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Where to stream a movie legally? The simple guide
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Where to stream a movie legally? The simple guide

Looking for a specific movie but don't know which platform has it? Here's how to find it legally, and why movies sometimes move from one platform to another.

A friend recommends a movie. You open Netflix: nothing. Prime Video: nothing. Disney+: still nothing. Yet the movie definitely exists somewhere. Here's how to find it, legally, without spending the evening on it.

Why a movie isn't everywhere

Platforms don't buy movies forever. They buy streaming rights, for a given period and country. That's why:

  • a movie can be on Netflix in France but not in the United States, and vice versa;
  • a movie can leave a platform overnight, when the contract ends;
  • recent movies move from one platform to another according to precise rules.

Release windows, in short

In France, after its theatrical release, a movie follows a path set by law and industry agreements (other countries have their own rules):

  1. Theaters first.
  2. Digital purchase or rental, usually 4 months later.
  3. Canal+, then subscription platforms (Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video…), depending on each one's agreements.
  4. Free TV, later on.

3 habits for finding a movie

  1. Search a tool that lists the platforms, instead of opening every app.
  2. Consider renting: for a recent movie, it's often the only option, for a few euros.
  3. Don't forget free, legal services, like TV channels' streaming sites or some online library services.

The simplest way

With Ta Dose, the question disappears for the movies in the selection: each one comes with the platform to watch it on and a direct link. You click, you watch.