The Top Life-Changing Streaming Hacks

Service: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime
What you get: The ability to learn a new language and watch a cool movie 

Streaming services are broadcasting a lot more foreign language films than they once were. At the same time, a significant portion of Americans want to learn another language. It’s a perfect match. Eventually, if you watch enough foreign language films, you’re going to pick up at least some words and phrases.

Use foreign content to learn a new language @JapaneseQuest / Twitter.com

If you’re a cinephile who doesn’t have enough time for Rosetta Stone, head to Netflix’s, Hulu’s, Amazon Prime’s, and other services’ foreign language section. The description of the movie will likely be in English, so you don’t have to worry about picking something you won’t like. Click play, and get to learning! 

Service: Netflix
What you get: The ability to find a new show without having to search 

Over time, Netflix builds some idea of what you like to watch and what content you like to consume. If you watch all Julia Roberts movies, Netflix’s algorithm for you is going to reflect all rom-coms and dramas. If you’re a Rob Zombie fan, horror is going to pop up for you on Netflix’s suggestions.

Let Netflix pick what you will watch @thrillist / Pinterest.com

In April of 2021, the streaming giant released a new option called Netflix Roulette, which lets the service pick what you’ll watch next. Netflix Roulette chooses a TV show or movie from the catalog, filtered by IMDb score if you have the extension, and lets you watch it instantly. This is a way better option than scrolling for twenty or thirty minutes, trying to find something you like yourself.

Service: Netflix
What you get: The ability to watch a movie with your friends virtually 

During and after 2020, it became important to find ways to spend time with your friends without actually seeing them in person. Whether you were long-distance or short-distance, safety called for everyone to social distance. Streaming giants answered that challenge by introducing group viewing features.

Use Netflix Party Chrome extension to watch with others in real-time @unh / Pinterest.com

Netflix Party is a good example of this. With this Chrome extension, you can host watch parties and stream entertainment with your friends while staying in your respective houses. You can even sync up your video timing to make sure you’re all watching and reacting at the same time. Just share the Netflix Party link and ask your friends to join. 

Service: Netflix, Hulu, Disney+
What you get: Less buffering and better video playback quality 

Off-peak and on-peak hours, when it comes to streaming, are hugely different. During off-peak hours, less people are watching and using streaming services. During on-peak hours, more people are on Netflix, Hulu, and more, watching movies and TV shows. Video quality and speed are likely slower during on-peak hours.

Stream during off-peak hours for better video quality and speed @sharibop / Pinterest.com

Peak periods for streaming are from 6PM until 11PM, which makes sense, as that’s when people are getting home from work and unwinding for the day. If you’re able, watch Netflix and Hulu before or after those hours. You’ll find that your experience involves a lot less buffering, which is something we all can appreciate.  

Service: Netflix
What you get: A quick way to access different genres 

We all have our favorite genres of movies. Some of us like action thrillers, while others are partial to comedies. Netflix knows that everyone has a preference, so they have organized their streaming platform to separate movies and TV shows into different genres. Netflix separates these genres by multi-digit codes.

Netflix has hidden genres you can find with secret codes ©Netflix.com

To access these secret codes, log into your Netflix and enter www.netflix.com/browse/genre/XXXX . But, instead of the Xs, you’ll enter numbers. For action and adventure movies, enter 1365. Comedies are 43040, adult animation is 11881, sci-fi is 1568, and thrillers are 43048. All of the codes can be found through a quick Google search.

Service: Netflix
What you get: A Chrome extension that lets you watch “Never Ending Netflix”

You’d think that streaming services like Netflix would know by now that people like to binge-watch content. Chances are, unless we’ve fallen asleep, we’re definitely still watching. Sure, we might be five hours into The Crown, but that doesn’t mean we’ve checked out of the show mentally.

"Are you still watching?" pop up @finnmintss / Pinterest.com

Binge-watchers will appreciate this hack. You can get rid of the irritating Netflix “Are you still watching?” pop-up by getting the “Never Ending Netflix” Google Chrome extension. After you’ve installed it, access the options menu. Turn on the “Don’t prompt” tag for the pop-up. This will prevent it popping up every three episodes and stalling your viewing process. 

Service: The Criterion Collection
What you get: Access to important, classic films 

This one is a little different from the others, as it’s not exactly like Netflix or Hulu. The Criterion Collection is for true cinephiles. It is a video distribution company that licenses, restores, and distributes films that it deems “important” and “classic.” Criterion issues DVDs and Blu-rays to libraries, scholars, cinephiles, and anyone else who wants to broaden their movie horizons.

The Criterion Collection is a cinephile's dream come true @sanfedele.cineforum / Facebook.com

You can find some of the Criterion Collection on HBO, but to get the full experience, you’ll need to join. Criterion is considered a Prestige Brand, so it’s expensive. An annual subscription to TCC costs $100 a year, while a monthly subscription costs $11 per month.

Service: Netflix, Hulu
What you get: The ability to watch movies and TV shows offline or with no WiFi

If you’ve found the perfect movie or TV show, chances are that you’re going to want to watch it as much as you can. It’s hard being a binge-watcher without WiFi, but, sometimes, that’s the case. Luckily, streaming services give viewers the option to download movies and TV shows for offline viewing.

You can download movies and tv shows for offline watching @muo_official / Pinterest.com

For Netflix, open the app and tap the “Downloads” arrow to see “What You Can Download.” That will give you options for downloadable content on the platform. On Hulu, it works pretty much the same way. The download icon is located on the Hulu mobile app’s menu bar, and it’s available for a good selection of TV shows and videos, as long as you have the ad-free subscription. 

Service: Netflix
What you get: Netflix’s original shows and movies, all in one place

Netflix rarely misses when it comes to movies and TV shows that it creates itself. The platform, probably because it has spent so much time cataloging what’s popular and unpopular among its hundreds of millions of members, knows what people want to watch.

Search "Netflix Originals" to see the entire programming library @whatsonnetflix / Pinterest.com

Shows like Squid Game and Bridgerton, among others, are fan favorites on the site. If you want to find all of Netflix’s original content in one place, click on the “Netflix Originals” section. That lists everything the streaming giant has ever produced, as far as original content goes. Chances are, you’ll find something to binge-watch almost immediately. 

Service: Netflix
What you get: The foreign content in its original language 

Dubbing is a popular way that streaming services translate movies and TV shows into an audience’s language. When a foreign-language film or show is dubbed, the original dialogue is voice-overed in non-foreign language.

Disable dubbing on foreign content @artimaj / Pinterest.com

Some people love dubbing and find it useful, while others say that it ruins the experience of the film or TV show. To turn off dubbing on Netflix, click on the audio and subtitles bubble in the show’s menu bar. Then, under the audio section, change it from your language to the native language of the show. You can then turn on subtitles to read the text while listening to the original audio. Luckily, you’ll only have to do this once every time you watch.

Service: Netflix, Hulu
What you get: Age-appropriate options for kids 

Netflix and Hulu are super-popular among not just adults, but kids too. As we all know, there are some shows and movies on the streaming sites that just aren’t appropriate for kids to watch, for a variety of reasons. Most of us, when we consider our favorite shows, can easily pick out a few moments that we wouldn’t want our youngsters watching.

Check out the Kids section for your youngsters @Kartoon Kidz / Youtube.com

Streaming services saw this coming, so they prepared kid-friendly sections ahead of time. Click on “Netflix Kids” and the kid sections on Hulu in order to keep the entire selection free of anything inappropriate. Kids will only be given age-appropriate content in the search options. 

Service: Netflix, Disney+, Hulu
What you get: Subtitles customized to your viewing experience 

If you’re going to be watching something with subtitles, you’re going to want those subtitles to conform to the appearance you like. The current appearance of subtitles isn’t for everyone, and streaming services know they have to give people more options for font and color.

Personalize your subtitles appearance @hellpctutorials / Pinterest.com

The process differs based on the streaming service you’re trying to customize. On Netflix, you’ll want to select the “Accessibility” option. Then, choose “Subtitles and Captioning” to enable them. On that screen, you’ll be able to pick the titles’ appearances under the “Style” heading. Other services might differ in terms of details, but this option is usually available in some sort of “Accessibility” section. 

Service: Tribeca at Home, A24 Screening Room
What you get: Can stream movies from those two companies

As we’ve seen with the Criterion, classic and contemporary movies of social import aren’t always on Netflix or Hulu. A24 and Tribeca Film are two indie entertainment companies that let people watch classic movies that aren’t easy to find anywhere else. A24 has been around since 2012, and the company has produced movies like The Green Knight, Midsommar, Hereditary, and The Lighthouse.

Watch A24's and Tribeca Film's library @Gabriella Longo / Youtube.com

You can watch A24 movies in the “A24 Screening Room” if you purchase a ticket. Tribeca Film lets you watch Tribeca Film Festival movies through the “Tribeca at Home” app. You can also go to the festival’s website to check out their streaming options.

Service: Netflix, Hulu
What you get: Puts your subscription on hold while you’re not using it

If you’re going to be out of town or otherwise away from your Netflix account, you can easily pause your streaming service subscription. After all, you don’t want to pay for it if you’re not going to use it, right? To pause your Netflix subscription, go to “My Account” and click “Cancel Membership” in the “Membership and Billing” section.

Out of town? Pause your subscription for the meantime @rajendran1011962 / Pinterest.com

If you want to reactivate your account, just log back in and click “Reactivate.” As long as you do it within ten months, you’ll be able to access your account information the same way as if you’d never left.