Back when this blog started, people argued about the best way to download movies. Today the question is where to stream them, and the honest answer is that there are more legal options than most people use.
Streaming versus downloading
Streaming means the film plays while it is being delivered to your device, so nothing needs to be saved first. Many apps also let you download a title temporarily for a flight, but the file stays locked inside the app. Either way, the legal services pay the people who made the film, and they do not come bundled with the pop-ups, fake "play" buttons and malware that unofficial sites are known for.
The main legal options
- Subscription services. A monthly fee for a rotating catalogue. Catalogues change all the time, so the film you want may move from one service to another.
- Free, ad-supported services. Several big companies run free streaming apps and channels paid for by commercials. The selection leans older, but it costs nothing.
- Rent or buy digitally. New releases usually arrive here first, for a one-off price.
- Your public library. Many libraries offer free film-streaming apps to card holders, often with a strong selection of documentaries, classics and independent films.
- Public-domain classics. Some older films are out of copyright and can be watched freely; the 1968 horror film Night of the Living Dead is a famous example.
Tips to avoid paying twice
Before you subscribe to something new, use a free "where to watch" search tool to see which service actually carries the film. Rotate subscriptions instead of keeping five at once: sign up for a month, watch what you wanted, cancel, and move on. And check whether your mobile or broadband plan already includes a service you forgot about.
The result is the same thing the old "watch online now" posts promised: a film tonight, without downloading anything, and without wondering what else came along for the ride.
