Streaming Wars, October 2021: Netflix vs HBO Max vs Apple TV+

Netflix, HBO Max and Apple TV+ make strong showings in a tight month for the Streaming Wars.

Every month, we read over the latest dispatches from the front lines of the Streaming Wars and assess how the likes of Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+ and others are faring. Who won the day, who was defeated, and who’s biding their time? We mark it all down on this living graph, which changes every month.

Here are this month’s reports from the front:

Paramount+

Not much buzzing over at Paramount+ this month. Wanna watch all nine seasons of CSI: NY? Season 12 of Spongebob SquarePants? There’s stuff worth watching on here but nothing that’s gonna move the needle much. Points: +1

Netflix

Midnight Mass, Squid Game, Sex Education season 3, Lucifer season 6, and new episodes of Money Heist all made their mark on Netflix this month. And if you’re not interested in any of that you could always rewatch all the Jaws movies. Points: + 3

Disney+

This month, Disney+ got new episodes of Monsters at Work, Turner & Hooch and What If…? As for new stuff, we had the debut of Doogie Kamealoha, M.D., although the highlight is probably the anthology series Star Wars: Visions. It’s not a bad lineup, but Disney+ has done better. Points: + 2

Hulu

Hulu gots some help from its network friends this month in the form of new episodes of The Simpsons, Archer, What We Do In The Shadows and Bob’s Burgers, plus the debut of the FX series Y: The Last Man. Although it has some solid library titles, the only kinda buzz-y exclusives are more specialized series like the third season of The D’Amelio Show. Points: +2

HBO Max

HBO Max got new movies like Malignant and Cry Macho, plus the premiere of the new miniseries Scenes From A Marriage starring Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain and a new season of Doom Patrol. And getting all eight Harry Potter movies on the service doesn’t hurt. Points: + 3

Amazon Prime Video

Once again, Amazon gets a lot of good library titles, but precious little in the way of original content that’s likely to make an impact. The biggest original release is probably the new Cinderella movie with Camila Cabello. Points: + 1

Apple TV+

For a service that only had a few new things premiere in September, Apple TV+ had a pretty good month. We got the star-studded season 2 premiere of The Morning Show, the stage adaptation Come From Away, and the premiere of the highly ambitious sci-fi epic Foundation, plus new episodes of Ted Lasso. Not bad, Apple! Points: + 3

Peacock

On top of a lot of good library titles, Peacock also dropped new episodes of A.P. Bio and premiered the new series The Lost Symbol this month. Take your points. Points: + 2

And here’s our full living graph, which changes every month. Place your bets:

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