Streaming Wars, December 2020: HBO Max shakes up the battlefield

Netflix served up lots of great new content in December, but HBO Max was the streaming service that got the headlines, for better or worse.

Every month, we look back at the most recent battles in the streaming wars, the ongoing battle between the likes of Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+ and more to win your time and money. Who triumphed over the last four weeks? Who fell? We’re keeping track of it all on an ever-evolving chart that changes month to month!

December saw a lot of our combatants make bold moves across the battlefield, particularly HBO Max, which came out with a whole new strategy. Let’s see how everybody did:

CBS All Access

The biggest new thing that came to CBS All Access last month is a new adaptation of Stephen King’s The Stand, which is getting mixed reviews. Beyond that, may we interest you in yet more episodes of Star Trek: Discovery? Points: + 1

Netflix

Want original series and movies? Try The Holiday Movies That Made Us, Big Mouth season 4, MANK, Selena: The Series, The Great British Baking Show: Holidays, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Ripper, We Can Be Heroes, the final season of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and an Ariana Grande tour special. In the mood for something more time-tested? Go for E.T., Jurassic Park, all of Stargate SG-1, Manhunt: Deadly Games, and a couple of X-Men anime series Disney probably wishes it had for its own streaming service…or wishes it could sweep under the rug. There’s simply no stopping Netflix when it comes to content. Points: + 3

Disney+

Disney+ had a solid month, if unremarkable by its high standards. The second season of The Mandalorian wrapped up to rave reviews, and we got some cute originals like Godmothered and a High School Musical holiday special, plus older movies like Big, Sky High and Ralph Breaks the Internet. But the best days of the service look like they’re in the future, as the company announced a flood of Marvel and Star Wars shows coming out over the next few years. Don’t like that small price hike, though. Points: + 2

Hulu

Hulu gives us original movies and series like The Secret Garden, The Hardy Boys and more of hilarious Canadian sitcom Letterkenny, plus old standbys like The Lord of the Rings movies, Charlotte’s Web and The Hurt Locker. Not a bad bang for your streaming buck. Points: + 2

HBO Max

Whoa, what a month for HBO Max! Warner Bros. announced a plan to release all of its 2021 movies directly to the streaming service and in theaters at the same time. That could be good for consumers, but it royally ticked off a lot of filmmakers. Wonder Woman 1984 was the first movie to come out under this model, and while it took its lumps from fans, it was a financial success. All that and the service is finally on Roku! For better or worse, HBO Max was in the news a lot in December. Points: + 3

Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video released new movies and shows like Sound of Metal and The Wilds this month, but the only thing that really moved the needle was the fifth season of The Expanse. But with reviews this good, that counts for a lot. Points: + 2

Apple TV+

This month, Apple TV+ debuted the docuseries Earth at Night, the animated show Wolfwalkers, and Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special. Not bad, but nothing with much staying power. Points: + 1

Peacock

You can’t go wrong with movies like Beetlejuice, The Dark Knight, Se7en, and In Bruges, all now available for free with ads on Peacock. Sure, there’s not a ton of exciting new content, but did we mention that it’s all free…with ads? Points + 1

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