These human TV and movie picks trounce Netflix’s algorithm
For all the energy that Netflix and other streaming services invest in guessing exactly what you’ll want to watch, they can be pretty bad at it. After all, how many evenings have you spent aimlessly clicking around on your Roku or Fire TV, eyes glazed as yet another algorithmically served autoplay trailer tries in vain to break through the din? As analysis paralysis sets in, you realize that your time spent deciding what to watch now limits what you actually have time to watch before you have to go to bed. Maybe the solution isn’t a better algorithm, but a set of recommendations that are decidedly more human. This tip originally appeared in the free Cool Tools newsletter from The Intelligence. Get the next issue in your inbox and get ready to discover all sorts of awesome tech treasures! Recommendations from real people The next time Netflix’s home screen gives you an existential crisis, keep A Good Movie to Watch in mind. ➜ A Good Movie to Watch is a human-curated list of movies and shows to check out, with useful filters to narrow down the options. ⌚ You’ll probably find something interesting to watch in just a minute or two. The site is free to access on any device, though some recommendations are paywalled. A Good Movie to Watch isn’t strictly a review site. To build its recommendations, it starts with movies and shows that have at least a 7/10 approval rating from viewers and critics, based on sources like IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes. The site’s human curators use these movies and shows as a starting point for their own recommendations. A Good Movie to Watch has curated, human recommendations in a variety of genres and categories. The site has more than two dozen people contributing to these picks, and each pick includes a brief write-up on what makes them stand out. The site also pulls up quotes from critics and points out any awards the movie or show has won. Reviews include original opinions along with quotes from notable critics. ☝️ And since we’re all wary