Where I Watch Classic Films

Anyone who’s known me for a day or longer, knows I mainly watch Classic films and TV (also known as, old stuff that was filmed way before any millennial was born). I could easily name 10 film stars from back in the day but probably can’t even name one actor who is popular right now. Simply put, in my opinion, I just prefer everything about old cinema - the fashions, the cinematography, the actors, the storylines, etc.

I’d say I got into Classic films and TV without even realizing it. As a kid, I religiously watched shows like I Love Lucy, I Dream of Jeannie and The Munsters whenever they were on before my bed time. I’d also started watching Classic Disney movies (anything with Hayley Mills!) and The Sound of Music before I even knew they were considered “classic”.

While I still hang onto many of my DVDs, because you never know when the streaming services might disappear (I’m aware this makes me sound like my Boomer dad who still hangs onto his VHS cassettes), I have been so glad to see many streaming services add a vast selection of classic TV and movies to their collections. It’s now easier than ever to find some of the most popular classic films (and even the more obscure ones) on streaming services, often, even for free. Here’s where I watch the majority of the stuff I watch (FYI, this isn’t a sponsored post in anyway so I’m not linking anything but a quick google search should guide you):

Tubi (App for Roku or mobile, etc- FREE): Tubi has one of the best selections of Classic TV shows considering it’s free. Be sure to sign up for a free account so you can log in & save items to your watchlist.

IMdb TV (App, FREE): This App also has a decent selection of TV shows and minimal commercials.

Kanopy (App, FREE with library card): Worth checking to see if your local library offers this App through their system. It has a great selection of critically acclaimed Classic films.

Classic Reel (App only on Roku, $2.99 monthly): This is my absolute favorite App ever for watching old movies. They have an unbeatable selection and are constantly adding more titles. It is worth every penny if you’re really into these kinds of films. They have a wide variety of genres so you’re never bored with it. Recently, the App was down for a couple of days and I inwardly panicked thinking they were on their way out. Funny (maybe bit pathetic?) how much I rely on old entertainment to escape the real world lately!

It’s worth noting that many of the popular paid subscription services always have a small selection of classics as well, but if you’re looking for something specific, you’ll have a better chance with the ones I’ve mentioned above. Happy viewing!