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IMDb vs. Rotten Tomatoes vs. Metacritic: Which Movie Ratings Site Is Best?

IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, and Metacritic are the three most popular ratings sites for movies, but they aren't all equal.

Thanks to online ratings, it's easier than ever to know whether or not a movie is worth watching. A quick Google search brings up plenty of websites offering their opinions on the latest films.

The three most popular are IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, and Metacritic. But how do these sites differ, and which should you trust for information on movies? Here's everything you need to know.

The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) is a gigantic compendium of movies, TV shows, and video games. Its primary use is to find detailed information about any actor, producer, or piece of media content.

When you pull up a movie, you'll see a synopsis, trailers, photos, a cast list, trivia, and much more. What makes IMDb so useful is its cross-referencing. Upon opening the page for an actor, you'll see their best-known roles. Thus, IMDb is great for those "what else have I seen her in?" moments.

The IMDb mobile app takes this a step further. If you create an account and give ratings to movies and other media, you'll see a You may know them from field on an actor's page if you've rated something they appeared in.

With a free IMDb account, you can also create a Watchlist of movies you want to see. Along with contributing to the 10-point rating scale with other users, IMDb has many other useful features to offer if you're interested.

Pros of IMDb

Unlike the other two sites, IMDb's reviews come solely from users. It only takes a minute to sign up for IMDb and leave a review, so there's little barrier to entry.

Thus, IMDb's biggest strength is that its scores gives you a good idea of what normal consumers think of it. Professional critics have no influence on IMDb scores.

IMDb has a weighted average system to prevent users from rigging the score, but the service doesn't make it clear exactly how this works. Click the review count next to the star icon on any movie's page to see a breakdown of how people rated it.

Below the overall star average, you can see how the ratings break down by a few demographics, including age and gender.

Cons of IMDb

IMDb's biggest problem is that like other platforms, most people only leave reviews if they love or hate a film. Thus, this skews the scores in favor of either fanboys or haters.

People who want to boost a movie's perception will likely rate the movie a 10, while those who didn't like it will give a rating of one. This means you should read a handful of reviews to get a full picture of the movie's quality.

Rotten Tomatoes

Rotten Tomatoes is a trusted source for movie reviews sourced from critics. Every movie uses the "Tomatometer" to score the quality of a film. If the critic liked the movie, a red tomato appears by their review. When they don't like it, you'll see a green splat instead.

As long as 60 percent or more of critics like the movie, it earns an overall Fresh score with a red tomato. If under 60 percent of critics rate the movie favorably, it earns a Rotten score with a green splat.

Meanwhile, a Certified Fresh badge appears next to titles that are of particularly high quality. They must hold at least a 75 percent favorable score after 80 reviews, including at least five from top critics.

Open any movie's page, and you'll see the overall score plus its number of reviews at the top. Click See Score Details for a deeper breakdown. The Critics Consensus , present for most movies, is a great summary of why the movie received its score.

Rotten Tomatoes also providers a user score, shown by the popcorn bucket. When at least 60 percent of users rated it 3.5 stars (out of 5) or higher, it shows a full bucket. A tipped-over bucket represents that under 60 percent of users gave it under 3.5 stars. Since you can use half-star ratings, this is close to the IMDb score.

In 2019, Rotten Tomatoes made some changes to reduce "review bombing" of movies. There's no longer a Want to See percentage, and you'll also see a check next to user reviews where the site has confirmed that the person actually bought a ticket to the movie.

At the bottom of a movie's page, you can read excerpts from the critic reviews, filter by fresh or rotten, or only show top critics. Search for your favorite actors, and you can check the scores of films they appeared in.

Related: Sites Like Rotten Tomatoes to Find Average Ratings and Reviews for Anything

Pros of Rotten Tomatoes

Rotten Tomatoes has the advantage of sourcing its reviews from trusted critics. The Rotten Tomatoes criteria page explains that the site only takes reviews from trusted newspapers, podcasts, and websites. In theory, this means that only the opinions of the most-trusted movie critics influence the Rotten Tomatoes review.

The Top Critic designation lets you filter by the absolute best critics if you prefer. You can't get a more professional opinion than from these folks.

Overall, Rotten Tomatoes does a good job of letting you know at a glance whether or not a movie is worth your time. The easily identifiable icons, overall score, and consensus summary only take a moment to scan.

Cons of Rotten Tomatoes

The biggest issue with Rotten Tomatoes is that it breaks down complex opinions into a Yes or No score. It scores a critic who thought the movie was decent but had some flaws (say, a 59 percent rating) the same as one who thought the movie was absolute garbage (a zero percent score).

You'll notice this with the Average Rating under the score. Take Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle as an example. Of the 232 critic reviews, 177 of them are positive. This gives the movie a score of 76 percent. However, the critics rated the movie an average of 6.2/10---quite a bit under the 76 percent displayed on the page.

This doesn't mean the scores on Rotten Tomatoes are useless, of course. But it's important to remember that there's nuance in individual reviews, and the Fresh/Rotten system effectively turns every rating into a 100 or 0 score.

Metacritic aggregates reviews of movies and TV shows, plus video games and music albums. It's one of the best sites for gamers , but it can give you a good idea on the quality of movies too.

The site collects reviews from many sources and aggregates them into one "metascore" from 0 to 100. It displays a color and one-line indication of quality based on the overall score, with the following used for movies, TV, and albums:

• 81-100: Universal Acclaim (Green)
• 61-80: Generally Favorable Reviews (Green)
• 40-60: Mixed or Average Reviews (Yellow)
• 20-39: Generally Unfavorable Reviews (Red)
• 0-19: Overwhelming Dislike (Red)

Unlike Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic uses a weighted average system. Nobody knows the exact details, but the service assigns more importance to some sources than others. Like the other two sites, Metacritic also includes a separate user score, which does not influence the critic score.

The Pros of Metacritic

Metacritic avoids the Rotten Tomatoes problem of scoring every review as simply "good" or "bad." A review of 50 percent gets mixed in with the rest to create the metascore. Thus, the score you see on Metacritic is closer to the average review, as opposed to the percentage of critics who simply liked the movie on Rotten Tomatoes.

Additionally, among these three sites, Metacritic is the only one to feature full user reviews right next to critic reviews. This makes it easy to compare what the general public thinks compared to the professionals.

The Cons of Metacritic

While it's easy to translate a score from a five-star or 10-point scale, Metacritic's way of translating letter grade is questionable. We can see how this works on the About Metascores page :

While scoring an A as 100 percent makes sense, note the scores for B- and F , for instance. A 67 percent score for a B- seems a bit harsh. In most schools, a score of 67 percent is closer to an F than it is a B- .

And scoring an F as 0 percent seems unfair. Something like 20 percent for an F might be more appropriate. Because every site has different scales for scoring (some might not even use pluses and minuses), this could skew a reviewer's original meaning.

Also, unlike Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic seems to have few public standards. There's no detailed information on where it sources it critics from. Thus, the score potentially doesn't have as much weight behind it as Rotten Tomatoes does.

What Is the Best Movie Rating Website?

So we've now taken a look at IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, and Metacritic, and listed their major pros and cons. As you might have guessed, there's no one website that's best for everything.

However, we can recommend each of these sites for different reasons:

• IMDb is great for seeing what general audiences think of a movie. If you don't care what the critics say and want to see what people like yourself thought of a film, then you should use IMDb. Just be aware that fans often skew the vote with 10-star ratings, which may inflate scores somewhat.
• Rotten Tomatoes offers the best overall picture of whether a movie is worth seeing at a glance. If you only trust the opinions of top critics and just want to know if a movie is at least decent, you should use Rotten Tomatoes. While the Fresh/Rotten binary can oversimplify the often complex opinions of critics, it should still help you weed out lousy films.
• Metacritic offers the most balanced aggregate score. If you don't mind which critics' opinions go into the final score and prefer seeing a general average, then you should use Metacritic. Its standards are mostly unknown, but Metacritic makes it easy to compare professional and user reviews side-by-side.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with checking all three of these sites every time you're thinking of seeing a movie. Over time, you should figure out which site's tastes most match yours; then you'll know which is best for you personally.

Personal Taste Still Matters Most

Remember that movie scores aren't everything. All three of these sites don't, for instance, paint an accurate picture of movies that are so bad they're good. Because those movies are objectively terrible, they carry low scores even though they have ironic value.

Plus, it's impossible to sum up complex opinions from dozens of people into a single number. And no matter what the critics or general public think, your preferences might be totally different anyway. There's nothing wrong with enjoying a movie that most people find stupid. So while these sites are helpful, don't take them too seriously.

• Behind the scene

IMDb (Internet Movie Database); best movie critic websites:‎

IMDb is a well-known platform that serves as a one-stop destination for movie information. While it ‎primarily focuses on providing a comprehensive database of films, it also includes user-generated reviews ‎and ratings. IMDb’s extensive user community makes it a valuable resource for gauging public opinion on ‎movies of all genres.‎

Metacritic; movie critic website:‎

Metacritic stands out by presenting a metascore, which is a weighted average of scores from various ‎critics. This unique approach provides a quick snapshot of critical reception. Metacritic also includes user ‎reviews, allowing readers to explore a broader range of opinions.‎

You may also be interested in this: Top Movie Review YouTube Channels

Letterboxd:‎

Letterboxd is a social networking site for film enthusiasts. It offers a platform for users to log, rate, and ‎review movies they have watched. Letterboxd fosters a vibrant community that encourages discussions ‎and recommendations, making it an excellent resource for cinephiles to discover new films.‎

Criticker; movie review aggregator websites:‎

Criticker adopts a personalized approach to movie recommendations. Users rate films they have watched, ‎and the website’s algorithm suggests other movies based on their ratings. This collaborative filtering ‎system helps users find movies that align with their tastes and preferences.‎

FilmAffinity:‎

FilmAffinity is a Spanish-based movie review website that boasts an extensive international user ‎community. It features user-generated reviews and ratings, along with personalized movie ‎recommendations. FilmAffinity’s multicultural perspective makes it a valuable resource for exploring films ‎beyond mainstream Hollywood.‎

You may also be interested in this: Best Cinema Critics

Reddit, a popular online platform, hosts various communities dedicated to movies and film criticism. ‎Subreddits such as r/movies and r/TrueFilm provide spaces for discussions, sharing recommendations, and ‎reading insightful reviews. The diverse user base ensures a broad range of opinions and perspectives.‎

The Guardian’s Film Section; professional movie critic websites:

‎ The Guardian’s film section is a reputable source of movie reviews and features articles written by ‎experienced critics. Known for its thoughtful analysis and in-depth coverage, The Guardian provides ‎readers with well-crafted reviews that delve into the artistic and thematic aspects of films.‎

Best Cinema Review

BestCinemareview.com is a newly established website designed and updated daily by a group of cinema enthusiasts. The site introduces you to the best movies and series, and provides analysis of both classic and modern cinema.

When you visit BestCinemareview.com, you will find various sections, including Reviews (In-depth reviews of recently released movies and TV series), Genres, The Bests, Biography, Behind The Scene and Anime

Are movie critics biased?‎

The question of whether movie critics are biased is a complex one. While it is true that critics, like any ‎other human beings, have their own subjective preferences, it does not necessarily mean they are ‎inherently biased. Here are a few factors to consider:‎

Subjectivity and Personal Taste:‎

Movie criticism is inherently subjective because art, including film, is open to interpretation. Critics bring ‎their personal backgrounds, experiences, and tastes to their reviews, which can influence their opinions. ‎What resonates with one critic may not resonate with another. However, reputable critics strive to ‎evaluate films based on their artistic merits, storytelling, technical aspects, and cultural significance, rather ‎than solely on personal preferences.‎

Professionalism and Expertise:‎

Many movie critics have dedicated their careers to studying and analyzing films. They possess extensive ‎knowledge about film history, theory, and the craft of filmmaking. Their expertise allows them to provide ‎informed perspectives and critical insights. While personal biases may still exist, professional critics usually ‎aim to provide objective analyses and consider the broader context of a film’s production and cultural ‎impact.‎

Different Approaches and Critical Schools:‎

Film criticism encompasses a wide range of approaches and methodologies. Some critics focus on formal ‎analysis, examining the technical aspects of a film, while others emphasize the socio-cultural or political ‎implications of a movie. Critics may align with different critical schools or philosophies, which can result in ‎varying interpretations and evaluations. These diverse perspectives contribute to a well-rounded ‎understanding of a film’s strengths and weaknesses.‎

Influence and External Factors:‎

Critics, like any public figures, can be influenced by external factors such as industry relationships, ‎marketing campaigns, or personal biases. Some critics may succumb to these pressures, consciously or ‎unconsciously, affecting the objectivity of their reviews. However, reputable critics strive to maintain their ‎integrity and independence, providing honest opinions regardless of external influences.‎

Reader-Reviewer Relationship:‎

It is essential to recognize that movie criticism is a dialogue between the critic and the audience. Readers ‎often seek out critics whose opinions align with their own tastes or whose writing style resonates with ‎them. Therefore, what may be perceived as bias by some could simply be a critic’s consistent perspective ‎or writing style that attracts a specific audience?‎

When it comes to finding reliable movie reviews, these movie critic websites offer a range of perspectives ‎and insights. Rotten Tomatoes , IMDb, Metacritic , Letterboxd, Criticker, FilmAffinity, Reddit, and The ‎Guardian’s film section are just a few examples of the excellent resources available online. By exploring ‎these platforms, movie enthusiasts can make informed decisions about which films to watch, ensuring ‎their movie-watching experiences are both enjoyable and enriching.‎ In addition to these websites, some film and series production platforms such as Netflix or Amazon Prime ‎sometimes review films and series.‎

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Tech, Media & Entertainment

17+ Best Movie Review and Ratings Sites (List)

In this article, we’re going to provide a list of the top, most reliable  movie review sites  on the internet.

Whether you’re a fan of a certain genre like horror or more into TV reviews than movies, we’re going to bring you a full list of the very best movie review and ratings sites out there in 2024.

First let’s cover some common questions about these movie review sites, film critique, how to make your own reviews, and more.

Let’s dive in!

Everyone’s a critic on everything these days… what’s the best movie review and ratings site out there?

Our list below is meant to be ranked based on credibility, overall popularity, and thoroughness.

Do they have a good ranking system in place to accurately rate movies?

Are they have thorough movie reviews?

Do they cover a wide range of titles?

What do people say about them?

All these questions factor into a site’s credibility.

If the reviews aren’t thorough, then what’s the point in going to that review site? You might as well just go see a movie you’re interested in and get other people’s opinions from your friends, family, and social media instead.

Also, apparently, there are some film critics out there who believe it is their job to tell everyone “how to think” about movies they’ve seen. That’s not always what people want or need from movie reviews sometimes. Each of us has our own individual tastes. We’d like to know which titles we should check out for ourselves! Assuming of course, if we haven’t already seen them.

And while this list isn’t a ranking of which site is the best, it should be pretty clear that our all-around favorite movie review and ratings site would have to be IMDb.

IMDb has it all! They have more titles than anyone else on this list, their rankings are accurate, they have more professional film critics with great credentials who write very thorough movie reviews…

Everybody knows IMDb. Critic or not, if you’re looking for a ton of movie data, IMDb’s got your back!

Who is the best film critic of all time?

Roger Ebert (1942-2013) is probably the most famous film critic of all time.

Most people reading this article have probably heard of his name. On top of that, how many other film critics have you heard of? Probably not a ton.

IMDb has a huge list of professional movie critics who write for them on their site. So, while there are many more great film critics out there… it’s safe to say that Roger Ebert is probably the best ever to do it.

His reviews went beyond just what he thought of a movie but tied it to the bigger picture of where we are in society and other broader perspective matters.

Is there such a thing as a movie reviews app?

There sure is!

Some of the sites below (mainly the big popular ones) have iPhone and Android apps that you can install on your phone and tablet devices for even better movie review access.

Is there anything other than just movie reviews that I can find on these sites?

Many movie review sites contain more than just movies. They cover television , video games , and other related entertainment topics as well.

They also contain movie data like ratings, movie trailers, news articles…

What makes a good movie review?

A good film critique should include all the following:

• start with an opening line that draws the reader in and then introduce your thesis statement (or what you’re trying to express)
• provide background information relevant to the topic at hand
• give examples using quotations from the primary source material (a movie or TV show)
• give a conclusion summarizing everything you’ve covered so far

If your goal is to write great movie reviews for any of these sites below, those are some of the elements you’ll want to keep in mind!

I saw a great movie the other day… can I review it?

Lots of movie review sites allow users to chime in and provide their own reviews.

Movies are a subjective thing, so keep your reviews as accurate and unbiased as possible.

Don’t just give it five stars because you loved it! Think about why you would recommend that people see this movie, what the best parts were, and then write up your review based on those points.

Write an honest review to help others decide whether they should see this film or not.

What do an IMDb score and IMDb ranking mean?

IMDb has two different scores for the movies it reviews.

There is the user score, which is the average of every user review.

The official IMDb score is a composite of all professional reviews of a given movie.

Rankings are then generated from the highest to lowest scores of a movie (often within a specific genre), based on the major professional reviews that have been made.

Best Movie Review and Ratings Sites in 2024

Let’s take a look at the best movie review and ratings sites in 2024.

IMDb is the world’s most popular movie review site and one of the best film sites on the web. It was founded on October 17, 1990 and has been going strong ever since.

IMDb is widely considered the foremost expert in the movie review industry online. With more than 1,200 movie critic reviews per day and about 600 million monthly unique visitors, it’s hard to beat IMDb.

What makes them the best movie review site?

Pros : They have a huge selection of films rated by critics with excellent credentials. With a massive database of more than 250 million titles, this website attracts a wide range of viewers looking to learn about movies they haven’t seen before or rediscover old favorites at home. IMDb also provides links to trailers for most movies, which is great if you want to know what all the hype is about!

Cons : IMDb is larger than any other movie review site on this list and can be difficult to navigate sometimes if you don’t know what you’re looking for.

#2 Rotten Tomatoes

Rotten Tomatoes is one of the most well-known movie review and ratings sites on the web and provides thousands of user reviews posted by everyday viewers just like you.

Rotten Tomatoes is possibly second only to IMDb in terms of how many people visit their site each month (around 60-80 million).

The company contains professional film reviews from hundreds of big publications like Rolling Stone, Variety, and The New Yorker.

They also show what’s hot not only in the film world, but when it comes to TV as well.

What makes them one of the best movie review sites?

Pros : They offer both professional and user reviews – a rare find on large movie review sites.

Rotten Tomatoes is incredibly easy to navigate with dozens of filter options to help visitors pinpoint their favorite genres/artists/theatres, etc. You can also check out your local theaters’ upcoming showtimes directly from the site.

Cons : Some of their scores are slightly inflated compared to IMDB because there is no score ceiling (they go up to 100%). Also, it’s not always easy to tell which critics wrote which reviews.

#3 Fandango

Fandano is one of the leading movie ticket retailers. They also have an official movie review website too, which is updated with fresh reviews daily.

Pros : Fandango offers both their own user reviews as well as professional reviews from recognized critics across America.

Cons : Popular, but not as active as IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes.

#4 The Movie Database

The Movie Database is another notable movie review site for movies released in theaters, despite being based in the UK.

Pros : The TMDb site is filled with user reviews and information on films alike, making it easy to find any film you want by just searching for its title.

Cons : Many users opt for larger sites since any site in the movie and TV review niche is going up against IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes.

#5 Letterboxd

Letterboxd is a lesser-known movie review site, but one that gets rave reviews from its users.

Letterboxd is one of the best movie review sites because they’re all about social media   – which means that visitors have more opportunities to interact with others here than on most other movie review hubs.

Their slogan is “filmstagram” because the site is centered around generating an Instagram -like filter for your movie watching experience—but this means that only people with accounts on the site can leave reviews.

Pros : The interface is sleek and easy to use. The site also lets you keep track of what movies you’ve watched, in case you wanted to go back through your viewing history later on.

Cons : To write a review on Letterboxd, you have to sign up with an email address or Facebook account first. No anonymous reviews are allowed so some users feel limited by this feature.

#6 Metacritic

Metacritic is a website that aggregates reviews for media products (like video games, but also movies and TV shows).

Pros : If you’re interested in finding out what critics across America think about a movie (or game) before you buy it, Metacritic is your best chance at doing so.

Cons : Some users complain that this site puts too much stock into professional reviews compared to user reviews. Also, some movies do not contain enough reviews to generate a quality average score.

#7 IndieWire

IndieWire is more than just a movie review site – it’s also an industry news site.

Pros : The information on IndieWire is continually updated, making it one of the most reliable sources for current movie news. You can access their content free of charge too.

Cons : Most people visit IndieWire looking for the latest industry updates (not reviews), which means that you’re not going to find many (if any) user-generated reviews here like on some other websites. Also, their content is targeted towards professionals or those interested in breaking into showbiz or related fields rather than casual viewers and fans of film/TV alike.

#8 Yahoo! Movies

Yahoo! Movies is one of the most recognizable movie review sites in America.

They provide both their own user reviews as well as professional reviews from credible critics in the industry.

Pros : Yahoo! Movies is easy to navigate and lets you filter search results by type of release (DVD, Blu-ray, etc.). The site also has plenty of trailers for popular upcoming movies that are perfect if you’re trying to get an idea for what’s worth checking out on the big screen soon.

Cons : Like Yahoo in many verticals, it’s not as popular as it once was and is no longer the go-to when it comes to movie reviews.

#9 RogerEbert

RogerEbert is named after possibly the most famous film critic of all time, who wrote for the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in April 2013. In 1975, Ebert became the first film critic to win the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.

Ebert’s brand continues through a dedicated movie reviews and ratings site.

Pros : The site’s design appears very clean, modern, and easy to navigate. Especially for casual users who just want quick notes on new films before heading off to the theatre.

Cons : This site only provides a few user reviews a day, some days none at all. RogerEbert also received criticism from its own readers when it stopped updating their database with films that had less than three stars (for some people, this meant many films Ebert himself reviewed were no longer considered worth seeing).

#10 SlashFilm

SlashFilm is a movie review site that includes photos, trailers, interviews, and other news about upcoming films.

Pros : SlashFilm has thousands of high-quality images to provide an interactive experience for users when searching for movies they might like. They also write several excellent articles each month detailing compelling topics in film/TV (for example, “The Most Underrated Meryl Streep Roles”).

Cons : There aren’t many user reviews available on this website, which could be disappointing for some visitors looking for that feature. SlashFilm is also not updated nearly as often as it should be. Also, their content isn’t focused on up-to-date info like industry news or blog posts, which makes it a less popular choice for film enthusiasts and critics alike.

#11 Moviefone

Moviefone is owned by AOL and is one of the most recognized movie review sites on the web. Like Yahoo!, the site provides both reviews from critics as well as amateur users.

Pros : The design is simple to use and easy on the eyes, which means you can spend more time reading reviews than trying to figure out how a layout works. Moviefone also has a stellar library of high-quality photos for popular movies that will leave you in the mood to watch some good TV.

Cons : The user reviews are too short sometimes – some only have three sentences before being cut off mid-sentence, leaving readers wondering what they missed out on! Additionally, Moviefone only provides the bare minimum of professional reviews from industry professionals. And, like many other movie review sites, their content is sometimes outdated and they don’t offer enough current-event news about what’s happening in Hollywood right now (e.g., “Why Ben Affleck is a Genius”).

#12 Blue-ray

Blue-ray is one of the most accurate movie review sites on the web thanks to its large database of hundreds of industry professionals and critics from around the world.

Pros : Blue-ray has a very sleek layout that’s easy to navigate, which will make casual users feel at home right away. Visitors can also search for reviews by their favorite stars or directors, which is great if you’re looking for insight from a certain critic who watches all Steven Spielberg films.

Cons : This site does not allow users to write reviews, which means it doesn’t have much content in general compared to Hollywood entertainment news websites like IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes. Blue-ray is simply an aggregator that pulls reviews from other movie review sites without actually providing any new content.

#13 What’s on Netflix

What’s on Netflix is a movie review site that offers both professional and amateur reviews of various films.

Pros : This website is great for finding movies you might like to watch online, whether it’s streaming on Netflix or another platform. It also breaks down categories based on film genre (e.g., comedy, drama) to make browsing more efficient.

Cons : What’s on Netflix has a somewhat unappealing layout, making it difficult to navigate when trying to find specific types of movies to watch. Additionally, their content is quite dated compared to other websites with industry news and new blog posts about what’s happening in Hollywood right now.

#14 MyDramaList

MyDramaList is a movie review site that offers both professional and amateur reviews of various films.

Pros : Visitors can write their own reviews on this website, which is great for users who want to share their own personal experiences with certain movies. It’s also very helpful for finding recommendations for family-friendly films or even animated features that are worth checking out.

Cons : This site has an outdated layout, so it might be difficult for some visitors to find what they’re looking for (e.g., specific genres or categories). Moreover, there aren’t many industry news updates here – most content seems to consist of blog posts about upcoming television series instead. If you want detailed industry news like what’s happening in Hollywood, try a website like Rotten Tomatoes or IMDb instead.

#15 Syfy Wire

Syfy Wire, from the SyFy channel, is a movie review site that offers both professional and amateur reviews of various films.

Pros : The layout on this website is very clean and easy to navigate, which will be comforting for site visitors who are looking for family-friendly films they can enjoy with friends and/or their kids.

Cons : This website is mainly comprised of short blurbs about new television shows or actors instead of detailed industry news like what’s happening in Hollywood right now (e.g., box office sales, film festivals). If you’re looking for more than just promotional content, try a different movie review site with more content. Additionally, most user reviews skew towards positive ratings, which isn’t very helpful if you’re looking for impartial insight.

#16 MovieWeb

MovieWeb is another large movie review site, ranked among the top 5,000 most popular websites in America (around 6 million monthly visitors). They provide movie news, TV show updates, and reviews for all genres and types of films.

Pros : MovieWeb is structured cleanly like a blog and dozens of new articles are pumped out each day.

Cons : There aren’t many movie news updates here, which means you might have to search elsewhere if you’re looking for unbiased film industry insight. For example, there are no articles about what’s happening in Hollywood right now (e.g., box office sales) or even new blog posts about upcoming films in 2024.

#17 Taste of Cinema

Taste of Cinema is a movie review site from Russia that contains both user ratings and critic reviews.

Pros : The film list and actor list pages have a lot going on to help you find films and people quickly and easily.

Cons : Its reviews aren’t updated very frequently.

#18 Crave Online

Crave Online is an entertainment news site that has a movie review section.

Pros : This site is updated regularly with fresh content. The reviews here are also written by professional critics, unlike other user-based online platforms.

Cons : Crave Online looks a little outdated and hasn’t been updated in a while.

#19 MoviGuide

MoviGuide is another large movie review platform with its own official app for Android and iOS devices to make finding local theaters easier.

They also have a community forum where people can discuss movies released in theaters recently—and even vote up/down on different titles to influence future reviews.

Pros : It’s easy to find local theaters here. The app also has a cool flashlight-like locator feature where you can turn your phone’s flash on to light up theaters near your location if they’re not visible in the dark.

Cons : Most movie reviews are based off users’ opinions only here, with no official critics’ ratings included. There aren’t any new user reviews either, so it can be hard finding recent films that people have seen.

Pajiba is another large entertainment news hub with a movie section—but their articles mainly focus on newer films that have been released recently in theaters (or even to rent and buy online).

Pros : Pajiba has a lot of user reviews on their site, which is refreshing. Their film news is also updated daily with fresh content to make sure you don’t miss anything important.

Cons : Bad movies get more attention here than good ones do – so it’s hard to find positive opinions about titles that should be considered great. Additionally, their movie section isn’t very detailed compared to other sites like IMDb or Letterboxd. Not all critics’ scores are included either; only users’ ratings are displayed so you’d have to read through many different reviews before finding one from a professional critic.

#21 Top Documentary Films

Top Documentary Films is a movie review hub that contains user and expert reviews for all kinds of documentaries—not just those released in theaters or on TV.

Pros : Their site is fairly simple to navigate with good options for sorting through content (by year, most popular, etc).

Cons : The design isn’t very original and can be slightly hard on the eyes sometimes. The documentary page itself also looks like it hasn’t been updated in a while (with some titles missing and outdated information).

#22 Rateranker

Raterranker is another lesser-known movie review site whose slogan is “your opinion can make a difference.”

Pros : This site gives you access to both professional and user reviews for all movies.

Cons : User ratings are not displayed on this website, which makes it hard for some users to know what they’re getting into before clicking on a movie. It’s also not always easy to tell which critics wrote the reviews listed here.

#23 The Indie Handbook

The Indie Handbook is a movie review site that offers both professional and amateur reviews of various films.

Pros : The site’s design is very minimalist, making it quick and easy to find most movie categories without scrolling too much. Visitors can write their own reviews on this website, which helps if you’re looking for comments from other regular users who have watched certain movies before. It provides great movie recommendations based on user-generated ratings and reviews, making it helpful when browsing the site for film suggestions to watch.

Cons : Movie ratings are not displayed on this website so you’d have to read through actual reviews before figuring out if a certain film is worth watching or not. This can be hard for some users who want to base their decisions off user ratings instead of just personal opinions.

#24 Box Office Mojo

Box Office Mojo is a movie review site that offers both professional and amateur reviews of various films.

Pros : This website can help you find new titles for streaming on Netflix or Amazon Prime if you’re looking for something to watch. It’s also great for learning more about specific actors, directors, producers, etc., which can be helpful if you want to learn more about certain celebrities who have made their mark in the industry.

This is one of the most comprehensive sites for finding information about movies in general, which is great for making decisions when browsing online or visiting a local theater. It’s also helpful for learning more about specific actors, directors, producers, etc., which can be helpful if you want to learn more about certain celebrities who have made their mark in the industry.

What’s also interesting about this site is they disclose how much a movie has made at the box office worldwide so you can be better informed about what films to check out.

Cons : Visitors can write their own reviews on this website, but not many people take advantage of this feature so you might find yourself digging through old content online. Moreover, Box Office Mojo doesn’t provide many industry news updates. If you want detailed industry news like what’s happening in Hollywood, Rotten Tomatoes or IMDb might be a better fit.

#25 Flickchart

Flickchart is a movie review site that offers both professional and amateur reviews of various films.

Pros : This website has an excellent layout with easy-to-read text, so it’s great for casual users who just want to browse content quickly. Flickchart also takes pride in its user-friendly features, such as the ability to save movies and track their progress while creating lists throughout the year. The challenges page allows visitors to view what other people are watching and create their own film lists based on similar titles or genres.

Cons : There aren’t many reviews on this website, which makes it harder for some users to know whether or not a certain movie is worth watching.

#26 Film Junk Fan Reviews

Film Junk Fan Reviews is a movie review site that offers both professional and amateur reviews of various films. What makes them one of the best movie review sites?

Pros : Visitors can post their own reviews on this website, which helps if you want feedback from other regular users who have watched certain movies before. The layout is designed with casual use in mind, making it easy for anyone to find whatever they’re looking for within minutes.

What’s also great about this website is its detailed rankings and film charts so you can easily see what’s trending worldwide and among specific groups like critics and the public.

Cons : This website doesn’t offer very many reviews or overall content compared to other movie review sites on this list, which can make it hard for some users to browse through the material.

#27 Collider Movie Talk

Collider is a movie review and news website that can be found online at collider.com.  It provides in-depth movie coverage from industry experts and critics, with articles about what’s happening in Hollywood right now (e.g., box office sales).

Pros : This website offers detailed analysis of the latest films to hit theaters, which will be helpful for site visitors who want to get up-to-date industry insight before deciding if a film is worth watching or not.

Cons : The layout on this website isn’t very clean, so it might be difficult for some users to find what they’re looking for (e.g., specific genres or categories). Additionally, there aren’t many movie news updates here – most articles consist of blog posts about new TV shows instead. If you want more than just promotional content and industry news updates, try a different movie review site with more content.

#28 Inside The Magic

Inside the Magic is a Disney-focused movie review website that provides detailed analysis from experts and fans alike.  This means they provide unbiased insight for superhero movies, family-friendly films, animated features, sci-fi/fantasy flicks, etc.

Pros : This site has detailed information about upcoming Disney film releases, which will be very helpful for site visitors who are planning to see the newest releases to hit theaters. Inside the Magic also has exclusive interviews with members of the cast and crew, so it’s a great resource for people who have an affinity for Disney stars.

Cons : The layout on this website isn’t very clean or easy-to-browse, so casual users might find themselves searching through content without being able to find what they’re looking for. Viewers should look at other movie review websites instead if they want something that looks more modern and accessible.

#29 Field Guide To Evil

Field Guide to Evil is a horror film review site that provides movie news updates as well as industry insight from critics and fans alike. What makes them one of the best movie review sites?

Pros : This website has a unique layout and design so it’s easy for casual users to find what they’re looking for within minutes. There are also lots of content options for visitors, including archives of recent articles and blog posts.

Cons : Since this site is part of a larger horror film blog, you’ll have to go through several pages if you want more than just movie reviews. Viewers should look at other movie review websites instead if they’re only searching for analysis on new films.

#30 Movies In Movies

Movies in Movies is a movie review website that offers both industry insight from critics and fans as well as information about upcoming releases.  This means visitors can find news updates about Disney films, superhero movies, crime flicks, family-friendly movies, etc.

Pros : This website has a clean and modern layout so it’s easy for casual users to browse through content and find what they’re looking for. There are also lots of content options that aren’t limited to movie reviews (e.g., TV show recaps/news), which will be helpful if viewers want more than just information on new films.

Cons : Since this site only focuses on Disney releases, it might not have as much industry insight as other websites on this list. Viewers should look at other movie review websites instead if they want something with more variety in its content offerings.

Conclusion: Best Movie Review and Ratings Sites

There are tons of movie review websites out there, but only a handful of them can actually provide unbiased insight to casual users.

The best movie review sites in 2024 will be those with clean and easy-to-use layouts so that site visitors aren’t overwhelmed by advertisements.

Viewers who want more than just information on upcoming releases should also consider other website options because not all movie review websites offer the same industry insights (and vice versa).

If you’re looking for one of the best movie review sites, check out any one of these top 5 choices: Rotten Tomatoes, IMDb, Fandango, The Movie Database, and Letterboxd.

In our opinion, IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes represent the top two in the movie review industry.

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The 12 Best Free Movie Streaming Services That Aren't YouTube

The 12 best free movie streaming services that aren't youtube, from blockbusters to cult classics, tubi, crackle, and freevee have some eclectic offerings worth checking uot.

Sure, there are plenty of great free movies on YouTube —but while YouTube is awesome, it’s not the only game in town. So we decided to put together a list of other sites that also offer free movies, break down the pros and cons of each one, briefly explore what they offer beyond movies, and then dive deep into the specific films that you can check out gratis (pretty much in all cases with ads). Here are 12 free streaming services where you can find some great films.

This story originally appeared on The A.V. Club.

Tubi is ubiquitous in that you can stream it anywhere at any time, using just about any device. We like the spiffy, easy-to-navigate interface, not to mention the much-wider-than-its-competitors’ selection of major movies. We’re talking John Wick (and 2 and 3 ), Secretary, Heathers , Straight Outta Compton , Goodfellas , King Richard , and Batman . It’s a similar story with the TV end of the equation, old and new hits, classics, and little-seen gems, including Hannibal, Luther , and for those who like to see watermelons smashed… The Gallagher Collection . The only bummer? Too many ads.

Bonus points: We like the category called Not on Netflix.

We love Kanopy for three specific reasons. One, you need a library card or college ID to access it; after that, it’s free. Two, no ads! And, three, as you might expect, they provide truly thought-provoking features and documentaries. Let’s rattle off a bunch of titles: Captain Fantastic, Abortion: Stories Women Tell People, Rashomon , I Am Not Your Negro , Chinatown , and Howards End are some of the films you can find on this service.

Bonus points: Kanopy also offers a ton of kids’ programming, both entertainment-oriented and educational.

Killers Of The Flower Moon ? Oppenheimer ? Barbie ? Too good to be true, right? Right. You can buy or rent those titles, and many other current/recent releases, on Vudu . If you’re seeking the free stuff (with ads), then click on the Free link all the way up at the top. Vudu offers a modest selection of films and shows. Amidst the many B-movies you never heard of ( Titanic 2 , for example!), you’ll hit upon some worthwhile entries, including Maggie, Glengarry GlenRoss, Sidewalk Stories, On Golden Pond, Alf, Terrifier, King Of New York, Trees Lounge , and the recent, highly recommended documentary, Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story .

Bonus points: Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares is both new and excellent.

There are niches and then there are niches. CONtv serves up movies (and shows) meant to appeal to fans of sci-fi, horror, fantasy, action, and anime, especially those people who love conventions like Comic-Con. So, cue a few classics, including Carnival Of Souls and Fist Of Fury , a bunch of familiar titles ( The Collector, Night Of The Living Dead ), and a bloody long list of obscure, cheesy, genre flicks ranging from Zombie Ass Toilet Of The Dead, Hell Bride , and Zombie Hamlet to Monsturd, Little Dead Rotting Hood , and The Great American Snuff Film .

Bonus points: Did we mention they’re showing Zombie Ass Toilet Of The Dead ?!

Sony purchased Crackle in 2016, so it should surprise no one that Sony and Columbia dominate the options. But they’ve also got numerous TV shows, comedy specials, documentaries, and some original programming, too, including requisite holiday fare. When it comes to movies, you won’t find many blockbusters or recent releases, but we’re good with Troll Hunter , Please Stand By, Hobo With A Shotgun, Goon, The Wrecking Crew!, A League Of Ordinary Gentlemen, and Kiss Of The Damned . And if you crave a kitschy holiday movie, you’ve not lived until you watch A Christmas Carol: The Musical , starring Kelsey Grammer, Jane Krakowski, Jesse L. Martin, Jason Alexander, and Jennifer Love Hewitt.

Bonus points: Easy to navigate, minimal ads.

Don’t want to pay for Prime Video? Amazon offers this free (with ads) streaming service, which delivers live news, TV shows, and, of course, movies— including original productions. Among the films now available on Freevee are Tender Mercies, Return To Me, The Shape Of Water , Donnie Darko , Till, Party Girl , the trashy cult classic The Big Bird Cage, The Iceman , and My Policeman . We particularly recommend a little-seen coming-of-age romantic drama called Dear Zoe , which stars the preternaturally talented Sadie Sink. Meanwhile, there’s a holiday-themed original called EXmas (starring Leighton Meester and Robbie Amell) to go with a zillion other Christmas movies.

Bonus points: Freevee uses the same basic interface as Amazon, making it pretty easy to navigate.

Redbox ’s red boxes will always hold a special place in our hearts, but they’ve branched out beyond physical media to embrace the streaming universe. They offer movies on demand for a fee, but also a decent amount of free content, including game shows, series, and movies. Some of it is scheduled and some of it is on-demand. Odds are you’ve never heard of most of the movies, and by that we mean Walking Tall: The Payback (starring Kevin Sorbo), Bad Johnson, Terror Eyes, Hashtag Blessed , and Hounds Of Love . Poke around, though, and they’ve got Rush, Monster, Bubba Ho-Tep, Valley Girl , and The Indian Runner , among other worthwhile titles.

Bonus points: The eclectic selection includes plenty of content you won’t find anywhere else—for better and for worse.

Popcornflix

Popcorn usually goes best with bad movies and TV shows. As such, we recommend stocking tons of Orville Redenbacher’s in the cupboard and having it ready to go if you visit Popcornflix . Most of their content, from the shows to movies, is of the B variety—or worse, which can be a blast for a few hours if you like knockoffs, cheap indies, and Sci-Fi Channel originals. We admittedly want to check out Attack Of The Killer Donuts , and maybe the exclusive, Killer Sofa , but there may not be enough popcorn on the planet to get us through The Fast And The Fierce, Five-Headed Shark Attack , and Rise Of The Zombies (even if it does feature Danny Trejo). To be fair, they’ve got Bronson .

Bonus points: Remember, it’s free!

Truth be told, we’d never heard of Fawesome either, but here we are! The name contracts the words Free and Awesome, as in “free awesome TV and movies.” Their flicks come from Paramount, Cinedigm, Lionsgate, and other distributors. Current titles include Django Unchained , St. Vincent , Lion, An American Werewolf In London , Charade, Phantasm 3 and 4 , Ip Man , a heartbreaking TV movie called Friendly Fire (starring Carol Burnett; yes, that Carol Burnett), and Train To Busan . The only problems? Waaay too many commercials, not enough movies, and you can’t watch on a Mac or PC.

Bonus points: Click and watch; no subscription necessary.

A full-service streaming service in its own right, Pluto serves up everything … movies, shows, live television, old, new, and lots of CBS and Paramount productions, which makes sense since it’s a cog in the ViacomCBS machine. Yes, it’s a little unwieldy to maneuver around, given that there are so many titles (and no Just Added link), but you can’t complain about the selections. These include Titanic (as opposed to Titanic 2 ), Star Trek Beyond , Knives Out , The Long Walk Home, Bound, Dances With Wolves , seven Saw movies, and lots of Mystery Science Theater 3000 flicks.

Bonus points: Relatively few ads, though they tend to pop up right at the juiciest moments.

Most folks think of Roku as the easy path they can take to access their streaming apps, be it Netflix or Hulu—and it is. But the platform also boasts its own streaming app, The Roku Channel, which features free movies, television shows, news, and Roku Originals. Current originals include How To Fall In Love By The Holiday (starring Teri Hatcher). And if you haven’t seen Roku’s wacky Weird Al movie, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (starring Daniel Radcliffe), check it out. Among the fairly limited number of non-original freebie movies: F9: The Fast Saga , Mad Max: Fury Road , Nuts, The Emoji Movie , Freeway , and Mamma Mia!  

Bonus points: The app is easier to use than the site.

Plex bills itself as “Your TV concierge,” and that sounds about right, as it lets you store and organize all your media, from movies and shows to music and more. But, for free and with a click, you can watch countless movies. Among the documentaries in rotation now are Hoop Dreams , Jesus Camp , and Grizzly Man . The broad range of features includes The King Of Comedy , Colossal , Dredd, Cruel Intentions, Hostel, The Aviator, Kickboxer, Once Upon A Time In America, Only God Forgives, Rock n Roll High School, Stagecoach, Sid & Nancy, and Death Hunt (macho nonsense at its best with Charles Bronson and Lee Marvin). There’s no need for an account, but you do get more options by signing in.

Bonus points: Leaving Soon is a helpful tool.

The best streaming services in 2024

Our picks for the best streaming services and cable alternatives for those considering cord cutting

• Best overall
• Best for live TV
• Best new TV
• Best variety
• Best for families
• Highest quality originals
• Best for sports
• Best add-on
• How to choose
• How we test

The best streaming services can keep you entertained for an eternity. Collectively, they house hundreds of thousands of hours of movies and TV shows for you to stream. Continue watching? Yes!

These days, though, streaming services are in a state of flux, with price hikes, password-sharing crackdowns and the introduction of ads. 

These services are just one-half of the streaming equation, though. As the cable box slowly withers away, it's being replaced by smart TVs and the best streaming devices, which include Rokus and Chromecasts. And by testing the best streaming services and devices side-by-side, we figure out the best way to build the ultimate streaming setup with the best selection of content and live channels.

The best streaming service overall

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

Max has everything HBO Max had, and then some, just like how HBO Max enhanced HBO. Now, the most popular Discovery Plus content is added in, so Logan Roy and Guy Fieri sit side by side in the Series section, in a situation nobody ever imagined. All for the same $15.99 that HBO Max cost.

But there are minor headaches, such as all the shows and movies beginning with "the" are grouped together in alphabetical sorting under T.  Which can get confusing. You need to pay more for 4K , too. Fortunately, existing HBO Max subscribers keep 4K and other perks for the first six months of Max's existence. Oh, and the Last Chance section no longer has the dates for when stuff's leaving, and it's hidden in the New & Notable section. Check out our guide to the best HBO Max shows , and the best HBO Max movies to see what it's offering. 

Check our our full Max review .

The best streaming service for value

Peacock is our favorite rising streaming service, as it continues to add great shows. The bad news, though, is that Peacock joined its streaming rivals by instituting a price hike (up $1 per month). But we still love Peacock as a value pick. 

We at Tom's Guide subscribe to Peacock for a variety of reasons. Some like the Peacock Originals "The Traitors" and "Poker Face" — the kind of shows that keep us subscribing. Also, the service gets next-day episodes of current NBC and Bravo shows, so you never have to miss out on "Law & Order: SVU" or "Real Housewives" drama. Plus, Peacock streams live sports, including Premier League soccer and the NFL .

Read our full Peacock review , and also Peacock TV promo codes to save on monthly costs

The best streaming service for live TV

3. Sling TV

Unlike the above on-demand services that outrank it, Sling TV is a streaming service to replace cable, offering many of the most popular live TV channels. We (two of TG's streaming writers) cut the cord with Sling TV for the following two reasons: its competitive price is married with a decent assortment of channels. Sling is especially handy for sports fans, as it offers a variety of ESPN channels — and this alone is worth the price for some. 

Other popular networks, like NBC, BBC America, CNN, Cartoon Network, TBS and the Food Network, sweeten the deal. If you want a live TV service with more channels (such as CBS ), we say consider Fubo TV, unless you need TNT. In which case, Sling may be the best for you. Check out our Sling TV guide to packages, channels and more. While the other popular streaming services start at around $65 or $70, Sling stands out with its $40 per month starting price. 

But between the Dec. 2020 $5 price hike and Sling Blue going up by $5 in select markets due to ABC? Things are complicated. At least it's cheaper than the $73 YouTube TV and the $77 Hulu + Live TV. 

Sling keeps changing its new offer deal. It's currently at 50% off for your first month, and that's the best deal. Sometimes it goes to $10 off the first month. 

Read our full Sling TV review or view our Sling TV promo codes

The best streaming service for new TV shows

Hulu's one of the most interesting options on this list, and its unique nature makes sure it's one of the best streaming services. While it doesn't deliver as many new originals as say Netflix, its quality-to-quantity ratio is better. But more importantly, its next-day airings of cable and broadcast TV  shows make it a must-have for many cord-cutters who don't want to spend $40 or more on the likes of Sling. There's also Hulu + Live TV (which goes up to $77 in October) which is one of our favorite methods to cut the cable cord.

In addition, the service hosts a number of original shows (including joint ventures with the BBC, like The Wrong Mans and season 4 of The Thick of It), a selection of offbeat movies and a surprising amount of classic anime series. Recent Hulu hits include Only Murderers In the Building season 2, Fire Island and The Dropout. Even with a paid subscription, you have to sit through commercials, but far fewer than if you watched the same shows on cable. Hulu's live TV streaming option is also a solid aspect of its overall package, and that will let you watch CBS too. Wondering what to watch ? Check out our lists of the best shows on Hulu and the best movies on Hulu .

Check out our full Hulu with Live TV review or view our Hulu promo codes

The best streaming service with a ton of content

The great-granddaddy in the market remains near the top of our list of the best streaming services. As you probably know, Netflix provides unlimited streaming of TV shows, movies, comedy specials and original programming (we need Stranger Things 5 now) for one monthly subscription fee. It's continuing to try and make big movies its big thing, but The Gray Man wasn't exactly a winner (a sequel is coming, though). The new Netflix with ads plan offers a new $6.99 entry-point, but the previously affordable Basic plan just got a price hike . So did the already-too-expensive Premium plan.

Netflix is constantly adding and taking away movies, so you'll want to check our what's new on Netflix guide to see what's coming soon, and what you should watch before it's gone. Some may want to cancel Netflix for trying to get them to pay more, though, as something called "Paid sharing" looks to put an end to shared accounts.

Wondering what to watch? Check out our lists of the best shows on Netflix and the best movies on Netflix .

Read our full Netflix review .

The best streaming service for families

6. Disney Plus

Disney Plus is a dominant player in the category, and why wouldn't it be? Disney controls a frankly frightening number of properties, from Marvel , to Star Wars , to Disney's own animated canon, to The Simpsons (all 30 seasons, and counting). The incoming Disney Plus price hike pushes ad-free Disney Plus up another $3 to $14, though the $8 ad-free plan remains unchanged.

While we like the Disney Plus apps — they're all snappy, responsive and well-made — we've always wanted more from the service. For example, we find ourselves waiting for the next big thing too often. 

We're also curious about what will change with the addition of TV-MA content in the U.S., as Disney Plus gets the Netflix Marvel shows and improved parental controls. Deadpool, Deadpool 2 and Logan are the first R-rated Disney plus movies, too, but those are just drops in the bucket, as Netflix and HBO Max have long outranked Disney Plus when it comes to a wide variety of content for adults. Fans of Disney, Marvel, Pixar and/or Star Wars have no choice but to subscribe, which makes Disney Plus one of the best streaming services. 

Trying to figure out what's actually good? Our guides to the best Disney Plus movies and the best Disney Plus shows can help.

Read our full Disney Plus review .

The best streaming service for quality originals

7. Apple TV Plus

When we first named Apple TV Plus one of the best streaming services, it entered this list at the very end, in last place. In the months since? We keep going back to Apple TV Plus, as its hot streak is almost unparalleled outside of HBO Max. Severance was arguably the show of 2022, The Afterparty was a great surprise and Apple TV Plus even took home the best picture Oscar for CODA. So for anyone who says Apple TV Plus is for "Ted Lasso and little else," tell them they need to check out the best Apple TV Plus shows and movies . It's serving up programming that continues to surprise and charm, while Netflix almost feels routine and boring. 

The latest excellent Apple TV Plus show is Shrinking, starring Jason Segel, Jessica Williams and Harrison Ford — and it's from two of the minds behind Ted Lasso. Beyond that, there's the musical Schmigadoon!, the The Velvet Underground documentary and much more, including the excellent Mythic Quest. Want drama? For All Mankind and The Morning Show scratch the prestige and tabloid itches, respectively. And while it's getting into live sports with MLB and MLS, the recent Apple TV Plus price hike is not great news, as it went up from $4.99 to $6.99 per month.

Check out our full Apple TV Plus review .

The best sports streaming service

Fubo is one of the best streaming services for anyone looking to have access to live sports without an actual cable subscription. Fubo’s standard plan is $75 and offers 120-plus channels, including almost every major broadcast and cable network. And its recent addition of regional sports networks sounded great, until we found out that Fubo's adding upwards of $13.99 extra in a Regional Sports Fee you'll see at checkout. But unlike other live TV streaming competitors Hulu and Sling TV, Fubo has 4K streaming for select content on demand and select live events. The other knock against Fubo, besides its higher price, is the limited Cloud DVR storage. 

When we tested Fubo, we found that its multi-screen view (an Apple TV exclusive) was the biggest differentiator outside of its surplus of international sports. Those features work really well together, though, as we got to watch races and futbol simultaneously. 

While Fubo’s channel lineup is the largest among the higher-priced streamers, they just got a major pair of gaps filled, including ABC and ESPN. By adding ESPN, Fubo makes itself the top streaming service for NFL fans, offering all the major broadcast networks, and the NFL Network too. In addition, the lineup includes popular networks like NBC, Fox, AMC, Food Network, MTV and Syfy, as well as a ton of niche sports channels. Its only big sports flaw is the lack of TNT and TBS, which are musts for US sports playoffs for the NBA and MLB.

Check our our full Fubo review or view our Fubo promo codes

Best add-on streaming service

9. Prime Video

For those who do most of their shopping online, Amazon Prime is a no-brainer. For $139 (formerly $119) per year, you get free two-day shipping on your purchases, a free Kindle book each month, and unlimited access to both Amazon Music and Amazon Prime Video. Like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video is a veritable buffet of movies, television and original programming (the best Amazon shows range from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and The Man in the High Castle to Reacher and  The Boys). But unlike Netflix, Prime Video's new shows are seemingly few and far between, as its output rates don't quite stack up to the big red streaming machine, or HBO Max. 

Amazon Prime Video's biggest hit is The Boys, which has already had one animated spinoff (a college-based one is also coming). The thing we don't love about Prime Video is how its apps vary greatly across platforms. When we tested Prime Video on Roku or Apple TV or Chromecast, we saw fewer sorting and discovery options than we did on a Fire TV device. You can also rent or purchase movies through Amazon Prime Video, but it's an à la carte service. Check out our list of the best Prime Video movies for more recommendations.

Read our full Prime Video review .

How to choose the best streaming services for you

The good news is that you don't need to limit yourself to just one. It's all about picking the number of services that's right for your budget. And to that matter, all depends on the content you want to consume. While Netflix has a diverse array of content, it's not appealing to any specific audience — which means it's probably a service that most people have.

While Netflix is pivoting more to original shows and movies with each passing week, it's still constantly adding licensed movies and shows. But Max has a massive library and in general, boasts better quality content. 

Among the lower-priced streaming services, our choice is Peacock, but Paramount Plus is gaining ground and could soon be added to this list.

How we test the best streaming services

Testing streaming services is both serious work and good fun. When we test the quality of these platforms, we use them on multiple devices, including game consoles, web browsers and mobile devices. You'd be surprised at how differently Sling TV can look between a Roku, the Apple TV box and Chrome. 

We then compare the services based on the number of simultaneous streams they allow, if they throw in 4K streaming for free (or charge extra), and what other special features they allow. We also keep a strong eye on the new channels coming to each service, with articles such as our Sling Orange vs Blue face-off.

And as pricing constantly changes (not in the right way, most of the time), we have to rethink how each competitor sits in the landscape. Sling, for example, has stayed near the low end of the field, even though it too has gone up over time.

One of the biggest new names in streaming is NBCU's Peacock . Peacock has The Office, SNL and much more, plus it's the exclusive home for many Premier League soccer games and the WWE Network.

Max arrived with the WarnerMedia library (plus Friends), including all of HBO's prestige dramas and comedies. You absolutely need Max if you want to stay on top of the Sunday night TV conversation.

For more information, check out our  how we test page  for Tom's Guide.

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Kelly is the streaming channel editor for Tom’s Guide, so basically, she watches TV for a living. Previously, she was a freelance entertainment writer for Yahoo, Vulture, TV Guide and other outlets. When she’s not watching TV and movies for work, she’s watching them for fun, seeing live music, writing songs, knitting and gardening.

• Henry T. Casey Managing Editor (Entertainment, Streaming)

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