Currently renting movies is an easy thing to do without having to come to a movie rental place. Without having to get out of your chair, you can stream high-quality (HQ) content without paying a fortune. If you want to have your movies physically on DVD, there are plenty of options from cheap to completely free. You can learn to stream movies in short, watch them on mobile devices, computers, and televisions, as well as rent physical DVDs. Many movies are waiting for you, from sea monsters, superheroes, to Pulp Fiction.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Stream Movies Live
Step 1. Make sure you have internet connection speed and sufficient plug-ins to stream movies
The most common way to watch movies is to stream them directly using the internet, or rent movies for free by downloading them temporarily. You can watch via a mobile device, computer, or by connecting a Network Media Player to your television (reviewed in a later step). You can watch high-quality (HQ) videos without leaving your house, as long as your computer has the following:
- Internet speed of 1.5 megabytes per second is required for watching regular video, and 5.0 megabytes for HD or high definition video. Tell your internet cable provider if you want to increase the speed of your internet connection.
- An HTML5 plug-in is also required to use Netflix and other streaming services. This feature should be in the latest update of all browsers. If necessary, update your software to the most recent version.
Step 2. Check the system requirements for the video
Make sure your computer has the correct system requirements to stream high quality video quickly, otherwise your computer will buffer rough VHS quality movies slowly. The 1080p content found on most streaming services should be compatible with iPad 3rd generation or later and Apple TV 3rd generation or later. The requirements that exist on Macs and PCs or regular computers are discussed here:
-
Mac Requirements
- Mac OS X v10.5 or later
- iTunes 10 or later
- 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo or faster processor
- RAM with a size of at least 1 GB
- HDCP-enabled display with a screen resolution of 1024 x 768 or higher
-
Windows Requirements
- Windows 7 or Windows 8 version 32 or 64 bit; Windows XP and Vista do not support HDCP
- iTunes 10 or later
- 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or faster processor
- RAM at least 1 GB
- HDCP-enabled video driver (you can check with the manufacturer to see if your video driver supports HDCP)
- HDCP-enabled display with a screen resolution of 1024 x 768 or higher with a digital connection (DVI, DisplayPort, or HDMI)
Step 3. Subscribe to an online streaming video rental service, for a monthly fee
Most of these services have many types of content both new and old that you can find, in addition you can easily select and watch videos by pressing the play button. All you need to do is go to the page of the video streaming service you are interested in and then open an account. Commonly used streaming services:
- Netflix
- Amazon Prime
- Vudu
- Hulu Plus
Step 4. Rent movies directly from iTunes or GooglePlay
If you have an iTunes account, you can rent movies right now. The most difference between renting movies from iTunes or GooglePlay and streaming services is that you are required to download the content for a limited period of time before the content is lost. You can view content on computers and other mobile devices that you have set up to be compatible with streaming services.
- If you don't have an account and want to create one, go to the streaming service's website and enter your ID or billing ID and information. Before starting, you are required to download the software, after which you can choose the available music and videos.
- This option is better if your internet connection is relatively slow. Granted, this will take a while because you'll have to download it first, but you'll be able to watch the video without any lag while the video is buffering and accelerating.
Step 5. Select videos
No matter what you use, whether it's Netflix, iTunes, or another video streaming or rental service, you can search for videos through the available options and select the video you want. Most services provide synopsis, user reviews, and recommended content based on the selections you've seen before and your reviews. Look for interesting videos and select them and play them.
- If you already know the title of the movie you're looking for, you can search for it in the title bar, the name of the director or actor, or a specific genre if you want to search for other categories.
- If you don't already know what title you're looking for, take a look at the latest popular options for new videos that you may not have seen. Take a little time to rate your favorite movies so the service can recommend classics you haven't seen.
Step 6. If necessary allow video buffering
If you want to stream content, it will take a little while to load content, depending on how fast your internet connection is. At busy times – late afternoon – most regular internet connections will slow down, and streaming multiple devices at the same time can also drastically slow down speeds. If your internet connection speed is weak, tell your internet service provider if you want to increase the speed, then go your own way to improve streaming quality.
Try to stream only on one device. Pause downloads or online browsers you have open so that streaming capacity is focused solely on the video you are currently watching. If the video doesn't run smoothly, pause and wait for the video to run smoothly again
Method 2 of 3: Streaming Video with TV
Step 1. Install Network Media Player to watch streaming video on your television
Network Media Players is a channel that can connect your television to the internet as well as an e-mail interface, so you can watch streaming videos on a large screen. Roku and AppleTV are examples of this device, this technology is also already installed in some game consoles today. Most of these devices are connected to ethernet either by wired or wireless. Each has a different setup process, depending on the device. Here is an example of Network Media Players:
- Apple TV
- X-Box 360 or higher
- Playstation 3 or higher
- Roku
Step 2. Open your streaming service rental account, or create a new account
If you have Network Media Player installed, use the provided remote to navigate to the streaming service you subscribe to. If you don't have an account yet, you can also use Network Player to create an account, then enter billing information, or connect to an existing account.
Step 3. Select a movie
With remote, navigate to the options as usual. This method is almost the same as the previous method, and has the same basic content as your online account when accessing via a computer. If you're watching a Netflix movie on your laptop and it stops in the middle of the movie, you can resume it on your TV.
Step 4. Another way is to rent movies on a Pay-Per-View system or purchase broadcasts from your cable provider
The classic way to rent movies is to rent pay-per-view directly from your cable provider, or purchase video on-demand or recorded video options through your cable provider. Usually you can view the available movies on the menu screen, select one, and you can watch it immediately, or at the specified time. This fee will be included on your cable bill.
Method 3 of 3: Renting Video Cassettes
Step 1. Battling the Netflix DVD account
If you want a DVD cassette, the most common way to rent a disc is to use Netflix, or another DVD delivery service. With Netflix, you can choose the lineup of movies you like. The film will then be packed into an envelope and sent directly to your address within days. You can keep the film for as long as you want and return it free of charge with the envelope provided. You can use these services in conjunction with your streaming account, if you wish, or you can choose one of them. Here's how to sign up to rent DVDs from Netflix:
- Choose a billing plan. There are several types of ospi service packages, some of which are more expensive than others. If you just want a streaming service, this is the cheapest option. If you want streaming and DVD services, they will cost more. Check with Netflix for the latest pricing options.
- After entering your billing information and shipping address, you can select an available DVD and add it to the shipping list. Compared to streaming, there are thousands more movies available on DVD on Netflix.
Step 2. Another way
Other services offer the same things as Netflix, but can vary slightly in the number of movies available to ship on DVD. If you are not satisfied with the Netflix service, try some of the following services:
- Blockbusters
- DVD Avenue
- DVD Bar
- Wal-Mart DVD Rental
Step 3. Look for RedBox in your area
If you don't want to be tied down by a monthly fee, the next common way to rent movies is to search for RedBox in your area. Usually RedBox is found in fast food restaurants, in grocery stores, shopping centers, and elsewhere, RedBox is a touch screen kiosk that can be used to select several films, by paying by credit card, you can immediately take home the DVD.
- You can search for the nearest RedBox location on the Google maps application, or you can find out on the company's website then enter your area code and search in the RedBox list in your area.
- You can keep the DVD for as long as you want, but it will add up to about $12,000, so it's best if you return it sooner. You can also return DVDs to any RedBox kiosk, not just where you rented them.
Step 4. Go to your local free DVD borrower
If you want to borrow DVDs for free, the best option is to borrow them at your local free DVD shop. Most free DVD rentals have a huge selection of old and new DVDs. You might find it hard to find the latest movies here, but you can find classics and foreign films that you never knew existed. Other than that, this place is free of charge. Pretty interesting isn't it?
- Most DVD rental shops allow up to a week to return them, and late fees or fines are usually higher than the fine for borrowing a book. Usually you can borrow up to five DVDs, but the details depend on where the DVD is borrowed.
- If you don't have a DVD borrowing card, you'll be required to show your ID or ID, but you can sign up for a card and you can borrow a movie right away. Go to a DVD rental near you and ask for more information in the information section.
Step 5. Look for indie movie rentals near where you live
While franchises such as Family Video and Blockbuster dominate the market, online streaming services are very hard to find in certain areas, although some rental places that provide certain and rare movies still exist in some cities. If you liked '50s movies like drive-in monster movie schlock, babysitters slasher flicks, and Italian neo-realism, you might be able to find one at your local movie rental shop. If you live in the US, here are places where classic films are available:
- Plan 9 Film Emporium in Bloomington, IN
- Scarecrow Video in Seattle, WA
- Glebe Video International in Ottowa
- Le Video in San Francisco, CA
- Odd Obsession in Chicago, IL
