Do you love watching movies and TV but loathe high cable bills? Or do you feel that, though you can tolerate most modern movies and shows, your heart is truly with the classics? Well, there’s a great alternative out there that’s both cost-effective and allows you to choose what you want to watch and when you want to watch it: streaming services. While streaming service selections change periodically, they always boast a great range of both mainstream and classic entertainment that ensures you’ll find something great to watch any day of the week.
How to Access Streaming Services
Getting started with streaming services is easy. Here’s how:
- Choose a Streaming Service: First, you’ll need to select a streaming service that aligns with your preferences. Some of the most popular options include Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max. Each of these platforms offers a diverse range of content.
- Sign Up: Visit the website or app of your chosen streaming service and create an account. This typically involves providing your email address and payment information. Many streaming services offer a free trial period, so you can explore the content before committing.
- Download the App: To watch content on your devices, download the streaming service’s app on your smartphone, tablet, or smart TV. These apps are usually available for both iOS and Android devices, as well as on most smart TVs and streaming media players.
- Browse and Watch: Once you’ve signed up and downloaded the app, you can start browsing the extensive library of movies and TV shows. Use the search feature or explore curated categories to find content that interests you. Click or tap on a title to start streaming.
- Streaming Devices: If you prefer to watch on a larger screen, consider using streaming devices like Roku, Amazon Fire TV, or Apple TV. These devices allow you to stream content directly on your television
Here’s a sample of the kinds of notable shows and movies available on various streaming platforms:
Classic Films on Streaming Services
- Hollywood Divas
- Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and Bette Davis all conveyed their own classic brand of beauty on the silver screen. Some of the great selections currently available on streaming services include classic comedies like “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” “Sabrina,” and Bette Davis’ spellbinding performance in “All About Eve.”
- Hang’ Em High
- Who doesn’t love a good western — especially with cowboys like John Wayne or Clint Eastwood? These two famous actors rode off into the sunset in dozens of films in their heyday, immortalizing the landscape of the American West and the iconic cowboy. Streaming services allow you to view Eastwood titles like “For a Few Dollars More” or “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.” If you’re a huge fan of Wayne’s, you can find movies like “McLintock!” or “El Dorado.” Plus, you’ll likely find many lesser-known titles, like “Gunfighters of Abilene” and “The Gambler Wore a Gun.”
- The Master of Suspense
- Are you in the mood for an old-school thriller? No one did it better than Alfred Hitchcock. Not only can you find classic films like “The Lady Vanishes,” but you can also watch his TV show, “Alfred Hitchcock Presents.” You’ll find plenty of other suspense and film noir to choose from as well. Spend your next rainy afternoon with a classic like “Double Indemnity” or “Anatomy of a Murder.”
Classic TV Shows on Streaming Services
- Classic TV
- Do you miss shows like “Leave It to Beaver” and “The Andy Griffith Show”? You won’t if you sign up with streaming services. You can also find the original “Star Trek” series, slightly more modern shows like “Murder, She Wrote” and “Cheers,” and even current shows such as “Mad Men.” With multiple seasons available, diving into the TV section can keep you entertained for many nights.
Additional Titles on Streaming Services
- Looking for more?
- There is an abundance of shows you may like as well. “The Office” is a hilarious, touching comedy that relates to people of all ages. If you like crime dramas, try “Law & Order” or any of the CSI spin-offs. And if you love westerns and want to see a modern-day lawman with old-school cool, you can’t go wrong with “Justified,” where Timothy Olyphant dons a cowboy hat and perfects a Gary Cooper–style swagger as US Marshal Raylan Givens. Favor period dramas? Check out “Mad Men” or “Call the Midwife.”
With streaming services, not only can you watch content digitally online or stream it to your television set, but you can also rent DVDs to watch at a later date. With such an extensive library to choose from, who needs cable TV? Some of the popular streaming services to explore include Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max, among others.
