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10 Best Apps for Watching Movies Together Remotely

Watching movies with friends and family is one of life‘s great pleasures. But what if they live far away? Thanks to innovative apps, distance is no longer a barrier to sharing this bonding experience.

This guide will showcase the 10 best apps that allow you to watch movies remotely with loved ones. We‘ll review their key features, capabilities, and ease of use so you can pick the right one for your next long-distance movie night.

Why Watch Movies Together from Afar?

Here are some excellent reasons to use these apps:

  • Maintain relationships despite physical separation
  • Recreate fun movie nights when together isn‘t possible
  • Enjoy group activities with long-distance friends
  • Foster intimacy in long-distance relationships
  • Bond with relatives across cities or countries
  • Team build with remote working colleagues
  • Feel connected through shared experiences

Key Features to Look For

When evaluating apps to watch movies remotely, keep an eye out for these useful capabilities:

  • Video quality: Smooth, high-def video makes it feel like you‘re all in one room.
  • Group size: Some apps accommodate just 2 people while others allow up to 8, 10 or more.
  • Built-in chat: Instant messaging brings people together during the movie.
  • Cross-platform: Apps that work across devices – mobile, tablet, laptop – give more options.
  • Price: Free or freemium models allow casual use without charges.
  • Ease of use: The simpler the better for fast onboarding.

The 10 Best Apps for Remote Movie Nights

Based on user reviews and expert testing, these 10 apps provide top-notch remote movie watching experiences.

App Group Size Price Platforms Key Features
Netflix Party No official limit Free browser extension PC/Mac Syncs Netflix playback, built-in IM chat
Prime Video Watch Party Up to 100 Included with Prime Browsers, Fire TV Watch Amazon content together
Hulu Watch Party Up to 8 Included with Hulu sub Browsers, mobile Works with both Hulu plans
Discord Up to 50 Free Windows, Mac, Linux, web, mobile Robust chat features, screen sharing
Rave Up to 10 Free iOS, Android Syncs Netflix, YouTube, other platforms
TwoSeven Up to 4 Free Web Simple synching, private video watch parties
Syncplay No limit Free Windows, Mac, Linux Syncs playback of locally stored media
Metastream No limit Free Chrome extension Syncs Netflix, YouTube, Twitch and more
Watch2Gether No limit Free Web Flexible options, no sign-up required
Scener Up to 10 Free beta Chrome extension, Mac, PC Built-in video chat

From this list, Netflix Party, Prime Video Watch Party, Rave and Scener stand out for their seamless synching capabilities, robust group sizes, and handy built-in chat features.

Keep reading for an in-depth look at how these four apps enable incredible remote movie nights.

How to Have an Awesome Remote Movie Night

A fun group viewing experience doesn‘t happen by accident. Follow these tips and best practices:

  • Discuss movie options – Confer with the group about what movie genre, length or type of content everyone wants to watch.

  • Plan activities – Icebreaker games, movie trivia and drinking games make the experience participatory.

  • Have snacks on hand – Movie nights go better with favorite treats and drinks to share – virtually, of course!

  • Eliminate distractions – All participants should block off the time in their calendar and put phones on silent.

  • Test audio and video – Join a test call ahead to resolve any connection issues.

  • Manage chatter – The host can gently remind people to mute themselves during the movie.

  • Leverage built-in chat – Text commentary and reactions make everyone feel connected.

Following basic etiquette will ensure all participants feel present and engaged.

Netflix Party: The Movie Synching Gold Standard

With over 10 million users at its peak, Netflix Party set the standard for remotely watching Netflix together in perfect sync.

Here‘s an overview:

  • Price: Free browser extension
  • Group size: No stated limit
  • Platforms: Works in Chrome or Edge browsers on a PC or Mac
  • Key features: Syncs Netflix playback between devices so video stays in sync. Built-in chat window enables real-time text commentary and discussions.

To use Netflix Party:

  1. Install the browser extension on your computer
  2. Open Netflix and start playing a show or movie
  3. Click the red "NP" icon to generate a shareable party link
  4. Send the party link to friends so they can join the synchronized viewing session
  5. Chat about the movie in real-time using the message window

Netflix Party makes it shockingly easy to recreate offline movie nights online. The tight video sync and lively group commentary serve up serious fomo.

Prime Video Watch Party: Built for Amazon Streaming

Amazon launched Prime Video Watch Party in 2020 to bring synchronized streaming video to Prime subscribers.

Let‘s examine the key details:

  • Price: Free with Amazon Prime membership
  • Group size: Up to 100 participants
  • Platforms: Browsers, Fire TV devices
  • Key features: Watch Amazon Prime movies and shows in sync. Built-in IM chat while streaming. Video hosted by Prime for smooth performance.

Here is how Prime Video Watch Party works:

  1. Hover over a title you want to watch and click "Watch Party"
  2. Share the custom url link with friends you want to invite
  3. Guests join the Watch Party by opening the link
  4. Enjoy Amazon‘s content together with perfectly synced playback
  5. Chat with the group using the sidebar built into the viewing page

For friends and families who already subscribe to Prime Video, its Watch Party feature offers a hassle-free way to stream their content together.

Rave: Multi-Platform Watch Parties

Rave stands apart for supporting synchronized streaming across a variety of major platforms.

Let‘s break it down:

  • Price: Free
  • Group size: Up to 10
  • Platforms: iOS, Android mobile devices, tablets and browsers
  • Key features: Syncs playback for Netflix, YouTube, Twitch, Vimeo and more. Allow users to stream their own videos. Includes chat and video call capabilities.

Follow these instructions to run a Rave watch party:

  1. Create a Rave account or log into your existing one
  2. Tap the "+" button to create a new share room
  3. Select a streaming platform and video to watch
  4. Share the room link via text, email or social so guests can join
  5. Chat in real-time with the group messaging feature

Rave empowers friends to come together across all types of devices for shared streaming sessions. It works across generations and eliminates platform barriers.

Scener: The Video Chat Enabled Watch Party

Scener stands out by integrating video chat directly into the browser-based viewing party experience.

Let‘s analyze the key details:

  • Price: Free beta
  • Group size: Up to 10
  • Platforms: Mac and PC browsers (Safari coming soon)
  • Key features: Syncs Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max and Prime Video playback. Native video chat feature allows face-to-face conversations during the movie. Screen sharing available.

Follow these instructions to start or join a Scener party:

  1. Install Scener Chrome extension
  2. Log into your Scener account
  3. Click "Start Party" and pick a streaming platform
  4. Send the share link to friends to invite them
  5. Join an audio or video call with people in your party
  6. Control playback and chat together in real-time

Scener makes remote movie nights intimate by combining synchronized playback, instant messaging, and face-to-face video in one seamless platform.

Wrap Up

The best apps for watching movies with distant friends put the "together" in together apart. Synchronous playback keeps all viewers on the same page, while chat features bring people even closer.

I hope this guide supplies helpful context and recommendations to reconnect with long-distance loved ones through remote movie magic.

Now grab some snacks, send your share links, press play at the count of 3…2…1. Enjoy the show!

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