To stream or not to stream? That is the question.

In the past two years, the digital TV universe has continued to expand. During the pandemic, that’s the only way we’ve been able to satisfy our entertainment thirst.

But which is best? Which subscriptions should you continue?

Netflix still packs the biggest overall punch. It has the biggest number of subscribers in more parts of the world than any of its competitors. With an annual budget of $17 billion for original content, Netflix produces movies and TV shows in more than 20 different countries, making it the first global TV network.

Parrot Analytics, which measures audience demand via Google searches and downloads, notes that Netflix commanded a nearly 50% share of the U.S. audience during the past year. Netflix also garnered a whopping 129 Emmy nominations. Among the most popular shows on Netflix: “The Crown,” “Downton Abbey,” “Bridgerton,” “The Queen’s Gambit,” “Outlander,” and “Cobra Kai.”

According to Parrot Analytics, HBO Max comes in second. Warner Bros.’ decision to release its new feature films on the same day as they open in theaters has convinced many longtime HBO subscribers to activate the app. HBO Max racked up 130 Emmy nominations, led by the recently-cancelled HBO period drama “Lovecraft Country.” “Hacks” is its most nominated series, followed by “The Flight Attendant” and “Emily in Paris.” The highly respected dramas “Mare of Easttown and “The Undoing” also garnered Emmy nominations.

In only its second year of eligibility, Disney Plus racked up 100 million global subscribers.  Disney Plus presents powerhouse franchises–“Marvel,” “Star Wars,” “The Muppets”–along with content-rich channels Nat Geo and the Disney Channel. Disney Plus landed 71 Emmy nominations, including 24 for “The Mandalorian,” 23 for “WandaVision” and twelve for a filmed version of the hit Broadway show “Hamilton.”

Having acquired the huge M.G.M. library, Amazon Prime will stream “The Lord of the Rings.” So far, it’s best known as the place for “Mad Men,” “The Sopranos,” “The Boys” and “The Wire.”

While Hulu offers prestige programming, like “The Handmaid’s Tale,” its primary asset is next-day network reruns, along with “Damages,” “Little Fires Everywhere” and “The Looming Tower.”

Apple TV Plus jumped into prominence when its “Ted Lasso” got an impressive 20 nominations. Apple’s original content library includes “The Morning Show” and “For All Mankind.”

Debuting in 2020, the Peacock Network is exclusively streaming 12 hours of coverage of the Olympic Games via its sister network NBC.

Bottom Line: Take advantage of the “Free Trial” periods before deciding where to subscribe.

After “The Sixth Sense” and “Signs,” M. Night Shyamalan built a reputation for directing campy, convoluted, even corny sci-fi thrillers with catchy, surprise twists.

As “Old” begins, Guy Capa (Gael Garcia Bernal), a statistics-obsessed insurance-actuary, and his museum-curator wife Prisca (Vicky Krieps) are taking their two children – 6 year-old Trent (Nolan River) and 11 year-old Maddox (Alexa Swinton) – on a luxurious tropical island vacation before telling them that they’re planning to divorce.

As they sip exotic drinks from a smiling server (Francesca Eastwood, Clint’s daughter), the resort manager (Gustaf Hammarsten) suggests that they take a day trip to an undeveloped nature preserve with remote “secret” cove that’s surrounded by exotic rocks.

The Capas are joined by Charles (Rufus Sewell) a British cardio-thoracic surgeon, his trophy wife Chrystal (Abbey Lee), their young daughter Kara (Mikaya Fisher), his mother (Kathleen Chalfant) and their dog. There’s also Jarin (Ken Leung), a nurse, and his psychologist wife (Nikki Amuka-Bird), who suffers from epilepsy.

Before long, they discover Mid-Sized Sedan (Aaron Pierre), a famous rapper whose nose is bleeding, and a decomposing corpse. Soon, the three children morph into confused teenagers. Then the adults start aging rapidly too. Panic sets in.

For “Old,” Shyamalan adapted the 2010 graphic novel “Sandcastle” by Pierre Oscar Levy and Fredrik Peeters. Filming in the idyllic Dominican Republic, his inventive camera-work is fascinating, as he cleverly changes the casting, substituting Thomasin McKenzie as older Maddox and Alex Wolff as older Trent. If you look closely, you’ll spot Shyamalan as the van driver.

Shyamalan found the subject matter mirrored how people felt while trapped in isolation by Covid-19, noting, “Our film had nothing to do with the pandemic, but at the same time, it was absolutely about this fear of infection and uncertainty we were all feeling. It made us think about death, about survival, and about being in lockdown. The idea of being stuck in a situation and unable to leave.”

FYI: The Jack Nicholson/Marlon Brando movie that Charles keeps trying to recall is “The Missouri Breaks” (1975) – and it has nothing to do with the plot.

On the Granger Gauge of 1 to 10, “Old” is a supernatural 6. Not just another day at the beach.

Prolific Neil Burger (“Divergent,” “Limitless”) wrote and directed “Voyagers,” a young adult sci-fi thriller that imagines a dystopian future in 2063, when Earthling’s only hope for the survival of the human species is to colonize a hospitable planet located in a faraway galaxy.

It will take 86 years for a crew to go that distance, so 30 test-tube-conceived youngsters are dispatched on a mission during which they’ll reproduce so their grandchildren can settle Earth’s new colony.

Serving as a caring father-figure, sad-eyed Richard (Colin Farrell) is responsible for teaching and training them in their daily tasks in this sterile environment.

Ten years pass and adolescence looms. Scientists have anticipated their hormonal changes so – to keep the teens docile and obedient – they drink a Dixie cup of blue liquid, which is actually a drug to quash their volatile emotions and rampant libidos.

But when curious Christopher (Tye Sheridan) discovers the existence of the suppressant and, along with his buddy Zac (Fionn Whitehead), they refuse to drink The Blue. Immediately, their testosterone levels surge, much to the dismay of the chief medical officer Sela (Lily-Rose Depp, Johnny’s daughter).

When Richard sees their unwanted sexual advances toward Sela, he reminds them of the rules. But they’ve already accumulated a number of followers who also refuse their meds.

Predictably, an external transmitter breaks, so Richard, accompanied by virtuous Christopher, ventures outside the spacecraft to make repairs. An accident occurs, accompanied by mysterious sounds that could indicate the menacing presence of an alien.

Inevitably, the astronaut cadets break up into two camps – with the rebels following malevolent, maniacal Zac. Then when they discover a sealed pod loaded with weapons, anarchy prevails.

Neil Burger has come up with an intriguing parable – adapting and updating William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies” to teenagers in outer space – but the superficial characters are hopelessly stereotypical, chasing each other down long, antiseptic corridors, chronicled by Chilean cinematographer Enrique Chediak.

On the Granger Gauge, “Voyagers” is a frenzied 5, streaming on Prime Video, Vudu and Fandango NOW.