Have you ever wondered why there are so many streaming services? Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Crave – do we really need them all? Isn’t one enough? Why would people pay for this many services? Who actually has the time to watch that much TV anyway?
These are probably questions you asked yourself before 2020. I know I did! But now, I completely understand why one would need a variety of streaming services. If your family is anything like ours, you’ve spent the last year binge watching your fair share of shows, catching up on movies you’ve been meaning to check out, and making mental notes of upcoming release dates!
So, since we’re in a pandemic and it’s also the middle of winter, chances are most of us are cuddled up with our families in front of the TV a lot more. I did a little research and put together a list of the best streaming services and the must-watch shows and movies that are on each of them! Below is a list of what kids (and parents!) are obsessed with right now.
Disney+
Soul – This is the latest Disney movie released on Disney+. We watched it over the holidays and were big fans! It’s funny, has great music, and a really meaningful message.
The Mandalorian – This show has been all the rage since Disney+ debuted. Season 2 was released not too long ago, and the hubby and kiddos have already caught up. This is a must-watch for Star Wars fans!
Disney Documentaries – I’m a lover of documentaries. So, when you put documentaries and Disney together…I’m gonna watch ‘em all! Some family favourites in our house include Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, The Imagineering Story, and One Day at Disney.
Marvel – Marvel fans are LOVING Disney+! Avengers, Captain Marvel, Thor, Ant-Man, Guardians, Iron Man – all your favourite superheroes are on there. It might be time for a Marvel marathon.
Netflix
Wonder – We haven’t watched this one yet, but I have heard great things. I’m not a crier, but I feel like this one will bring on the tears and I’m just not prepared for it yet.It’s definitely on our list.
Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous – If you have a dinosaur lover in your house, they’ll love this one! Season 2 was just released on January 22nd, and that’s a good thing for our oldest because he binge watched the first season in one afternoon. He’s pretty serious about his dinosaurs.
The Last Kids on Earth – Based on the book series, this is a great one for tweens and teens. We actually bought our 12-year-old the first book in this series for Christmas.
For the Parents – After the kids are in bed, you want watch something YOU actually enjoy, am I right? We’ve been really into TV series and have binge watched a few over the pandemic. If you haven’t yet, I highly suggest you check out The Crown, Suits, The Blacklist and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
Crave
Family Friendly Shows – While Crave appears to be geared towards adults more than kids, there are still a fair amount of family friendly shows and movies to check out. Trolls World Tour, Scoob, Despicable Me 1 & 2, Rio and so much more!
The Amazing Race Canada – Crave has a few seasons of The Amazing Race Canada and we’ve watched them all as a family. At the beginning of each season, we each picked our favourite team and cheered them on throughout the race. It was a lot of fun!
007 – For the James Bond fan, you’ll find every James Bond movie on Crave! Whether your favourite Bond is Sean Connery, Daniel Craig, or someone in between, Crave’s got ‘em!
Friends – Crave is the new streaming service of Friends!You know, in case you need to watch it from the beginning again to make sure they didn’t change anything. No? Just me then?
Amazon Prime
Smallville – I know this one isn’t new, but if you have tweens/teens, it’s such a great series for families to watch together. Our boys were big fans of this series, being superhero fans and all, but it’s a great show even if you’re not into superheroes.
Amazon Original Kids Series – Like Netflix, Amazon Prime has a bunch of original series that the kids might not have seen before. You’ll find them all under one category and some of the shows include The Kung Fu Panda Series, Just Add Magic, The Kicks, and Lost in Oz.
ALF – Remember this amazing 80’s sitcom? Raise your hand if you had an ALF doll as a kid! My brother had the one that talked. We’ve been watching this one on and off and it’s still as funny as I remember.
Yellowstone – When the kids go to bed, start your obsession with Yellowstone if you haven’t already. I’ve heard great things about this new show, and it might just be next on our list!
Of course, there are so many great shows and movies that aren’t listed above, so feel free to share your favourites in the comments below. Happy Streaming!
