Sometimes you really want to watch “Office Space,” or “High Fidelity,” or “Follow That Bird” — you just have to figure out where that can happen.
In a world with a zillion different streaming platforms, there’s a good chance you already subscribe to one that’s going to let you watch that film or TV show you want to see for free, you just have to find it. While I was home visiting family last week, a friend showed me an app that makes that process a lot easier: Just Watch.
The app has actually been around for a while now, so you may have heard of it before. Truth be told I think I had heard of it back in the day (before this was an actual problem I had) but had forgotten about its existence… and it’s pretty great.
With the app, you just type in what it is you want to watch and the app tells you where that can happen. It works for TV shows and movies on streaming sites as well as movies that you might be trying to see in-person at a theater.
Once you have things set up, you can search for that movie or TV show and the app will let you know what your options are to stream it.
For instance, my search for Office Space told me that I could stream the movie on Starz, which I don’t have, rent it from a slew of places for $1.99, or buy it from an even larger list of providers for $14.99.
I’m personally a huge fan of the price comparisons when it comes to purchasing something. If I just watch to rent a movie for a quick watch, it doesn’t matter to me if I purchase it from YouTube or Apple (or anyone else), but Just Watch lets me see at a glance it’s $2 cheaper on Apple and Amazon than it is on Google Play and YouTube.
Yes, there are a few other ways to do this now, but the beauty of the app is you can use it when you’re away from your home setup. It’s only a matter of time before I end up using this to settle a bet in a bar.
The app also provides information about what’s new on each platform and allows you to track movies and TV shows you want to watch so you’ll know when they become available.
If you’re living in a streaming-only household, it can be a great way to figure out where you can actually watch that thing you’re jonesing to see.