Kanopy: Free Movie Streaming for Library Cardholders and Students

Looking for high-quality streaming content? The NY Times recently highlighted a new video streaming service called Kanopy, which has partnered with 200+ public library systems and educational institutions to offer access to 30,000 movies free of charge. There are no commercials. You can stream via Roku box, Apple/Android smartphones and tablets, or via web browser. Check if your local library offers access here. Note that there may be a monthly limit:

Each library imposes its own limit to the number of free movies a single cardholder can watch each month, from three to 20 titles per card, a spokeswoman for Kanopy said. Once they’ve registered their library cards with Kanopy, viewers can keep track of how many movies they have left in the upper right-hand corner of the onscreen interface. The limit for New York Public Library cardholders is 10 free movies a month, while Brooklyn Public Library allows six. Outside of New York, Los Angeles County libraries, for example, have a 10 movie limit.

You won’t find the latest Marvel movie, as Kanopy’s library is heavy on classic cinema, independent films, and documentaries. They boast “hundreds of new films every month”. There are many films from the Criterion Collection like Fellini’s 8 1/2 and Kurosawa’s Rashomon. If you still have interest in the solar eclipse, check out Chasing Shadows. There are neat educational materials in the Great Courses section, including the Everyday Gourmet series.