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HBO MAX Is Winning the IMDb Ratings Game

HBO MAX Is Winning the IMDb Ratings Game

July 7, 2020

HBO MAX is AT&T's newest addition to its very large library of streaming services. Amidst notable skepticism, however, the service has come in strong when it comes to ratings. Data from JustWatch reveals that HBO MAX has the best-rated content of any major on-demand streaming service, although to its credit, Amazon has the largest number of top-rated TV shows and films.This week, we take a closer look at streaming service IMDb ratings, and what's leading HBO MAX to mostly dominate that arena.

Streamer's Spotlight: HBO MAX Is Leading the Way in Best-Rated Content

HBO is fairly well known for the strength of its content. With massive hits like

Game of Thrones

The Wire

The Sopranos

, and

West World as

feathers in its caps, it's easy to see why an extended version of HBO might do well. Enter HBO MAX, which...is only slightly different than HBO.

HBO MAX gives subscribers access to all of HBO's hit content. The key difference is that HBO MAX provides everything you could get for subscribing to the older HBO Now service, plus high-rated content from the WarnerMedia library which AT&T recently acquired. That includes DC Comics-branded content and other films and shows that fall under the WarnerMedia banner. So, movies like

Crazy Rich Asians

and

Wonder Woman

, and TV shows like

Adventure Time

You get the picture. By combining the best of HBO (which is indeed hot on the ratings front) and the best of Warner Media (which has many hits, alongside a number of flops), you get a streaming service that's notably limited in size compared to its competitors, but easily dominating in high-quality content immediately upon launch.

And according to recent data

published by JustWatch

, that's exactly what we have with HBO MAX.

How Much Better is HBO MAX Content?

On IMDb’s 10-point scale, 345 of the 2186 TV shows and movies currently available are scored as eights. Basically, 15% of HBO Max’s programs are

really

well-liked.

Comparatively, just 5% of Amazon's 31,670 titles scored an 8 or above on IMDb. For Netflix, that number was 10%. And for Disney+, that number was just about 6%. For its part, oft-missed Hulu hits 13% for its library when you look at TV shows and movies that score 8 or above on IMDb, putting in a close second place.

Size matters in the content game

HBO Max is undoubtedly a master right now with the percentage of high-rated content in its library. It's almost in a class of its own on that end. But the total percent of high-rated content isn't the only game in town. There's also the size of the library. On that end, Amazon stands far atop the others.

Amazon's content library is 24 times larger than what's available through HBO MAX. The online shopping giant's content library for TV and movies is even 4 times larger than what Netflix brings to the table. By that measure, its selection of high-rated content makes up a small percent of its total library, but it does have more to offer on a pure numbers basis.

But what matters for consumers?

There are two primary triggers for consumers when it comes to making a choice on subscription services: original content and "anchor" syndicated content. Netflix and HBO have long been leaders in original content. As for anchor syndicated content, that varies by service. Netflix's biggest anchor show for years has been

The Office

, which it's

losing in 2021

as NBCUniversal reclaims the show for its upcoming Peacock streaming service.

HBO MAX has great content but may not have the time of constantly-rewatched syndicated shows that keep people on a service. Yes,

Adventure Time

is there, but that show doesn't have the wide appeal of something like

The Office

Friends

Seinfeld

Community

, or

Parks and Rec

. HBO's hit content mostly isn't well syndicated; they're primarily singular events, talked about when they're hot, and remembered by not rewatched as background noise when they've finished their run.

AT&T has good potential with HBO MAX, but it may need to get its hands on solid syndicated content before it finds real success for its service.

This Week's Streaming Guide

1. ABC's 'What Would You Do' Returns

Back for another season, ABC's ethical dilemma reality show What Would You Do airs tonight (Tuesday) at 10 PM EST.

Watch ABC Without Cable

2. Cate Blanchett Directs New Netflix Action Drama 'Stateless'

The six-part Netflix series dramatically presents a refugee on the run who is caught and detained at the border. Available this Wednesday on Netflix. -

Watch

on Netflix

3. F1 Racing Returns with Austria GP

Formula 1 racing was canceled initially, but the wait is over. The first F1 races for the year took place July 3-5, and continue this week on July 10 in Austria. -

Watch on

Formula1.com

4. Netflix Movie 'The Old Guard' Streaming this Friday

Add in immortal heroes and someone onto their secret, and you get an action-packed evening. -

Watch on Netflix