FILMSTRUCK is here, and it is glorious.
There's never been a better time to be a movie fanatic. Even for those of us clinging to our physical collections, the streaming platform has made favorites new and old available to us anytime and practically anywhere. Netflix and Amazon Prime have delivered plenty of goods - especially in the TV series department - but in terms of classic/cult/indie films, they're lacking. Enter Filmstruck, a joint venture by Turner Classic Movies and Criterion. Its base subscription ($7/month) includes unlimited access to hundreds of TCM titles; for three more dollars you get the Criterion Channel, with over 1,200 Criterion releases and their vaunted special content (interviews, documentaries, etc). Previously hosted on Hulu, all of Criterion's movies will be leaving the website on November 11.
It might seem a bit pricey compared to the volume of content available on other streaming services, but the difference with Filmstruck is its target audience: serious film buffs that are primarily interested in just watching movies and movie-related content. We were invited to beta-test Filmstruck back in July, and from a user's perspective it's simply unbeatable. The desktop layout is clean and straightforward. (It is available on Apple/Android mobile devices, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and coming to Chromecast and Roku soon.) Films are grouped by genre category or in particular collections; "John Ford in the 30s", "British New Wave", etc.
While Netflix has dropped movie title selections in favor of more original programming, Filmstruck is picking up the slack and offering a superior experience. From the iconic A Hard Day's Night and Tarantino favorite Across 110th Street to landmark accomplishments like Jules et Jim and Modern Times, there is something for everyone that loves a good, great or even perfect movie.
Go to www.filmstruck.com to start a free 14-day trial.
