Today is the time of general quarantine, people are forced not to attend work and stay at home, despite favorable weather conditions and other factors. A completely logical question arises — what to do all these long days, while an epidemic of a deadly virus is raging outside the windows. Many people prefer watching quality movies. Surely many people have their own list of tapes that they would like to watch, but there was no time for this. It is quite natural that it is rather problematic to get licensed copies of films.
There is a way out of this situation — you can use the services of online cinemas, especially since many of them, during the period of active spread of the infection, made their subscription either completely free or charge a symbolic price for it. In our review of the best online cinemas, we will tell you about the most popular services that offer users a wide selection of films in the highest quality. They will be comfortable to watch not only on the screen of a computer monitor or laptop, but also on large television panels.
10 best online movie theaters
10. OKKO
This is a very well-known service that was launched back in 2011, very quickly it became an independent and profitable project. Its functioning is based on a paid monetization model. This means that the user can rent content for two days, buy it forever, or subscribe to various thematic collections. The capabilities of this online cinema allow a person to enjoy an interesting movie or series in any place where there is high-speed Internet, and viewing will not be interrupted by advertising, the picture itself is of excellent quality. The cinema is presented on a large number of platforms — Smart TV, Play Station 3 and 4, web, there are mobile versions running on Android or iOS. The service has direct operating contracts with filmmakers such as Walt Disney, Panamount, FOX, Warner Brothers and so on. Today, the average monthly audience of such a service is over two and a half million people, and, according to statistics, many users make purchases for at least several months in a row.
The audience of this online cinema is mostly represented by urban residents aged 20 to 45 years old, whose income level is average or above average. The administration of the cinema regularly conducts experiments with content programming within existing subscriptions, expands subscription applications. Here you can find not only entertaining, but also educational collections of both domestic and foreign production. If desired, the movie you like can be downloaded to your collection. All products are presented in very high quality — HD, Full HD, 4k, they are complemented by Dolby 5.1 surround sound. Features of a live broadcast will directly depend on the type and capabilities of the gadget from which you are viewing. The resource also works with movie premieres — you can place a so-called pre-order and watch the tape on the day of its release in cinemas.
Advantages:
- There is no advertising not only before viewing, but also during;
- You can view content offline;
- Through one account, you can log in on a variety of devices;
- Excellent picture and sound quality;
- The site is convenient and intellectually understandable;
- All premieres can be viewed on the day of release on the big screens.
Flaws:
- It is not always clear on the basis of what principle the administration of the resource forms collections of films and series.
Cinema online OKKO
9. Google Play Movies & TV
Initially, this program was developed specifically to work with gadgets based on the Android platform — smartphones or tablets. Through such an application, you can view video content posted in the Google Play virtual store. Thanks to the latest updates, you can broadcast the signal to the screen of a large TV using the Chromecast program. If the movie is not currently available, you can add it to your wishlist. After it appears in access, the user will receive a notification. The application for working with this cinema is completely Russified, the interface is very clear, it is synchronized with the Youtube streaming service, through which you can view content completely free of charge. The «Movies» tab contains both paid and free tapes, and the cost of viewing can vary greatly. You can watch TV shows, documentaries, including educational ones. The quality of the picture is not always good, so you should carefully study the screenshots before purchasing content.
There are two payment options — for rent or download. In the first case, after the moment of payment, the film will be available for two days, and it will be possible to view it only once. If the user buys a tape, then he has the opportunity to download it for individual use. The program has a very interesting feature — directly while watching, you can find out detailed information about a particular actor appearing in the frame of the tape. There is a download manager directly in the application, so you do not have to use the services of third-party services. Movies are often presented in very high quality — 4K, and the user will be offered a choice of format before buying. If you plan to view content on a smartphone, then too good quality is unlikely to come in handy, but on a plasma or LCD TV, such a moment will play an important role.
Advantages:
- You can download movies directly through this application;
- Films are presented in various qualities;
- Content can be viewed from different gadgets;
- There is synchronization with Youtube;
- Free viewing is included.
Flaws:
- Often, the cost of viewing on this platform is much more expensive than that of competitors.
Google Play Movies & TV
8.Netflix
The first version of this platform was presented to users over 20 years ago — back in 1997, when its founders came up with the idea of sending out DVDs for rent to everyone. Just a couple of years later, the idea underwent significant changes: the user could purchase a subscription for not very big money and order an unlimited number of films. The company’s business immediately went uphill, and in 2007 the company completely switched to the virtual world, turning into a streaming platform. In the middle of last year, the corporation managed to surpass even such a giant as Disney, becoming the most valuable company engaged in the production and distribution of media content — this is the key difference between Netflix and other virtual cinemas in our rating. The creators of television content enter into a contract to order the whole season at once. If channels usually spend a lot of money on the release of pilot episodes, after which it is not yet known whether the series will be launched into wide production or not, then Netflix management launches the entire series into production. The user has to purchase a subscription to all episodes at once, and the season is laid out in full. This is quite convenient, as a person can watch it in its entirety, and not wait a week before the next episode is released.
More and more series are leaving television platforms here, largely due to a completely different approach to distributing content. However, the company enters into agreements with other producers of feature films and documentaries. It cannot be said that a subscription is very expensive, but the user immediately gets access to a huge number of films and series, and besides, you can view them an unlimited number of times. For new users, the first month of subscription will be completely free without any restrictions. On the platform, you can even watch the latest films that have just appeared in cinemas. If you follow the news and constantly watch all the movies that come out, it turns out that a subscription will cost much less than going to the cinema.
Advantages:
- A huge number of new products in the highest quality;
- Films are presented both in the original voice acting and with professional dubbing;
- The platform releases its own series and films;
- Compared to movie tickets, subscribing to the service is not that expensive.
Flaws:
- There are not too many films released in the middle to the end of the last century.
Netflix
7. Cinema KinoPoisk HD
Today, this platform is the largest virtual service about cinema in our country. Since the year before last, a cinema has become available here, in which several thousand films, series, cartoons are posted, there are new items and even exclusive products. However, in reality, this is not so much an online cinema as a full-fledged site dedicated to the film industry. Here you can find the latest news from the world of cinema, read exclusive interviews with popular actors, see photo reports. Each movie has a list of hashtags that help you find it faster through the search engine. A huge number of TV shows and films can be watched just by purchasing a subscription, you will have to pay extra for new items, albeit a symbolic amount. For example, the latest premieres now come with a discount of up to 90%. The subscription for the whole of April for new users is absolutely free — the service management decided to take such unprecedented measures in connection with the announced quarantine.
If a person has an account on the resource, then he can make his own list of delayed films for viewing in the future. Here the production is presented as in a dubbed format from popular studios, for example, «The Big Bang Theory» is laid out in the voice acting of «Courage-Bombay». However, you can also find the original audio track. If you wish, you can issue a joint subscription «KinoPoisk + Amediateka». The latter service is characterized by a large number of exclusive materials, so when you sign up for such a subscription, you do not have to download a separate application. The possibilities of KinoPoisk can be fully used through SmartTV, Android or iOS platforms.
Advantages:
- The largest Russian-language online cinema;
- Works on all known platforms;
- You can find a huge amount of additional useful information — reviews, reviews, interviews, photos, trailers and so on;
- Free subscription for the whole of April for new users.
Flaws:
- When you sign up for the first paid subscription, your account is linked to a bank card, and funds are automatically debited from it.
Cinema KinoPoisk HD
6. TNT Premier
This is a relatively new domestic entertainment company that produces and distributes films and series based on a streaming multimedia product. It was founded less than two years ago. On this channel, access is offered to users on a subscription model to various well-known shows and series, exclusive materials that could not enter the main broadcasting grid of some channels — TNT, TV-3, Friday, 2×2, Super and some others. The service is available to people through personal computers, laptops and any other devices based on Android and iOS platforms. Up to five gadgets can be connected to one account at the same time. The platform was launched in August 2018. The broadcast began with Slepakov’s series «House Arrest» and the second season of the collection of sketches from Kharlamov and Batrutdinov «HB».
The service is gradually expanding — in November last year, the newest section «Daily Premier» was launched, which is absolutely free and includes not only entertainment, but also educational projects. To date, several tens of thousands of people have registered here, during the work a special application was developed, which has already been downloaded by several hundred thousand people through the AppStore and the Play Market. The number of daily resource views can reach 4 million per day. From mid-March, it was decided to make access to the resource absolutely free. According to the developers, this decision was made so that people can escape from the current unfavorable situation.
Advantages:
- Excellent picture quality;
- Fresh premieres are released daily;
- Low subscription cost;
- Attractive design.
Flaws:
- It is not always possible to ensure a stable connection with the server.
TNT Premier
5. Online cinema TVZavr
To date, this resource is the oldest domestic online cinema, and not only paid content is presented here, but there is also a large number of free films. As part of the current self-isolation of the population, the administration of the cinema invites users to fill out a questionnaire and get absolutely free access to all content, and it will not be diluted with commercials. The first launch of the project was carried out on April 5, 2010. There is support for broadcasting via Wi-Fi and 3G channels, the user has the ability to instantly switch to a convenient moment in the movie. The built-in player here automatically adjusts to the user’s channel, so you don’t have to wait for the movie to download in the selected quality. It presents a large number of feature films of domestic and foreign production, as well as entertainment programs and programs for children and adults.
This is one of the few Russian online cinemas that offers its subscribers to watch music videos as well. Absolutely all content is presented here legally — relevant agreements have been concluded with the copyright holders. There is special children’s content, which includes cartoons and animated series, all sorts of fairy tales, original thematic collections.
Advantages:
- A huge number of thematic collections;
- Excellent picture quality and dubbing;
- Good selection of domestic and foreign products;
- Many TVs have a built-in app to use this cinema;
- There is a children’s mode.
Flaws:
- Still, the catalog of films is largely inferior to some other resources.
Online cinema TVZavr
4. Online cinema Tvigle
A fairly large domestic online cinema, which allows you to make watching movies much more accessible. The main difference from other platforms is that access to movies here is conditionally free. This cinema provides access to a huge number of films of various genres. Such a platform survives largely due to advertising — there is quite a lot of it here, although not in the same way as, say, on Youtube. The user is quite able to refuse to watch videos — that’s why you will need to purchase an inexpensive subscription. All films presented here are offered to users legally, as the platform administration has concluded relevant contracts with content producers. The collection of films is really quite wide and varied, new items appear with enviable regularity, you can find classic films of both Russian and foreign release. The viewer, regardless of their age, will be able to find the most suitable content for themselves.
It is worth noting that you can not register on this platform. The platform is updated daily. There is a special section with trailers of new products — a person can choose a movie that he will like the most.
Advantages:
- Excellent quality of domestic and foreign content;
- A lot of movies and series can be viewed absolutely free of charge;
- Convenient search system;
- The site remembers at what point the user stopped watching — the next time you start the movie, it will start from this particular episode.
Flaws:
- However, there are a lot of ads here.
Online cinema Tvigle
3. Amedia library
In third place in our ranking of the best online cinemas, the resource mainly specializes in showing TV shows. Here is the largest selection of content released by the American television channel HBO. It was in this cinema for the first time that such well-known products as Game of Thrones, Chernobyl, American Horror Story and many others were opened to the Russian audience. There are also series from many other American channels — FOX, BBC, Starz and so on. The probability that your favorite TV show will be on the resource is quite deep. There are not too many films here — only a few hundred, but this collection is actively replenished. It should be borne in mind that the presented feature films were filmed by the manufacturer exclusively for television broadcast, so you should not expect too high quality from them. However, on this resource, serials with official dubbing come out first.
There are several variants of the application, which was developed specifically for the so-called smart TV, as well as for mobile devices and Apple TV. It is not very convenient to watch content from this cinema through a browser on a personal computer, however, Amediateka has integration with other similar platforms such as Megafon TV, Okko, KinoPoisk HD, due to which the prevalence of the resource is quite high.
Advantages:
- A huge number of popular and even cult series of Russian and foreign release;
- There is an official dub here;
- Laid out in high quality;
- Acceptable subscription cost;
- Integration with other platforms.
Flaws:
- A small number of films, although their collection is actively replenished.
Amediateka
2. Megogo online cinema
The largest similar resource in the Eastern European region, and through this service you can not only watch online movies and TV shows, but also watch TV as part of a live broadcast — there is a huge number of Russian-language and foreign platforms. In total, the site today has about 77 thousand units of content, and this collection is replenished daily. The resource was founded in 2011. Initially, it was a purely Ukrainian site, but later it spread to several other countries — today it has representative offices in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Lithuania and Russia. A special application has been developed for more convenient use on the screen of a mobile phone; there are also special programs for TV and media set-top boxes.
To gain access through the TV, you will have to register it through your own e-mail or through a profile on the site itself. It is not too difficult to start the latter — just come up with a username, password, indicate the date of birth, mobile phone number and email address. If necessary, you can use parental controls if children will watch TV. It is worth noting that the company not only provides high-quality broadcasts of existing channels, but also creates its own — in particular, the music project Megogo LIVE was launched last fall. There are channels with sign language translation and typhlocomments — designed respectively for deaf and visually impaired people. A fairly large amount of content is provided to users absolutely free of charge.
Advantages:
- All content is absolutely legal — the rights of intellectual property owners are fully protected;
- If there is a subscription, then the video is played without ads;
- There is even free content;
- Acceptable monthly fee, discount promotions are not uncommon;
- The video library is updated daily.
Flaws:
- New items are not included in the subscription price — you have to pay for them separately;
- Several very popular series are not represented here.
Megogo online cinema
1. IVI
The most popular online cinema among users with a very large amount of free content. It specializes on the basis of the legal professional video market — serials, feature and documentary films, television programs, there is the first children’s project in the Russian segment of the Internet deti.ivi.ru. It is worth noting that most of the content of all projects can be viewed for free and without registration. The content of the premium segment is characterized by a not too high percentage of the total content: it includes movie premieres, paid erotica, and so on. The main source of income for this cinema is advertising, which can be shown before the movie, during the screening, and even after. You can view content both directly through project sites and through various applications and services developed for Smart TV, Android, iOS and other platforms. The company directly cooperates with many Russian and foreign copyright holders.
The content database is not updated as fast as we would like, and quite often there are frankly boring and weak pictures of low quality. If you wish, you can purchase a link to download the movie — this allows you not to depend on a paid subscription. Most of the video supports several audio tracks at once — there are various options for Russian dubbing, translations into Ukrainian, Belarusian, Kazakh languages, there is always an original track.
Advantages:
- The vast majority of content is absolutely free for users;
- All videos are in high quality with several voice acting options;
- Very convenient catalog and search system;
- The site remembers the moment the movie stops;
- There is a paid subscription.
Flaws:
- It is not uncommon for collections to contain low-quality and boring films;
- There are quite a few ads.
Online cinema IVI
In conclusion, a useful video
Our review of the best virtual cinemas has come to an end — as you can see, both resources with a paid subscription and sites that allow you to view content are absolutely free are presented here. In any case, on each of them you can find something interesting both for yourself and for your loved ones. The main thing at this dangerous time for health is to find something to do at home and try to be less on the street while the quarantine associated with the coronavirus continues.