Film lovers already know that the Oscars are this Sunday at 7 pm EDT.
Whether you’re watching on ABC or streaming it live on Hulu, the “Sinners” vs. “One Battle After Another” matchup promises to be an exciting watch of its own and the post-show discussions should go on for days.
But when it’s all over and you’re yearning for more great films and community around them, you can find both on these apps.
Letterboxd
Letterboxd is an online film club that you only have to sign into to enjoy. It’s where you can let everyone know what you think about films (anonymously, if you want), and find out what they think too. Reviews range from one word to thousands.
It’s a great place to find something new to watch and spoilers are hidden, though I had to click to find out what happened in “Bugonia” before I watched because that’s just how I am.
Letterboxd is free but two subscription tiers remove ads and allow for additional customization.
IMDB
Sometimes spotting a familiar face onscreen can derail your whole viewing experience. Until you can figure out exactly what else you’ve seen them in, your mind is totally off what’s unfolding in front of you. Keeping IMDB handy while you watch lets you quickly look up actors to find their filmography and get back to what you’re watching.
IMDB is also a great resource for unifying some of the frustrating things about subscribing to multiple streamers. You can search for a title and click the Watch button to find it across services, and you can create a universal watchlist so that you don’t forget what you wanted to see and where it is.
IMDB is free.
Mubi
OK, yes, Mubi is another streamer and you’re probably looking to cut down on how many you subscribe to, but hear me out. Mubi is where you find the movies that will stick with you over years.
The films on Mubi are carefully selected. You can find film festival darlings from around the world, as well as independent, art house, and classic movies. What’s available changes frequently, so you won’t be bored.
There’s a vibrant community on Mubi where you can find lists from Mubi and fellow film lovers that will lead you to great discoveries. You can also find great reads and news in Mubi’s Notebook section.
Mubi is $14.99 a month or $119.88 per year, and students can get a $9.99 monthly subscription.
The Criterion Channel
Step into the Criterion Closet without having to set foot into the Criterion Collection’s offices. Aside from a collection of over 3,000 classic and acclaimed films, The Criterion Channel app has documentaries, interviews, commentaries, and more for all of the behind-the-scenes perspective you could want.
Right now you can watch Wyatt Cenat talk about “In the Mood for Love,” hear from Richard Linklater about French New Wave, and sit in on a conversation between Martin Scorsese and Ari Aster.
A subscription is $99.99 per year or $10.99 a month.
Fandango
If you want to see some of the Oscar contenders, or anything else, in a theater, find what’s playing where and book your tickets on Fandango.
You can find nearby theaters and showtimes, purchase tickets to skip the ticket line, and pick your seat ahead of time so that you can stroll in right before the movie starts. If you want to buy tickets for a group but don’t want to be left holding the bag, you can split payments right in the app using PayPal or Venmo.
There are also deals to be had with the app, including rewards for ticket purchases.
