Starting November 10th at 1pm ET, these games will also begin rolling out to the Netflix iOS app. At that time, games will be shown in a dedicated row on the Netflix app homepage.
Additionally, Hextech Mayhem: A League of Legends Story, a new game in Riot’s popular League of Legends universe, has also been confirmed for Netflix Games. The rhythm title will cost $12.99 CAD on Steam and Nintendo Switch, but Netflix members will be able to download and play the game at no additional cost.
So far, Netflix Games is meant to be a small bonus perk to an existing Netflix subscription, offering a handful of titles that don’t feature in-app purchases or ads.
Netflix is preparing to launch a new feature for kids that will utilize TikTok-style short snippets of videos to promote children’s movies and shows.
As reported by Bloomberg, the feature is called ‘Kids Clips’ and will initially roll out on the Netflix iOS app in Canada, the United States, Australia, Ireland and some Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America.
Steve Moser, an iOS developer, initially uncovered hidden code for the feature, later published by Bloomberg, with Netflix later confirming the feature’s existence.
Netflix’s short-form content for kids will feature “Funny, silly and musical short-form clips from TV shows & movies”. When Netflix was working on this feature internally it was called Bits instead of Clips. $NFLXhttps://t.co/nUKN7eKupe
According to the report, ‘Kids Clips’ will feature short videos from Netflix’s kid-friendly shows and movies catalogue. Each video will be viewed horizontally on the screen, unlike TikTok or Instagram Reels’ vertical format. Further, only about 10 to 20 clips will be available to watch at once to avoid addiction.
‘Kids Clips’ expands on a similar feature called ‘Fast Laughs,’ which was launched to promote the streaming service’s comedy shows. While both the features had their differences, such as the fact that ‘Fast Laughs’ were viewed horizontally, both have a similar goal: to promote Netflix’s content through short snippets of video.
‘Kids Clips’ is launching in the aforementioned countries this week, with no word on support for Android.
This past week, Netflix officially made its next large leap into the video game industry. The Netflix Games umbrella has now arrived on Android devices, giving us a first look at what the streaming goliath may bring to the table.
For the past few days, I’ve dedicated some time to explore the five mobile games available at launch. On November 3rd, Netflix released the following titles: Stranger Things: 1984, Stranger Things 3: The Game, Shooting Hoops, Card Blast, and Teeter Up. All of these games are now available to download and play for free as long as you have an active Netflix subscription and are able to sign in to your account.
From a development and publisher perspective, Netflix partnered with a Texas-based studio BonusXP to develop Stranger Things: 1984 and Stranger Things 3: The Game. Shooting Hoops and Teeter Up stem from publisher Frosty Pop. Rounding out the bunch are Amuzo & Rogue Games, who brought Card Blast to life.
Across the five titles, Netflix Games currently ranges from casual to more immersive experiences. Let’s take a look at each game to see just how successful the first wave of Netflix Games is for the mobile market.
Stranger Things: 1984 (formally known as Stranger Things: The Game) is a pretty robust pixel-based adventure game centred around Netflix’s premier Stranger Things series. It’s packed with retro nostalgia, not solely based on the material but also how the game looks and plays. You can play as a number of core characters, solve puzzles, defeat enemies, and cruise around the city of Hawkins. I had a lot of fun with this one as it invokes a lot of NES-era energy.
As for Stranger Things 3: The Game, the game still holds a very retro feel while playing. However, the scope of the game is a bit more expansive. The game serves as a companion piece to the third season of the series. You can play as one of 12 characters and team up with friends for some classic beat ‘em up action. The game offers some really unique puzzles. Fans of the show will also appreciate some of the character moments depicted in the game.
Teeter is a game that is not based on an established Netflix IP. Here, you’ll balance a ball on a board and try to guide it into a hole by tapping the screen to raise the board. It’s simple in concept but challenging in execution, as the game throws more physics-based puzzles into the mix. While still remaining on the casual side, I had some brainless pop-in and pop-out fun with this game.
Next up is Shooting Hoops. At first glance, I was positive that this game was based on the short-lived animated series Hoops, starring Jake Johnson. However, once I started playing, I quickly realized that the game wasn’t based on the Netflix IP at all. In the game, you must sink a basketball strapped with a dart gun into a hoop. The ball will bounce in the opposite direction of which you tap on the screen. There’s a steep learning curve that threw me off the game initially. Over time, I did get a hang of it but the game wasn’t engaging enough to stick with past a dozen or so levels.
Finally, we have Card Blast, Netflix Games’ last offering. Once again, this game isn’t based on a series or movie. Card Blast is a thinly veiled ‘match-three’ type game. As a random hand of cards floats across the screen, you must pair cards together to make the best poker hands possible. Points are determined by whether you can form a flush, pair, three of a kind, or straight. Power-ups can also be collected to improve scores or freeze the cards from moving across the screen. Some puzzle elements are interesting, but this was another title that failed to keep my attention for all too long.
As far as the Stranger Things content goes for Netflix Games, the offering is pretty solid. BonusXP put a lot of thought and care into their games. Though, a lot of why its games stand out is attributed to the fact that both titles were developed and published outside of the Netflix Games launch. Stranger Things: 1984 was first launched in 2017, while Stranger Things 3: The Game followed in 2019. It’s only the three unestablished titles that are truly new to the mobile ecosystem.
It’s admittedly a little disappointing that Netflix Games didn’t release a new must-play experience based on something recently in the zeitgeist. Stranger Things content is always welcome in my life but we’re currently in an extended lull between seasons. If I was looking for something more involved outside of that IP, Shooting Hoops, Card Blast, and Teeter Up sadly aren’t going to give that to me. Netflix thankfully has a lot of interesting IPs to work with. The possibilities are endless with the likes of Squid Game, The Queen’s Gambit, Big Mouth and others up its sleeve.
That said, Netflix Games does show promise. Netflix has ensured players that the games released will range and cater to beginning players to the more established. Also, it’s clear that ads, microtransactions, time gating, and other nefarious tactics commonly seen on the mobile market won’t be included in the games. Netflix has also confirmed that some of its games can be played offline, though there will be those that require an LTE/Wi-Fi connection.
Mike Verdu, vice president of Netflix’s Game Development branch, has made it clear that the company will be adding to the “entertainment offering in the months ahead.” In September, it was announced that Netflix acquired its very first game development studio, Oxenfree maker Night School Studio, to become the first major supporting team in its pursuit of establishing itself in gaming. Not much is known on what the studio will be working on or if it will even be a mobile game. However, the prospect of a game based on a Netflix IP in the same vein as Oxenfree or After Party is very tantalizing.
Currently, the Netflix Games catalogue is only available on Android devices. iOS support is said to be “on the way.” However, details on when Apple users can dive in have not been announced by Netflix.
Netflix Games will be made available individually on Apple’s App Store when they eventually come to iOS, according to Bloomberg‘s often reliable Mark Gurman.
The streamer made its first official foray into gaming last week with five Android titles, including a pair of Stranger Things experiences. However, the company simply said at the time that an iOS rollout is “on the way.”
Per Bloomberg, the hold-up appears to be related to Apple’s strict App Store policies, which prevent third-party apps from offering as an all-in-one hub for a collection of games. Microsoft infamously ran into this issue last year with its Xbox Game Pass’ Cloud Gaming service, which it’s since offered via browsers on iOS.
It should be noted that Netflix Games currently operate similarly on Android; you still need to download each title individually from the Play Store. However, Gurman predicts that Netflix will eventually offer its games in an all-in-one app through the cloud, which would be possible on Android but not iOS based on the current App Store rules.
“To be a true all-in-one service on iOS, Netflix will have to make its move to the cloud — and Apple will need to change its rules or grant Netflix an exemption,” Gurman concluded. “That leaves the ultimate success of Netflix’s service in the hands of Apple, a longtime partner but also a growing rival.”
Netflix Games are offered at no additional cost to Netflix subscribers and can be found on Android under the ‘Netflix Games’ banner on the Netflix app homepage or the new ‘games’ tab. Netflix has also previously said its gaming efforts will be “primarily focused on games for mobile devices,” although this seems to leave the possibility open for AAA console and/or PC titles.
Every week, MobileSyrup outlines some of the most notable movies and TV shows that recently hit Canadian streaming platforms.
Our ‘Streaming in Canada’ column typically focuses on new content from Amazon Prime Video Canada, Crave and Netflix Canada, but other services like Apple TV+ and Disney+ will be mentioned when relevant.
We’ll also highlight shows or movies that are made in Canada, involve notable Canadian cast or crew and/or are filmed in Canada.
Finally, with the COVID-19 pandemic causing many movies to hit digital platforms much sooner than planned, we’ll make note of any major films — as well as other notable streaming service news — that fall into this category when applicable.
Amazon Prime Video
A Man Named Scott [Amazon Original]
Director Robert Alexander (The Shop) chronicles the highs and lows of rapper Kid Cudi’s 10-plus-year journey of making music.
Amazon Prime Video Canada premiere date: November 5th, 2021 Genre: Music documentary Runtime: 1 hour, 34 minutes
An Amazon Prime Video subscription is included at no additional cost with an Amazon Prime membership, which costs $79 CAD/year.
The full list of movies and shows hitting Amazon Prime Video Canada in November can be found here.
Apple TV+
Dickinson (Season 3) [Apple Original]
In the final season of Apple’s comedy about famed poet Emily Dickinson, Emily decides to fully commit to both her relationship with Sue and her path to poetry instead of fame.
Dickinson was created by Alena Smith (The Affair) and stars Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit), Ella Hunt (Anna and the Apocalypse), Toby Huss (King of the Hill) and Adrian Blake Enscoe (Killian & The Comeback Kids).
Apple TV+ Canada premiere date: November 5th, 2021 (first three episodes, new episodes every Friday) Genre: Comedy Runtime: 10 episodes (around 30 minutes each)
An ailing inventor navigates a post-apocalyptic world to find a new home for his beloved dog and robot.
Finch was directed by Miguel Sapochnik and stars Tom Hanks (Saving Private Ryan) and Caleb Landry Jones (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) as the voice of Jeff the robot.
Apple TV+ Canada premiere date: November 5th, 2021 Genre: Sci-fi, drama Runtime: 1 hour, 55 minutes
Ten years after the events of the original Dexter series, Michael C. Hall returns as the eponymous serial killer as he abandons the quiet life he was leading for sinister purposes.
Original Dexter showrunner Cylde Phillips returns for New Blood, as does Jennifer Carpenter (Debra Morgan) and John Lithgow (Trinity Killer), while Julia Jones (The Mandalorian), Alano Miller (Sylvie’s Love) and Johnny Sequoyah (Believe) join the cast.
Crave premiere date: November 7th, 2021 (first episode, new episodes every Sunday) Genre: Crime drama Runtime: 10 episodes (around one hour each)
Based on Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes’ musical of the same name, In the Heights follows a New York City bodega owner who saves all of his money in the pursuit of a better life.
The film was directed by Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) and features an ensemble cast that includes Anthony Ramos (Hamilton), Corey Hawkins (Straight Outta Compton), Melissa Barrera (Vida), Daphne Rubin-Vega (Broadway’s Rent) and Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine).
Original release: June 10th, 2021 (theatres and digital)
Crave premiere date: November 5th, 2021 Genre: Musical drama Runtime: 2 hours, 23 minutes
A standard Crave subscription is priced at $9.99/month, with Starz costing another $5.99/month and HBO an additional $9.99/month.
The full list of movies and shows hitting Crave this month can be found here.
Netflix
Arcane [Netflix Original]
Learn about the origins of several characters from Riot’s popular League of Legends video game, including Piltover and Zaun.
Arcane features an ensemble voice cast that includes Hailee Steinfeld (Dickinson), Ella Purnell (Army of the Dead), Kevin Alejandro (Lucifer) and Katie Leung (Harry Potter series).
Netflix Canada premiere date: November 6th, 2021 (new episodes weekly) Genre: Animation Runtime: Nine episodes (about 40 minutes each)
The latest season of Big Mouth is all about romantic confessions, angry tirades and vicious rumors.
The series was created by Nick Kroll (Kroll Show), Andrew Goldberg (Family Guy), Mark Levin, (Earth 2) and Jennifer Flackett (Wimbledon) and features the voices of Kroll, John Mulaney (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse), Jessi Klein (Inside Amy Schumer), Jason Mantzoukas (How Did This Get Made?) and Ayo Edebiri (Dickinson).
Netflix Canada premiere date: November 5th, 2021 Genre: Animated sitcom Runtime: Ten episodes (27 to 34 minutes each)
Outlaw Nat Love and his gang seek revenge against the ruthless crime boss Rufus Buck.
Based on real people from the 19th-century American West, The Harder They Fall was co-written and directed by Jeymes Samuel (“The Bullitts”) and features an ensemble cast that includes Jonathan Majors (Lovecraft Country), Idris Elba (Luther), Zazie Beetz (Atlanta), Regina King (Watchmen) and Delroy Lindo (Da 5 Bloods).
Netflix Canada premiere date: November 3rd, 2021 Genre: Western Runtime: 2 hours, 19 minutes
After meeting on a dating app, a young woman travels to her crush’s hometown for Christmas, only to discover she’s been catfished.
Love Hard was directed by Hernán Jiménez (Elsewhere) and stars Toronto’s own Nina Dobrev (The Vampire Diaries), Jimmy O. Yang (Silicon Valley) and Darren Barnet (Never Have I Ever).
It’s also worth noting that the film was shot in Vancouver.
In the final season of Narcos: Mexico, a new generation of cartel leaders vie for power.
The series was created by Chris Brancato, Carlo Bernard and Doug Miro (Narcos) and stars Jose Maria Yazpik (Narcos), Scoot McNairy (Argo), Matt Letscher (The Flash), Alejandro Edda (Fear The Walking Dead) and rapper Bad Bunny (El Último Tour Del Mundo).
Netflix Canada premiere date: November 5th, 2021 Genre: Crime drama Runtime: 10 episodes (49 to 69 minutes each)
Netflix’s long-awaited push into video games is officially kicking off on November 3rd.
The company has confirmed that its first five games will launch worldwide in the Netflix Android app on that date. An iOS rollout is “on the way,” the company said.
Notably, these games will be offered at no additional cost to Netflix subscribers. Further, they won’t feature any ads or in-app purchases.
Here are the initial five games:
Card Blast
Shooting Hoops
Stranger Things: 1984
Stranger Things 3
Teeter Up
To access these games, either select the Netflix Games banner on the Netflix app homepage or navigate to the ‘games’ tab. From there, select the game you want to play, which will direct you to your device’s app store to download the game. You’ll then be able to play the game through the app.
Netflix says all adult profiles under a given account can access games, although kids profiles are not allowed. The company also notes that some games require an internet connection, while others can be played offline, although it didn’t specify which.
In a blog post, Netflix noted that this is only the first step in its broader plans for gaming.
“Just like our series, films and specials, we want to design games for any level of play and every kind of player, whether you’re a beginner or a lifelong gamer,” the company wrote. “And we’re just getting started. We’re excited to continue improving our mobile gaming experience and adding to our entertainment offering in the months ahead.”
Beyond that, Netflix hasn’t indicated what types of titles it will make, but the company’s intention, at least in part, appears to be to use games to promote its video content. The two Stranger Things games so far are evidence of that.
Netflix has also seen a benefit from CD Projekt’s The Witcher games. The action-RPG series helped make the Polish fantasy property more popular, which helped Netflix’s Witcher show find its own massive audience. This, in turn, gave The Witcher 3 a significant spike in players, even though the game had been around for four years at the time. Netflix and CD Projekt later partnered on a ‘WitcherCon’ to promote both their respective Witcher projects.
One Netflix property that could get the video game treatment is Squid Game. The breakout success of the South Korean survival drama series has led Netflix to look into various ways to expand that universe, including gaming.
Every week, MobileSyrup outlines some of the most notable movies and TV shows that recently hit Canadian streaming platforms.
Our ‘Streaming in Canada’ column typically focuses on new content from Amazon Prime Video Canada, Crave and Netflix Canada, but other services like Apple TV+ and Disney+ will be mentioned when relevant.
We’ll also highlight shows or movies that are made in Canada, involve notable Canadian cast or crew and/or are filmed in Canada.
Finally, with the COVID-19 pandemic causing many movies to hit digital platforms much sooner than planned, we’ll make note of any major films — as well as other notable streaming service news — that fall into this category when applicable.
Amazon Prime Video
Fairfax [Amazon Original]
Four teenagers try to be cooler than they are in Los Angeles on a never-ending quest for clout.
Fairfax was created by Matt Hausfater and Teddy Riley (El Tigre) and Aaron Buchsbaum (Undateable) and features the voices of Skyler Gisondo (Santa Clarita Diet), Kiersey Clemmons (Dope), Peter S. Kim (Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Jaboukie Young-White (The Daily Show with Trevor Noah).
Amazon Prime Video Canada premiere date: October 29th, 2021 Genre: Animated comedy Runtime: Eight episodes (23 to 29 minutes each)
An Amazon Prime Video subscription is included at no additional cost with an Amazon Prime membership, which costs $79 CAD/year.
The full list of movies and shows hitting Amazon Prime Video Canada in October can be found here.
Apple TV+
Swagger [Apple Original]
Inspired by the life of NBA star Kevin Durant, this drama series explores the world of youth basketball from the perspective of the players, families and coaches within it.
Swagger was created by Reggie Rock Bythewood (Gun Hill) and stars O’Shea Jackson, Jr. (Straight Outta Compton), Quvenzhané Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild), Isaiah Hill (acting debut) and Shinelle Azoroh (Don’t Let Go).
Apple TV+ Canada premiere date: October 29th, 2021 (first three episodes, new episodes every Friday) Genre: Sports drama Runtime: Ten episodes (about one hour each)
Based on true events, paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren look into a young boy who was the first U.S. murder suspect to claim demonic possession as a defense.
Directed by Michael Chaves (The Curse of La Llorona), The Devil Made Me Do It sees Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga returning as the Warrens, while Ruairi O’Connor (The Spanish Princess), Sarah Catherine Hook (NOS4A2) and Julian Hillard (WandaVision) join the cast.
Original release date: June 4th, 2021 (theatres and on-demand)
Crave premiere date: October 29th, 2021 Genre: Supernatural horror Runtime: 1 hour, 52 minutes
Stream The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It here.
Love Life (Season 2)
Freshly divorced Marcus Watkins must rediscover his identity as a Black man in New York City.
Love Life was created by Sam Boyd (In a Relationship) and stars William Jackson Harper (The Good Place), Jessica Williams (2 Dope Queens), Chris “Comedian CP” Powell (Detroiters) and Janet Hubert (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air).
Crave premiere date: October 28th, 2021 (first three episodes, new episodes every Thursday) Genre: Romantic comedy, anthology Runtime: 10 episodes (around 25 minutes each)
A group of aliens must work together to pilot an abandoned starfleet ship and make their way towards the Alpha Quadrant.
Star Trek: Prodigy was created by the The Hageman Brothers (Trollhunters) and features the voices of Brett Gray (On My Block), Ella Purnell (Army of the Dead), Jason Mantzoukas (Parks & Recreation) and Angus Imrie (The Archers).
Crave premiere date: October 28th, 2021 (first episode, new episodes every Thursday) Genre: Animated, sci-fi Runtime: 10 episodes (around 45 minutes each)
The full list of movies and shows hitting Disney+ Canada this month can be found here.
Netflix
Army of Thieves [Netflix Original]
Six years before the events of Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead, safecracker Ludwig Dieter is hired by a mysterious woman to join a group of thieves for a daring heist.
Army of Thieves was directed by Matthias Schweighöfer, who also plays Dieter (reprising his role from Army of the Dead), while the supporting cast includes Nathalie Emmanuel (Game of Thrones), Guz Khan (Man Like Mobeen) and Stuart Martin (Babylon).
A woman who turns to a mysterious hypnotherapist for help becomes caught in a deadly mind game.
Hypnotic was directed by Matt Angel and Suzanne Coote (The Open House) and stars Kate Siegel (Midnight Mass), Jason O’Mara (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) and Dulé Hill (The West Wing).
As is the case every month, several shows and movies are leaving Netflix, Crave and Prime Video in November.
It’s worth noting that the streaming services may only be removing certain shows and movies for a specific amount of time.
Series like Avatar: The Last Airbender and Gossip Girl and movies like Mean Girls have all left Netflix and then returned to the service months or years later. If you’re more interested in what’s coming to Crave, Netflix and Prime Video, check out our respective ‘what’s coming to’ posts.
Every week, MobileSyrup outlines some of the most notable movies and TV shows that recently hit Canadian streaming platforms.
Our ‘Streaming in Canada’ column typically focuses on new content from Amazon Prime Video Canada, Crave and Netflix Canada, but other services like Apple TV+ and Disney+ will be mentioned when relevant.
We’ll also highlight shows or movies that are made in Canada, involve notable Canadian cast or crew and/or are filmed in Canada.
Finally, with the COVID-19 pandemic causing many movies to hit digital platforms much sooner than planned, we’ll make note of any major films — as well as other notable streaming service news — that fall into this category when applicable.
Amazon Prime Video
Chucky
After a vintage doll turns up at a garage sale, an idyllic American town becomes plagued by horrifying murders.
Based on the Child’s Play franchise, Chucky was created by Don Mancini (Child’s Play series) and stars Zackary Arthur (Transparent), Björgvin Arnarson (The Seventh Day), Alyvia Alyn Lind (The Young and the Restless), Vancouver’s Devon Sawa (Final Destination), B.C.-raised Jennifer Tilly (Bullets Over Broadway) and Brad Dourif (Child’s Play franchise) as the voice of Chucky.
It’s worth noting that the series was filmed in and around Toronto.
Amazon Prime Video Canada premiere date: October 19th, 2021 (first episode, new episodes every Tuesday) Genre: Horror Runtime: Eight episodes (around 45 minutes each)
Stream Chucky here. Note that a $12.99/month StackTV subscription is required.
An Amazon Prime Video subscription is included at no additional cost with an Amazon Prime membership, which costs $79 CAD/year.
The full list of movies and shows hitting Amazon Prime Video Canada in October can be found here.
Apple TV+
Invasion [Apple Original]
Created by Simon Kinberg (X-Men series) and David Weil (Hunters), Invasion explores how an alien invasion is seen from different perspectives around the world.
The series stars Sam Neill (Jurassic Park), Toronto’s Shamier Anderson (Wynonna Earp) and Golshifteh Farahani (Extraction).
Apple TV+ Canada premiere date: October 22nd, 2021 (first three episodes, new episodes every Friday) Genre: Sci-fi Runtime: 10 episodes (about one hour each)
The former film is a drama about Áila, who helps another woman through her trauma after an assault by her boyfriend. The Incredible 25th Year of Mitzi Bearclaw, meanwhile, is a comedy about a 24-year-old Indigenous woman who moves back to her reserve to look after her sick mother.
Note that a $15.98/month Crave + Starz subscription or a $19.98/month Crave + Movies + HBO subscription is required.
Crave says it’s added these films in commemoration of 2021 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival, which kicked off on October 19th. The service’s full Indigenous Stories Collection can be found here.
Curb Your Enthusiasm (Season 11)
Seinfeld co-creator Larry David’s improv comedy is back, featuring such guest stars as Jon Hamm (Mad Men), Vancouver’s Seth Rogen (Superbad), Woody Harrelson (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), Bill Hader (Barry) and Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory).
Crave Canada premiere date: October 24th, 2021 at 10:30pm ET (first episode, new episodes every Sunday at 10:30pm ET) Genre: Comedy Runtime: 10 episodes (about 30 minutes each)
Stream Curb Your Enthusiasm here. Note that a $19.98/month Crave + Movies + HBO subscription is required.
Insecure (Season 5)
The fifth and final season of Insecure provides a reflection on, and closure for, Issa and Molly’s friendship and Issa and Lawrence’s love.
Insecure was created by Issa Rae (Awkward Black Girl) and Larry Wilmore (The Daily Show) and stars Rae, Yvonne Orji (Jane the Virgin) and Jay Ellis (Escape Room).
Crave premiere date: October 24th, 2021 at 10pm ET (first episode, new episodes every Sunday at 10pm ET) Genre: Comedy-drama Runtime: 10 episodes (about 30 minutes each)
Stream Insecure here. Note that a $19.98/month Crave + Movies + HBO subscription is required.
A standard Crave subscription is priced at $9.99/month, with Starz costing another $5.99/month and HBO an additional $9.99/month.
The full list of movies and shows hitting Crave this month can be found here.
Disney+
Marvel Studios: Assembled — “The Making of Black Widow” [Disney+ Original]
Go behind-the-scenes on the production of Black Widow, the first film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s ‘Phase 4’ and Scarlett Johanson’s super spy’s long-awaited solo outing.
This documentary special features never-before-seen footage on the making of the movie, as well as commentary from the likes of Johansson, Florence Pugh (Yelena), David Harbour (Alexei) and director Cate Shortland.
The full list of movies and shows hitting Disney+ Canada this month can be found here.
Netflix
Inside Job [Netflix Original]
Working at a shadowy government organization, an awkward genius and her dysfunctional coworkers attempt to keep global conspiracies under wraps.
Inside Job was created by Shion Takeuchi (Gravity Falls) and features the voices of Lizzy Caplan (Masters of Sex), Christian Slater (Mr. Robot), Clark Duke (Hot Tub Time Machine) and Andy Daly (Review).
Netflix Canada premiere date: October 22nd, 2021 Genre: Animated sitcom Runtime: 10 episodes (27 to 31 minutes each)
Tyler, Kinsey and Bode dig deeper into the mystery of the keys to unlock more family secrets.
Locke & Key is based on Joe Hill’s graphic novel of the same name and stars Jackson Robert Scott (It), Toronto-born Connor Jessup (Falling Skies) and Emilia Jones (What We Did on Our Holiday). Richmond, B.C.’s Aaron Ashmore (Killjoys) co-stars.
It’s worth noting that Locke & Key was filmed in Toronto.
Netflix Canada premiere date: October 22nd, 2021 Genre: Drama, supernatural horror Runtime: 10 episodes (43 to 53 minutes each)
A prophesized warrior princess fights to save humanity from vengeful gods.
Maya and the Three was created by Jorge R. Gutiérrez and features the voices of Zoe Saldaña (Guardians of the Galaxy), Gabriel Iglesias (“Fluffy”), Diego Luna (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) and Gael García Bernal (Coco).
Netflix Canada premiere date: October 22nd, 2021 Genre: Animated, fantasy Runtime: Nine episodes (26 to 44 minutes each)
From October 20th to 31st, HauntTV is offering a variety of Halloween-themed programming, including Haunted Hospitals, Evil Encounters, World’s Scariest Hauntings and a sneak peek at Hotel Paranormal, narrated by Ottawa’s own Dan Aykroyd (Ghostbusters).
HauntTV content can be streamed for free on The Roku Channel and Samsung TV Plus.
What are you planning on streaming this week? Let us know in the comments.
Squid Game has proven popular for Netflix — so much so, the company reportedly expects the show will create almost $900 million USD (roughly $1.1 billion CAD) in value for it.
The figure comes from documents seen by Bloomberg. Those documents also give a peek inside how Netflix evaluates its content, something the company has previously been secretive about. As Bloomberg points out, Netflix doesn’t generate sales on specific titles like traditional movie studios and TV networks. Instead, Netflix rolls out new content to keep subscribers paying and to entice new customers.
Because of that, Netflix gathers a lot of data about what subscribers watch and uses that data to derive value from the content it makes. For example, the Netflix document cited by Bloomberg notes that Squid Game generated $891.1 million in “impact value.” Netflix uses that metric to assess the performance of individual shows.
Further, Squid Game cost Netflix just $21.4 million USD (about $26.5 million CAD) to make, or about $2.4 million USD per episode.
A Netflix attorney told Bloomberg in a letter that it would be “inappropriate” for it to publicize the confidential data contained in the document, explaining that the streaming giant “does not discuss these metrics outside the company.”
Netflix document details “value” of Squid Game
Bloomberg says that some figures from the document are self-explanatory and mirror information shared by other companies. For example, roughly 132 million people have watched at least two minutes of Squid Game in the show’s first 23 days, beating the record set by Netflix’s Bridgerton.
Although Netflix releases the two-minute metric to the public, it hasn’t disclosed how many people watched more than two minutes or how many people completed the show. Bloomberg explains that the two-minute measurement can make Netflix’s numbers look inflated compared to traditional TV shows, which report the average number of people that watch a show for its duration.
However, Netflix does estimate that 89 percent of people who started Squid Game watched at least 75 minutes (more than one episode), while 66 percent of viewers (87 million people) finished the series in the first 23 days. All told, people have spent more than 1.4 billion hours watching the show.
Other metrics found in the document are less clear, and Bloomberg says it’s uncertain what data Netflix uses to calculate the metrics. Squid Game reportedly scored 353 points in Netflix’s adjusted view share (AVS) metric. Bloomberg explains that AVS measures both how many people watch the show and how “valuable” those viewers are. For example, new customers and existing subscribers who don’t use the service often are considered more valuable because the content they watch indicates what drew them to the service or kept them subscribed.
Moreover, Squid Game’s value is increased in part due to its low cost to make. The show cost less than the recent Dave Chappelle special and less than making a few episodes of The Crown. Netflix has an “efficiency” metric that considers AVS relative to cost — Squid Game scored 47.7x in the efficiency metric, while the Chappelle special Sticks & Stones scored 0.8x, according to Bloomberg. Netflix considers a score of 1.0x “solid.”
