Ever paused mid-binge and thought, “Why don’t all streaming services have this feature?”. Or wished for a tool to make your movie nights more fun and interactive? With so many platforms vying for our attention, you’d think they’d go all out to include everything we want. Here are some cool features I wish more streaming services would adopt…
1 Seamless “Watch Together” Options
Streaming has become a social activity, even when friends and family are miles apart. Some platforms, like Amazon Prime Video’s Watch Party, allow users to watch content together remotely. These features synchronize playback and often include a chat option, making it feel like you’re in the same room.
But not all services have caught up. Imagine how much better Netflix or Hulu could be with similar built-in watch-together tools. Sure, you can use third-party extensions like Teleparty (formerly Netflix Party) to watch Netflix with friends virtually, but they’re not as smooth as native integration.
A truly seamless feature would let users connect directly in-app, invite friends with a simple link, and include video or audio chat for real-time reactions. Adding these tools across all platforms would make streaming a more communal and memorable experience.
2 Interactive Features for Niche Genres
Some genres practically beg for extra engagement. Karaoke modes for musicals, trivia pop-ups during documentaries, or director’s commentary overlays during action films could transform passive viewing into an interactive experience.
Disney+ dabbled in niche engagement with its Sing-Along versions of musicals like Frozen, where on-screen lyrics turn your living room into a karaoke party. However, this concept could go so much further. Imagine an interactive Hamilton mode where historical facts appear alongside the lyrics, or a mystery series with “guess the culprit” polls integrated into the episode.
3 Genre-Specific “Shuffle” Buttons
Sometimes, you don’t know what you want to watch—you just know the vibe. A genre-specific shuffle button could solve that indecision instantly. Picture a “Comedy Shuffle” that plays a random funny movie or show from the library or a “Horror Shuffle” for a spooky night in.
HBO Max already offers a shuffle option for specific shows, like Friends and The Big Bang Theory, but expanding this to genres would make discovering new favorites much easier. It’s especially useful when you’re revisiting a familiar genre but don’t want to sift through endless menus.
With a well-designed algorithm, this feature could also prioritize content you haven’t watched yet, ensuring that shuffle feels fresh and exciting instead of repetitive.
4 A “Skip Unnecessary Recaps” Button
We’ve all been there: you’re binging a series, and every episode starts with the same “Previously on…” montage. While helpful for weekly releases, it’s downright redundant when you’re watching back-to-back episodes.
Netflix already lets you skip intros, but imagine if you could also bypass these recap segments with a single button. This would be especially useful for plot-heavy dramas like Stranger Things or Game of Thrones, where recaps often rehash what you just saw minutes ago.
Even better, streaming services could offer customizable playback settings—letting you toggle recaps on or off depending on whether you need the refresher. It’s a small change, but one that could save viewers from repetitive interruptions during marathon sessions.
5 Live Watch Parties for Major Releases
There’s something electric about experiencing a major premiere with a crowd, even if it’s virtual. While platforms like Twitch excel at live community events, traditional streaming services rarely offer this kind of shared excitement.
Imagine Netflix hosting a global watch party for the release of a highly anticipated show like Stranger Things. Users could join live chats, share reactions through emojis, or even participate in polls and Q&A sessions with creators. Disney+ experimented with this during the Loki finale, but these events are still rare.
A dedicated live watch party feature would make releases feel like events rather than just another drop in the content ocean. It’s a great way for fans to connect and for platforms to build buzz and loyalty.
6 Offline Viewing Without Expiration
Most streaming platforms let you download content for offline viewing, but there’s usually a catch. Downloads often have a frustrating expiration date—sometimes as short as 48 hours once you hit play. This restriction makes it hard to enjoy your library on your own schedule, especially during trips or long stretches without reliable internet.
Platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Netflix already support offline downloads, but they could take a page from Apple’s playbook. Apple TV+ allows users to keep downloaded content indefinitely, as long as users maintain their subscription. This flexibility would make offline viewing feel less like a temporary perk and more like a proper feature.
Removing expiration dates would ensure viewers can truly enjoy their favorite shows and movies whenever they want, without a ticking clock ruining the experience.
7 Streaming Stats and Insights for Fans
For those who love data, streaming stats could add a new layer of fun to watching. Imagine being able to track how many hours you’ve spent on a series, how many episodes you’ve watched in a week, or even what genres you binge the most.
Some platforms already offer a hint of this. Spotify Wrapped, while for music, is a great example of how user stats can be turned into a viral moment. Why not bring something similar to TV and movie streaming services? Crunchyroll has experimented with yearly summaries for anime fans, but it’s far from widespread.
These insights wouldn’t just be fun—they could also help viewers discover more content. A “most-watched director” stat could recommend similar films, or a breakdown of your viewing habits might surface hidden gems in your favorite genres.
Streaming services have made great strides in delivering convenience and variety, but there’s still untapped potential to improve the experience. Features like seamless “watch together” options, genre-specific shuffle buttons, and offline viewing without expiration would enhance usability and add a layer of personalization and fun.
While some services have dipped their toes into these ideas, there’s still plenty of room for all streaming platforms to adopt these tools. Until then, we’ll continue to hope for a future where streaming is not only about what we watch, but how we watch it.
