While society has shifted away from the concept of having thousands of channels via cable or satellite TV (though this continues to exist for customers who choose to pay for these services), the growth in streaming means there’s still seemingly infinite choice.
Not only do customers have to sift through thousands of options to find quality content to watch, they also need to figure out where to access it among the various streaming services available and to which they subscribe. Thankfully, there are many websites and apps designed to help narrow down the search and find content suitable to all types of viewers.
Reelgood
Reelgood provides a detailed look at TV shows and movies from more than 150 services, including Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and Disney+ as well as networks like Starz and Showtime, along with lesser-known services. Type a specific title in the search field of the website or Android or iOS app to find out where it is. For inspiration, search by genre, what’s new, what’s trending, by specific service, what’s free, or even by keywords like “Emmy nominees” or “IMDb top-rated.” There’s also the option to see not only what’s coming but also what will be leaving a specific service.
To get down to the nitty-gritty, search by various filters at once, like streaming service and genre, and see results with IMDb and Reelgood rating. Also sort by release date or most popular. A fun roulette feature can be used to search for random titles on Netflix based on genre and IMDB and Reelgood scores: sign up for an account to include other streaming services as well.
Decider
The Decider search engine for locating content is powered by Reelgood, but the site also offers plenty of added features. See round-ups of the best movies or TV shows on different services, scroll through the “What to Watch” section, view recommendations by genre, platform, or even moods like “frisky” and “weird.” There’s a description of each show or movie along with a list of all the places it can be accessed, whether it’s via streaming or only available to buy/rent.
The handy “stream it or skip it” section highlights new content and provides expert opinions on whether it’s worth watching or not, including some of the most highly anticipated new TV shows streaming in 2022.
Rotten Tomatoes
One of the most respected review aggregator websites, if a movie or TV show has been released, chances are it will be in the Rotten Tomatoes database, complete with a summary of top critic ratings as well as both critic and audience score. If a title is “Certified Fresh,” it means the site and its experts highly recommend it.
See a line-up of new and upcoming content on Rotten Tomatoes, read helpful articles about shows, and find links to reviews. There’s a continuously updated list of the most popular movies and TV shows and a breakdown of the latest Certified Fresh content for those looking for top-rated content. Also, get instant access to trailers and other videos related to popular content, and read “best of” and “most anticipated” guides.
Metacritic
Like Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic is a respected review aggregator website. While its database isn’t as expansive, the reviews are provided by expert critics as well as audiences. See editor’s picks along with summaries and rating, see a highlight of what’s new, and read informative articles about what to watch from month to month.
Also covering music and video games, some titles are given a “must-watch” label beside the Metascore, which indicates editors believe it’s a top choice worth considering. With each title, see a breakdown of the reviews, full text, summary of the show and even episodes, and the overall rating.
Flixable
Flixable’s primary focus is Netflix, but with millions of subscribers making Netflix the most popular streaming TV service, ranked by subscriber numbers, it’s worth including for those who can't suitable titles through Netflix’s own recommendation engine.
Search by movies, TV shows, or both, then narrow down by genre, rating, and other parameters like what’s new or even a specific release year. See weekly highlights of added content and get a heads-up of what will be leaving to watch before it’s no longer available. There’s even an option to search by specific actors. Search for “Tom Hanks,” for example, and see that, at the time of this writing, his available titles include Catch Me If You Can, Road to Perdition, and The Terminal.
Taste.io
With both an app and website, Taste.io requires a login with an e-mail address and/or phone number for access. Once a profile is set up, the service offers movie and TV reviews and suggestions based on others who have similar tastes. Rate a few movies and the site determines individual tastes from this information, connecting subscribers with other like-minded ones.
With more than half a million movie fans subscribed, the site also highlights what’s trending, top-rated content, classics, things to watch for a light mood, and even hidden gems.
JustWatch
Download the JustWatch app or visit the website for movie and TV show recommendations from top services, including Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, and Amazon Prime Video, like the best TV shows of 2022 so far, according to Reddit. Search for a specific title, see what’s new or popular, or tap the "discover" link to get personalized recommendations based on interests and tastes.
There’s no login required: click on movie and TV shows that are appealing based on a selection provided and after selecting four or five, a list of worthwhile options will show up. The set-up is similar to an actual streaming service, with unique sections with themes like recently added, movies or shows available for purchase or rent, content that has been flagged as a favorite by other subscribers, watch lists from users with similar tastes and preferences, and even humorous ones like “romantic movies that don’t suck.”
TV Time
Dubbed the “world’s largest tracking tool for TV and movies,” TV Time is available on the web or scan the QR code on the homepage to download the mobile app. Track favorite TV shows and movies to get notifications when they are available or returning with new seasons, discover new content, and view data-driven insights on what others are watching when, and why they chose the content.
Designed to be a pseudo-TV guide, it aggregates content from a variety of services to present them in a guide format, including both linear networks and streaming services, like the smaller streaming platforms that are worth checking out. Have friends sign up too and keep track of who’s watching what, how far they have gotten into a season, and more.
Watchworthy
Access Watchworthy, powered by Ranker, via web browser or mobile app and get personalized TV recommendations from content across more than 200 streaming services to avoid having to flip back and forth among multiple ones. Use the app or site to build a personal watchlist to refer to whenever there’s a lull in the schedule, like after finishing the latest season of a show.
First, confirm the applicable services and channels. Then, functioning similar to a dating app, as show titles appear, pick which ones have already been viewed, if they were liked or disliked it, or for ones not yet seen, if there’s any interest or not. Not sure? Swipe right or left to skip. As the information is fathered, Watchworthy will determine the probability of liking or disliking a specific show, thus affording it a “worthy” score. Like magic, up pops a variety of shows that would likely appeal, with the most “worthy” at the top of the list. Click the like or dislike button for each and the engine will continue learning over time.
Qewd
Another aggregator website and app, Qewd includes details on content from all the top streaming services, making it easy to explore trends and get a personally curated list of options to consider from both the site’s own tastemakers, as well as friends and family members.
The powerful engine is only part of the equation: Qewd focuses as much on the social aspect, helping users connect with friends, family members, and even favorite influencers and brands to see what other like-minded people are watching and recommending. Curate a personal “channel” with content from multiple streaming services, social platforms, and even other videos on the internet, so it’s easy to access via a single click. The app is new and there’s still a waitlist, but for TV and movie lovers, it might be worth waiting for.