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'Stranger Things'

Netflix, Amazon, Hulu and Crackle all create original movies and TV shows for online viewing. The '80s-tastic "Stranger Things" was one of the year's biggest streaming hits on Netflix.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Netflix

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'Black Mirror'

Netflix bought Channel 4's sci-fi anthology series, "Black Mirror," for more twisted tales of technology that'll leave you shaken -- at least until you pick up your phone again.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Netflix/Laurie Sparham

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'The Grand Tour'

The former "Top Gear" team of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May hit the road with a pile of Amazon cash in "The Grand Tour."

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Amazon Video

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'The Crown'

The first UK production for Netflix is "The Crown," which tells the story of the British royal family in sumptuous style.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Robert Viglasky/Netflix

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'The Tick'

The superpower of Peter Serafinowicz is comedy in "The Tick," one of several pilots streamed on Amazon that were then picked up as a full series.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Amazon

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'The Get Down'

Baz Luhrman tells the story of hip-hop with lavish musical extravaganza in "The Get Down," a hugely expensive and visually impressive production that somehow didn't get the praise it deserved. Perhaps that's because it landed around the same time as runaway word-of-mouth hit "Stranger Things."

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Netflix

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'Good Girls Revolt'

One of Amazon's unsung gems is 1960s-set "Good Girls Revolt," which entertainingly and quite originally depicts the flipside of "Mad Men," Sadly, it hasn't been picked up for a second season.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Amazon

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'Tallulah'

Ellen Page stars in the film "Tallulah" on Netflix, one of the movies snapped up by the deep-pocketed streaming service.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:David Newsom/Netflix

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'Luke Cage'

Netflix extends its run of hard-hitting Marvel shows with "Luke Cage," a series entertainingly indebted to blaxploitation classics and boasting a badass hip-hop soundtrack.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Netflix

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'Daredevil'

The second season of Marvel's "Daredevil" introduces Jon Bernthal as the Punisher, who gets his own show next year.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Netflix

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'11.22.63'

James Franco is one of the proper stars attracted to streaming as he tries to save JFK in Hulu's time-travel series "11.22.63."

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Hulu

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'Gilmore Girls'

"Gilmore Girls" has been resurrected on Netflix to finally finish the story.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Saeed Adyani/Netflix

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'Dead Rising: Endgame'

Sony's Crackle service has streamed a second movie based on the Dead Rising video game series.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Crackle

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'The OA'

Alice Krige and Brit Marling help Netflix close out the year with intriguing drama 'The OA."

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:JoJo Whilden/Netflix

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'Mascots'

Comic genius Christopher Guest gives the "Spinal Tap" mockumentary treatment to the world of sporting "Mascots."

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Scott Garfield/Netflix

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'The Collection'

Amazon Prime goes high fashion with "The Collection," a glamorous visit to a scandalous Parisian atelier.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Amazon

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'True Memoirs of an International Assassin'

Not every original production is a success. For example, Netflix movie "True Memoirs of an International Assassin," starring Kevin James, was deeply unfunny.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Matt Kennedy/Netflix

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'Special Correspondents'

Ricky Gervais claims Netflix had given him a free hand to write and direct "Special Correspondents," in which he stars with Eric Bana. Sadly, there is nothing special about this lackluster and laugh-free affair.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Kerry Hayes/Netfilx

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'The Do-Over'

"The Do-Over" is the second movie in Adam Sandler's four-film contract with Netflix, which means we're halfway through the ordeal.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Tony Rivetti Jr., SMPSP/ Netflix,

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'The Ranch'

Sam Elliott and Debra Winger give strong performances in the cowboy comedy "The Ranch" on Netflix, but the old-fashioned studio sitcom format feels awkward amid the herd of more heavyweight and innovative productions found on streaming services.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Greg Gayne/Netflix

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'Chelsea'

Netflix experiments with the chat show format with one led by Chelsea Handler (right), shown here with actress Gwyneth Paltrow.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Adam Rose/Netflix

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'White Rabbit Project'

Former "Mythbusters" stars Grant Imahara, Kari Byron and Tory Belleci returned with a new science series, "The White Rabbit Project," on Netflix.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Netflix

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'Chance'

The current golden age of TV drama is known for its troubled protagonists, and streaming shows have no shortage of conflicted and often unpleasant characters. For example, Hugh Laurie follows his hit show "House" with another difficult man in Hulu's "Chance."

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:David Moir/Hulu

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'Orange is the New Black'

There were plenty of troubled women in "Orange is the New Black" when the prison show returned to Netflix for a dramatic fourth season.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Netflix

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'Marseille'

Political intrigue-packed "Marseille" was the first French show from Netflix. Zut alors!

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard Trenholm

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'Narcos'

Speaking of unsympathetic protagonists, "Narcos" continues the fascinating story of drug lord Pablo Escobar.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Juan Pablo Gutierrez/Netflix

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'Sneaky Pete'

Giovanni Ribisi plays the sneaky lead in Amazon pilot "Sneaky Pete," which was ordered to a full series.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Jeff Neumann

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'Bojack Horseman'

He may be an animated horse, but he's one of the most unsympathetic characters on TV. The new season of "Bojack Horseman" on Netflix was still a compelling watch, especially during the clever silent episode.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Netflix

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'Goliath'

Billy Bob Thornton is another big name playing a troubled role in Amazon's "Goliath."

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Amazon

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'Casual'

There are family troubles and a few laughs in Hulu's "Casual."

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Hulu

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'Crisis in Six Scenes'

Woody Allen brought his period drama "Crisis in Six Scenes" to Amazon Prime Video.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Amazon/YouTube

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'Shut Eye'

Jeffrey Donovan is a troubled psychic in Hulu's "Shut Eye."

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Hulu

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'Startup'

Sony's Crackle streaming service started up "StartUp," the steamy story of Miami criminals including Martin Freeman, who back a bitcoin-like cryptocurrency for their own nefarious ends.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Crackle

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'3%'

Netflix goes to Brazil for the dystopian sci-fi series "3%."

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Pedro Saad/Netflix

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'Jean-Claude Van Johnson'

Amazon's series sees the muscles from Brussels Jean-Claude Van Damme playing himself, only as a secret agent.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Erica Parise/Amazon

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'The Path'

Aaron Paul stars in cult-themed drama "The Path" on Hulu.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Greg Lewis/Universal Television

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'Kong: King of the Apes'

Speaking of larger-than-life protagonists, there is plenty of monkey business from Netflix with "Kong: King of the Apes."

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Netflix

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'Lego Friends: The Power of Friendship'

Kids shows are big on Netflix and Amazon. Among the hits, friendship is build brick by brick in "Lego Friends: The Power of Friendship" on Netflix.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Netflix

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'Reggie Watts: Spatial'

Netflix brought a whole slate of established and up-and-coming comics to the stage for comedy specials. Among them was Reggie Watts with his blend of music and laughs.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Michael Rowe/Netflix

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'Ali Wong: Baby Cobra'

Ali Wong's stand-up special "Baby Cobra" hit a bump on Netflix.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Alex Crick/Netflix

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'Hannibal Buress'

Comedian Hannibal Buress was among the comedy specials on Netflix this year.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Marcus Price/Netflix

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'Iliza Shlesinger: Confirmed Kills'

Comedian Iliza Shlesinger hit Netflix for a comedy special.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Timothy Hiatt/Netflix

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'Haters Back Off'

Online sensation Miranda Sings went from YouTube clips to Netflix show "Haters Back Off."

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Katie Yu/Netflix

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'Lovesick'

Netflix picked up British comedy series "Scrotal Recall" and renamed it "Lovesick."

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Neil Davidson/Netflix

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'Lady Dynamite'

Maria Bamford blew up in the wacky "Lady Dynamite" on Netflix.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Saeed Adyani/Netflix

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'Easy'

"Easy" is a Chicago-set comedy-drama anthology series written, directed, edited and produced by Joe Swanberg for Netflix.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Netflix

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'Barry'

Plenty of real-life stories were told on streaming services this year. Feature-length drama "Barry" tells the story of a young Barack Obama on Netflix.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Netflix

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'The Siege of Jadotville'

Jamie Dornan battles both political intrigue and enemy soldiers in "The Siege of Jadotville," based on true events.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Karen Ballard/Netflix

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'Last Chance U'

Among the slate of Netflix documentaries was the compelling "Last Chance U."

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Netflix

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'Into The Inferno'

Idiosyncratic director Werner Herzog has a lot of lava for volcanoes in Netflix doc "Into The Inferno,"

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Netflix

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'Audrie & Daisy'

Heartbreaking Netflix documentary "Audrie & Daisy" tackles modern attitudes to sexual assault.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Netflix

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'White Helmets'

Powerful Netflix documentary "White Helmets" confronts the devastation of war-torn Syria.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Netflix

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'Captive'

Netflix documentary series "Captive" explores high-profile kidnappings.

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Published:Dec. 26, 2016Caption:Richard TrenholmPhoto:Jean Louis Schuller/Netflix

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Streaming hits (and misses) of 2016

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'Stranger Things'

'Black Mirror'

'The Grand Tour'

'The Crown'

'The Tick'

'The Get Down'

'Good Girls Revolt'

'Tallulah'

'Luke Cage'

'Daredevil'

'11.22.63'

'Gilmore Girls'

'Dead Rising: Endgame'

'The OA'

'Mascots'

'The Collection'

'True Memoirs of an International Assassin'

'Special Correspondents'

'The Do-Over'

'The Ranch'

'Chelsea'

'White Rabbit Project'

'Chance'

'Orange is the New Black'

'Marseille'

'Narcos'

'Sneaky Pete'

'Bojack Horseman'

'Goliath'

'Casual'

'Crisis in Six Scenes'

'Shut Eye'

'Startup'

'3%'

'Jean-Claude Van Johnson'

'The Path'

'Kong: King of the Apes'

'Lego Friends: The Power of Friendship'

'Reggie Watts: Spatial'

'Ali Wong: Baby Cobra'

'Hannibal Buress'

'Iliza Shlesinger: Confirmed Kills'

'Haters Back Off'

'Lovesick'

'Lady Dynamite'

'Easy'

'Barry'

'The Siege of Jadotville'

'Last Chance U'

​'Into The Inferno'

'Audrie & Daisy'

'White Helmets'

'Captive'

'Harry Potter' spells, ranked

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'Into The Inferno'