks: In The Shadow of 9/11 (Sept. 8), Queen Latifah's End of the Road movie (Sept. 9), Do Revenge starring Maya Hawke and Camila Mendes (Sept. 16) and Fate: The Winx Saga season 2 (Sept. 16).
Hulu: The Handmaid's Tale returns with season 5 on Sept. 14 and The Kardashians are back on Sept. 22. If you watch Hulu for its network shows that air the next day, look out for new seasons of Atlanta (Sept. 16), 9-1-1 (Sept. 20), The Cleaning Lady (Sept. 20) and The Resident (Sept. 21). On Sept. 22, Hulu drops premieres for Abbott Elementary season 2, The Conners season 5, The Goldbergs season 10 and The Masked Singer season 8. You can also stream new episodes of The Simpsons, Bob's Burgers, Shark Tank and Bachelor in Paradise later this month.
Is June worth your Hulu subscription when The Handmaid's Tale drops season 5?
Hulu
HBO Max: House of the Dragon and Harley Quinn are still going strong. Additionally, The Nevers season 1 part 2 (Sept. 16) and the Elvis movie (Sept. 2) arrive in September. Wondering where The Vampire Diaries landed after leaving Netflix? Find the Salvatores here starting on Sept. 4. And if you're a fan of Chip and Joanna Gaines' Magnolia content from Discovery, 25 titles touch down on HBO Max this month.
Disney Plus: I only recommend keeping this service this month if you're a Marvel or Star Wars fan, or a parent with young kids. Disney Plus moved its new Andor show from Aug. 31 to Sept. 21 with a three-episode premiere. The show has 12 episodes that air into November, so if you want to wait a few months and binge, go for it. She-Hulk is still spinning, but new Disney Plus Day releases include Pinocchio (with Tom Hanks), Thor: Love and Thunder and the new Cars on the Road series, which all drop on Sept. 8. Dancing With the Stars season 31 debuts on Sept. 19 and Hocus Pocus 2 starts streaming on Sept. 30.
Peacock: Sunday Night Football starts with a kickoff game on Sept. 8 then switches to Sundays beginning Sept. 11. With NBC shows rolling in this month with next-day streaming, you can upgrade to a Premium account to see full episodes and seasons on Peacock. New subscribers can sign up in September for only $2. You can also catch the Vampire Academy TV series (from Julie Plec, showrunner behind Vampire Diaries and The Originals), Bravo's Real Girlfriends of Paris (debuts Sept. 6 with weekly releases), Days of Our Lives (Sept. 20) and NBC's lineup. Of course, you can also hold off on a Peacock subscription and binge what you want in October or November.
Starz: Stream the debut of The Serpent Queen on Sept. 11, which features Samantha Morton as French monarch Catherine de Medici. Raising Kanan will continue to air through September. You can either keep Starz or binge everything at the end of October, but there's a deal for $5 per month for three months available right now.
Read more: Best Streaming Service of 2022: Netflix, HBO Max, Disney Plus and More
Cancel at least two services in September
Apple TV Plus: While the service produces high-quality content and a nice lineup for kids, there isn't much must-see content here for September. Releases include Hillary Clinton's Gutsy (Sept. 9) which features guests like the Little Rock Nine, Megan Thee Stallion and Jane Goodall, Central Park season 3 (Sept. 9) and The Greatest Beer Run Ever with Zac Efron Russell Crowe (Sept. 30).
Paramount Plus: Nothing hot on Paramount Plus this month. But you can stream new episodes of reality shows like Big Brother or Ink Master, or catch the season 6 premiere of The Good Wife.
Honestly, Disney Plus and Peacock could have dual membership in the keep and cancel columns this month, especially if you're not a football fan or don't mind waiting to binge-watch certain series. And there's nothing wrong with watching Hocus Pocus 2 in October. It's your choice.
Sorry, there's still no reason to cancel Netflix when releases like Cobra Kai are arriving this month.
Netflix
Save money by holding off a few weeks
If you're not someone who routinely gets FOMO, then a smart method is to wait until the bulk or all episodes of your favorite series land on a platform. That way, rather than pay for a service for several months to cover the 6- to 10-week run of a show, you can catch up on everything by subscribing for one month. And then repeat the cycle again.
As an example, there are 12 episodes of Andor coming to Disney Plus. The finale airs in November, so all episodes will be available to stream at that time. Though it premieres on Sept. 21 and continues through the fall, why pay for three months of Disney Plus when you can wait to watch it in full anytime in November? If this is the only series you want to watch during this period, it makes sense to be patient to save money.
Cassian Andor broods in upcoming Star Wars series Andor, which airs on Disney Plus into November.
Lucasfilm
How much do you pay each month for your streaming services? Netflix is $10 to $20, Disney Plus is anywhere from $3 to $8 depending on bundles, HBO Max costs $10-$15, Hulu starts at $7 and Starz runs $9. The others have a base rate of $5 per month. Should you decide to churn, set a calendar reminder to ping you when it's time to re-subscribe or cancel. We'll see you in October for another streaming breakdown.
5 Streaming Services You Can Cancel in August, FOMO-Free
5 Streaming Services You Can Cancel in August, FOMO-Free
This year marked the return of the summer blockbuster to movie theaters, luring people back to the big screen in droves. But streaming services can claim some victories this season, too. Netflix had Stranger Things 4 in July, Disney Plus had Obi-Wan Kenobi in June. And while both platforms have more to offer in the coming weeks, August is the time for HBO Max to soar. Why? Four words: House of the Dragon, the Game of Thrones prequel that's one of the most-anticipated shows of the year.
Every month I give advice on which streaming services to cancel and which ones to keep, based on their new releases and current content mix. That's because, in these difficult financial times, you may be thinking about canceling a few streaming service subscriptions. I'd like to offer my strategy: Churn like ice cream.
What does that mean? Subscribe for a period, cancel, choose a different service, then resubscribe, keeping your favorites in a rotation. Feel free to pick one or two must-haves for the year and treat additional streaming providers like seasonal add-ons. The upside is that you get to save money when Netflix, Disney Plus, HBO Max and others don't have the content you want to watch at a given time. Just remember to shut off auto-renewal for your monthly subscriptions. Churning may not be an option if you're sharing your accounts with people outside your household, but if you can work out an arrangement with your streaming clique, go for it.
Here are my recommendations for which streamers to keep or cancel for the month of August, based on new TV shows and movies (I didn't consider sports and live TV streaming services) arriving on each platform. Of course your tastes may be different, but if nothing else, I urge you to at least consider the concept of churning for savings. It's easier than you might think.
Read more: Stop Missing Out On New Episodes of Your Favorite Shows With These Apps
Streaming Service Rotation for August 2022
Keep
Cancel
HBO Max
X
Hulu
X
Netflix
X
Apple TV Plus
X
Disney Plus
X
Prime Video
X (for non-Prime members)
Starz
X
Peacock
X
Paramount Plus
X
Keep the streaming going on these services in August
HBO Max: HBO Max holds the crown in more ways than one this month. As Westworld Season 4 ends on Aug. 14, the Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon, ignites the Targaryen family saga on Aug. 21. You can spend some of your time streaming GoT (which, like House of the Dragon, will be available in 4K this month), bypassing those episodes or seasons you don't want to re-watch. In addition to a ton of movies arriving on Max in August, The Princess, a new documentary about Princess Diana, debuts on Aug. 13. And remember: Harley Quinn season 3 is airing through August and into September.
Netflix: One of the hottest releases on Netflix this month is season 1 of The Sandman, the adaptation of Neil Gaiman's popular graphic novel series (Aug. 5). There's also Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie (Aug. 5), Riverdale season 6 (Aug. 7), the final season of Locke & Key (Aug. 10), Never Have I Ever season 3 (Aug. 12), Day Shift starring Jamie Foxx as a vampire hunter (Aug. 12), and the anime movie Full Metal Alchemist: The Revenge Scar (Aug. 20). And Kevin Hart and Mark Wahlberg team up in the comedy film, Me Time, which lands on Aug. 26.
Disney Plus: This service will be a must-have for many of you who have children, especially with Bluey season 3 arriving on Aug. 10, and Lightyear making its streaming debut on Aug. 3. She-Hulk comes out on Aug. 18 (after a date change) with nine episodes that run into mid-October. Appearances from MCU heroes Wong and Daredevil may entice you to tune in now versus waiting to binge in October, but it's up to you. On Aug. 10, I Am Groot arrives with five shorts. For Star Wars fans, Andor drops its two-episode premiere on Aug. 31, but you may as well watch in September or later. The show has 12 episodes for season 1.
Catch Tatiana Maslany as Jennifer "Jen" Walters/She-Hulk in Marvel's She-Hulk: Attorney at Law on Disney+.
Marvel Studios
Starz: P-Valley ends season 2 on Aug. 14, so if you want to cancel after that, go for it. The biggest new Starz arrival is Power Book III: Raising Kanan Season 2, produced by 50 Cent, and if you're prone to FOMO about missing the premiere on Aug. 14, keep it. The show's 10 episodes will air into October, however, so the better value is to wait it out or pay for three months of Starz to watch it weekly -- if you can find a deal. Starz is $9 per month after their $3 promo ended.
Rotate these streamers out for August
Hulu: Generally a keeper if you like network shows, Hulu typically gets at least one original each month. For August, Reservation Dogs' 10-episode second season debuts on Aug. 3, and the Predator prequel Prey arrives on Aug. 5. If you've been keeping up with Only Murders in the Building, season 2's finale airs on Aug. 23. The Mike Tyson miniseries, Mike, premieres on Aug. 25. If none of these float your boat or if you prefer to catch up on everything after all episodes are available, pause Hulu this month.
The Predator prequel movie Prey may or may not be a reason for you to keep your Hulu subscription this month.
20th Century Studios
Prime Video: If you have a standalone Prime Video subscription, you can cancel it this month unless you want to see the A League of Their Own reboot series (Aug. 12) or Ron Howard's Thirteen Lives movie (Aug. 5) about the Thai soccer team cave rescue. Those of us who have the streaming service included with our Prime membership may want to stream the titles above or Sylvester Stallone's Samaritan (Aug. 26). Hip-hop fans interested in a behind-the-scenes look at Lil Baby can watch the documentary Untrapped: The Story of Lil Baby when it drops on Aug. 26 or wait until September to stream.
Apple TV Plus: Not much going on with Apple TV Plus. The streamer will drop its animated feature Luck on Aug. 5 and season 3 of See arrives on Aug. 26. Last month, we suggested waiting until August to binge every episode of For All Mankind. If you're a fan, season 3 wraps on Aug. 12.
Peacock: While Tour de France and Love Island USA are currently streaming on Peacock, They/Them (Aug. 5) is the only new noteworthy release. The horror film stars Kevin Bacon as a preacher who runs a gay conversion therapy camp. If you're not interested in these titles or new reality TV episodes, cancel or switch to a free account for August.Things should pick up for Peacock by the fall, however.
Paramount Plus: If Big Brother and the new Beavis and Butt-Head TV series (Aug. 4) aren't beckoning you to the service, then you can put Paramount Plus on ice for now. For Evil fans who've been putting off your subscription until all season 3 episodes become available, you can sign up in mid-August to stream the entire season.
Save more money by waiting things out
If you're not someone who routinely gets FOMO, then a smart method is to wait until the bulk or all episodes of your favorite series land on a platform. That way, rather than pay for a service for two or three months to cover the 6- to 10-week run of a show, you can catch up on everything by subscribing for one month. And then repeat the cycle again.
As an example, there are 12 episodes of Andor coming to Disney Plus. The finale airs in November, so all episodes of the show will be available to stream at that time. Though it premieres on Aug. 31 and continues throughout the fall, why pay for four months of Disney Plus when you can wait to watch it in full anytime in November? If this is the only series you want to watch during this period, it makes sense to be patient in the interest of saving money.
Think about how much you're paying per month for each streaming service you have, and do the math. Netflix is $10 to $20, Disney Plus is anywhere from $3 to $8 depending on bundles, HBO Max costs $10 or $15, Hulu starts at $7 and Starz runs $9. The others have a base rate of $5 per month. Should you decide to churn, set yourself a calendar reminder to ping you when it's time to re-subscribe or cancel. We'll see you in September for another streaming breakdown.
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The best Halloween movies to stream on Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus and more
The best Halloween movies to stream on Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus and more
Halloween movies are a thrilling watch year-round, but there's no better time to enjoy them than when chillier temperatures settle in. Especially this year, with the COVID-19 pandemic changing the way we partake in classic Halloween activities like trick-or-treating, you might need something to transport you to fictional places where the horrifying stuff isn't actually real. (We all cope differently, right?)
Here are our top picks for the scariest, creepiest and sometimes silliest films to stream or watch on demand on platforms including Hulu, Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, HBO Max and others. We've noted which of these films require higher-tier streaming subscriptions like Hulu Plus Live TV, or a Showtime or Cinemax add-on.
Read more: 15 of the best movies to see on Amazon Prime Video
Disney
Hulu started life as a joint venture between ABC, NBC and Fox. Since Disney (ABC's parent) absorbed most of the Fox Entertainment properties, however, it's been buying out its remaining partners and converting Hulu to more of a Disney Plus for adults. As such, you can watch the movies below with their full, R-rated gore intact. The baseline subscription includes commercials, and you can also bundle this with Disney's other online properties, Disney Plus and ESPN Plus.
(Available on Hulu Plus Live TV. Also available on Peacock.) We always appreciate a well-done horror comedy! You can catch the sequel, Zombieland Double Tap, on Starz.
(Also available on Tubi.) Something about murderous children in a cornfield just feels autumnal.
It's a Swedish film about a little girl vampire. Are we selling it? It's fantastic, trust us.
(Also available on Tubi.) We don't particularly get this franchise, but Hellraiser viewing parties are a pretty common Halloween activity. You do you.
Quite frankly, this adaptation isn't the greatest, but then again neither was the first one. Still it definitely has some chilling moments.
(Available with Showtime add-on.) The first Paranormal Activity was pretty unnerving. It might be worth a revisit this Halloween.
(Available on Hulu Plus Live TV starting Oct. 7.) We refuse to fact-check this, but Get Out is possibly the only Oscar winner on this list. That's inaccurate. Ruth Gordon won an Oscar for Rosemary's Baby. And The Silence of the Lambs won like 5 Academy Awards too. Are you happy? Get Out is fantastic though.
Get Out
Universal Pictures
Our 8-year-old selves still believe deep down this is the greatest Halloween movie ever made. Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, please, please return to making films.
This Korean creature feature is easily one of the best films on this list.
As far as haunted house movies go, this one is better than The Amityville Horror, but not quite as good as The Conjuring.
(Available on Hulu Plus Live TV starting Oct. 8.) Once again we learn abstinence is the only way to prevent slow-moving nightmare monsters from trying to kill you. What a helpful PSA!
(Available on Hulu Plus Live TV.) This is the part where you stop reading the article and immediately go put on Ghostbusters. Don't worry, this article isn't going anywhere. We'll wait.
(Available on Hulu Plus Live TV.) Rebecca's mom really loves the Madea movies. And who are we to deny you options?
(Available on Hulu Plus Live TV.) On the one hand, it's a pretty good remake. On the other hand, Zack Snyder directed it. Your call.
(Available with Cinemax add-on.) Don't you want to finally understand what a "Jacob's Ladder scenario" actually is?
Ever since Dead Snow came out, we are always 100% down for any movie with Nazi zombies.
(Available on Hulu plus Live TV. Also available on Spectrum.) It's possible Rebecca has seen this film more than any other film on this list. Don't judge!
Saw (2004)
(Available on Hulu with Cinemax add-on.) If you plan on watching Saw, we also recommend checking out our interview with screenwriter Leigh Whannell. He tells us about his 5-year-old's bedtime story demands and let's just say, twisted storytelling definitely runs in the family.
Netflix hardly needs an introduction, but the biggest streaming service out there remains a mixture of TV shows and movies, including content licensed from other studios and a growing stable of originals.
We probably didn't need a family-friendly version of The Omen, but we enjoyed it nevertheless.
If you've come to this list looking for the scariest horror films, watch this one. Maybe with the lights on.
Anjelica Huston is majestic in this Roald Dahl adaptation.
Even if you're not into super dark films, the storyline in this Guillermo del Toro masterpiece will be enough to win you over.
One of our favorites and Zelda Rubinstein's performance is really just the cherry on top.
This is probably the most under-the-radar film on this list, but it's absolutely worth your time.
Certain horror fans find themselves disappointed when the "big bad" turns out to be metaphorical. Don't worry, this one has a satisfying "actual monster" payoff.
This movie is carried by Mark Duplass and his amazingly sinister face. A delightfully creepy watch.
(Also available on Spectrum.) Ghost movies are great for Halloween, right?
Universal Pictures
Already subscribe to HBO? You can probably get HBO Max at no extra charge. Think of it as (wait for it) "HBO Plus" -- everything on HBO, plus a bunch of additional back catalog and exclusives from Warner's catalog, as well as some nice licensed exclusives like Doctor Who and the Studio Ghibli library.
Shark movie!!! Sorry, didn't mean to get that excited. But we did see The Meg on opening weekend. Are you a "shark movie" person? No better time to find out!
Possibly the last time we found the ending to a horror film surprising.
I (Rebecca) thought this movie was really scary when I was 13. It might still be scary. There's really no way of knowing these things.
We all know the saying, "In space, no one can hear you scream," but your neighbors will definitely be able to hear you scream while watching this on your couch.
It's pretty rare with a horror masterpiece to stumble upon a masterpiece of a sequel, especially with a different director. Thanks, James Cameron!
John Landis doesn't get enough credit for being able to blend horror and comedy.
While The Shining is probably the favorite horror film of many and may not have needed a sequel, it's one of the better Stephen King adaptations in recent years.
A very enjoyable example of a dark comedy and horror mashup.
Disney
You know ... for kids! It's probably not the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of "horror," as nothing here eclipses PG-13 scares. But it also has the full libraries for everything from Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar and The Simpsons, to name just a few of the big content silos you'll find here. As with Hulu, you can subscribe to this solo, or as a Disney/Hulu/ESPN bundle.
A cult classic you can finally stream.
(Also available on Hulu Plus Live TV.) It's really a Christmas movie, but also you should be watching it year-round.
This vibrant, touching film brings Day of the Dead to life in the most beautiful way.
Maybe it's the nostalgia talking, but this is simply a Disney classic.
Feel-good and Halloween don't always go hand in hand, but this nostalgic Halloween classic always warms our witchy little hearts.
As if trusting her new beau wasn't hard enough already.
Warner Bros. Pictures
Peacock is NBCUniversal's recently launched streaming app that includes several free movies and TV shows. Paying customers can unlock the platform's full library of content, and can also pay a little more to go ad-free.
You should really watch/rewatch them all, but the third film does have the most Halloween-y vibe.
You can't get more classic than Frankenstein!
We love a good dystopian film.
Another for the classics fans.
Screenshot by Abrar Al-Heeti/CNET
This ad-supported network offers a range of free TV shows and movies. It's available on devices including Roku and Amazon Fire TV, as well as on Android and iOS. You won't need an account to watch content, but creating one enables you to save favorites and resume playback when switching between devices.
Is it really Halloween if you haven't watched a creepy Tim Burton film?
A cannibal villain is as horrifying as it gets.
Not exactly sure if a flick about a viral outbreak is something you want to watch right now, but if it is, you're in luck.
MGM
Existing Showtime cable subscribers can access all of its content on the Showtime Anytime app on most major app platforms. But you can also get it as a straight streaming app for a monthly fee. (Disclosure: Showtime and CNET are owned by the same parent company, ViacomCBS.)
(Also available on Netflix.) This is one of our favorite films to watch on Halloween. Hannibal Lecter is a magnificent villain.
If you don't barf while watching the shaking cameras, it's a pretty good creature feature.
This would pair well with The Omen for a Halloween double feature.
We're going to throw this out there: More films should be set in the 1600s. Provided they're as good as The Witch.
Focus Features
Like Showtime, this premium cable movie service is also available "over the top" as a direct streaming option on most app store platforms.
This is the quite possibly the most perfect Halloween movie on this list. Demon spawn! (If you're interested, you can also find the 2006 version on Hulu.)
Not big on horror? No worries, you can check out one of the greatest comedies ever made instead.
Is it just us or does anyone else find Edward Scissorhands incredibly soothing to watch?
Jeff Goldblum in a creature feature is all we're really looking for in a Halloween film.
Watch this after you finish watching The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Video screenshot by Bonnie Burton/CNET
Epix is another pay cable channel that's expanded its horizons to the digital realm. Get it with your cable or satellite subscription, or as a digital streaming option instead.
We're almost positive people have written dissertations on the influence of this film on the horror genre. So, we dunno, maybe check out?
Definitely worth it for Vincent Price.
(Also available on Hulu.) Creature features often don't get enough love in the horror genre. But this one was our jam!
Warner Bros. Pictures
Prime Video is thrown in "for free" for anyone subscribing to Amazon's membership program, which otherwise guarantees delivery of a wide array of products in two days or less at no additional charge. It's got a ton of movies and TV shows from third-party studios, and a growing list of Amazon exclusives, too. Note, however, that only the first few selections are available via Prime; the rest are available as 48-hour rentals at a pay-per-view cost.
This movie will freak me out always and forever!
Chris Sarandon as a vampire? Sold!
(Available to rent.) This Michael J. Fox classic about a teen werewolf will have you howling for more! I promise that's the last pun in this article.
(Available to rent.) It's a Halloween movie list, so I'm obligated to include Pumpkinhead.
(Available to rent.) One of the few films on this list that is also a cinematic masterpiece.
(Available to rent. It's also available on Hulu Plus Live TV.) I know the found footage gimmick is tired, but do you actually remember how scary this movie was? An entire generation couldn't go camping for like a decade after it came out.
(Available to rent.) This film was so scary that I still can't bring myself to watch any of the sequels or prequels! But if you are interested in watching The Conjuring 2, it's available on HBO Max.
(Available to rent.) I went as the Bride for Halloween one year. This isn't relevant to my recommendation, but I'm trying to sell you on a film from 1935.
(Available to rent.) Carrie is so good! Sissy Spacek just has a special place in my heart. It isn't at all related to Halloween, but you should also check out Coal Miner's Daughter.
(Available to rent.) This is the American remake of Let the Right One In. And it's pretty well done for US market cash grab.
It (2017)
(Available to rent. Also on Hulu plus Live TV.) This film is alway a thrill. The sequel is also available on HBO Max.
(Available to rent.) Frankly, I could use more sci-fi horror films. And more Vin Diesel.
(Available for rent.) For all the gore lovers.
(Available to rent, though the 1972 version is included with a Prime membership and is also on Hulu.) I'll say this about the remake: it's probably more suspenseful than the original. But the original left me feeling emotionally violated, and that's a special kind of horror that's hard to replicate. Still the remake is worth a watch.
(Available to rent.) Down with the yuppies! Honestly this is one of my all-time favorite films.
(Available to rent.) As a child I was only afraid of two things: Chucky and spiders. I am still terrified of both. But hey, now I'm also afraid of heights!
(Available with a Prime Video Channels subscription. Also available on Tubi.) It's Wes Craven so I'm not even going to bother trying to convince you. Just watch it.
Raw (2016)
(Available to rent.) Watch only if you have a strong stomach!
(Available to rent.) OK, here's our pitch: Jessica Walter and Clint Eastwood. Are you sold?
(Available to rent.) Not to be confused with the Brooke Shields film The Blue Lagoon. This one is about a lagoon monster.
(Available to rent.) You'll never want to fly again.
(Available to rent.) This is possibly one of the worst films ever made, but it stars Gerard Butler as Dracula. So you should probably watch it anyway.
(Available to rent.) Nearly half the movies in our roundup were in some way inspired by this classic slasher film. An absolute Halloween classic.
When you think of streaming TV shows and movies, there's a good chance that Netflix is comes to mind first. Though competition from rivals like HBO Max and Disney Plus is fierce, it's still the best choice for streaming entertainment, period.
Netflix includes a wide variety of familiar network shows and more original series, films, documentaries and specials than any of its myriad competitors. Despite challenges with retaining subscribers and a price bump, the world's first major streaming service remains our favorite choice thanks to its huge library of constantly refreshed content and its easy accessibility across different devices. In 2021, Netflix won 44 Emmys, making history and racking up more than the next two media companies combined. If you're looking for something new to watch, Netflix should be your top choice.
Like
Strong recommendation engine
Easy to use across different devices
Offline downloads available
Extensive list of movies and shows
Massive selection of original programs
No commercials
Don't Like
Cost for premium plans is on the higher end
Can't watch shows as they air on other networks
Depending on the plan you choose, Netflix costs between $10 and $20 per month, which is at the higher end for a streaming service, as you can see in the chart below. Its recent price increase shook up the streaming world and moved Netflix closer to HBO Max in terms of cost. However, the pricier package lets you watch up to four screens at once, and create different user profiles, so in theory, you could split it among friends to lower the price. Thanks to its sheer variety and number of new things to watch, Netflix also gives you the most bang for your buck.
Streaming Services Compared
Netflix
Peacock
HBO Max
Disney Plus
Apple TV Plus
Amazon Prime Video
Hulu
Monthly price
Starts at $9.99
Basic free with ads, ad-free for $5
$9.99 for basic with ads, $14.99 for ad-free
$7.99
$4.99
$8.99 (or included with $140/year Prime membership)
Basic $6.99 with ads, ad-free Premium for $12.99, Live TV for $70
The Office, 30 Rock, Bel-Air, early access to Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon
Game of Thrones, Dune, Euphoria, DC titles
The Mandalorian, Loki, Encanto, Obi-Wan Kenobi
Ted Lasso, The Morning Show, CODA, Severance
Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Boys, Reacher, The Wheel of Time
Handmaid's Tale, Pen15, The Great, Bob's Burgers
Mobile downloads
Yes
Yes (Premium Plus plan)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
4K HDR available
Yes (on Premium plan)
No
Yes (limited titles)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Number of streams:
1 (2 for Standard, 4 on Premium)
3
3
4
6
2
2 (Unlimited with Live TV $9.99 add-on)
How Netflix started vs. how it's going
Between 2012-2013, Netflix premiered its first original TV shows, including Lilyhammer, House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black. Today, it has a catalog of more than 1,500 original TV shows and movies, including global hits like Stranger Things, Emmy winners such as Bridgerton, The Queen's Gambit and The Crown, as well as Oscar-nominated movies such as The Power of the Dog, Tick, Tick… Boom! and The Trial of the Chicago 7.
Though the company's been known for its commercial-free streaming experience since its inception, there are plans to introduce an ad-supported tier before 2022 ends. Additionally, Netflix aims to crackdown on password sharing by charging a fee for extra users on an account. The program is still in the pilot phase, but the days of crowdfunding your Netflix subscription may soon be over.
As of 2022, Netflix has more than 220 million paid subscribers across 190 countries, after seeing a major spike in users during the pandemic. A dent in its subscriber base caused numbers to drop by 200,000, but there are still reasons to keep the service, with the main draw being its content.
What shows and movies does Netflix have?
Netflix may have had the first-to-market advantage in the world of streaming services, but it's kept its momentum with its increasing number of original shows and movies -- many of which have won critical acclaim and major awards and nominations.
Compared to other streaming platforms, you can't beat Netflix's slate of original TV shows that are now considered among the best of the modern era of television, including those mentioned above plus many more, such as Squid Game, Ozark, Never Have I Ever, Money Heist and Cobra Kai.
Read more: Netflix: The 49 Absolute Best TV Shows to Watch
Outside of TV shows, Netflix's original programs include a wide range of comedies, dramas, foreign films and shows, documentary series, anime, stand-up comedy specials and reality dating and competition shows. Not all of them are runaway hits, but many of them are, and there's enough to explore interesting shows that may not have found a home on traditional network TV. And at a time when going to the movies is more fraught than it once was, Netflix offers a place to find new films: In 2022 alone, Netflix is set to release over 100 new movies, at least one per week. The selection spans across genres and geography, and includes K-dramas, animated features, and fantasy book adaptations.
Stranger Things is one of Netflix's powerhouse originals.
Netflix
Netflix typically adds shows a full season at a time, though not while a show is airing on network TV -- so if you don't have cable or another platform like Hulu, you'll have to wait to watch for a few months to watch seasons in full.
One complaint: Netflix content sometimes can come and go without warning. The only way to tell if something is leaving the service in the next 30 days is if you happen to tap on the details page for the given show or movie -- or search online for everything coming and going in a given month.
Another potential content issue to flag: In recent years Netflix has lost some of its most popular content (such as The Office, which moved to NBC's Peacock, Daredevil, which moved to Disney Plus and Friends, which moved to HBO Max) as other networks created their own streaming services. While it started as an online video store that was trying to offer every movie and TV series online, it may be slowly becoming more akin to the old HBO -- mostly featuring its own original programming, complemented with some things it licenses from other companies.
What's it like to use Netflix?
I first subscribed to Netflix back in the first streaming days of 2007, so using the platform feels like second nature at this point. Even if you're new to it, it's pretty user-friendly: Open the app and tap on your profile (if you have one set up), and you'll see a homepage. You'll see Popular on Netflix, Continue Watching, Trending Now, Top Picks for you and a number of (sometimes oddly specific) other categories based on shows you've watched before. Mine include Critically-acclaimed Witty TV Comedies and Suburban-dysfunction TV Comedies, for example.
Netflix's design encourages scrolling -- there are so many different categories to look through, and then shows and movies within those categories to continue scrolling into. You can create a watch list to help you cut down on this, but the vast, colorful library makes it easy to spend more time looking through options than actually watching a show, so be careful.
The Netflix app operates similarly across various devices. My home page on the web browser is nearly identical to that on my Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire TV Stick, both in content and layout. It's more condensed on the smaller iPhone and Android phone screens, but still follows the same format, and has a clear "Downloads" tab to find content to save to watch offline on your device.
Rows and rows of content on Netflix can keep you busy.
James Martin/CNET
One difference between devices is voice commands: You might find it more or less difficult to fire up a Netflix show from your device's home screen depending on which voice-capable device you're using.
For example, when you say, "Watch Stranger Things" on the Apple TV and the iOS app on iPhone, it will first have you click which specific show (Stranger Things or Beyond Stranger Things), and then will take you to an Apple TV page for the show, and there it will give you the option to open Netflix and start episode 1. On Amazon Fire TV Stick, you can say, "Watch Stranger Things," and it will open Netflix automatically if you're logged into the app. On the Roku 4K stick, if you say, "Watch Stranger Things," it will take you right to the first episode in the app. Those are more hardware-side concerns, but interesting to note.
Once you're in the Netflix app, though, voice commands work the same across devices: Go to the Search tab, hold the microphone button to dictate, and say the name of the show you're looking for.
When you select a show or movie to watch, you have the option to fast-forward, rewind, add subtitles and change your audio settings. If you have a Premium account and a big enough 4K TV, watching in Ultra HD makes for a very cinematic experience. The show or movie you choose will also show up in your "Continue watching" section at the top of your homepage for easier access.
How much does Netflix cost?
Netflix offers three pricing plans: Basic, Standard and Premium. Here is how the costs and features break down:
Netflix plans
Basic
Standard
Premium
Monthly price
$10
$15.50
$20
Number of screens you can watch on at the same time
1
2
4
Number of phones or tablets you can have downloads on
1
2
4
HD available
No
Yes
Yes
Ultra HD available
No
No
Yes
All plans include the ability to watch on any device, and the full, unlimited collection of movies and TV shows. All allow cancellation at any time. Netflix also offers a one-month free trial.
Netflix's Basic plan costs more than Prime Video ($9 per month), more than Hulu's ad-based plan ($7 per month) but less than its more comparable no-ads plan ($13 per month). If you're on a shared Netflix account with family, chances are it's a Premium one ($20 per month) -- if you're actually splitting it between four people, that's only $5 per month each, and a strong value for all of the original content available, including some in 4K Ultra HD. Plus: No commercials on any plan.
What features do you get on Netflix?
Outside of general streaming, if you have the Standard or Premium plan, you can create different profiles for different users, and find your own list of personalized recommendations.
Netflix's recommendation game is strong, from "Because you watched" carousels that have been improved by the new "two thumbs up" feature, to the option to remove content from your home page, to its "Play Something" shuffle feature for when you're unsure what to stream.
The platform also has a particularly appealing kid's section, with a solid catalog of content including CoComelon, Pokemon: Master Journeys and Trolls: The Beat Goes On! and a much more kid-friendly user interface – including the mystery box feature added earlier this year.
If you subscribe to the Premium plan, you can watch certain shows and movies in 4K Ultra HD on 4K TVs. You'll need a steady internet connection speed of at least 25 megabits per second, and streaming quality set to Auto or High.
Netflix has more 4K content than just about any other streaming service, and a lot of its 4K shows and movies are also available in HDR. High dynamic range provides an even bigger improvement in image quality than 4K according to CNET's tests, with better contrast and color, and the difference is especially apparent on large, higher-end televisions. Netflix supports the two major HDR formats, generic HDR (aka HDR-10) as well as Dolby Vision. If you have a device that handles Dolby Vision, Netflix will play content (if available) in that format by default.
You can search for a selection of 4K TV shows and movies on the service with the Premium plan.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Data usage varies by format, ranging from about 1GB per hour for the standard-definition video to up to 7GB per hour for the highest-quality 4K streams. Downloading and streaming take up a similar amount of data, according to Netflix. If you want to avoid having Netflix eat up all of your data, you can take certain steps laid out on Netflix's website to adjust your data usage settings.
All subscribers can download TV shows and movies on the Netflix app on mobile devices for offline viewing, though certain titles aren't available to download.
Read more: 9 Handy Netflix Tricks That Can Help Make Streaming Better
Should you get it?
Netflix remains my favorite streaming platform of the increasingly large bunch. It has a huge selection of movies and TV shows old and new, tons of high-quality original programs, and an easy-to-navigate interface.
Even though it no longer offers a free trial, it's worth trying Netflix for a month if you want something new to watch.
