In my family, it’s a tradition to watch movies together during every part of the holidays. If the TV’s not on and something we’ve seen a million times isn’t playing, we’re not really even celebrating.
Whether that means opening presents to A Christmas Story or chowing down on turkey during Planes, Trains and Automobiles, films are part of the proceedings. But it’s not always possible to get together—and over 2020’s holidays in particular, there was an excellent reason to stay apart. But that doesn’t mean those traditions have to die. Even now, as people have started traveling again, there will still be times when not everyone can get together. Basically every streaming service and plenty of online apps have ways to watch movies with friends and family, even when social distancing and staying safe.
Here are eight ways to watch movies together while staying apart:
- Netflix
Previously known as Netflix Party, the Teleparty Chrome extension (which requires everyone viewing to be on their own Netflix account) is pretty straightforward. You install it to your browser, go to Netflix, decide on a movie (perhaps the hardest part of the process), and hit the “NP” button on the extension. You get a link, which brings up the movie and a sidebar group chat a la YouTube livestreams. And now it’s not just limited to Netflix, with the site claiming functionality with HBO, Hulu, and Disney+.
- Hulu
However, Hulu offers up its own in-house way to watch together from a distance. It’s called, of course, Hulu Watch Party and is available to up to 8 simultaneous users of Hulu (No Ads) and Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV accounts. As in, everyone that wants to watch has to have their own profile (not account) on one of those higher-tier subscriptions. Subscribers that share an account can share with everyone using it as long as everyone’s got a unique profile created on there. If that’s a reality for your group, all you have to do is hit the Party icon on the movie’s detail page and share the link. Then you get the synced movie and the text chat.
- Pelisplus 2
⚡ Now we get into the best streaming pages, Watch movies online in Latin Spanish and full premiere series with all their chapters for free on Pelisplus2.mx, Watch Movies in HD with the plus of watching on your TV. Just make sure everyone’s got headphones. The other strength of Pelisplus 2 is its unlimited ability to have people watch—even if they’re relegated to the text chat—making it a favorite of streamers and those with larger groups.