Ditch Netflix In September (You Won’t Be Sorry)


Netflix Australia is about to enter one of its worst dry spells since launch. In September 2019, the service is only adding three new original movies (none of which look like much cop.) With the possible exception of The Politician, there aren’t any big ‘tent-pole’ style series to get excited about either.

In fact, Netflix’s biggest release of the month is probably the widely-panned Aquaman which nobody should watch under any circumstances. Our advice? Unsubscribe for one month and check out some of Netflix’s rivals instead.

To be fair, Netflix has just come off a stellar few months, with new and returning shows like Stranger Things, Black Mirror, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Mindhunter and 13 Reasons Why dominating water-cooler conversations. Unfortunately, its reliance on original programming makes it virtually impossible to maintain this momentum.

September is significantly less flashy than what we’ve become accustomed to. There’s the sci-fi thriller The I-Land, Zach Galifianakis’s Between Two Ferns, the aforementioned satirical comedy The Politician and a handful of new documentaries – but compared to prior months, the lineup is pretty damn lacking.

[referenced url=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2019/08/how-to-test-secret-netflix-tools-and-features/” thumb=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/01/Netflix-phone-410×231.jpg” title=”Netflix Has A ‘Secret’ App With Hidden Features: Here’s How To Get It” excerpt=”Netflix is constantly trialling new features to enhance the user experience. What you might not realise is that the customers who participate in these trials are not randomly chosen by the company. Instead, there’s an opt-in app for Netflix nerds that anyone can sign up to! Here’s how to join the club.”]

It’s for this reason we recommend making the switch to a rival service, even if it’s only for one month.

Instead of listlessly picking at this meagre all-you-can-eat buffet, why not see what Stan, Foxtel Now or Amazon Prime Video has to offer? They’re all around the same price and contain a stack of content you won’t find on Netflix.

This is an especially smart move if it’s been ages since you last checked out these services. It means you’ll have months’ worth of grade-A content to gorge on – from Stan’s intriguing Aussie sci-fi Bloom to Amazon’s insanely gritty superhero series The Boys to Foxtel’s treasure-trove of HBO content.

You’ll also find literally hundreds of movies that aren’t currently available on Netflix Australia. (Amazon Prime Video is particularly strong in this regard – its collection of weird cult movies and kung-fu flicks from the ’70s and ’80s is sublime.)

The great thing about modern streaming services is that you can pause and renew your subscription at any time. Even Foxtel Now has dispensed with lock-in contracts, a decision that doubtlessly caused old Rupert to spit blood.

As an added bonus, Stan, Foxtel Now and Amazon Prime Video currently offer free 30-day trials. (Well, Stan and Amazon do. Foxtel skimps out at ten days.) Here are the links:

Personally, my choice would be Amazon Prime Video due to the incredibly high production values of its original programming and its eclectic third-party offerings. But if you enjoy Aussie content, Stan is well worth a look too.

In any event, provided you cancel your subscription within the month, you can go back to Netflix in October without actually paying anything. What have you got to lose? You might even decide to stick with your new service.

On a side note, November looks to be a return to form for the streaming giant – that’s when Martin Scorsese’s crime epic The Irishman hits. Loosely based on the assassination of Jimmy Hoffa, it stars Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Anna Paquin, Joe Pesci and Harvey Keitel and is reportedly one of the most expensive films Netflix has ever produced. Colour us excited! But this month? Not so much.

[referenced url=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2019/07/how-to-watch-the-boys-on-amazon-prime-for-free/” thumb=”https://www.gizmodo.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/07/the-boys-1563548928.jpg” title=”How To Watch ‘The Boys’ On Amazon Prime For Free” excerpt=”Amazon’s new superhero series The Boys is like Marvel’s Deadpool dialed up to 11. Set in a world where ‘supes’ care more about marketing opportunities than saving the world, the series injects new life into the genre (along with every bodily fluid imaginable.)

For those with a dark sense of humour and strong stomachs, here’s how to stream The Boys for free in Australia.”]

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