Mubi is my favorite streaming service of the year – here are 4 reasons why
I’m bored of the best streaming services. Or rather, I’m overwhelmed by it. Which, let’s face it, has become boring.
To take Disney PlusFor example. The options that appeal to me at the moment range from rethinking The X files in its entirety into a marathon of them all Star Wars movies in order (yes, even the prequels). Or maybe a documentary about a friendly-looking otter, another about a shark-infested beach, the latest blockbuster superhero movie everyone is talking about, the latest scary movie everyone is talking about, or the latest drama everyone is talking about. Just listing these choices feels exhausting.
And that’s just one platform. Each service promises endless entertainment, but more often than not I find myself endlessly scrolling instead of actually watching anything. Meet Mubi, a streaming service that feels refreshingly different. This year Mubi became my favorite subscription, and here’s why.
What is Mubi?
Let’s cover the basics first. Mubi is a streaming platform dedicated to movies. You will also find some film documentaries, but not many. Unlike other services that have thousands of titles, Mubi takes a ‘cherry-picked’ approach. The carefully curated catalog includes iconic classics and critically acclaimed recent releases, as well as experimental, indie and international gems that are hard to find on most other platforms.
Mubi costs $14.99 / £11.99 / AU$14.99 per month. Alternatively, you can save 33% by paying $119.88 / £95.88 / AU$119.88 annually, which works out to $9.99 / £7.99 / AU$9.99 per month. Students can get a discounted rate of $9.99 / £7.99 / AU$8.99 per month. This plan allows you to stream on up to five devices, with two simultaneous streams allowed at a time. You can also download movies to your iOS or Android device for offline viewing – a lifesaver during flights or commutes.
There is also Mubi Go, a subscription add-on with a free cinema ticket every week that allows you to watch a film selected by Mubi in participating cinemas and theaters. This increases the price to $19.99 / £18.99 / AU$19.99 per month.
1. It feels like film school
I love movies, but I’ve often felt like I didn’t have the knowledge or breadth of knowledge to truly appreciate movies. That’s one of my favorite aspects of Mubi, it makes me feel like I’m growing as a film lover.
The curated mix of genres, styles and perspectives pushes me out of my comfort zone, serving up films from indie gems to restored classics and experimental works from around the world that I otherwise wouldn’t have discovered.
But I like that Mubi doesn’t do that alone show me these new movies, it guides me through them. Next to each title are mini reviews called “Our Take” that highlight what makes these movie choices special. There’s also Mubi’s Notebook blog, which provides context, interviews, and criticism.
I also enjoy exploring Mubi’s ‘Collections’. These are films grouped by cinematic themes, such as ‘You Up? Midnight Movies,” according to Mubi, erotically charged films about vice and excess. Or ‘Modern Lovers’, complex romantic stories without clichés. Or even “A Woman’s Bite: Female Vampires,” which speaks for itself.
I used to watch a movie one day and choose a completely different genre the next day. With ‘Collections’ it feels like I’m going to a mini film school and delving into a different theme every week.
2. It’s a treasure trove of exclusive products, restorations and hidden gems
Mubi is not only a streaming platform, it is also a film distributor. This means that festival hits are fun Perfect days, The worst person in the world and more recently The fabric, arrive on the platform so you can stream them shortly after they’re shown in movie theaters and cinemas – more often than not, they’ll remain exclusive there.
You’ll also find rare gems and restorations, like the recent 4K update of Tarsem Singh’s cult classic Autumn. This mix of new, classic and obscure titles feels like discovering a constant stream of cinematic treasures.
To make the platform even more exclusive, as if you are being guided to great new titles by your own film expert, you can also pay a little more for Mubi Go, which offers you a weekly cinema ticket for a specific film. Sadly I couldn’t try it this year as there’s no participating cinema near me, but it’s a brilliant addition for serious cinephiles.
3. The user experience is simple and visually stunning
With its clean layout, white background and eye-catching banners, browsing feels thoughtfully designed and refreshingly simple. Granted, it’s not much different from the grid-like layout of other streaming services, but it feels like Netflix if an incredibly hip Scandinavian design agency got their hands on it.
The search functionality on Mubi is simple yet effective, allowing you to explore by genre, country, year, awards, or filmmaker. While I would like some more advanced filter options, Mubi’s simplicity is part of its charm. User-generated lists, such as ‘Mubi Top 1000’ or ‘Essential French Films’, give you a sense of involvement in a wider film-loving community, and you can also rate films after you’ve seen them.
The platform also offers features that make watching movies easier, such as offline viewing for iOS and Android devices, quick access to your viewing history and a gift option – this lets you share some Mubi titles with a handful of people after you have them views, a great way to give your friends a taste of Mubi without having to subscribe.
4. It’s the perfect choice for decision fatigue
Mubi has the feeling of entering a curated art gallery for films. Unlike other platforms overloaded with thousands of titles, the carefully chosen catalog makes every choice feel purposeful.
Sure, there are still hundreds of movies here, but the way recommendations are tailored to my viewing habits is different: more complementary and thoughtful, rather than just similar. To me, it feels like a film-savvy friend is hand-picking my watchlist.
Mubi’s curation has also made me a more adventurous viewer, introducing me to international gems, restored classics, and bold indie debuts that I probably never would have otherwise sought out. It helped me look at cinema in a whole new way.