With the cost of living in Australia at an all-time high, many of us have found it necessary to cut back on spending wherever they can – and subscription streaming services have found themselves one of the first items on the chopping block.
Making matters worse, several of Australia's top streamers have raised their prices over the last year, making the prospect of simply cancelling all our subscriptions all the more tempting.
That said, we're of the opinion that you shouldn't have to cut entertainment out of your life entirely – the best course of action is to simply pause your subscriptions during content-light months and reactivate when there's plenty of good stuff to watch.
Our money-saving advice? Stick to one or two active subscriptions per month and make sure they've got plenty of new shows and movies to keep you entertained during that time.
Of course, keeping track of everything that's coming out on all the services is no small task. Luckily, we've done the hard work for you.
We've sifted through release schedules for Netflix, Disney Plus, Binge, Foxtel Now, Stan, Apple TV Plus and Amazon Prime Video so that we can hand-pick the service most worthy of your hard-earned dollars this month.
So which streamer takes that honour this month?
Best streaming service for April 2024: Binge
Our pick for the best streaming service to subscribe to in April 2024 is… Binge!
Binge is one of the bigger streaming services in Australia, and the Aussie home of exclusive HBO content such as The Last of Us, House of Dragon, White Lotus and much more.
Binge was chosen as our top streaming service for April because of the multiple exciting new shows and movies set to premier on the platform this month. From the much anticipated documentary series Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV to the third Big Fat Fat Greek Wedding movie, there’s a whole lot of unique content to keep Binge subscribers busy this April!
Below are some of the Binge highlights we think are worth checking out this month.
If you're not already a Binge subscriber, subscribe now!
This month's highlights
BlackBerry
Movie - Available April 4
The biographical comedy-drama film tells the story of Mike Lazardis and Jim Balsille, the two men who created the world’s first smartphone - the BlackBerry. Follow the epic rise and dramatic demise of the BlackBerry and the competitive and ruthless nature of Silicon Valley.
American Horror Story: Delicate Season 12 - Part 2
TV Series - Available April 4 with new episodes dropping weekly
The first five episodes of Season 12 of American Horror Story: Delicate were released in September and October of last year, so after much anticipation the final four episodes are set to drop this month. This series has an all star cast, including series alumni Emma Roberts alongside newcomers Cara Delevigne and Kim Kardashian. The story is based on the book Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine and this is the first season based on a novel, rather than an original concept. The story is about an actress who can’t fall pregnant and fears something may be targeting her. Stay tuned for some scary, horror filled entertainment!
Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV
TV series - First two episodes available April 5 and third and fourth episodes available April 6
This four-part documentary series has gained a lot of attention in the media after its US premiere. It uncovers the dark side of Nickelodeon in the early 2000s and the allegations against Dan Schneider who created and produced various popular kids TV shows including Victorious, iCarly and Drake and Josh. Schnieder has been specifically accused of inappropriate behaviour, such as featuring underage performers in bikinis and allowing child actors including Ariana Grande to act out scenes featuring explicit sexual innuendos. Stay tuned to find out more about the scandal on Binge this April.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3
Movie - Available April 13
The third movie in the iconic series was released last year and is about to debut on Binge. The Partokalos family go to Greece for a family reunion after the death of their father and Toula tries to locate her father’s childhood friends to come to the reunion. Follow your favourite Greek family as they embark on another adventure full of love, laughs and unforgettable characters.
Other streaming highlights for April 2024
If the above line-up doesn’t tickle your fancy, here’s a breakdown of some of the other exciting shows and movies coming to the other major streaming platforms this month.
Netflix
Anyone But You - April 3
One of the biggest rom-coms of 2023 and filmed largely on home soil in Australia, the Sydney Sweeny and Glen Powell hit will be available for streaming in early April. If you missed out on seeing it at the cinemas, now’s your chance to see what all the hype was about.
Ripley - April 4
Starring Andrew Scott as Tom Ripley alongside Dakota Fanning and Johnny Flynn in supporting roles, this thriller series is an adaptation of the popular novel and 1999 Matt Damon movie, The Talented Mr Ripley. If you’re not familiar with the story, expect lots of suspense, deception, fraud and violence as a conman is hired by a wealthy man in Italy and builds a web of lies to fit in and get the life he wants.
Disney+
Wish - April 3
Wish premiered in cinemas last year. The animated film by Disney is coming to Disney+ on April 3. It tells the story of Asha, a 17-year-old girl who discovers a secret and asks for help from the stars. Follow her magical journey to save her kingdom.
X-Men ‘97 - April 3 and April 10
Attention X-Men fans, the final two episodes of season one of X-Men ‘97 are dropping this month. Episode 4 ‘Montedo; Life Lifedeath Pt.1’ will be available on April 3 and Episode 5 ‘Remember It’ is coming out April 10. This series is a continuation of the cult classic X-Men: The Animated Series from the 1990s, and it begins after the death of the X-Men founder, Dr Charles Xavier.
Stan
White Lies - April 8
A brand new bingeable crime-thriller series is coming to Stan this month. Investigative journalist Edie Hansen’s (Natalie Dormer) estranged brother is murdered in his own home, forcing her to try to uncover the truth. Her search for answers leads her into the dark underbelly of Cape Town, where the prime suspects are her brother’s children.
Such Brave Girls - April 18
The new, hilarious British sitcom about two sisters and their single mum is coming to Stan this April. Discover just how dysfunctional families can be as these three struggle with their codependency issues and poor judgement.
Amazon Prime Video
Musica - April 4
Starring Camila Mendes and Rudy Mancuso, this is a coming-of-age love story about a young street performer who has a condition called synesthesia which means he experiences everyday noises as a series of rhythms. He has to navigate the music in his head, his cultural heritage and the love triangle he finds himself in.
How to Date Billy Walsh - April 5
Archie is in love with his best friend Amelia but she has no idea. When she falls in love with an American transfer student, Billy Walsh (played by Cobra Kai’s Tanner Buchanan), Archie feels threatened and does everything in his power to keep them apart, but will he be successful or will he just make it worse?
Previous Months' Picks
Best streaming service for March 2024: Binge
Cat Person
Movie - Available March 2
This psychological thriller is sure to keep you on your toes. Based on the screenplay by Michelle Ashford, and starring Emilia Jones and Nicholas Braun, this flick starts off as a sweet romantic comedy, but quickly takes a turn as a college student Margot goes on an awkward date with an older man who isn’t all he seems to be.
High Country (Binge Original)
TV Series - Double episode premiere on 19 March then new episodes weekly
Binge’s latest original series, High Country, debuts on March 19 and is a drama mystery series set in the heart of the Victorian Alps. Following a detective who’s just transferred to the area, Andrea Whitford (Leah Purcell) is thrown into a case that involves five missing people who have disappeared in the wilderness. The high stakes investigation uncovers murder, deceit and revenge and is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat with each weekly episode.
Apples Never Fall
TV Series - Available March 14
Based on the best selling novel by Liane Moriarty who’s also known for Big Little Lies, this TV series follows the story of the Delaney family after their mother goes missing and her children are left to confront family secrets and piece together what happened.
Oppenheimer
Movie - Available March 22
The award winning Oscar movie directed by Chistopher Nolan is set to debut on streaming platforms at the end of March. Starring Cillian Murphy as the theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, this biopic showcases the creation of the atomic bomb that ended World War 2, plus the political fallout Oppenheimer faced afterwards. If you haven’t yet seen the critically acclaimed film or want to watch it again, it will be available on Binge on March 22.
Other Streaming Highlights for March 2024
Netflix
Physical 100: Season 2 - March 19
The South Korean TV show where 100 contestants in top physical shape undergo a range of intense challenges in order to be the last one standing is back for a second season.
Damsel - March 8
Starring Millie Bobby Brown, this fantasy film is about a woman who is set to marry a prince when she discovers it’s a trap. In a fight for survival, she has to face many obstacles including swords, a fire breathing dragon and glowing rocks.
Stan
The Good Doctor: Season 6 - March 1
The lovable, quirky Doctor Shawn is back for a sixth season of The Good Doctor. Find out what will happen in this latest instalment on Stan.
Population: 11 - March 14
Based in an Australian rural town, watch as American Ben Fledman arrives to find his dad who went missing and uncover what happened to him.
Disney+
Shogun - New episodes on March 5 and March 12
Set in Japan during the 17th century amid political turmoil and power struggles, this drama mini series is a must watch. The first two episodes debuted on Disney+ last month, and there’s two more to be released on the 5th and 12th of March.
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) Disney+ Premier - March 15
If you were unlucky and missed out on tickets to Taylor Swift’s sold out Era’s Tour in Australia, or if you went and can’t wait to relive it, the good news is that the Era’s Tour film is set to hit Disney+ this month!
Amazon Prime Video
Ricky Stanicky - March 7
A hilarious comedy about three childhood friends who created an imaginary friend named Ricky and then decide to use this ‘friend’ twenty years later as an alibi for their behaviour. However, it all goes wrong when their significant others request to meet Ricky. Filmed in Melbourne, Ricky Stanicky boasts a big-name cast with Zac Efron, Andrew Santino and Jermaine Fowler, plus John Cena as the actor they hire to play Ricky.
Road House - March 21
Amazon’s remake of the 1989 action flick Road House is landing on the service from March 21. Ex-UFC fighter Elwood Dalton finds himself working at roadhouse in the Florida Keys. But Dalton soon realises that things aren’t quite what they seem to be. Road House boasts an all star cast, starring Jake Gyllenhall, Post Malone and Conor McGregor in his acting debut. Watch as Gyllenhall’s character tries to escape his dark past of violence but is challenged at every corner.
Best streaming service for February 2024: Netflix
Our pick for the best streaming service to subscribe to in February 2024 is… Netflix!
Multiple new and exciting Netflix Original series are due to premier on the platform, and some favourites make a return too, like Love is Blind Season 6 and Formula 1: Drive to Survive. There’s plenty more where they came from, enough to keep new and returning Netflix subscribers busy this February!
Below are some of the highlights we think are worth checking out this month.
One Day
Netflix Original Series - Available February 8
The Netflix Original series – based on the novel by David Nicholls – follows Emma and Dexter as they go their separate ways after university, but their lives continue to be connected. This series is billed as bittersweet and nostalgic, so it’ll likely be an emotional watch.
Love is Blind - Season 6
TV Series - Available February 14
The blind-dating experiment is returning for a sixth season. Nick and Vanessa Lachey will again be hosting, as a new group of singles try to find love.
Mea Culpa
TV Series - Available February 23
The dramatic legal thriller directed by Tyler Perry is coming to Netflix this month. Follow along as a defence attorney takes on the case of a seductive artist accused of murdering his girlfriend. Be prepared for lots of twists and turns, and for things to get dangerous and a bit spicy.
Formula 1: Drive to Survive - Season 6
Netflix Documentary - Available 23 February
Stay tuned, F1 fans, as season 6 of the much-loved Netflix documentary show is nearly here. This series will cover the events of the 2023 F1 season, with behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with superstars Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Daniel Ricciardo and more.
Best streaming service for January 2024: Binge
Our pick for the best streaming service to subscribe to in January 2024 is… Binge!
With the addition of multiple exciting new shows such as Ted and Secrets of the Penthouse, as well as the return of popular TV shows like Vanderpump Rules and True Detective, there’s plenty to keep new and returning subscribers busy.
Not a Binge subscriber? Sign up here:
Ted - Season 1
TV Show - Available January 1
More than 10 years after his debut, the infamous talking bear is about to be back on our screens. This prequel series is set in the 1990s, just after Ted’s original brush with fame in the movie. Watch what unravels as he accompanies teenage John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg’s character) to high school.
Secrets of the Penthouse
TV Show - Available January 13
Follow the cautionary tale of Bob Guccione, who was at his height one of the richest men in America. Guccione is best known for taking on Playboy magazine in the 2000s and pushing the boundaries of adult entertainment further than ever before. Find out how his decisions put a strain on both his finances and his family.
True Detective - Season 4
TV Show - Available January 15
Subtitled ‘Night Country’ the fourth season of the popular American crime drama series is dropping on Binge this January – with Jodie Foster in the lead role. Follow the investigation behind the mysterious disappearance of eight men who were working at a research station in Ennis Alaska during the last sunset of the year.
The 75th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
Live on January 16
As well as some great new scripted shows, Binge subscribers can also watch the 2024 Emmy Awards live-broadcast from their own homes. Held in LA, the annual television awards are back for their 75th year. Watch live to find out who will take away all the prestigious honours.
Vanderpump Rules - Season 11
TV Show - Available January 31
Season 11 of reality hospitality series Vanderpump Rules is back this January. Find out the latest about what’s been happening at SUR Restaurant and Lounge, Pump Restaurant and Tom Tom Restaurant and Bar since last season.
Best streaming service for December 2023: Netflix
The best streaming service for December 2023 is Netflix! This is due to a combination of exciting new additions coming to the platform as well as the large selection of Christmas movies available on Netflix, including both Christmas classics and Netflix original Christmas movies from previous years.
Here are the highlights and what you can expect from new content coming to Netflix this month.
The Crown: Season 6 Part 2
(Netflix Original Series - Available 14 December)
It would be a wonder if you haven’t heard of Netflix’s hit original series, The Crown. The series is based on the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II and the rest of the British royal family. The 6th and final season is being released in 2 parts, with Part 1 released in mid November. The much anticipated part 2 delves into the tragic final days of Princess Diana’s life and also the early romance of Princes William and Kate Middleton when they first met at St Andrews University.
Maestro
(Netflix Film - available 20 December)
This biopic drama film starring and directed by Bradley Cooper is about the American conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein (played by Bradley Cooper) and his relationship with Costa Rican actress Felicia Montealagre who he met in 1946 and was married to for 27 years.
Kevin Hart & Chris Rock: Headliners Only
(Netflix Documentary - Available 12 December)
The Netflix Documentary about two famous comics, Kevin Hart and Chris Rock is coming to Netflix this month and it is bound to be funny. The documentary provides a behind the scenes look at their 2022 “Only Headligners Allowed” tour and candid insights into their triumphs, early lives and close friendship. If you love these two iconic personalities, this is the documentary for you!
Top Gun: Maverick
(Movie: Available 22 December)
The 2022 Blockbuster film starring Tom Cruise and Miles Teller is finally coming to Netflix this December. More than 35 years since Top Gun (1986) was released, Pete “Maverick” Mitchel is back and is now a test pilot. If you haven’t already seen it, or if you’ve seen it and loved it so much that you want to rewatch it, Top Gun: Maverick will be available on Netflix from 22 December!
