Unless you watch Netflix primarily on devices with 1080p displays, you presumably want the ability to enjoy 4K content that comes with Premium. 1080p is fine enough if you're watching on a mobile device, but the difference in quality is far more noticeable on a big display. Premium is also a must for those with big families or lots of devices, especially if you want to share your account with anyone living outside your home.

However, I simply cannot find a way to justify the hefty price tag Netflix demands. $25 is a whole heap of money for a streamer, especially now that so many competing services exist. I currently pay $29.46 a month, including tax, for a premium subscription bundle that includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. I get to stream whatever the highest quality content is available in, which is usually 4K, and I don't have to deal with Netflix's draconian password-sharing countermeasures. I'm thinking of switching to a different bundle that would swap out ESPN+ for Max, and which would be about the same price.

I also enjoy my AMC A-List subscription, which costs $22.95 per month and allows me to see up to four movies per month free of extra charge at any AMC theater location. That feels like a far better value than Netflix Premium, since I get to see brand-new movies in premium formats like IMAX and Dolby Cinema. I even get free refills on popcorn and drinks, which are often free, since I rack up $5 in rewards by convincing friends to join me for a movie and having them pay me back for tickets. Netflix isn't offering anything to justify its pricing relative to other subscriptions.