How to Find Shows and Movies Worth Your Time on Paramount Plus
Paramount Plus has thousands of titles, which makes finding something to watch harder, not easier. The platform organizes content by genre, but also buries good shows under algorithm-driven rows that change based on what you've watched before. The fastest way to find something is to search by name if you already know what you want, or to browse the main categories — Drama, Comedy, Movies, Live TV — rather than scrolling through "Recommended for You" rows that may not match what you're in the mood for.
The platform also separates Paramount originals (shows made by Paramount) from licensed content (shows from other networks and studios). Paramount originals tend to get more promotion on the home page, but they're not necessarily better — they're just what the platform wants to push. You can filter by content type using the menu at the top of the app or website, which lets you narrow down to just TV shows, just movies, or just live sports and news.
Key Takeaways
- Search by title if you know what you want, or use the main category menu (Drama, Comedy, Movies) rather than scrolling recommendation rows.
- Paramount originals are marked clearly but aren't necessarily better than licensed shows from other networks.
- The platform includes live sports, news, and reality TV alongside scripted shows and movies.
- Your watch history and ratings help the algorithm suggest titles, but you can also browse by decade or genre to find older shows.
Popular Paramount Original Shows Across Different Genres
Drama and prestige shows on Paramount Plus include Yellowstone (a ranch drama that ran for five seasons), 1883 and 1923 (prequels to Yellowstone set in different time periods), and Tulsa King (a crime drama about a mafia capo sent to Oklahoma). The Offer is a limited series about the making of The Godfather. Halo is a science-fiction series based on the video game. These shows tend to have high production budgets and run for multiple seasons, though some are limited series that end after one.
Comedy shows include The Twilight Zone (a reboot of the classic anthology series with dark humor), Why Women Kill (a dark comedy about three women in different decades), and Ghosts (a comedy about a couple who inherit a haunted house). The Cheerleaders is a comedy about high school cheerleaders. These range from laugh-out-loud to darker, character-driven humor.
Reality and competition shows include The Real Housewives franchises (multiple cities), Survivor (the long-running competition show), and RuPaul's Drag Race (the drag competition series). Paramount Plus also carries Love Island, a dating reality show, and The Traitors, a strategy competition where players vote each other out.
Movies and Licensed TV Shows Available on Paramount Plus
Paramount Plus includes the full Star Trek film library and newer Star Trek shows like Discovery, Picard, and Strange New Worlds. It also carries Mission: Impossible films, Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick, and other Paramount film releases. The movie selection changes as licensing agreements expire and renew, so what's available shifts month to month.
Licensed TV shows include The Office (the U.S. version), South Park, Beavis and Butt-Head, and The Good Wife. Frasier (the original 1990s sitcom) is available, as is Cheers. The platform also carries NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, and other CBS crime dramas. These licensed shows come from networks and studios that Paramount has deals with, so availability varies by region and changes over time.
How to Use Ratings and Your Watch History to Find What's Next
When you finish watching a show or movie, Paramount Plus asks you to rate it with a thumbs up or thumbs down. The more you rate, the better the algorithm learns what you like. If you rate several dramas highly, the home page will show more drama recommendations. If you rate reality shows down, they'll appear less often in your rows.
You can also see your watch history by going to your profile menu and selecting "Continue Watching" — this shows everything you've started but not finished, so you can jump back in without searching. Your profile also stores a list of shows you've marked as "Watchlist" or "My List," which is useful if you find something you want to watch later but don't have time right now.
Live TV, Sports, and News on Paramount Plus
Paramount Plus includes live feeds from CBS, which means you can watch news, sports, and live events as they happen. This includes 60 Minutes, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and The Late Late Show. If you have a Paramount Plus subscription with ads, you get access to live TV; if you have the ad-free tier, live TV may not be included depending on your region.
Sports coverage includes NFL games (some Thursday Night Football games air on Paramount Plus), college sports, and soccer. The exact sports available depend on your subscription tier and location. You can find live sports by going to the "Live TV" or "Sports" section of the app.
Browsing by Genre, Decade, and Content Type
If you don't know what you want to watch, use the menu at the top of the Paramount Plus app or website to filter by content type. You can select "TV Shows," "Movies," "Live TV," or "Originals" to narrow down what you see. Within each category, you can then browse by genre — Drama, Comedy, Action, Horror, Documentary, and others.
Some versions of the app also let you filter by decade or year, which is useful if you're looking for older shows or movies. For example, if you want to watch a 1990s sitcom, you can filter by decade rather than scrolling through thousands of titles. The exact filtering options vary depending on whether you're using the app on a phone, tablet, smart TV, or web browser.
What to Do If You Can't Find Something You're Looking For
If you search for a specific show or movie and it doesn't appear in results, it may not be on Paramount Plus in your region, or it may have been removed due to a licensing agreement ending. You can check the Paramount Plus help section or contact their support team to ask whether a title is available. Some shows rotate on and off the platform, so a show that isn't there now may return later.
If you're looking for a show similar to one you've already watched, try searching for the actor's name or the show's genre. You can also look at the "More Like This" row that appears on a show's detail page — this shows titles the algorithm thinks are similar based on genre, cast, or plot. These suggestions aren't always perfect, but they're a faster way to find related content than browsing from scratch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see what's new on Paramount Plus this week?
Yes. Most apps and the website have a "New & Popular" or "What's New" section on the home page that shows recently added titles. You can also sort by "Recently Added" in the search or browse menu to see what came to the platform in the last few days or weeks.
Do I need to pay extra to watch live TV on Paramount Plus?
Live TV is included with most Paramount Plus subscriptions, but availability depends on your tier and region. If you have the ad-supported plan, live TV is usually included. If you have the ad-free plan, check your subscription details or contact support to confirm whether live TV is part of your tier in your area.
Why do some shows have a "Paramount+" label and others don't?
The "Paramount+" label marks shows made by Paramount (originals). Shows without that label are licensed from other networks or studios. Both types are included in your subscription, but Paramount originals are usually promoted more heavily on the home page.
Can I read shows to watch offline?
Yes, most Paramount Plus apps let you read episodes to watch without an internet connection. Open a show's detail page, look for a read icon (usually a downward arrow), and select the episodes you want. Downloaded content expires after a set period, so you'll need to refresh it periodically.
How often does the content on Paramount Plus change?
New Paramount original shows and movies are added regularly throughout the month. Licensed content (shows from other networks) comes and goes as licensing agreements renew or expire. The platform typically adds new titles every week, but the exact schedule varies.