What Apps Can You Use To Watch Movies With Friends

Movie night! But your friends are...scattered. Like, geographically challenged scattered. Fear not! We live in the future. We have apps for this!

The Usual Suspects (and My Unpopular Opinion)

Netflix Party (or Teleparty, Whatever)

Ah, Netflix Party. The OG of virtual movie nights. It syncs playback, so everyone sees the same explosion at the same time. Pretty neat, right?

Here's my hot take: The chat window is chaos. Absolute, unadulterated chaos. It's like trying to read a book at a rock concert.

Good luck trying to follow the plot and decipher your friend's emoji-filled commentary. Still, it's free and easy, so it’s worth a shot!

Amazon Prime Video Watch Party

Amazon has one too! Surprise! It's similar to Netflix Party. Everyone needs an Amazon Prime subscription, though.

Again, the chat window is the potential downfall. Are we watching a movie or having a group therapy session fueled by popcorn and questionable life choices?

Also, let's be honest, who actually remembers their Amazon password on the first try? Just me? Okay.

Disney+ GroupWatch

Got a hankering for some Disney magic? Disney+ GroupWatch is your ticket. Perfect for reliving your childhood (or your kids' childhood, I guess).

The interface is clean and simple. The content is… well, Disney. So expect singing animals and predictable plot twists. Not that there is anything wrong with that!

My only complaint? Sometimes it feels like you're obligated to watch something wholesome. Where's the edge, Disney? Give me some villain origin stories!

The Underdogs (Worth a Look!)

Scener

Scener lets you watch Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max and Hulu together. Plus, it has video chat! You can see your friends' reactions in real-time.

That could be amazing...or terrifying. Imagine watching a horror movie and seeing your friend scream. Then you realize it's just their cat.

It's a little more complicated to set up than the built-in options. But the video chat feature might be worth the extra effort.

Teleparty (Yes, It's Back! And Generic!)

Yes, Teleparty is also a generic name for synchronized streaming apps. It gets confusing, I know. But this one works across multiple platforms via browser extension.

Setup is easy - just download the extension, and start or join a party. Some may consider this as easier than downloading additional apps.

Because it is browser extension based, you'll be limited to watching movies via browser.

The "DIY" Option (For the Tech-Savvy)

Okay, this is for the brave souls out there. You could try screen sharing on Discord or Skype.

It requires some tech wizardry. Syncing can be a nightmare. But hey, if you're feeling adventurous (and have a high tolerance for frustration), give it a shot!

My advice? Have a backup plan. Like, a really, really good backup plan. Maybe just suggest everyone watches the same movie at the same time and then texts about it.

The Real Secret to Virtual Movie Night Success

Here's the truth: the app doesn't matter as much as the company. Good friends can make even the worst movie enjoyable.

Choose a movie everyone will (hopefully) enjoy. Grab some snacks. And get ready to laugh (or cry) together, even if you're miles apart.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a virtual movie night to attend. Wish me luck...I'm watching a rom-com with my friends. Send help (and tissues).