How to watch movies with friends online

With the rise of virtual hangouts, it’s now possible to watch movies together online from the comfort of your own home, even if you're miles apart. Whether you're in a long-distance relationship or simply can't get together in person, hosting a virtual movie night is a great way to stay connected with loved ones.

Learn how to watch movies together online and set up an unforgettable movie night experience with friends in faraway places.

Pick the right movie

The first step to enjoying a movie night with your friends is to choose the right movie. What are you in the mood for? A horror movie ahead of Halloween, a classic comedy you haven’t seen in ages, or the latest Oscar nominations? If you’re using Microsoft Teams, you can launch a group chat and create a poll to help decide on the perfect movie for your group.

Enjoy the same movie night snacks

What's a movie night without snacks? Coordinate with your friends to make the same snacks or share your favorite movie night recipes with each other. You can even send each other snack care packages in advance. This way, you'll feel like you're together in the same room enjoying the same snacks while you watch.

Use watch party features on movie streaming sites

Popular streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime offer watch party features that allow you to watch movies with friends across the internet. They synchronize video playback, giving you and your friends the ability to watch at the same exact time. Some of these watch parties also enable real-time video chat that lets you see and hear your friends' reactions without missing a single scene.

Connect your tech

To watch movies with friends online, you'll need a reliable internet connection and a device that can stream video, like Surface Pro 9 or Surface Laptop 5. Open your eyes to remarkable picture quality with Dolby Vision IQᵀᴹ on Surface Pro 9. With stunning visuals comes a stronger connection to the characters and worlds crafted by filmmakers, game designers, and creatives for you to enjoy. And because of their vivid PixelSense™ touchscreens, Surface devices are a great option for online movie nights—whether you’re watching from the comfort of your bed or connecting to a 4K monitor with a Thunderbolt™ 4 port. Available Dolby Atmos® speakers make for cinematic viewing, and Surface accessories (such as Surface Headphones 2) deliver a superior audiovisual experience.¹

Watch and chat with Microsoft Teams

Teams and other Microsoft connectivity software offer a variety of features that make it easy to watch movies with friends online. You can use the app's screen sharing feature to stream the movie directly to your friends, or use the virtual backgrounds feature to create a movie theater ambiance. You can also chat with your friends in real-time while watching the movie.

Even when you can't be together in person, watching movies with friends online is a great way to stay connected and have fun. You'll be able to host a successful movie night with your friends from anywhere with Microsoft Teams and Surface features to enhance your movie night experience.