Plex has announced the launch of its Movie and Show Reviews feature, another step forward in its push to make streaming a more communal and interactive experience. As of today, any registered Plex user can review movies, TV shows, seasons, or even individual episodes and share those insights with their friends and friends’ networks. It’s part of Plex’s growing strategy to stand out in an increasingly commodified streaming space, where platforms need to be more than just content delivery services—they need to cultivate communities.
In the age of endless content options, where streaming services often feel interchangeable, Plex’s introduction of user reviews builds on its earlier “Discover Together” feature. This pivot towards social connectivity isn’t just about letting users stream—it’s about creating a loyal and engaged user base, forming habits around shared recommendations, and fostering an environment where viewers become part of a community. By allowing users to share their reviews, Plex is betting on the power of word-of-mouth recommendations, which have always held sway over what gets watched next. And with the promise of eventually sharing reviews beyond just friends, the platform may soon have a community-driven feature that rivals apps like Letterboxd or TV Time.
Remember Myspace?
Reflecting on this move, I can’t help but think back to 2015, when I was approached to work on a similar project—a community-driven TV app for Myspace. Back then, under Specific Media Group and Justin Timberlake’s ownership, the vision for Myspace was clear: create a social experience around TV where viewers could discover content together. I remember the mock-ups and pitch decks; it was all ahead of time. The project was shelved when Time Inc. acquired Myspace’s parent company for $87 million. But to this day, I still think about that pitch and what could’ve been if the project had survived. In my mind, had Steve Jobs actually “cracked TV,” it would have looked a lot like that vision for Myspace TV.
My Take
Fast-forward to today, and Plex feels like the closest realization of that original concept—a platform driven by the idea that TV isn’t just something we consume alone but experience together. It’s refreshing to see a company in the streaming space lean into product-led innovation rather than simply mimicking what Netflix or Disney+ are doing. Plex is focusing on community, a feature that may well be the key to staying relevant in a saturated market.
For now, Plex’s user reviews are available through its web and mobile apps, with plans to expand the feature to share reviews with the broader Plex community. It’s a smart move, as users’ recommendations often drive what we choose to watch next. As with everything on Plex, users will have complete control over their privacy and can decide who gets to see their reviews—whether that’s friends, friends of friends, or even no one.
In an era where streaming services are more or less interchangeable, Plex is positioning itself as more than just a library of content. It’s a place where TV and movie fans can connect, share, and build a deeper, more meaningful relationship with the media they love—and each other. Kudos to Plex for taking bold steps towards a more social future of streaming.
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