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Last updated: 10 February 2022
Thankfully, we’re not all clones, so what the best movie channel is for you will depend on your taste.
However, there are a couple of firm favourites across the board. Sky Premiere is the one if you want to catch the latest releases fresh off the proverbial press which, in the COVID-19 age of cinema restrictions, can help to keep your film fix. Until 1st October 2020 there was also Sky Disney, popular with kids and adults alike. But this channel has now been removed and you’ll instead need to sign up to the Disney+ subscription service.
You’ll also find designated movie channels on Freeview, such as Film4 and Sony Movies.
Formerly Sky Movies, Sky Cinema offers ten film channels spanning across all your favourite genres: Greats, Family, Action, Sci-fi Horror, Thriller, Comedy, Drama, Select, Hits and Premiere. Whether you’re looking for a blockbuster, a cult classic or an indie, you’ll find something to your taste with this comprehensive package.
With the Sky Go app you can access Sky Cinema through any smart device too, meaning you can not only tuck into a good film on your next train journey, but can also keep the kids entertained in the car.
Sky Cinema has a dedicated Premiere channel, cementing the service’s reputation of being the first to get the latest releases when they become available. Sky boasts that on this channel you’ll get a new premiere each day.
One perk is that Sky Cinema can be added as a bolt-on to any other Sky TV package, without a contract. You can use our service to find Sky TV deals. It’s just a monthly subscription which you can cancel at any time, which is great if you’re the non-committal type.
With Virgin Media, you have a few movie packages available. First is their own service: Virgin Movies. This is simply a rental system, the modern-day Blockbuster if you will. On your TV, search on demand and click movies. You’ll be able to see what films are available for viewing and have 48 hours in which to watch them. If you only watch the occasional film, this could be the most affordable option, as rentals start from £3.99. You can also buy films through the Virgin Media store, available as downloads.
Alternatively, you could get the Bigger Bundle + Movies package, which includes Sky Cinema HD. Or if you’re also a sports fan, the Bigger Bundle + Movies + Sport deal (what a mouthful). Just to note though these aren’t the cheapest TV packages with movie deals, because they include broadband and phone services too. And perhaps you don’t want to bundle up all your services? In which case, you can add-on Sky Cinema to any standalone Virgin Media TV deal for £21 per month instead.
In sum, there’s no denial that Virgin Media offers one of the most extensive libraries of movies around.
With NOW TV, rather than taking out a long-term contract, you can instead buy a pass that gives access to movies. For £11.99 you’ll get all ten of Sky Cinema’s channels, although these passes do auto-renew monthly so be sure to cancel if you just want to make a one-off purchase.
In your pass, you can also get the Boost bonus for an additional £3 per month; this means a fuller HD experience on films as well as allowing three devices to stream at the same time, rather than two. This makes the total £14.99 per month.
Furthermore, even though it’s owned by Sky, with NOW TV you don’t need a dish installed as the service works over the web. You can cancel anytime, plus there’s ordinarily a 7-day trial period in which you can cancel without getting charged a dime.
With TalkTalk TV, you’ll get films available on Freeview as standard but nothing extra included. But here’s the thing: you can add what’s called a Flexible Boost to your package. This allows you to add additional channels to your bundle; there are various options available in entertainment, including the Asian Boost which gives access to hit Bollywood films and TV series. Each Boost works on a 30-day rolling contract, so you’re free to cancel whenever you please.
Of course, there are other movie streaming platforms available, separate from specific providers. We’ve got to give a shout out to Netflix, the original provider of on-demand content. Their catalogue of thousands upon thousands of films and TV series has made them retain the title of most popular streaming service. And then there’s the newer Amazon Prime Video, offering similarly original content.
If you have subscriptions, you’ll be able to access them through your Smart TV. In fact, this is a popular option for many who prefer streaming services to traditional TV channel packages, with these, alongside standard Freeview channels, providing all the options to meet their movie needs.
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