Streaming Wars, January 2022: Everybody brings the big guns

FRANKIE ADAMS, SHOHREH AGHDASHLOO and TIM DEKAY star in THE EXPANSE
FRANKIE ADAMS, SHOHREH AGHDASHLOO and TIM DEKAY star in THE EXPANSE

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 the rest are doing. 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.

How did the combatants fare in December of 2021? Take a look:

Paramount+

Paramount+ had a smattering of noteworthy originals in December, including Reno 911! The Hunt for QANON and a new season of Queen of the Universe. But the big news was the premiere of 1883, the already-popular spinoff to very popular Yellowstone. This was the service’s best month in a while. Points: +2

Netflix

There was something for everyone at Netflix this month. On the TV front, they gave us new seasons of Cobra KaiQueer EyeLost in Space and Emily Paris, along with buzzy movies like Don’t Look Up and The Power of the Dog. And The Witcher became the most in-demand show in the world after its second season debuted. Points: + 4

Disney+

Disney+ wrapped up one buzzy series in Hawkeye and started another with The Book of Boba Fett. Other than that, things were fairly quiet, but there’s always something to watch here. Points: + 2

Hulu

Hulu got some nice drops in December, including new seasons of Letterkenny and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, plus new episodes of original shows like Crossing SwordsPen15 and Dragons: The Nine Realms. Not bad at all. Points: + 3

HBO Max

Between the conclusions of new seasons of Succession and Curb Your Enthusiasm, and the debuts of series like Station Eleven and the Sex and the City follow-up And Just Like That…, HBO Max offered up plenty to get excited about in December. The new season of Young Justice got the internet talking as well. Plus HBO Max debuted The Matrix Resurrections, the last time a Warner Bros. will drop on the streaming service at the same time that it lands in theaters. Points: + 3

Amazon Prime Video

The big guns for Amazon in December were the debut of The Expanse season 6 and the new Nicole Kidman-fronted Being the Ricardos. Add in some solid library titles and you have a solid month. Points: + 2

Apple TV+

Apple TV+ had four new things in December: a sci-fi movie called Swan Song, holiday episodes of the kids’ shows Stillwater and Get Rolling with Otis, and Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne. Points: N/A

Peacock

We can toss Peacock a couple points for getting the 2000s-era Spider-Man movies right at the time when interest in them is about to peak, for the first season of its MacGruber show, and a nice smattering of reality far for those so inclined. Points: + 2

Check out our ever-changing graph right here:

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