Netflix Review: Still Great, But Rivals Gaining Steam

Streaming Smarter says: Netflix is the first name in streaming for a reason. Sign up to access a rotating library of Hollywood hits, original standup comedy, unscripted hits, compelling limited series, and ambitious original films. Netflix is also great for kids. It’s not perfect, but it’s incredibly well-rounded.

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What Does Netflix Cost?

There are 3 main Netflix plans.

If you have the Standard plan, you can add 1 extra member outside your home for $6.99/month with ads or $8.99/month without ads. With the Premium plan, you can add up to 2 extra members for $6.99 each/month with ads or $8.99 each/month without ads.

Under the Standard With Ads plan, the library is limited to select titles.

Can You Watch Netflix for Free?

Netflix does not offer a free trial. Some mobile phone plans will include Netflix. Those perks can actually backfire, however. I save money with Consumer Cellular (mobile plans start at $20/mo. even on an existing phone). Even though I’m paying full price for Netflix, it’s a cheaper total overall.

Are There Any Deals or Discounts for Netflix?

Netflix doesn’t discount their prices. As the top streaming destination, they don’t need to.

But I have a sneaky workaround to save on my subscription. Head to GCX and buy discounted Netflix gift cards. When you’re logged into Netflix, go to Account > Manage payment method and add the gift card information. From then on, Netflix will tap the gift card balance until it runs out.

Does Netflix Have Originals?

Netflix original series have become worldwide phenomenons. Its most-watched shows include “Wednesday,” “Stranger Things,” “Bridgerton,” “The Queen’s Gambit,” “The Night Agent,” “Fool Me Once,” “Squid Game,” “Money Heist,” “Lupin,” and “La Palma.” Other worthy titles include “Baby Reindeer,” “I Think You Should Leave,” “Beef,” and “Tiger King.”

Reality shows are a Netflix specialty with hits like “Love is Blind,” “Selling Sunset,” “Too Hot To Handle,” and “The Great British Baking Show.”

Netflix original films include award-winners and crowd-pleasers. Check out “Red Notice,” “Don’t Look Up,” “Carry-On,” “The Adam Project,” “Bird Box,” “Troll,” and “Under Paris.”

Netflix original Academy Award winners include “All Quiet on the Western Front,” “Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio,” “Emilia Pérez,” “The Power of the Dog,” “Marriage Story,” and “Roma.”

Standup comedy is another Netflix strength. You’ll see live original films from comics like Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Shane Gillis, Nate Bargatze, John Mulaney, Gabriel Iglesias, Ronny Chieng, Ali Wong, Tom Segura, Matt Rife, Bill Burr, Louis C.K., Bo Burnham, Amy Schumer, Anthony Jeselnik, and much more.

What Movies Does Netflix Have?

The Netflix movie library is almost always changing. At the time of this review, Netflix has “Interstellar,” “Schindler’s List,” “Whiplash,” “Parasite,” “Mad Max: Fury Road,” “Apollo 13,” “Spider-Man,” “Blade Runner,” “Dune: Part Two,” “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” “The Karate Kid,” “Pride & Prejudice,” “Godzilla Minus One,” “Rush Hour,” “Do the Right Thing,” “It,” “Ted,” and “Meet the Parents.”

Netflix gets first streaming rights to any movies from Sony. Most studios will share their movies with Netflix, though Disney rarely does.

What TV Shows Does Netflix Have?

While Netflix leans on the strength of its great originals, it also delivers with must-see shows that originated elsewhere. See “Breaking Bad,” “Seinfeld,” “Home Improvement,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “Yellowjackets,” “The Walking Dead,” “Your Honor,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Dexter,” “Better Call Saul,” “Six Feet Under,” “Outlander,” “The Blacklist,” “Young Sheldon,” and much more.

Netflix is also notable for its great anime collection.

What Kids Content Does Netflix Have?

My kids start every weekend morning with Netflix. The user interface makes it easy for almost anyone to find something worth watching. Kids love cartoons like “Justice League,” “The Powerpuff Girls,” “Peppa Pig,” “Ben 10,” “CoComelon,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” “Batwheels,” “Carmen Sandiego,” and “Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir.”

Although we subscribe to many streaming services, our kids keep gravitating to Netflix when they have the remote.

What Sports Does Netflix Have?

Netflix is home to WWE Raw. In 2024, Netflix hosted 2 NFL games. Future sports rights are in flux. You shouldn’t rely on Netflix for sports, but it sometimes is the only place to watch a specific event.

There’s a lot of great sports-adjacent content like “Formula 1: Drive to Survive,” “The Last Dance,” “Full Swing,” “Receiver,” and “Simone Biles Rising.”

Can You Download Netflix Content?

Download on 2 devices with Standard With Ads or Standard. The Premium plan allows downloads on 6 devices.

What Devices Work with Netflix?

Can You Add Netflix as a Prime Video Channel?

No. Netflix is not available as a Prime Video channel.

Is Netflix Worth It?

I’ve been a Netflix subscriber since the DVD days and I’m still subscribed. It’s the gold standard of streaming. It offers blockbuster films alongside critical darlings. Its international reach means we get to enjoy creativity from South Korea, the United Kingdom, Spain, and beyond.

My children love Netflix, and I imagine they’d revolt if I tried to cancel.

But I am concerned about Netflix’s price hikes. As it starts airing more live sports, the price could soar beyond what I’m willing to pay. I appreciate Netflix’s commitment to an endless stream of original movies and TV, but it misses more often than it hits. The company is moving so slowly with shows like “Stranger Things,” there will be a 9-year span between its first season and its fifth.

If I didn’t have kids, I’d probably sign up for a month, then take 2 months off, then repeat the cycle. While there’s aways something to watch on Netflix, I might appreciate it more if I focused on it for short periods. I find myself watching other services more frequently.

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Peter Gardner

Peter Gardner cut the cord in 2017. He’s Streaming Smarter’s resident sci-fi fan – his favorite films include “Blade Runner,” “Children of Men,” “2001: A Space Odyssey,” and “Gattaca.” His favorite live TV streamer is Sling TV and his favorite on-demand service is Max.