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The year 2020 saw the streaming wars really heat up, and, if January is any indication, the upstart services are about to make life much harder for Netflix — and for consumers trying to stick to a budget.
While Netflix NFLX, -2.44% has long dominated the streaming game, rivals such as Disney+, HBO Max and even Apple TV+ are starting to find their footing with series and movies that are as buzz-worthy as Netflix’s.
That will surely lead to even tougher decisions for viewers who want to watch as much as they can but stay within a budget of two or even four streaming subscriptions a month.
As this column has previously mentioned, consumers can take full advantage of a cord-cutting strategy by capitalizing on the ability to add and drop streaming services each month, and all it takes is good planning. Keep in mind that a billing cycle starts when you sign up, not necessarily at the beginning of a month.
Consumers who dig around enough can also take advantage of free trials and cost-saving bundles, but those deals won’t last forever.
Free and bundled possibilities aside, when it’s time to decide where your subscription dollars should go, What’s Worth Streaming is here to help. We rate each major streaming service every month as a “play,” “pause” or “stop,” similar to investment analysts’ ratings of buy, hold and sell, and pick the best content to help you make your monthly decisions.
Here’s a look at what’s coming to the various streaming services in January 2021, and what’s really worth the monthly subscription fee.
Disney+ ($6.99 a month)
At long last, Disney+ is launching the first of its Marvel spinoff series, as the Marvel Cinematic Universe enters its fourth stage. “WandaVision” (Jan. 15) was delayed by pandemic-related production shutdowns, and what the series is actually about is still a bit of a mystery. It stars Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany, reprising their roles as Wanda Maximoff (aka the Scarlet Witch) and the android Vision from “The Avengers” movies. Trailers of the six-episode series suggest a retro sitcom that veers into “Twilight Zone” territory. It’s intriguing, whatever it is, and Disney’s DIS, +1.82% Marvel Studios has a good enough track record that “WandaVision” should be the must-see show of the month. And it’s the first of many to come.
Also on tap for Disney+ in January: Emily Blunt in 2018’s “Mary Poppins Returns” (Jan. 15); four volumes of the animated “Star Wars Forces of Destiny” (Jan. 8), which originally ran on Disney’s YouTube channel; Wes Anderson’s excellent animated 2018 movie “Isle of Dogs”; and all four seasons of the surprisingly subversive ’90s animatronic Fox sitcom “Dinosaurs.” (Pro tip: The “Dinosaurs” series finale is outstanding and devastating, and its message of climate change and mass extinction hits home even harder today.)
You can also catch up on a couple of Christmas Day releases, Pixar’s critically praised “Soul” and “Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian Making of Season 2,” a behind-the-scene documentary special.
Who’s Disney+ for? Families with kids, and hardcore “Star Wars” and Marvel fans. For those not in those groups, its library can be lacking. And, FYI, the monthly price will rise by $1 in March.
Play, pause or stop? Play. Disney+ already had the kids. Now, with the Marvel series, it’s coming for the adults. “WandaVision” should be worth $7 alone.
HBO Max ($14.99 a month)
HBO Max doesn’t have a ton of January releases, but they all look good. We had to wait more than two years between Seasons 2 and 3 of “Search Party,” but Season 4 is coming after just a six-month gap. The darkly comic thriller picks up where Season 3 left off, with Dory now the one missing as the rest of the gang tries to move on with their lives after the traumatic events of the first three seasons. It’s a smart, funny and very bingeable show that’s worth catching up with.
There’s also the second special episode of “Euphoria” (Jan. 24). Zendaya won an Emmy for her starring role in the teen drama earlier this year, and December’s other special episode was hailed as one of the series’ best. The new special will have to be enough to hold fans over for a while, as Season 2 isn’t expected until late 2021 or early 2022.
HBO Max subscribers will also see the first of Warner Bros.’ 2021 slate of movies, which will debut on the streaming service the same day they hit movie theaters. That’ll be “The Little Things” (Jan. 29), a crime drama starring Denzel Washington as a deputy sheriff tracking down a serial killer in the big city. If Denzel isn’t a big enough name for you, it features fellow Oscar winners Rami Malek and Jared Leto.
There’s also “Tiger” (Jan. 10), a two-part documentary series about golfer Tiger Woods’s epic rise, fall and comeback; all six seasons of “Gossip Girl,” “Batman the Animated Series,” both seasons of Cinemax’s “Warrior” (all Jan. 1), and a Season 3 of the Italian crime drama “Gomorrah” (Jan. 21). And don’t forget HBO Max is the new home of “The West Wing,” starting Christmas Day.
Who’s HBO Max for? HBO fans and movie lovers. And, finally, it’s available for most consumers, following recent deals by AT&T’s T, +1.23% WarnerMedia to license Max apps to Roku and Amazon Fire TV streaming devices, as well as Comcast’s Xfinity X1 service and Sony’s PlayStation 5.
Play, pause or stop? Play. For quality shows, HBO Max is easily the best streaming service, and it has a massive movie collection. The addition of new Warner Bros. movies this year is just gravy.
Amazon Prime Video ($12.99 a month)
Amazon Prime Video continues its run of Oscar-worthy movies with a pair of January releases.
First up is “Herself” (Jan. 8), a moving and empowering drama about an Irish mother (played by Clare Dunn) escaping an abusive household with her two daughters that won raves at Sundance earlier this year, along with “One Night in Miami” (Jan. 15), the directorial debut of Emmy- and Oscar-winning actress Regina King. The drama, based on a stage play, is a fictional account of a real-life meeting in 1964 between four Black icons: Cassius Clay, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke and Jim Brown. Both are getting a limited theatrical release before they stream, and both are seen as Oscar contenders.
The excellent sci-fi series “The Expanse” also drops new episodes every Wednesday in January, and Richard Hammond (“Top Gear,” “The Grand Tour”) and Tory Belecci (“MythBusters”) will apply their noggins and engineering skills toward figuring out how to survive being shipwrecked on a deserted island, and get home, in “The Great Escapists” (release date TBA).
For more: Here’s what’s coming to Amazon Prime Video in January 2021
Who’s Amazon Prime Video for? Movie lovers, TV-series fans who value quality over quantity.
Play, pause or stop? Play. “The Expanse” may be the best show currently airing on TV, and Amazon’s AMZN, -0.66% original movies from the past two months alone are excellent.
Netflix ($7.99 a month for basic, $13.99 standard or $17.99 premium)
Are pandemic production delays finally catching up with Netflix? While the sheer volume of new shows in January is only a bit smaller than usual, the lack of a big-name releases is striking.
The most eagerly anticipated arrival is probably Season 3 of “Cobra Kai” (Jan. 8), the “Karate Kid” spinoff with William Zabka and Ralph Macchio that Netflix picked up after two seasons on YouTube. It’s a perfectly fine teen drama, and better than one might have expected.
The other January highlight is “History of Swear Words” (Jan. 5), hosted by Nicolas Cage, and the title says it all. It does look fun. There’s also Season 4 of “Enchanted” (Jan. 15), the animated fantasy comedy from Matt Groening; “The White Tiger” (Jan. 22), a darkly comic movie about an ambitious Indian driver’s efforts to escape poverty and rise to the top, based on the bestselling novel; and “Outside the Wire” (Jan. 15), a futuristic action movie starring Damon Idris and Anthony Mackie.
Also see: Here’s everything coming to Netflix in January 2021 — and what’s leaving
Granted, there are a good number of other originals and additions to Netflix’s movie library, but none scream “Watch me now!” One late-December addition that might be, though, is the Shondaland historical drama “Bridgerton” (Dec. 26), which is basically “Emma” meets “Gossip Girl.”
Who’s Netflix for? Fans of buzz-worthy original shows and movies.
Play, pause or stop? Pause. For once, Netflix doesn’t seem essential. If you subscribe, maybe it’s a good time to dive into its library to catch up on shows you’ve missed.
Hulu ($5.99 a month or $11.99 with no ads)
It’s a fairly slow month for Hulu, as well, with the only notable originals being “The Ultimate Playlist of Noise” (Jan. 15), a tear-jerker movie about an audiophile teen who needs brain surgery that will make him deaf, and goes on a cross-country trip to record his favorite sounds; Season 2 of the teen sci-fi series “Endlings” (Jan. 15); and “The Sister” (Jan. 22), a thriller series about a man whose comfortable life becomes unraveled by a decades-old secret.
That’s about it, aside from network shows, like ABC’s “The Bachelor” (Jan. 5) and Fox’s “Name That Tune” (Jan. 7) streaming a day after they originally air. There’s also the new season of “Letterkenny” dropping Dec. 26.
Also: Here’s what’s coming to Hulu in January 2021 — and what’s leaving
Who’s Hulu for? TV lovers. There’s a deep library for those who want older TV series, and next-day streaming for many current network and cable shows.
Play, pause or stop? Pause and think it over. While there’s nothing essential coming in January, Hulu’s deep library of series alone might make it worth splurging on.
Apple TV+ ($4.99 a month)
Apple TV+ launched a little more than a year ago, and the second seasons of some of its initial series are ready to drop.
The best of the bunch is “Dickenson” (Jan. 8), the genre-busting historical comedy/drama about poet Emily Dickenson (played by Hailee Steinfeld). The first season drew raves for its fresh, fictionalized take, featuring historical figures with decidedly modern sensibilities. Expect more of the same in Season 2, as Emily pines over her lost love and deals with her growing fame.
“Servant” (Jan. 15), the creepy thriller from M. Night Shyamalan, is also back for a second season, picking up right after the shocking disappearance that concluded Season 1. As with “Dickenson,” new episodes will drop every Friday after the premiere.
There’s also the new series “Losing Alice” (Jan. 22), a psychological thriller from Israel about an aging female director who becomes obsessed with a younger screenwriter, and “Palmer” (Jan. 29), a movie starring Justin Timberlake as a former college football star who returns to his hometown after a stint in prison, and encounters unexpected challenges.
Who’s Apple TV+ for? It offers a little something for everyone, but not really enough for anyone, unfortunately. Apple AAPL, -0.70% did finally make a deal with Google, though, so it’s now available to stream via Chromecast devices.
Play, pause or stop? Stop. It’s a close call, but there’s tough competition and Apple’s shallow library is hard to overlook. While “Dickenson” is well worth watching, budget-minded consumers might be better off waiting a month and binging the whole season at once. If you just got a new iPhone 12 though, or another Apple device, do take advantage of the free 12-month free trial of Apple TV+.
CBS All Access ($5.99 a month or $9.99 with no ads)
CBS All Access, of all places, has one of the most intriguing new shows of the month.
“Coyote” (Jan. 7), stars Michael Chiklis (“The Shield”) as a retired Border Patrol agent who gets forced into working for migrant smugglers, which opens his eyes to a whole new world and forces him to question everything he’s stood for. While the premise could be cringe-inducing in the wrong hands, Chiklis has a great track record playing the intense antihero, and Michelle MacLaren, who was behind the camera for some of the best episodes of “Breaking Bad,” is an executive producer and will direct the first two episodes. It could definitely be worth a look.
Aside from that, not a lot new aside from network shows and live sports. And just a reminder, ViacomCBS VIAC, +3.04% will rebrand the service as Paramount+ in the coming months.
Who’s CBS All Access for? Cord cutters who miss live sports (especially the NFL and UEFA Champions League soccer) and familiar broadcast and cable shows.
Play, pause or stop? Stop. There’s still not enough here to justify the price. But if “Coyote” is good, there’s a case to be made for trying it out for a month, especially if you can wrangle a free trial.
Peacock (free basic level, Premium for $4.99 a month with ads, or $9.99 a month with no ads)
Peacock’s big addition for the new year is a little show called “The Office,” which will stream there exclusively starting Jan. 1, after a long run on Netflix. Only the first two seasons will be on Peacock’s free tier, though — you’re gonna have to pay to watch more.
But in the midst of challenging economic times and cutthroat streaming competition, will people really pay for yet another service just to watch a show that ended nearly a decade ago, and that fans have already watched repeatedly? That’s the billion-dollar question. While “The Office” (and “Friends,” now on HBO Max) were huge hits on Netflix, the assumption that those shows drove subscriptions, as opposed to being an easy solution to decision paralysis (“Oh there’s that show I like, let’s just watch that”) is dubious. “The Office” should be a fine addition to Peacock’s library, alongside “Parks and Recreation,” “Cheers,” “Frasier” and more, but it’s unlikely to make Peacock a must-have service.
Aside from that, Peacock will stream NBC’s slate of shows a day after they air on the network, including “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist” (Jan. 6), and Ted Danson’s new sitcom “Mr. Mayor” (Jan. 8); as well as new episodes of the delightful “Amber Ruffin Show” (Jan. 15), and a slew of older comedy specials from Marc Maron, Kevin Hart, Mike Birbiglia, Maria Bamford, Whitney Cummings and many more (all Jan. 28).
Who’s Peacock for? If you like network and basic-cable TV and don’t mind ads, the free version of Peacock is great. If you’re eligible for Premium through a Comcast CMCSA, +0.03% or Cox cable subscription, it’s also a perfectly fine free addition.
Play, pause or stop? Stop. By all means check out the free version, but the paid tier will be unnecessary for most people (with the possible exception of soccer fans, since Peacock Premium is the exclusive streaming home of the English Premier League).
Discovery+ ($4.99 a month, $6.99 ad-free)
The new streaming services just keep on coming. Discovery+ — which will feature a massive library as well as originals from HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Discovery, Animal Planet and more — will debut Jan. 4.
It’ll launch with more than 55,000 episodes of more than 2,500 current and older shows, and plans on having more than 1,000 hours of exclusive content in its first year, including a new series from Chip and Joanna Gaines; “House Hunters: Comedians on Couches Unfiltered,” where comedians snarkily comment as they watch an episode of “House Hunters”; and a “Route 66” travel show hosted by Kevin Hart.
But the price tag seems like a lot, especially considering Hulu already licenses many Discovery DISCA, +3.86% shows from previous seasons, and those types of unscripted shows are, in general, less destination viewing and more “oh, hey, this is on” watching for when you’re folding laundry.
Who’s Discovery+ for? Cord cutters who miss their unscripted TV or who are really, really into “90-Day Fiance.”
Play, pause or stop? Stop. It’s very much a niche service, and most people won’t need it. And this is coming from a guy who could watch “House Hunters” or “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” on a continuous loop.
