The pandemic has changed a lot of things in how we live and work. One industry that’s going through a major transformation right now is entertainment.
We’re used to new movie releases coming out at the theater first, then several months later being available for purchase on a DVD or online. But in the last year, that standard has been turned on its head as theaters stand empty and movie studios look for other ways to get their product in front of consumers.
The last 12 months have seen several major films being released on streaming services or for digital download. Some of the biggest include:
Soul
Wonder Woman 1984
Tenet
Mulan
Artemis Fowl
Scoob!
Croods 2
This means that you and your family can enjoy new movie releases in the security and comfort of your own home, opening up a whole new meaning for “movie night.” It also means needing a little more technology knowhow to enjoy that new film.
Where to Find New Movies Released Digitally
There are typically three different ways that new movies are released online. You need to know these, so you’ll understand how to find a film that you really want to see.
1. Released on a Streaming Service
Some blockbuster hits are released on a specific streaming service. This means you can’t just go out and buy or rent it as a digital download. The only way to watch this type of movie release is to have a subscription to the streaming service it’s released on.
Examples include:
Mulan & Soul: Released on the Disney+ streaming service
Wonder Woman 1984: Released on the HBO Max streaming service
Steaming services charge monthly subscriptions for all the content they carry. If you wanted to see a new release badly enough that was only available on a certain service, you could sign up and then cancel your subscription.
2. Released for Purchase as a Digital Download
The next format that new movies can be released digitally as is by a direct purchase, or digital download. This was the case with Tenet. It wasn’t streamed on a service like Netflix, instead it was made available as a digital purchase.
This means you pay a certain amount of money (usually around $20), and you own that movie digitally forever. You can either download it to your computer or keep it in a cloud account designed to act as an online library for your movies.
Some of these online entertainment storage services include Vudu, Movies Anywhere, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video.
3. Released for Digital Rental
Some films aren’t available for purchase right away, but you can rent them. Meaning you pay for the ability to view them for a certain period of time.
In the case of Croods 2, the movie can be rented for between $15-$20 (depending upon provider and their coupons) and you can then watch it anytime you want for a period of 30 days.
You can run into some confusion at times when trying to use a digital locker service with a rental film, because some only support purchased movies. This can cause you to have to find another way to access a digital rental. Vudu is a service that supports both rentals and purchases.
How to Watch Digital Movies
First you need to use a service to buy, rent, or stream your digital movie.
Options include:
Through a streaming service if they are where the film is being released (Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, Disney+ HBO Max, etc.)
Using a video rental or purchase service (Vudu, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Videos, etc.)
Tip: Use a well-known service and stick with the same service for as many digital movie purchases/rentals as possible to keep things simple.
Next, you need a way to put the digital movie on your television so you can view it.
Here are some of your options:
Smart TV with Apps: Newer smart TVs will have built in apps for services like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Vudu, etc. and you can sign into your account from the app on the smart TV.
Streaming Stick: If you don’t have a smart TV, you can use a streaming stick like Roku, Chromecast, or Amazon Fire TV Stick. The streaming stick will have apps, just like the smart TV, that you add to the device and sign into so you can access and play any purchased/rented movies.
Connect Laptop with HDMI Cord: If you’re having a problem find the app you need on your smart TV or streaming stick, you can open the application on a laptop instead and connect the laptop to your TV with an HDMI cable. This also works to view videos you’ve downloaded to your PC. Go full screen on the application for it to look right on the TV.
Get a Tutoring Session in Blockbuster Movie Viewing at Home
With the right setup, you can enjoy the convenience of viewing blockbuster releases at home easily (plus, the popcorn is much cheaper!). CompuTara can take you through a digital movie viewing tutoring session to get you started.
Schedule your tutoring session today! Call me at: 862-368-4893 or Email me here.
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