Around this time every month, the powers that be at Netflix release their list of what’s coming to and leaving the platform in the month to follow. It’s a time to reflect. A time of mourning. A time of hope.
To help you wade through that emotional soup, and help you decide what to watch in the weeks to come, we’re putting together the Monthly Netflix Report Card, a highly scientific, yet mostly arbitrary, very subjective assessment of the streaming giant’s gains and losses.
The final grade will take into account the three biggest gains in the Netflix original movies and shows/comedy specials, as well as the three biggest gains and losses in standard movies and shows/comedy specials. As months go on, we’ll look to improve our criteria as much as possible.
(Check out the full list of what’s new and what's leaving here.)
Top Three Netflix Original Movies Coming to Netflix in October
-The Meyerowitz Stories, Woody Allen-esque auteur Noah Baumbach’s latest feature, starring Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler, Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson.
-1922, an adaption of the Stephen King novella starring Thomas Jane and Molly Parker.
-Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold, a relatively high-profile documentary of the legendary writer from actor/director/Didion’s nephew, Griffin Dunne.
Top Three Netflix Original Shows/Comedy Specials Coming to Netflix in October
-Stranger Things: 2, the excitement for which goes without saying.
-Mindhunter, Season 1, the new crime drama from exec producers David Fincher and Charlize Theron.
-Patton Oswalt: Annihilation, the follow-up to the comedian’s Emmy-winning special.
Aggregate Grade of Netflix Originals: B+. There’s a lot to look forward to here, particularly with the second season of Stranger Things, which has to be one of the platform’s most-anticipated new releases.
Top Three Movies Coming to Netflix in October
-Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights
-Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut
-Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight
Aggregate Grade: A.
Top Three Movies Leaving Netflix in October
-Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining
-David Lynch’s Mulholland Dr.
-James Cameron’s Titanic
Aggregate Grade: A.
Top Three Shows Coming to Netflix in October
-The Mist, Season 1
-The Fosters, Season 5
-Schitt Creek, Season 3
Aggregate Grade: C-. All quality shows (we’re particularly interested in catching up with The Mist) but nothing too exciting.
Top Three Shows Leaving Netflix in October
-30 Rock, all seasons
-The Wonder Years, all seasons
-Louie, all seasons
Aggregate Grade: A+. Obviously.
The Final Grade
Let’s call the non-original movies a wash, and chalk up the non-originals as a pretty significant loss. That gets us to about a B-. Take into account the aggregate grade for Netflix originals and find ourselves at a solid B. Which seems about right. Stranger Things is huge, of course, but the loss of 30 Rock is tough.
