Paramount+ with Showtime
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Showtime on Sling TV
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Showtime on Hulu
Paramount+ add-on for Amazon Prime Video
We’ve found your new streaming obsession. The Curse, starring Nathan Fielder, Emma Stone, and Benny Safdie, premieres this week and as Mashable Entertainment Reporter Belen Edwards puts it, “there’s no doubt that it’s one of the funniest, strangest, and most unsettling shows of the year.”
The series follows newlyweds Whitney (Stone) and Asher (Fielder) as they film their upcoming HGTV show called Flipanthropy — a show intended to help revitalize the city of Española, New Mexico and help underserved communities. Their good intentions are quickly stifled by an array of problems. Not to mention, while filming B-roll for the show, their producer Dougie Schechter (Safdie) tells Asher to go give a young girl selling sodas in a parking lot some cash. He gives her a $100 bill, as it’s all he has on him, then immediately tries to take it back after the cameras shut off. The young girl then puts a “curse” on them, hence the name of the series, which seemingly wreaks havoc on their lives.
Here’s a sneak peek at Fielder, Stone, and Safdie in The Curse:
Is The Curse worth watching?
Mashable Entertainment Reporter Belen Edwards summed up the series as the “perfect storm of wince-worthy comedy, HGTV spoof, and surreal (and possibly supernatural?) drama, with plenty of commentary on everything from race to social media thrown in for good measure” in her review. It’s also currently sitting at an 85% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Produced by A24 and Showtime, The Curse is a genre-bending gem that “makes for one of 2023’s most original TV series yet.” Will it make you cringe? Most certainly. But that’s the fun of it.
When does The Curse start streaming?
The premiere episode of The Curse hits Paramount+ with Showtime on Nov. 10, with new episodes streaming every Friday until the finale on Jan. 14. For those watching live on Showtime, the first episode airs at 10 p.m. ET on Nov. 12, with new episodes airing every Sunday. There are a total of 10 episodes.
How to watch The Curse without cable
Good news: whether you have cable or you’re a streaming-only viewer, you can watch The Curse. If you subscribe to cable, you’ll need Showtime. If not, you’ll also need Showtime. Allow us to explain — here are the best ways you can watch.
Best overall: Free Paramount+ with Showtime trial
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Paramount+ with Showtime
Showtime’s streaming service was discontinued and it’s now available through Paramount+ with the “Paramount+ with Showtime” plan. This is your best option to watch The Curse without cable, especially because you can get 30 days for free. Typically, the Paramount+ trial period is just seven days, but with the code REDEEM30 at checkout, you can extend the trial to an entire month. Unfortunately, this won’t be enough time to watch the entire series as it unfolds. But if you don’t mind waiting to watch it, you can strategically plan your trial and binge-watch the entire season a little later on. After your trial, it’ll run you $11.99/month for Paramount+ with Showtime until you cancel.
Note: The Curse premieres on Paramount+ with Showtime on Nov. 10, while Showtime cable viewers have to wait until Nov. 12.
Best for live viewing: Showtime on Sling TV
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Showtime on Sling TV
For the more traditional viewers among us, Sling TV offers a cable alternative that allows you to tune into The Curse as it airs live on Showtime. You can tweak your channel lineup on Sling as you see fit, which is one of the reasons we like it over other cable replacement services. Plus, you can subscribe to Showtime on its own through Sling or add it on to a base plan, depending on your budget and channel preferences. For Showtime alone, it’ll cost you $5 for your first month, then $10/month thereafter until you cancel or change your channel lineup. You’ll have to tune in live every Sunday to watch the season unfold.
Best add-on: Showtime on Hulu
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Showtime on Hulu
Another option to watch The Curse is to add Showtime on to your existing Hulu subscription. If you’re already a Hulu subscriber, it’ll cost you an extra $10.99/month to tack Showtime onto your plan and watch live on supported devices. It’s not the best option for everyone, but it’ll consolidate your streaming services if you’re feeling overwhelmed with subscriptions and make for a seamless viewing experience. Cancel at any time with no strings attached.
Honorable mention: Paramount+ add-on for Amazon Prime Video
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Paramount+ add-on for Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime members can also utilize the Paramount+ add-on instead of subscribing to Paramount+ separately. It won’t necessarily save you any money, but like the Hulu add-on, it can help streamline your streaming experience. You’ll get a free seven-day trial when you sign up, then it’ll cost you an extra $11.99/month to stream Showtime on Paramount+ until you cancel.
