Reel Corner - October 2020
Tired of Netflix? Here are Some Alternatives to Try
October 2020 Issue
Reel Corner by Donne Paine
Tired of NETFLIX?
Here Are Some Alternatives To Try
Netflix may be one of the biggest and most well-known video streaming services in the world, but it sure isn’t the only one. There are a lot of Netflix alternatives out there that will keep you entertained every night, some of which are even free.
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video is one of the best, if not the best, alternatives to Netflix. Prime offers plenty of popular movies and television shows, as well as quality original programming. The shows that stand out are: “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”; “The Man In The High Castle”; “The Boys” and Tom Clancy’s “Jack Ryan,” to name a few.
HBO MAX
HBO’s video streaming service has a lot to offer. From the latest hit shows like “Chernobyl” to older ones like “The Sopranos”, there is always something interesting to watch. Other great HBO shows worth mentioning include “Westworld”; “Game of Thrones” and “Barry”. There are plenty of upcoming shows to get excited about, such as “The Nevers” and “The Undoing”.
Hulu
Hulu is home to old and new hit television series like “Seinfeld”, “ER” and “Futurama”. There are also several good original shows available, including the popular “The Handmaid’s Tale”. Hulu is special because they release new episodes of some of the most popular shows only a day or so after they are aired on TV. Netflix, on the other hand, generally releases an entire season of a certain show at once, making the wait longer to start watching.
Crackle
The main reason why Crackle one of the best Netflix alternatives is that it’s completely free. It offers plenty of great content, including cult classics, critically acclaimed Hollywood films and popular television shows. There are nearly 150 feature-length movies and 75 shows available on the platform. However, there are a few drawbacks to consider, with the biggest being the service is ad-supported. You usually have to sit through a 30-second commercial before your movie or show begins, followed by up to three additional ads for shows and nine for movies longer than an hour and a half.
CBS All Access
If you’re a fan of CBS shows, this is the Netflix alternative to go with. It’s doesn’t offer nearly as much content as Netflix, but it has a lot of great shows, including “NCIS”, “Blue Bloods”, “The Big Bang Theory”, and “Young Sheldon”, among others. There are a number of classic shows to view like “Frasier” and a few originals, including “The Twilight Zone”. All combined, there are more than 10,000 episodes available.
Disney Plus
If you don’t already know about Disney Plus, I’d be surprised. The service launched last November in the US and other parts of the world. If you have children, Disney Plus is a great Netflix alternative, with a treasure trove of classic and current family Disney movies and television shows to watch under this one service. In addition, nearly all the Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel Cinematic Universe movies are on Disney Plus, too. One more thing to note: Disney Plus is now showing the taping of the popular Broadway play “Hamilton.”
Acorn TV
Acorn TV is home to classic and current shows from Britain, Ireland, Australia and a few other countries. It’s a fantastic Netflix alternative, offering popular television shows like “Inspector George Gently”, “Doc Martin”, “Midsomer Murders” and more. Most Americans are not familiar with these shows, but trust me, they are worth watching. There are also a few movies available, but the selection is limited.
You might also check out: Pluto TV, Shudder, Britbox by the BBC, Apple TV Plus, Quibi and Peacock. Also, for those of you who love Masterpiece Theater and Downton Abby, PBS is the one for you.
Reference: www.imbd.com, www.androidauthority.com, www.nyt.com
Donne Paine, film enthusiast, once lived around the corner from the Orson Wells Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts where her strong interest in films, especially independent ones, began. Supporter of the arts—especially films—she travels to local and national film festivals including Sundance, Toronto and Tribeca. There is nothing like seeing a film on the big screen. She encourages film goers to support Hilton Head local theaters—Coligny, Park Plaza and Northridge theaters. To support her habit of frequent movie going Donne is a retired executive recruiter and staff development consultant. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.