in , , , ,

These Are The Streaming Sites You Should Be Paying Attention To

Photo Courtesy of Parade

If you’re a pop culture addict, then you almost definitely have a subscription to Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and the premium cable channels. And if you don’t have your own subscription, you’re probably “borrowing” your family members’ passwords. (Hey, this is a judgment free zone.) All of those services are amazing, and they offer up an amazing mix of original content and familiar favorites. However, the world of streaming services is expanding and becoming more niche everyday. And that’s a good thing.

Yes, it can be a pain to subscribe to so many different sources, but if you love British television, anime, documentaries, or the horror genre — specialty streaming sites can be a gift from the entertainment gods. Surprisingly, some of these sites are free, and almost all of them offer a free trial period so you can check out their wares before committing to an official subscription.

Below you’ll find a collection of streaming sites that are doing an amazing job at catering to specific TV and movie tastes. Whether you’re ready to subscribe or not, you need to be paying attention to these streaming sites.

Acorn TV ($4.99/month)

Anglophiles will adore Acorn TV. It’s an affordable service with a wide variety of comedies, murder mysteries, dramas, and even some of the brilliant non-fiction programming from across the pond. Highlights include Agatha Raisin, A Place to Call Home, Doc Martin, Raised by Wolves, and Decline and Fall.

Britbox ($6.99/month)

While Acorn TV takes a more curated approach, Britbox is for people who can’t get enough of British TV period. From their “Now” section that includes same-day premieres of soaps, news, and other programs, to their vast library of new and classic shows — there’s not much Britbox doesn’t have. Best of all, they’re adding more to their catalog every month. Highlights include new episodes of QI, Strictly Come Dancing, Inside №9, Broken, and Hetty Wainthropp Investigates.

Crackle (Free)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMK-vOBd9Fw

Crackle has been around for a while now, and it remains one of the truly free streaming services with reliably good content. The site has even ventured into original programming with shows like StartUp starring Sherlock’s Martin Freeman. Each month, Crackle serves up a lineup of movies that last for just 30 days, which keeps their library fresh. Current highlights include the latest SuperMansion special, Animal Kingdom, Fright Night (1985), and Stranger Than Fiction.

Crunchyroll ($6.95/month with some free content)

If you love anime, then Crunchyroll should be on your radar. The service offers some of their programming for free, but there’s a premium tier for full access. Current highlights include Digimon Adventure, Dragon BallSuper, and Food Wars! The Third Plate.

CuriosityStream ($2.99)

Documentary fans need CuriosityStream in their lives. The site hosts over a 1,000 history, science, and nature docs. Highlights include Destination Mars, Dynamic Salt, and Genius by Stephen Hawking.

CW Seed (Free)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQKFBjyQfo4

CW Seed is completely free, and it’s home to some of the best shows from the ’00s. It also hosts plenty of original content, including DC animated series you won’t be able to find anywhere else. Highlights include Everwood, Pushing Daisies, The Game, and Everybody Hates Chris.

FilmStruck ($10.99/month)

Yes, it’s pricey if you opt for the Criterion Collection option, but for serious movie fans the price tag might be worth it. Not only will you have access to the vast Criterion library, you’ll also have a wealth of classic films at your fingertips. Highlights include Au Revoir Les Enfants, Bicycle Thieves, and Cat People.

Fullscreen ($5.99/month)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQNNhW4W_TE

Fullscreen is targeting Generation Y in a big way, and like most of the other sites mentioned so far, that means your mileage may vary. If you love exclusive content from YouTube creators, throwback movies, and sitcoms then this might be the site for you. Highlights include How I Met Your Mother, Dating Rules From My Future Self, Daytripper, Shaun of the Dead, and Ella Enchanted.

Shudder ($4.99/month)

Horror fans will fall hard for this site aimed at collecting all things scary in one place. There are movies, shows, and even curated playlists from horror genre legends. Highlights include Repulsion, The Wolf Man, Monsters, Neil Gaiman’s Likely Stories, and The Kingdom.

Sundance Now ($6.99/month)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B73sZddEQVQ

Independent films, documentaries, and TV imports are all available on this site that aims to cater to viewers looking for something off the beaten path. Highlights include Riviera, An Education, Style Wars, and Travel Man.

Tubi (Free)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0fQn8sfdNk

Free streaming sites can be hit or miss, but Tubi is a reliable source of stuff you might actually want to watch. It features a wide range of movies and TV shows, some of which are actually not that easy to track down. Highlights include Winter’s Bone, A Single Man, Merlin, and Black Books.

Walter Presents ($6.99/month)

If you ever feel like you’re missing out on the best international dramas, then welcome to Walter Presents. The site curates the best shows from around the world in one place for your viewing pleasure. Highlights include Young and Promising, Black Widow, and Hotel Adlon.

SaveSave

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings

The Best Classic Movies on Netflix

12 Things You Need To Stream This November