Movie Streaming Platforms You May Not Know About in 2025

We're all familiar with the streaming giants – Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Max, and Hulu dominate the conversation.

The good news? An exciting universe of specialty streaming services exists beyond the mainstream, catering specifically to cinephiles who crave more than the latest blockbusters. These platforms offer treasure troves of classic, indie, international, and genre films that rarely appear on larger services.

Whether you're looking to discover obscure 70s horror films, explore the French New Wave, or dive into restored classics from Hollywood's Golden Age, these specialty streaming platforms have you covered. Let's explore these cinematic havens that deserve a place in your streaming rotation.

This article is an update on our previous article here

The Criterion Channel

Price: $11.99/month or $119.99/year (2025 pricing)
Specialty: Curated classic and contemporary films from around the world
Perfect For: Serious film buffs and students of cinema

The gold standard for cinephiles, The Criterion Channel has expanded its already impressive library to over 2,500 films as of 2025. This streaming service from the renowned Criterion Collection offers expertly curated classic and contemporary films from around the world, with special attention to significant works, director retrospectives, and themed collections.

What sets Criterion apart is not just their selection but the supplemental content – director commentaries, interviews, video essays, and behind-the-scenes features that contextualize the films. Their interface has been upgraded in 2024 with improved watchlist functionality and better recommendation algorithms.

Recent additions include expanded collections of 70s paranoia thrillers, restored films from Africa and Southeast Asia, and more contemporary independent works. Their mobile apps now support offline downloads, making it easier to catch up on cinema classics during your commute.

You Might Love This If: You appreciate film as an art form, enjoy discovering influential classics, and value context and education alongside your entertainment.

MUBI

Price: $10.99/month or $95.88/year (2025 pricing)
Specialty: Curated selection of indie, classic, and international cinema
Perfect For: Viewers who want curation and discovery

MUBI started with a unique approach – a rotating selection of 30 hand-picked films, with a new one added (and one removed) each day. In 2025, while they maintain this curated calendar, they've also expanded to include a large permanent library of over 1,000 titles and exclusive MUBI releases.

Their curation is exceptional, focusing on festival winners, forgotten classics, director retrospectives, and emerging talents. The platform now features more interactive elements, with expanded reviews, ratings, and discussion capabilities for their growing community of film enthusiasts.

MUBI's original productions have gained traction in recent years, with several of their exclusive releases garnering critical acclaim at major film festivals. Their interface remains one of the most elegant in the streaming world, with thoughtful categorization and beautiful presentation.

You Might Love This If: You enjoy being guided to quality films you might never have discovered on your own and appreciate a global perspective on cinema.

Kanopy

Price: Free with library card or university affiliation
Specialty: Educational content, documentaries, indie films, and classics
Perfect For: Students, lifelong learners, and documentary lovers

Kanopy continues to be one of the best-kept secrets in streaming. Available free through participating public libraries and universities, their catalog has expanded to over 30,000 films as of 2025. The platform specializes in thoughtful documentaries, indie films, world cinema, and classic movies from the Criterion Collection.

Recent improvements include partnerships with more library systems across the country (now covering over 80% of major metropolitan areas), an improved user interface, and expanded collections focused on educational content. Their mobile app has been completely redesigned for a better viewing experience.

The service has also introduced Kanopy Kids, a section dedicated to quality children's programming, making it a valuable resource for families looking for educational entertainment options.

You Might Love This If: You have a library card, enjoy learning while being entertained, and appreciate thoughtful independent films and documentaries.

Night Flight Plus

Price: $5.99/month or $59.99/year (2025 pricing)
Specialty: 80s and 90s cult content, music documentaries, exploitation cinema
Perfect For: Gen X nostalgists and underground culture enthusiasts

Night Flight Plus resurrects the cult USA Network show that ran from 1981 to 1988, offering not just archived episodes but a growing collection of cult movies, music documentaries, concert films, and bizarre ephemera from the VHS era. As of 2025, they've substantially expanded their library with rare content from the 80s and 90s underground.

The service now includes special collections focused on punk documentaries, midnight movies, psychotronic cinema, and experimental films that you simply won't find anywhere else. Their apps are now available on more platforms, including gaming consoles and smart TVs for easier access.

What makes Night Flight Plus special is its commitment to the weird, wild, and wonderful corners of pop culture history – the exact kind of content that major streamers tend to ignore.

You Might Love This If: You stayed up late watching USA Network in the 80s, have fond memories of video store deep cuts, or appreciate counterculture and underground arts.

Fandor

Price: $4.99/month or $49.99/year (2025 pricing)
Specialty: Independent films, international cinema, documentaries
Perfect For: Independent film enthusiasts

After changing ownership multiple times, Fandor has stabilized under Cinedigm's management and rebuilt its reputation as a destination for independent cinema lovers. In 2025, their library offers over 4,000 carefully selected independent films, documentaries, and international titles.

Fandor differentiates itself through thematic collections and an exceptionally intuitive recommendation engine that helps viewers discover hidden gems based on their preferences. Their revamped interface now includes filmmaker spotlights, themed collections, and educational context for films.

The service has also introduced Fandor Exclusives – limited theatrical runs of independent films that come directly to the platform, giving exposure to emerging filmmakers who might otherwise struggle to find distribution.

You Might Love This If: You're a fan of film festivals, prefer character-driven stories to special effects blockbusters, and enjoy discovering new voices in cinema.

Metrograph At Home

Price: $5.99/month or $49.99/year (2025 pricing)
Specialty: Curated arthouse cinema, exclusive screenings, filmmaker conversations
Perfect For: Arthouse cinema lovers who miss the theater experience

Launched as the digital extension of the beloved New York arthouse theater, Metrograph At Home has carved out a unique space in the streaming landscape. Rather than competing with massive libraries, they focus on expertly curated selections that change regularly, often accompanied by exclusive filmmaker introductions and virtual Q&As.

Their approach mirrors the physical theater experience, with "limited engagements" of certain films and special weekend "screenings" that create a sense of community and event around watching. The platform features both contemporary independent films and carefully restored classics.

In 2025, they've expanded their library of permanent titles while maintaining their curated approach, and added more interactive elements that let viewers engage with filmmakers and fellow film lovers.

You Might Love This If: You miss the days of repertory cinema, enjoy filmmaker insights, and appreciate thoughtful curation over endless scrolling.

Kino Film Collection

Price: $5.99/month or $59.99/year
Specialty: Cult classics, horror, exploitation, and genre cinema
Perfect For: B-movie enthusiasts and genre film lovers

Launched by respected film distributor Kino Lorber, Kino Cult is a free, ad-supported platform dedicated to the wild world of cult cinema. Their growing library includes hundreds of horror, exploitation, sci-fi, and weird cinema titles ranging from the 1950s through the 2000s.

The platform specializes in the kind of midnight movies that developed devoted followings – from Italian giallo films to 70s drive-in classics, martial arts epics to obscure slashers. As of 2025, they've added extensive collections of restored Roger Corman films, European horror, and genre films from around the world.

The platform maintains excellent video quality, with many films presented in new HD restorations. The ad breaks are relatively unobtrusive compared to other free services.

You Might Love This If: You're drawn to the bizarre side of cinema, have fond memories of late-night creature features, or appreciate films that break boundaries of taste and convention.

Cohen Media Channel

Price: $5.99/month or $49.99/year (2025 pricing)
Specialty: Restored classics and international films
Perfect For: Fans of meticulously restored cinema classics

The streaming arm of Cohen Media Group, an independent distributor that has been acquiring and restoring classic films since 2008, Cohen Media Channel offers a boutique collection of restored classics, with particular strength in French cinema, early Hollywood, and silent films.

What distinguishes this service is the extraordinary quality of their restorations – films often presented in 4K with remarkable clarity and attention to original presentation. In 2025, they've expanded their library to include more than 500 films, with significant additions from Asian cinema and classic Hollywood.

Recent highlights include newly restored works from directors like Agnes Varda, Buster Keaton, and Satyajit Ray, along with forgotten gems from Hollywood's pre-code era.

You Might Love This If: You appreciate film history, notice and care about restoration quality, and enjoy discovering overlooked classics from around the world.

OVID.tv

Price: $6.99/month or $69.99/year (2025 pricing)
Specialty: Documentaries, art films, and social issue cinema
Perfect For: Documentary enthusiasts and politically engaged viewers

OVID.tv brings together content from independent film distributors like Icarus Films, Bullfrog Films, and Distrib Films US, focusing primarily on documentaries, art films, and international cinema. Their catalog has expanded to over 1,500 titles by 2025, with particular strength in social issue documentaries and experimental cinema.

The platform organizes content around themes like environmental justice, human rights, LGBTQ+ issues, and international politics. Their curation is highly intentional, often featuring films that challenge mainstream narratives and highlight underrepresented perspectives.

Recent improvements include enhanced search functionality, better categorization, and filmmaker spotlights that help viewers discover related works.

You Might Love This If: You're politically engaged, care about social issues, prefer factual content to fiction, or enjoy cinema that challenges conventions.

Free Options Worth Exploring

Not every specialty streaming option requires a subscription. Several free, ad-supported platforms offer surprising depth for movie enthusiasts:

Tubi

Now owned by Fox but maintaining its vast library of over 40,000 titles, Tubi has significantly expanded its classic and cult film selections. Their "Not on Netflix" section specifically highlights unique content, including many films from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. In 2025, they've added extensive partnerships with independent distributors, bringing more arthouse fare to their platform.

Pluto TV

Known primarily for its live TV channels, Pluto also offers on-demand content with surprisingly strong classic movie selections. Their curated channels dedicated to specific decades or genres (like "70s Cinema" or "Cult Films") provide a lean-back experience that recreates the discovery aspect of channel surfing.

Crackle (US Only)

Sony's free streaming service continues to offer a rotating selection of catalog titles, with unexpected strength in 80s and 90s comedies and action films. Their library changes frequently, making it worth checking regularly.

Plex

Beyond its media server functionality, Plex now offers a substantial free streaming library with thousands of movies. Their interface makes it easy to filter by decade, and they've been adding more classic and cult content in recent years.

Comparison Chart

*Free with participating library card or university affiliation

Where to Find Specific Genres

Classic Hollywood (1930s-1960s)

• Criterion Channel - Curated collections from major studios and directors
• Cohen Media Channel - Beautifully restored classics, especially from the pre-code era
• Kanopy - Substantial library of Criterion titles and other classics

Film Noir

• Criterion Channel - Comprehensive collections with expert commentary
• Kino Cult - Free access to many noir classics
• Tubi - Surprisingly good selection of public domain noir films

Horror & Cult Films

• Kino Cult - Specializes in obscure horror and exploitation
• Night Flight Plus - 80s horror, cult classics, and midnight movies
• Shudder - Subscription service dedicated entirely to horror

World Cinema

• MUBI - Strong international selections with global perspective
• Criterion Channel - Classics from directors like Kurosawa, Bergman, Ray

Documentaries

• OVID.tv - Focus on social issue and art documentaries
• Kanopy - Extensive documentary selections across all subjects
• Criterion Channel - Classic and influential documentaries with context

70s & 80s Cinema

• Night Flight Plus - Specializes in underground content from this era
• Tubi - Large library of catalog titles from major studios

Independent Films

• Fandor - Dedicated to independent cinema from around the world
• MUBI - Festival favorites and emerging filmmakers
• Metrograph At Home - Carefully selected independent films

The streaming landscape has matured beyond the handful of major players to include these specialty services that cater to specific interests and tastes. For movie lovers seeking more than the latest releases, these platforms offer curated, thoughtful alternatives to the algorithmic suggestions of larger services.

Many of these services cost less than half the price of a premium Netflix subscription, making it feasible to mix and match a couple of specialty options alongside a mainstream service. Most offer free trials, so you can explore their libraries before committing.

The beauty of these platforms isn't just in their content but in their approach – these are services created by and for people who truly love cinema in all its diversity. Whether you're looking to explore film history, discover overlooked gems, or just find something genuinely different to watch, these specialty streaming platforms have you covered.

A whole new universe of cinema awaits on these specialty streaming sites. So start streaming and enjoy the adventure!