People have been arguing that size doesn’t matter for a long time. And it turns out that at least in terms of movies on streaming services, this old adage is demonstrably true. In a nutshell, Netflix boasts more hit movies than Amazon Prime, Hulu, and HBO.
In this instance, “hit” means critically acclaimed. Rotten Tomatoes maintains a list of movies which have been Certified Fresh. This means a film has a score of 75 percent or more, has been reviewed by Top Critics, and has a minimum number of reviews overall.
And Netflix has a higher number (and a higher percentage) of movies Certified Fresh than Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and HBO Now…
Streaming Services by the Numbers
Streaming Observer is responsible for running the numbers. And they found that while Amazon Prime Video offers the highest number of movies overall, Netflix boasts more movies beloved by the critics. At least according to Rotten Tomatoes’ ratings.
Check out our newest report here, comparing the quality of Netflix's movie library to Amazon Prime, Hulu, and HBO. https://t.co/V78DOmx1zB
— Streaming Observer (@StreamingOb) January 28, 2019
The truth is revealed in two charts ranking Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and HBO Now according to both the total number of movies offered, and the number of Certified Fresh movies offered. While Amazon Prime Video tops the first, Netflix tops the second.
The Total Number of Movies:
- Amazon Prime Video: 17,461
- Netflix: 3,838
- Hulu: 2,336
- HBO Now: 815
The Number of Movies Certified Fresh:
- Netflix: 596 (15.5%)
- Amazon Prime Video: 232 (1.3%)
- Hulu: 223 (9.6%)
- HBO Now: 38 (4.7%)
Essentially, this comes down to quality vs. quantity. According to the numbers, Amazon has filled Prime Video with lots of films, the vast majority of which aren’t very good. Netflix, on the other hand, offers a lot less movies, with a higher percentage of decent films.
More Money Means Better Movies
It should be noted that you gain access to Prime Movies as a result of an Amazon Prime membership. Whereas Netflix is a standalone service with its own subscription fee. And given that Netflix has raised its prices again, it’s no wonder it can afford better movies.
Image Credit: Guilherme Pantaleão/Flickr
Read the full article: Netflix Offers More Hit Movies Than Amazon, Hulu, and HBO
