Streaming services can do more than deliver on-demand shows and live TV. Check out our top 10 picks that bring the movie theater experience to your living room.
Are you a cinephile who wants to replicate the theatrical experience at home? You need a video streaming service with a large library and high-quality audio and visuals. But where to start? We’re here to help. The PCMag staff loves movies and has thoroughly tested the top streaming services for more than a decade. So you can trust us when to tell you which services are worth your money, such as Netflix, our highest-rated Editors’ Choice winner. The streaming video champ offers many original films, several price tiers, and Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision support. Read on for more of our top picks and what to consider when picking the best movie streaming service for your tastes and budget.Why We Picked It
Netflix is the standard-bearer for streaming video services. It hosts an impressive selection of content, with new titles exchanged for older ones on a monthly basis. Then there’s Netflix’s constantly growing library of premier, original programming that outclasses every other streaming service’s offerings. Apart from its original movies, such as El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie and The Irishman, Netflix has the most high-quality movies of any streaming service.Who It’s For
Netflix is a premium service for people willing to pay premium prices. Netflix recently raised the price of its subscription plans, and not for the first time. However, a cheaper, ad-supported version is also available.Why We Picked It
Hulu is one of the best, all-in-one options for cord cutters, given its diverse set of streaming options. Movies are a key part of its content library, alongside on-demand streaming and live TV. Who It’s For
Hulu’s film library especially shines as part of the Disney bundle. This discounted collection also includes subscriptions for Disney+ and ESPN+. Disney movies and sports are great, but Hulu provides the thoughtful entertainment for adult audiences that’s desperately missing from those other services. Why We Picked It
NBC’s Peacock offers two plans: an affordable base tier with 20,000 hours, some live sports, and clips-based channels; and a Premium Plus option that builds upon the previous tier by removing ads when you stream on-demand titles. Peacock’s streaming library includes hundreds of movies, and some Hollywood blockbusters are available just a few weeks after their theatrical runs.Who It’s For
Who doesn’t appreciate quality, low-cost films? Peacock is an Editors’ Choice pick because of its generous affordable tier, but you can upgrade to Premium Plus if you want an even better experience.Why We Picked It
Tubi is a free video streaming service that claims a collection of 50,000 movies and TV shows. Its film catalog includes popular hits such as A.I. Artificial Intelligence; Black Hawk Down; Donnie Darko; Legally Blonde; Memento; Minority Report; Planes, Trains, and Automobiles; Rain Man; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; and We Need to Talk About Kevin. Note that Tubi’s library regularly changes.Who It’s For
Tubi is for people who want a free service that doesn’t feel cheap. Tubi’s web interface and mobile apps have clean designs that neatly organize everything into descriptive categories. Unfortunately, the streaming resolution has a 720p cap, and you can’t download movies for offline viewing. On the upside, the service keeps track of the content you’ve watched, and lets you manage a watchlist.Why We Picked It
Amazon’s streaming video library includes many popular and classic movies, either from a subscription, rental, or purchase. In addition, Amazon’s $8.45 billion MGM acquisition considerably improved the movie selection. Who It’s For
Although it has a subscription option, Prime Video is also for people who want to buy or rent movies a la carte. That’s where you’ll find the biggest selection. Don’t sleep on the subscription option, though. You can view video content in one of two ways: a standalone Amazon Video subscription or an Amazon Prime subscription. Either way, you’ll find numerous films to enjoy.Why We Picked It
Star Wars. Marvel. Pixar. Disney+ is the exclusive streaming home for family-friendly blockbusters that continue to leave everlasting impressions on generation after generation. Forget films, Disney makes entire cinematic universes. Although these movies may be best enjoyed on the big screen, Disney+ is where you can watch them again and again. Who It’s For
If you have even a passing interest in just one of the many beloved properties under the Disney corporate umbrella, Disney+ is for you. Select Disney+ films are even available in «IMAX Enhanced» quality, bringing the fidelity of the large-format film theater resolution to displays that support it.Why We Picked It
Max bundles an impressive collection of popular movies from Warner Bros. Discovery’s portfolio (DC Comics, New Line Cinema, Warner Bros.) and other sources (such as The Criterion Collection and Studio Ghibli). HBO, in particular, has a long history of offering new and classic movies from across the industry. That’s why it’s the home box office. Who It’s For
Max has one of the best and most well-rounded streaming libraries, thanks to Warner’s deep bench of brands ranging from Cartoon Network craziness to HBO prestige to Discovery reality trash.
