Netflix alternatives?

[Patrick425]

Signed up for Netflix streaming a little while ago and I have been less than thrilled with it. Unless maybe you also get the DVD rentals, there seems to be very little in the way of "new releases". Other than the TV shows you can watch, the movie selection is dated and limited. I was hoping for a lot more.

 

I looked at the Blockbuster site and it looks like they have releases like Argo and Skyfall available on demand.

 

Anyone have a Blockbuster account or any other streaming movie rental subscription that they can recommend?

[logan82]

You are not going to get new releases with any streaming service. We have both Netflix and Amazon Prime. Prime isn't really all that great either.

[pretendastronaut]

Blockbuster doesn't offer a subscription for its streaming, it's still pay-per-view. Redbox started a streaming service, but I've read the selection is even worse. I tried Prime on a trial last year and was even less impressed.

 

Netflix streaming was better about releases early on, but they've had a lot of push back from the movie studios to get those rights. If the kids didn't use the streaming so much for kid stuff, I'd probably drop it at this point. I've actually been going back to a physical Blockbuster store to rent DVDs, but just last week they jacked up their prices on all of their services, so I doubt I'll keep going there.

 

The movie industry seems to have learned nothing from the mp3 battles of the past and is doing what they can to keep people buying DVDs and doing PPV. They've developed Ultraviolet, which still forces you to buy each individual dvd/blue-ray disc and then you can stream it with a code. Woohoo!

[homer]

Prime + Netflix + Hulu is about as good as you can do. With a Roku player you can play all three on your TV.

[Raw Biz]

I am still not a big fan of streaming. I like having the physical disc. I have a huge dvd collection (over 1000) and there's just something nice about being able to see my actual dvds and picking out something to watch.

[Invader3K]

I am still not a big fan of streaming. I like having the physical disc. I have a huge dvd collection (over 1000) and there's just something nice about being able to see my actual dvds and picking out something to watch.

 

I like physical discs too but I can't complain about my 8 dollar per month Netflix subscription. Lets me find older movies I've never seen. I figure even if we only stream a couple movies per month with it, it's well worth it.

[Patrick425]

I am still not a big fan of streaming. I like having the physical disc. I have a huge dvd collection (over 1000) and there's just something nice about being able to see my actual dvds and picking out something to watch.

 

I like physical discs too but I can't complain about my 8 dollar per month Netflix subscription. Lets me find older movies I've never seen. I figure even if we only stream a couple movies per month with it, it's well worth it.

 

 

Meh...I'm just not thrilled at all with the movie selection on Netflix (streaming). When I purchased it I instantly looked up 3 or 4 movies I have been wanting to see for a long time (Better Off Dead, Being There, Quick Change...there was another one, can't remember now). None of them were available. When I scrolled through all the available movies it seems like many of the ones that I would have any interest in are movies that they play on cable channels like TBS, TCM, or Comedy Central dozens of times a year anyways. I guess I could switch to the DVD rental service, but I really like ability to instantly access movies and not have to deal with returning anything.

 

I will say that my wife and I are enjoying watching Breaking Bad on Netflix. I think for now that is mostly what we will be using Netflix for...watching TV series that we didn't watch when they were on TV. I just wish they had Northern Exposure!

[Invader3K]

 

I will say that my wife and I are enjoying watching Breaking Bad on Netflix. I think for now that is mostly what we will be using Netflix for...watching TV series that we didn't watch when they were on TV. I just wish they had Northern Exposure!

 

I think this is one of the biggest selling points. The wife and I recently started watching "Freaks and Geeks", which was on about 14 years ago and neither of us ever saw.

[I Heart Brewers]

My two cents. You can buy and stream from titles from Itunes or Amazon. No need for a physical disc and it's always available from the cloud in HD. Forever. Titles are available when released by studio and sometimes earlier (pre-theatrical release in some cases). Admittedly, this is easier if you have a streaming box like Apple TV (I do), but it's an inexpensive investment IMO based on the convenience.

 

Even better, you can't scratch a virtual disc.

 

*Edit, I should clarify, if you purchase you own forever, if you rent it's usually 30 days to watch and once you start the rental period it's 24 hours to view. But either option usually offers a quicker release date than Netflix. I use Netflix streaming as well so I have to supplement. It's a shame there isn't one service that can fulfill the needs that most seemingly want.

[RobertR]

Hulu Plus has the streaming rights to the Criterion Collection which is a jewel.

 

I use Netflix for the physical discs. Give me that sweet, sweet Blu Ray experience. Making the choice for paying for Netflix streaming for a worse selection of movies or getting access to top of the line movies and recent releases was a no brainer. Yeah, it takes some advance planning, but it's not hard.

 

Robert

[homer]

Hulu Plus has the streaming rights to the Criterion Collection which is a jewel.

Robert

 

Wow, really? I had no idea.

[Katuluu]

I do all the big three (Hulu Plus, Netflix and Prime) including getting discs from Netflix. I never want for having enough time to watch all these films and TV shows.

 

I'd say if you had to pick one you need to evaluate what you watch. Hulu is going to give you TV shows and has Criterion, Prime is going to mainly be PayPerView though the 2-day shipping is an awesome perk for Amazon, while Netflix does the best work with older films, especially lesser known ones. All three have their strengths, its just matching up your viewing habits to them.

[homer]

I do all the big three (Hulu Plus, Netflix and Prime) including getting discs from Netflix. I never want for having enough time to watch all these films and TV shows.

 

I'd say if you had to pick one you need to evaluate what you watch. Hulu is going to give you TV shows and has Criterion, Prime is going to mainly be PayPerView though the 2-day shipping is an awesome perk for Amazon, while Netflix does the best work with older films, especially lesser known ones. All three have their strengths, its just matching up your viewing habits to them.

 

 

Agreed. It'd be nice if there was one thing that combined the strengths of all three but that thing does not exist....until Amazon buys Netflix.

[pretendastronaut]

I know this thread is about streaming, but I felt the need to point out, Netflix just shipped me an extra dvd because the one on the top of my queue has to come from a different distribution center and will take longer to arrive. I've used Netflix for well over 5 years and I've never had that happen. Well done Netflix!

[Raw Biz]

I know this thread is about streaming, but I felt the need to point out, Netflix just shipped me an extra dvd because the one on the top of my queue has to come from a different distribution center and will take longer to arrive. I've used Netflix for well over 5 years and I've never had that happen. Well done Netflix!

 

That happens to me a few times a year.

[Patrick425]

Still looking at alternatives to Netflix and came across something called VUDU. Anyone ever use this? Seems like there are more first run movies available on this site for online streaming and the site states $2 per movie (no monthly fees).

[nate82]

Still looking at alternatives to Netflix and came across something called VUDU. Anyone ever use this? Seems like there are more first run movies available on this site for online streaming and the site states $2 per movie (no monthly fees).

 

VUDU is Walmart's digital movie service. It is nice as you can download the whole movie and then watch it or you can stream the movie. New release are about $6 for full 1080p movies.

[FVBrewerFan]

VUDU + HULU is probably the best option right now. VUDU has most of the new releases, I have streamed a lot of them in HD and haven't had any problems. HULU has all the TV shows, etc. An option for new releases is your cable or dish provider but it's generally $1 more or (for TWC) and not as big of a selection for new releases.

 

Blockbuster used to have a nice service where you could stream on BluRay, but they stopped providing that recently. Plus, you could exchange discs at a local Blockbuster store. (I was lucky enough that they still had one close to me.) But none of that is an option anymore, so I'm going with the VUDU/HULU option now.

 

Not sure why Neflix is so popular with everyone, I just dont see what I'm getting for it. They offered free 30 days so I could see House of Cards (whish is excellent) Then I cancelled.

[homer]

For me Netflix has a deeper selection of classic and foreign movies than other options. If you want recent US releases there are probably better options.