If you are sheltering at home and growing tired with what Netflix is offering, or need to cut back on expenses and are looking for something free, here are some options.
Will McKinley is a classic film lover that I met at the TCM Classic Film Festival years ago. He's also a writer and blogger. When this pandemic hit and theaters were forced to close and film festivals to cancel or postpone their offerings, we began to talk about what we could watch from home.
For many, the obvious choice was Netflix, and the subscription service saw its profits rise as people were quarantining at home and looking for an escape.
But perhaps Netflix is overwhelming in the number of choices it offers. How many of you have spent more time cycling through titles than actually sitting and watching a film? Or maybe you want more eclectic options or something cheaper.
McKinley and I go over a range of choices from linear TV such as Turner Classic Movies to boutique streaming services with specialized and curated programming to DIY free services to bulking up your own physical media.
Streaming Channels
Citizen or DIY services
Ben Model’s weekly Silent Comedy Watch Party
Retroformat Silent Films with live accompaniment
Linear TV
Digital sub-channels (Diginets) like Comet and MOVIES! TV Network are available free with an antenna, carried on some local cable systems, and streaming on services like LOCAST.
