838 agoodmovietowatch Staff Lists (Page 34)

2019 was a climactic year for film. This last full pre-pandemic movie season gave us staggering box office returns (with Avengers: Endgame being crowned the highest-grossing film of all-time) and heralded the mainstreaming of international cinema in Hollywood and the rest of the world (with Parasite triumphantly kicking the door down for more South Korean movies and other subtitled fare). But beyond the headlines, 2019 still gave us an embarrassment of riches: diverse stories from singular voices from every corner of the world, now getting more of a chance to share their experiences through global streaming.

Coming off of the industry milestones of 2019, the first year of the new '20s was a peculiar one. Due to the onset of the COVID-19 virus, dozens of high-profile releases were shelved for the time being, and just as many local and international film festivals were postponed—leaving the 2020 release calendar looking seemingly uneventful. But don't let that fool you: smaller independent films and international gems continued to hold the fort for an industry still trying to regain its footing. Below are 50 films that reminded us that cinema will never stay down.

In 2020, the film industry proved it was unstoppable. Sure, there were some setbacks here and there, but quality productions pushed through, streaming gained newfound popularity (or notoriety, depending on who you’re speaking to), and though problems persisted well into the next year, that didn’t stop filmmakers from telling the world their stories. 

The movies, then, of 2021 are a mix of the familiar and the new: some are instant classics that exist on a world of their own, while others innovatively bring realities like the pandemic into the fold. We’ve gathered the best and most underrated of them below. 

One of the best things about Peacock is its affordable price, which comes with a ton of exclusive and original content from NBC in addition to 50 live channels. It's the streaming home to shows like The Office and Parks and Recreation, and it offers all these in over 21 different languages on many streaming devices. By all accounts, Peacock would seem like the perfect platform. 

But given its many strengths, one has to wonder, why hasn't it reached the same prominence as Disney+, Max, or even Netflix for that matter? If current users are to be believed, it could be because Peacock has a less-than-satisfactory user interface. Alternatively, its lineup or general recall might be lackluster compared to the much busier competition. 

If you like some things about Peacock but object to its other features, we've listed the best Peacock alternatives you could consider below.

Starz is one of the most recognizable names in American households. Like many of its competitors, it began strictly as a cable channel, but more than 20 years after its establishment, it's managed to stay relevant by coming up with its own streaming platform as well as by producing more original content. Moreover, it also has the ideal position of being available both as a standalone and add-on option for cord-cutters.

But whether you're a longtime or prospective subscriber to Starz, you may have some doubts about the service, hence your arrival in this article. Maybe the lineup isn't exactly to your liking, or maybe you're just not willing to shell out that much for its size. Whatever your reason and without deviating much from what Starz does, we've gathered for you the best Starz alternatives available on the market. 

As of April 2024, Showtime is no longer just Showtime—it’s Paramount+ with Showtime. You have to pay more to see originals like Yellowjackets and The Curse, although to be fair, you also get more from Paramount+’s vast catalog of past and present blockbusters (its originals are all right). Still, if that void Showtime’s left is having you search for something similarly stocked and price, then below, we list reasonable alternatives to help you out.

SUNDANCE NOW is a haven of indie shows, films, and documentaries that you don’t typically see on mainstream streaming platforms. As an extension of the revered film festival of the same name, SUNDANCE brings premium titles to users on-demand and ad-free. In addition, the streaming platform also specializes in true crime content, bringing both original and acquired thrillers to the table. 

That said, those who prefer a wider variety may find this platform limited. There are many other streamers with curated lineups, after all. Some of them might be big with hidden gems, like Hulu, while others might be equally small in scope but with titles that align with your taste more, like Arrow Player. So if you're looking for SUNDANCE NOW alternatives, we list the best of them below.

Mubi has long been a haven for film buffs looking to expand their reach and knowledge of cinema. The streaming platform's careful curation ensures that its global titles fall under either the cult, classic, canon, or indie categories. This and its availability to many countries around the world are what make Mubi one's personal "passport to cinema."  

But despite the delight that comes with handpicked selections, it's possible Mubi's curation isn't to your taste. Perhaps you'd prefer more genre-specific titles, more sci-fi and horror for example, or perhaps you'd like more blockbuster movies recommended to you every now and then. If you're looking for the best Mubi alternatives currently available, we list our suggestions below.

There is a lot to love about the Criterion Channel. Its collection of niche and underrated titles gives viewers a break from repetitive Hollywood blockbusters, and its quality curation has honed film buffs and filmmakers alike since it includes only the best of the best among its lineup. 

But despite its wide array of feature-length films, documentaries, commentary tracks, interviews, and even personal picks from celebrity cinephiles, the Criterion Chanel is not without its problems. For one, the streaming service is only available in the US and Canada, and for another, it is quite pricey compared to other similar platforms. 

If these issues affect you, you might want to check our list of the best Criterion Channel alternatives below. Some lean more on genre, others on classics, and even others on indie, but you can rest easy knowing that they're more accessible. It's up to you to decide which best fits your needs.

Without a doubt, Max has some of the best titles streaming today. It gets prestige TV shows from HBO and blockbuster films from parent company WarnerMedia. But the journey to get to where it is today wasn’t exactly smooth sailing. Users may remember that it started out as the clunky HBO Now, then HBO Go, then HBO Max. Then, it was unclear if cable subscribers could access the streaming service (they could) and if HBO Max would transform after its merger with Discovery+ (it did, hence the new moniker Max).

And to top off all this confusion, Max doesn’t have the best user interface in the market. Sure it’s made many updates since, but features remain buggy and incomplete, especially when compared to user-friendly competitors like Netflix and Disney+. 

So below, we gathered a list of the best Max alternatives currently available. They may not have the breadth and quality of the HBO Max library, but they sure are stabler and easier to use. So if those are what you’re looking for, read on.

As one of the Big Three networks in the US, CBS has long cemented its place in American households, its influence going as far back as the 1920s when it first began as a radio network. To date, CBS has offered a smorgasbord of iconic shows across genres that keep audiences on their seat.

Some of these titles include The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon, Survivor, The Price Is Right, Big Brother, The Amazing Race, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Late Late Show with James Corden, NCIS, and the FBI series. 

It's a premium channel for a reason, but did you know you can actually rewatch these favorites (or find a new one) for no cost at all when you use a free trial from select streaming services? The list includes Hulu with TV, FuboTV, and YouTube TV. Below, we curate the best services you can try out for free to watch CBS.

Kurt Vonnegut famously said, "History is merely a list of surprises. It can only prepare us to be surprised yet again," and that is essentially how the Smithsonian Channel attempts to display its collection of history: as an eclectic, informative mix of surprises that make us wonder about our origin and culture. 

The Smithsonian is one of the biggest museums and research institutes in the world, so it makes sense that its channel is packed with the same dearth of content. Specifically, the Smithsonian Channel is filled with non-fictional shows and docuseries such as Aerial America, Sacred Sites, Million Dollar American Princess, and The Real Story. 

Catch all these shows and more without charge when you use a free trial from either FuboTV, Hulu with Live TV, or YouTube TV. Below, we round up the full list of services you can try for free to watch the Smithsonian Channel.

Dedicated exclusively to college athletics, Big Ten Network (BTN) airs programs that feature college basketball, football, and other major American sports sanctioned by the Big Ten Conference (which itself is sanctioned by the NCAA). The channel also holds the broadcast rights to all of Big Ten Conference's events, which it covers via live and recorded telecasts, news, and analyses.

You can get your daily dose of Big Ten Conference with shows like Big Ten Tonight, Coaches Q&A, and University Showcase for no cost at all when you use a free trial from either Fubo TV, Hulu with Live TV, or YouTube TV. Here, we list the best streaming services you can try for free to watch all things Big Ten.

Want to stay updated on what's happening around the world? BBC World News has got you covered. The channel broadcasts a variety of programs like news bulletins, documentaries, interviews, and lifestyle shows that feature stories from around the globe.

It's a convenient channel especially if you're a globetrotter, and the good news is you can watch the channel without charge when you use a free trial from streaming services like Philo, FuboTV, and YouTube TV. Below, we've collated a list of the best ones you can try for free so you can be in the loop on the latest happenings worldwide.

Many viewers get their daily dose of business, economy, technology, and financial news from Bloomberg Television. Since its launch in the '90s, the channel has featured dedicated programs that focus on business and capital markets across the globe. This international foothold is also what sets Bloomberg apart from competitors like CNBC and Fox Business—with bureaus around the world, it's much preferred among the jet-setting business crowd.

If you're looking to give Bloomberg a try, you can do so without spending a dime by using a free trial from either Philo or DirecTV Stream. Below, you'll find the full list of streaming services you can try for free to watch the channel.