With the Oscars ceremony bringing this year’s awards season to a close, dozens of films are being thrown into a spotlight usually occupied only by huge blockbusters — from international documentaries to low-budget, slow-burn dramas.
But for many potential viewers, finding the time to watch them during their limited theatrical runs — often only accessible to a select few regions — is nearly impossible. Even worse, unless the film is already iconic in pop culture, like “Wicked,” or made by a streaming service itself, like Netflix’s “Emilia Pérez,” finding it on a major streaming service can also be a long shot.
That’s where Kanopy comes in — with thousands of films and a healthy supply of TV shows, there’s a wide range of cinema for all watchers to enjoy. And the best part? It’s completely free; all that’s required to create an account is a library card from one of thousands of participating library branches, including the Santa Clara County Library District (SCCLD).
Kanopy partners with these libraries to give members 30 free monthly “credits,” which can be spent to gain ad-free access to movies and TV show seasons (each purchase requires up to four credits and grants you 72 hours of access). In addition, younger watchers can use Kanopy Kids to get unlimited access to educational children’s content. With the ability to use Kanopy on your phone, tablet, computer or TV, you can enjoy their vast catalog from anywhere at home.
Rather than being limited to popular shows and blockbuster films, Kanopy has a rotating, hand-picked selection specific to each library, meaning there’s always something new and exciting to explore.
That’s because in order to stay free and maintain a profit, Kanopy charges their partner libraries for every time a viewer watches a title, so libraries are incentivized to include the content that best matches their members. And since Kanopy pays distributors and studios like A24 and Paramount to license content, they too are motivated to fill their catalog with great watches — ultimately, you’ll be met with an endless catalogue of PBS documentaries, timeless classics and new, independent releases.
Personally, I’ve used Kanopy to watch a number of amazing films I otherwise would never have been able to see, including Oscar-nominated international films “Anatomy of a Fall,” “Incendies” and “Perfect Days” — all three of which are some of my all-time favorites.
Although Kanopy lacks some features, like the ability to download movies to watch offline, it quickly makes up for it with a smooth, easy-to-use interface. With tons of search categories and filters to find the right watch and the option to create your watchlist, Kanopy has all the features of a great streaming service without the hassle of a subscription or a constant flurry of ads.
If you’re ever looking to expand your taste in film with decades-old classics or foreign cinema, or even just looking for a documentary to watch to kill time, it’s not even a question — Kanopy has everything you need and more.
