Paramount+ has no shortage of incredible films, TV shows, and live events in its roster, but ViacomCBS recently announced a Showtime bundle that makes it an even more enticing offer. Available starting at just $9.99/month, you can gain instant access to both the Showtime and Paramount+ catalogs – offering thousands of hours of award-winning content at a remarkably low price.
If you’re thinking about signing up for the deal – or need some help navigating all the available programming – here are a few TV shows, films, and live events you should check out with Paramount+ and Showtime. Whether you’re a sci-fi geek, horror enthusiast, or just want to kick back and relax with some football, here are the best options included in the new Paramount+ Showtime Bundle.
Star Trek: Lower Decks
For fans of: Star Trek, animated comedies, Paramount+ exclusives
It’s a far cry from the original Star Trek, but Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020) somehow manages to capture the essence of the iconic show and repackage it as an animated comedy. Created by Mike McMahan and featuring voice acting from Tawny Newsome, Jack Quaid, Noel Wells, and more, you’ll follow the journey of a low-ranking crew aboard the U.S.S Cerritos – which carries out menial tasks to keep the starship running without a hitch. Both fans of the more traditional Star Trek outings and animated comedies will find much to like with the series, and both the first and second seasons are available for streaming on Paramount+. The comedy was picked up for a third season in April 2021, although a release date is yet to be announced.
The Good Fight
For fans of: The Good Wife, crime dramas
Acting as both a spin-off and sequel for The Good Wife, The Good Fight (2017) is a Paramount+ exclusive series that follows Diane Lockhart (Christine Baranski) after losing her employment at a prestigious law firm. What ensues is a legal drama that runs for five seasons – a sixth is on the way – and captures Lockhart’s life as she picks up the pieces of her shattered past and tries her hand at starting a new firm. Arguably a better show than The Good Wife, The Good Fight is one of the best originals on Paramount+ and a must-watch for any new subscribers.
iCarly
For fans of: The original Nick series, dramedies, Spencer Shay
After a breakout role as Megan Parker in Drake & Josh, Miranda Cosgrove managed to land her own series back in 2007. The show went on to garner legions of fans – thanks to its uniquely modern storyline, impressive casting, and quirky writing – and made a long-awaited return in 2021. Paramount+ is home to the iCarly revival, which sees much of the same cast return for another webcast. There’s no doubt it plays on your sense of nostalgia, but iCarly manages to bring something fresh to the table that both its long-time fans and newcomers will enjoy.
Paranormal Activity 4
For fans of: Horror films, supernatural thrillers
The fourth installment in the popular Paranormal Activity franchise once again follows a seemingly typical family that’s experiencing supernatural activity in their home. Taking place several years after Katie and Hunter disappeared, Paranormal Activity 4 (2012) sees Alex (Kathryn Newton) attempting to record strange occurrences around her home and – ultimately – her entire neighborhood. Like past entries, this one is primarily told through various recordings and found footage, giving the entire film a “made-at-home” quality not often seen in blockbusters. Despite a meager budget of around $5 million, the film went on to earn nearly $150 million at the box office and remains an excellent entry in the horror genre.
A Quiet Place Part II
For fans of: Horror films, sci-fi thrillers, Jim Halpert’s directorial adventures
A Quiet Place II (2020) picks up where the first film left off. Emily Blunt reprises her role as Evelyn Abbott, this time leading her family away from their home in search of shelter that will keep them safe from an extraterrestrial threat that’s threatening the entire planet. The unknown invaders hunt by sound, which means much of the communication in A Quiet Place II is done through gestures and facial cues – and its tense horror is conveyed to the audience through an understated score and pulse-quickening jump scares. John Krasinski might be best known for his role in The Office, but he’s quickly shown he has the directorial chops to hang with some of the best in the business.
NFL Broadcasts
For fans of: Sports, drama, Tony Romo
Paramount+ subscribers gain access to NFL broadcasts on CBS, making it a great, affordable way to stay up to date on all your favorite teams. As long as the game is being played on your local CBS station, you’ll be able to stream the action live on any available screen. Curious which games will be available throughout the current season? Check out the official NFL on CBS schedule over on the official Paramount+ website.
The Twilight Zone Classic
For fans of: Iconic television shows, anthologies, science fiction
If you happened to miss out on the iconic series that is The Twilight Zone, Paramount+ makes it easy to remove it from your backlog. All five seasons are available on the service, offering dozens of science fiction stories for you to dig your teeth into. The Twilight Zone is often regarded as one of the best shows in television history and – despite first airing in 1959 – its writing, acting, and cinematography have stood the test of time. Paramount+ also released an updated version of The Twilight Zone, which currently has two seasons available and is narrated by Jordan Peele.
Dexter
For fans of: Serial killers, off-beat comedies, quirky characters
Dexter (2006) tells the story of an unassuming forensic technician who also happens to be a serial killer. Orphaned at a young age, his father helped instill a certain code to his killings – Dexter only goes after criminals – before passing away. Despite a dark storyline filled with murder, death, and betrayal, Dexter manages to toe the line between a comedy and a drama without diminishing the story it’s out to tell. Each of its eight seasons follows a new overarching storyline – typically in the form of a new “villain” Dexter is tracking – although its final season left many fans wishing for more. Thankfully, a ninth season is planned to arrive later in 2021, which will hopefully give the Dexter community the closure it so desperately wanted in 2013.
Shameless
For fans of: Raunchy humor, social commentary, Chicago
Arguably the best series on Showtime, Shameless follows a dysfunctional family living on the south side of Chicago. The comedy has scooped up a variety of awards over the years – including 4 Primetime Emmys and 69 nominations – largely due to its unfiltered look at the harsh reality of poverty, alcoholism, and the struggle to survive when nothing is going your way. Emmy Rossum, William H. Macy, Ethan Cutkosky, and Jeremy Allen White put on incredible performances throughout the show’s 11 seasons, each one giving you plenty of reasons to laugh, cry, and shake your head in disgust – often all in the same scene.