25 Best Streaming Services for Cinephiles

It's clear that streaming services like The Criterion Collection and Mubi, with their tasteful curations and global titles, were created for movie lovers. In fact, thanks to their branding as film-first streamers, they've each built loyal followings that tune in to their latest releases. 

But did you know there are plenty of others like them? Enthusiasts will find plenty to love in our list of the best streaming services for cinephiles right now. Some mainstream names like HBO Max and Amazon Prime are included in this list because of the enviable licensing rights they hold (HBO has Warner Bros., Turner, and New Line under its belt, while Amazon has MGM and Orion, among others). But there are also more niche streamers such as Arrow Player and Curia that will surely appeal to indie lovers everywhere. Read on to learn about these streaming services and more. 

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Apple TV+ is an ad-free on-demand stream from Apple that costs $4.99 per month and is accessible in about 150 countries. The Apple TV+ app is accessible via Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac) and Apple TV. While Android phones and tablets are not supported, you can access Apple TV+ via Android-powered TV devices like Chromecast. It can be accessed via web browser and supported by PC, as well as Roku devices, Amazon Fire TV devices, PlayStation and Xbox.

Price: $4.99/month

Free Trial: 7 days

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, iOS, Roku TV, Samsung TV

Hulu is an on-demand service that is currently only available on US territories. You can get access to Hulu's on-demand content library for $5.99 a month with commercials, and $11.99 without. There's also an option to pay for an annual subscription starting at $71.88.

Price: $5.99/month

Free Trial: 30 days

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, LG TV, Nintendo Switch, Roku, Roku TV, Samsung TV, Xbox

HBO Max is a subscription-based on-demand platform that is only available in the US. New subscribers pay $15 a month, with an annual subscription option also available.

When you subscribe, you'll get HBO’s world-class exclusives, such as The Wire and Game of Thrones but HBO MAX also functions as a bundle: you'll get content from DC, Criterion Collection, Looney Tunes, Studio Ghibli, Turner Classic Movies, and Crunchyroll.

Most mobile devices that can stream video support HBO Max, although there is yet no app for Amazon Fire TV and Roku devices.

Price: $14.99/month

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, PlayStation, Roku, Samsung TV, Xbox

Starz is a cable TV network in the US with an on-demand streaming service of the same name. Currently, Starz on-demand has a monthly price of $8.99 with a 7-day free trial, which includes cable television channels as well as access to the video on-demand service.

Starz is available as an add-on channel to Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and Roku platform. For a similar subscription price, you can also access Starz as an add-on via a variety of online streaming services including YouTube TV and Hulu Plus Live TV, among others.

Alternatively, the Starz on-demand app is available for Android, iOS and most other mobile devices.

Price: $8.99/month

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS, LG TV, Roku, Samsung TV, Xbox

Amazon's premium membership program includes access to the streaming platform Prime Video, more commonly referred to in this publication as simply “Amazon Prime.”

If you live in the US, the UK or Germany, you have the option between paying a yearly or monthly subscription fee for an Amazon Prime account, which comes with a bulk of other retail and delivery services. People in other countries where Amazon is not operating may be able to access it from a browser only.

In addition to on-demand streaming, you can rent or purchase TV shows that are not on the service for an additional fee. As well as Amazon devices, the app is available on any mobile device, including iOS, Android, or Windows. The app also works on Apple and Windows computers, on a wide range of TVs, mobile devices, and games consoles.

Price: $12.99/month

Free Trial: 30 days

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Apple TV, Changhong, Chromecast, Haier, Hisense, iOS, LG, Nvidia SHIELD, Panasonic, Philips, PlayStation, Roku, Samsung, Sharp, Skyworth, Sony, TiVo, Vestel, Vizio, Wii, Xbox

SHOWTIME is an on-demand service operating in the US, with a monthly price of $10.99, and a yearly subscription also possible. The catalog of movies and original shows can also be accessed as an add-on to other streaming services such as Amazon Prime and Hulu.

While SHOWTIME was only available on Apple devices for a while, it has since expanded in availability to include Android, Amazon Fire and Playstation 4, and other services.

SHOWTIME on-demand is free for subscribers to the TV service.

Price: $10.99/month

Free Trial: 30 days

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Anrdoid TV, Apple TV, LG TV, Playstation TV, Roku, Samsung TV, Xbox

Mubi is a movie-streaming service featuring a curated selection of 30 movies on a daily rotation, as well as a large library of movies from previous rotations. The subscription costs $10.99 per month or $95.88 for an annual subscription. If you just want to browse the database before paying up front, you can sign up for a free account for access. Mubi has a Now Showing section, with the newest entries to the library on a given day (the library is updated daily), and a Library section featuring a back-catalog of other highlights and previously “showing” movies. You may see a section called 'Live' for live broadcasts once in a while. Aside from the options to stream via web browser, Mubi also has mobile apps for Android and iOS, media streaming devices (Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku), and you can subscribe to Mubi as a Prime Video channel. While Mubi is not available on the Xbox One, you can access the service on a PlayStation 4 console.

Price: $10.99/month

Free Trial: 30 days

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS, LG TV, Roku, Samsung TV

Magnolia Selects can be accessed via an array of iOS and Android phones and tablets as well as desktops and Roku devices. It is also available as a channel through Sling TV and Amazon Prime Video.

Subscriptions with unlimited access to Magnolia Selects cost $4.99 per month or a discounted $49.99 per year. 

Another plan is available for “sub-genre subscriptions” that gives access to specific genres (action, comedy, horror, documentary) for only $2.99 per month. 

Price: $4.99/month

Free Trial: 7 days

Device availability: Android, iOS, Roku

Epix On Demand is a streaming platform from the Epix television network that offers on-demand content from the channel. It’s offered to subscribers of the Epix television channel at no extra cost. 

Otherwise, the cost varies depending on your TV provider, though it averages at about $5.99/mo. whether you subscribe directly through Epix or via a third partner.

You can subscribe to Epix via supported providers including Comcast xfinity, Cox, DISH, DIRECTV, Spectrum, Verizon FIOS. It can also be used an add-on with Amazon Prime Video Apple TV, AT&T TV NOW, Sling TV, YouTube TV and EPIX NOW.

Price: $5.99/month

Free Trial: 7 days

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS, Roku, Roku TV

Dubbed "The Free Netflix," Tubi is one of the best options for streaming quality movies and TV shows online. The completely free, ad-supported service has one of the most extensive title lineups, plus it's compatible with most devices, making it an extremely popular option for cord-cutters. Though it has been noted to have a less than stellar resolution, most viewers don't mind due to its easy interface, constantly updated library, and of course free titles. Parents will also be glad to know that the service has parental control features.

Price: free for channels available

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Sony, TiVo, Vizio, Website, Xbox One

Ready to cut the cord? Here are the 12 cheapest Live TV streaming services for cord-cutting.

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The streaming services on this page were chosen by our editors. If you choose to subscribe to a streaming service we recommend as a result of our research, analysis, and curation, our work is sometimes (but not always) supported by an affiliate commission from the streaming service when you make a purchase.