Streaming Wars, June 2022: Good stuff on Netflix, shame about the layoffs

Each 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 May of 2022? Take a look:

Paramount+

• Between some solid library titles and the premieres of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Rupaul’s Drag Race All Stars, Paramount+ had an okay month. Points: +2

Netflix

• As usual, Netflix had plenty of buzzworthy titles come out in May, led by the fourth season of Stranger Things but also including movies like The Pentaverate, comedy specials from the likes of Katt Williams and Ricky Gervais (although that one got them in some trouble), and new seasons of The Circle and Love, Death & Robots. But pretty much all of that was blighted by news of Netflix losing subscribers and laying off employees. Things are happening. Points: +1

Disney+

• Disney+ started the month strong with the finale of Moon Knight and ended strong with the premiere of Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi. In between, stuff like the Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers movie at least kept people talking. Points: + 3

Hulu

• Hulu had some solid library titles this past month, but originals like Candy, Conversations With Friends and The Valet failed to make many waves. Points: +2

HBO Max

• HBO Max got new episodes of Hacks, Barry and The Time Traveler’s Wife, plus the streaming premieres of movies like The Matrix Resurrections and Fantastic Beasts 3. It’s had worse months. Points: + 2

Amazon Prime Video

• Between a new season of The Wilds, a reboot of Kids in the Hall, and a prestige sci-fi drama starring Sissy Spacek and J.K. Simmons called Night Sky, Prime Video had a respectable month. Points: + 2

Apple TV+

• Apple TV+ got six new things in May, including Prehistoric Planet and a Charlie Brown thing called Snoopy Presents: To Mom (and Dad), With Love. Are they any good? I don’t know, but no one’s talking about them. Points: + 0

Peacock

• Peacock’s new originals – the horror movie Firestarter and the docudrama Angelyne – may not have taken the world by storm, but Peacock makes up for it with lots of library and linear TV content. Points: + 2

And you can check out the living graph here:

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