So why is it then so difficult to pick? Why is it so challenging to settle on a choice and hit play? Let’s examine why the struggle is real and list potential ways to solve that issue.
Why Is Picking a Movie a Struggle?
If you’re alone and trying to figure out what to watch, it usually boils down to indecision. It’s tough to answer the few simple questions that precede making a choice and sticking to it.
For example, what am I in the mood to watch? Do I want to see a movie or a show? What genre do I feel like picking? Do I have the time to find a TV show to binge-watch, or do I want something short and sweet? Do I stream a newly released movie or give into comfort and re-watch something else?
All of these are simple questions. Yet, most times, when you face the screen, you draw a blank. That’s because too much choice can be overwhelming. Even settling on a platform can be tough if you subscribe to several streaming services at once.
Another possible reason for a struggle in picking a feature is company. If you’re not alone, it adds opinions to the mix. One other person adds one more voice throwing feature names to the selection; the more people around you, the larger the options list and the more overwhelming the decision becomes.
Choice can be a gift but also a hindrance.
How to Decide What to Watch Next
So, here’s the problem: choice is overwhelming. But what can you do about it? Well, it’s pretty simple, really: leave it to chance.
1. Let a Website Pick for You
So many sites exist online with the sole purpose of helping you choose between several options. These decision-making platforms either offer up a pre-made selection to you as soon as you visit them or allow you to spin a wheel and settle on a pick by chance. Let’s go through a few of them.
InstantWatcher
Random Movie Generator
As the name implies, Random Movie Generator offers you a random title to see. The site doesn’t stick to specific streaming services but more so offers up a movie title it deems “good” for your viewing pleasure. Visiting the site, you’ll find a Pick A Film button, which, once clicked, offers a title and release year, plus a Metacritic score.
Netflix Movie Roulette
Netflix Movie Roulette is exactly what you imagine it to be—a roulette full of Netflix movies. You spin it, and once it lands on a title, you can watch it, no muss, no fuss.
The roulette has titles already added to it, but if you find them lacking, you can edit it online to add new ones. Or, you can download the free app from Google Play or the App store and do it through your phone.
Date Night Movies
Date Night Movies is an awesome choice if you’re stuck between two movie titles. Whether it’s a date night or not, sometimes you just can’t choose. If that’s the case, you add the two titles you’re considering in their respective bubbles on the platform, and once you do, you see a myriad of other options that fit the vibe of your initial titles.
It may seem you’re flooded with even more choices, but it’s a great compromise between two features. And, to make it easier to select which result to watch, you can settle on a number from one to twenty, count along the line, and wherever you land, that’s your choice.
And, if you truly want to leave it all to chance, you can click the Random Combo button—it selects two titles to pin at random.
2. Let Netflix’s Surprise Me Choose
Netflix remains the streaming service with most subscribers, and if you’re one of them, you can let it choose for you.
Netflix has a Play Something feature, also known as Surprise Me. This feature shuffles the titles in its library and randomly selects one to play for you. Don’t worry; it’s not a completely out-of-the-blue title. The Netflix algorithm does its job and takes into account what you like, to then select titles it knows fit your viewing history.
If you don’t like the first title it plays or have already seen it elsewhere, you can skip until you settle on one you do like. Or, to take away the decision-making entirely, you can pick a number between one and ten, and once you hit it, let the feature play out regardless of what it is.
3. Let Social Media Choose for You
Pick a social media platform - Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Reddit - whichever is your most used one or hosts the most followers. Then, open it, type out a message asking for a movie recommendation, and see what rolls in the comments.
You can either decide to watch whatever the first comment says or whichever title the one with the most likes holds. However, make sure to know which type of recommendation will win before you even make the post. That way, it’s truly left to chance.
4. Let Someone Close Choose (Without Knowing)
You can either go to a group chat with family and friends or private message someone, in particular, to ask for a movie recommendation. However, caution is advised when taking that approach.
After all, most people who care about you tend to always go the way of messing with you for laughs. Especially when they know you’ve decided to follow their suggestion, no questions asked. So be wary of how you poach the subject. That is unless you’re okay with watching Cats or Sharknado 5.
Take Advantage of All the Resources Available
Having access to several streaming services at once and their extensive libraries creates unique challenges. And, though finding it difficult to pick your next watch is a great problem to have, it’s not one you should have at all.
There are countless websites dedicated to helping you pick for you. Streaming services are improving their algorithms to give out the best recommendations. Features like Surprise Me on Netflix, are going to become more and more common. Don’t allow yourself to waste time browsing titles, but reach out to all the apps and sites available and cut down on your decision-making time. Picking out your next watch can be super easy.
