Just the other day, I found myself in one of those dreaded moments where I scrolled through all of my streaming services without actually choosing something to watch.
That 30-minute-long bout of indecisiveness led me to just log off and tell myself I’d find something new to watch next time. But after sitting on that thought for a while, I realized that I’d most likely get stuck with my remote in my hand for another half hour and waste my time staring at cover art for shows, movies and anime that don’t interest me.
Today’s content overload has finally caused me to have a bit of trouble locking in on something and taking the time to give it the attention it deserves.
With so much media on offer from so many streaming services, I figured it’d be best if I just check in with ChatGPT and see if it could find me my next favorite piece of streaming content. And after telling it everything I recently watched, I was sure it would find a collection of comparable shows, movies and anime to keep me busy during my off-time.
After observing all the picks ChatGPT brought to my attention, my Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Crunchyroll watchlists got a whole lot fuller and stacked with quality material to sit through.
Prompting for my next binge-watch
To start my journey to find a new batch of worthwhile shows, movies and anime to enjoy, I generated this prompt:
Act as an expert entertainment recommendation engine.
I'm going to share my viewing history from Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Crunchyroll.
Based on my viewing history, recommend:
• 10 TV shows
• 10 movies
• 10 anime
For every recommendation, include:
- Why it's a good match for me
- The strongest similarities to titles I've already enjoyed
- Streaming service(s) where it's available if known
- IMDb score and Rotten Tomatoes score (if known)
- Whether it's a hidden gem, popular favorite, or critically acclaimed
If my viewing history suggests I'm stuck in a recommendation bubble, point that out and recommend a few titles that expand my tastes without feeling completely different.
Netflix: Devil May Cry, Sakamoto Days, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, Last Samurai Standing, The Night Comes for Us, Headshot, Wu Assassins, Revenger, Rapture, and Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam.
Amazon Prime Video: The Ghost in the Shell, Sailor Moon, Secret Level, and Them.
Crunchyroll: Black Torch, Gachiakuta, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, Chainsaw Man, Megalobox, Dan Da Dan, Hell's Paradise, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, and Tougen Anki.
Right off the bat, the chatbot noticed some clear patterns in my viewing habits. It pointed out my appreciation for stylish & ultra-violent action, dark supernatural worlds, cyberpunk & sci-fi, anime that blends action with mature storytelling, underdog protagonists and visually distinctive animation. Then the chatbot noted how I may be missing out on some outstanding psychological and crime-themed shows that might fit my tastes without feeling like a huge departure from what I regularly watch.
The shows, movie and anime that stopped my endless scrolling
ChatGPT proceeded to give me a bunch of highly reviewed shows, films and anime that guarantee I’ll have something to watch every weekend until the year’s end:
- Show Suggestions: Blue Eye Samurai, Arcane, Gangs of London, Warrior, Alice in Borderland, Castlevania, Pantheon, Tokyo Vice, Twisted Metal and Shogun (2024).
- Movie Suggestions: The Shadow Strays, Upgrade, Bullet Train, Dredd, Nobody, District 13, Hardcore Henry, Hard Boiled, Merantau and Alita: Battle Angel.
- Anime Suggestions: Blade of the Immortal, Kaiju No. 8, 86, Dororo, Akudama Drive, Dorohedoro, Fire Force, Vinland Saga, Psycho-Pass and Parasyte: The Maxim.
The chatbot did a commendable job of giving me a thorough summary of why each show would appeal to me.
For instance, its recommendation of Alice in Borderland shined a light on its similarities to Devil May Cry & Hell’s Paradise, where it’s currently being streamed (Netflix), its critic scores (7.7 from IMDb and 91% from Rotten Tomatoes) and a description of what I can look forward to from the series (it offers dark survival thriller vibes, features plenty of style, is plenty violent and delves into psychological themes).
I also took note of the chatbot offering me another lineup of streaming content that can help broaden my horizons a bit:
- Scavengers Reign (Series) — Keeps the gorgeous animation and mature storytelling but shifts toward atmospheric sci-fi survival.
- Severance (Series) — Less action, more psychological mystery with the same thoughtful sci-fi appeal as Ghost in the Shell.
- Monster (Anime) — Trades supernatural action for one of anime's greatest psychological thrillers.
- Pluto (Anime) — A mature sci-fi mystery from the creator of Monster that explores AI, identity, and morality in a way that should resonate if you loved Ghost in the Shell.
- The Killer (Movie) — A slow-burn assassin thriller that emphasizes precision and tension over nonstop action.
- Blue Giant (Anime Film) — A dramatic character journey that swaps combat for music while retaining the intensity and emotional payoff you seem to appreciate.
The takeaway
Treating ChatGPT like my trusty entertainment moderator has resulted in new pieces of content to enjoy across every corner of my fandom.
That definitely happened here, as my Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Crunchyroll queues are now packed to the brim with a wide variety of shows that are just like everything else I consume. The chatbot sent me a group of shows, movies and anime that are mainstream bangers and hidden gems that I can’t wait to start watching.
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