Paramount+ in 2023: A Comprehensive Review
As part of IGN’s State of Streaming event, we’re taking a fresh look at the major streaming services and what they offer subscribers in 2023.
Paramount+ started out as CBS All Access, a relatively low-key service that was best known for its Star Trek programming, but it’s grown into a larger and more all-encompassing streamer since its 2021 rebrand. Don’t worry: It still has a whole lot of Star Trek and an investment in originals – plus a recent integration of Showtime that expanded its catalog substantially. So how does it stack up in the wider streaming landscape in 2023?
Paramount+’s TV shows and movies
To really dig into the most important part of any streaming service we’re going to be breaking this section down into four segments. First we’ll be looking at the original programming each platform has to offer, then we’re delving into their back catalog, next up will be anything that really stands out and makes the streamer unique, then finally it’ll be any glaring omissions.
Originals: While Paramount+ is probably best known for being the home of Star Trek – more on that later – it has a pretty good slate of non-Trek originals too. Why Women Kill is a delightfully dark anthology, The Good Fight delivers searing drama, and of course Paramount+ is also the home of the popular Yellowstone spin-offs 1883 and 1923. Its original film output is limited and more aimed at younger audiences.
Paramount+ also has a relatively unique selling point in its live TV option, which works like a free ad-supported streaming television (or FAST) service built into the app where you can watch local CBS network affiliates, Showtime channels, and curated channels showing Paramount programming. It’s also in the live sports game with the option to watch CBS sports coverage including the NFL, UEFA Champions League, boxing, and more at no added cost.
Back catalog: Thanks to being owned by a major studio, Paramount has a solid back catalog with some really fun films and a good selection of well-known titles. It currently has the entire Mission: Impossible franchise – minus the newest entry Dead Reckoning, Part One – alongside their charming box office hit The Lost City, and 2023’s Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. Nickelodeon is also owned by Paramount, so you can enjoy a selection of the channel’s legendary animation, a total nostalgia trip that includes the likes of SpongeBob SquarePants and Ahh! Real Monsters. When it comes to TV, Paramount+ will likely satisfy whether you’re a reality fan who wants to watch Big Brother or a just someone looking for a classic TV series like Frasier to binge.
Ad-free subscribers have access to Showtime’s catalog too. Along with its recent hit show Yellowjackets, there’s a substantial selection of Showtime’s acclaimed series like Dexter, Ray Donovan, and Shameless. Showtime also expands the movie library exponentially, and brings with it Everything Everywhere All at Once, Midsommar, Pearl, and other fruits of the premium-cable channel’s partnership with indie distributor A24. But it’s not all arthouse cinema: There’s an assortment of B-movies, made-for-TV films, and wild genre fare, too.
Standout: Paramount+ is the only place to go if you’re a Star Trek fan – a one-stop shop for anyone who loves the sci-fi franchise. Ongoing series like Discovery, Strange New Worlds, and Lower Decks sit alongside the throwback voyages of Captains Kirk, Sisko, Janeway, Archer, and Picard – the last of whom got his own, recently concluded Paramount+ sequel. With 13 Trek movies covering the first six films, four Next Generation spinoffs, and the three Kelvin-timeline reboots, can take in the full range of the franchise’s cinematic excursions.
Glaring omissions: The obvious big miss here is Yellowstone, the flagship series of Paramount+’s cable cousin, Paramont Network. Due to a licensing agreement with Peacock, Paramount+ doesn’t have the popular drama that introduced the world to the Dutton family. The streamer has also been removing certain originals from the platform, like Inside Amy Schumer, Queen of the Universe, the musical remake of Snow Day, and the animated kids show Star Trek: Prodigy – all victims of the biggest and most worrying trend in streaming.
Paramount+’s User Interface
The app works quite well, though it can be a little slow and laggy. It’s also an app that has quite regular complaints online about its general upkeep, including issues with timeout errors and a struggle to load content. Right now, Paramount+ only offers certain movies and shows in 4K UHD — like Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Indiana Jones Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. It also offers some programs in Dolby Atmos, and many in 1080p. But newer shows look good in standard HD, and if you have a good internet connection, you’ll likely be happy with the quality that you get.
When it comes to subtitle options, Paramount+ is a closed captions supported streamer, so you have to turn them on via your TV rather than in the settings of the program you’re watching. The recommendation engine is okay but not particularly exciting – but the app does have useful hubs and a very easy to use search engine. If you search on desktop, it’s super quick and intuitive, making it simple to put together a longer to-watch list or search for stuff while you’re watching something else on your main TV. If you have the ad-free version of the service – a.k.a. Paramount+ With Showtime – then you can download episodes and movies to watch on the go too!
Paramount+’s Price
Paramount+ offers two tiers, both of which are cheaper if you commit to a year. “Paramount+ Essential” costs $5.99 or $59.99 a year, and ad-free “Paramount+ With Showtime” costs $11.99 or $119.99 a year. The biggest difference is right there in the name: The first gives you access to 45,000 episodes and movies ad-supported, but without access to any Showtime programming. $11.99 is on the slightly cheaper end of ad-free streaming options, and the combined might of Paramount+ and Showtime give it an added value.