# Pay-per-view Streaming Service NOT Amazon? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 16, 2023, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-per-view-streaming-service-not-amazon/982754 "2023-04-16T22:36:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2023, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-per-view-streaming-service-not-amazon/982754/1 "2023-04-16T22:36:33Z")
Sometimes I want to stream a film that is not available on Amazon. I am willing to pay but I do not want another subscription or watch commercials. I know of no other option. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![KMS94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ad7895/32.png) [@KMS94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KMS94)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2023, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-per-view-streaming-service-not-amazon/982754/2 "2023-04-16T22:45:47Z")
If you type "Stream “the movie you want to see’.” into a search engine, it should offer some options, some of which may just be a single rental. ---
**Author:** ![Palooka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/palooka/32/2902_2.png) [@Palooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palooka)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2023, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-per-view-streaming-service-not-amazon/982754/3 "2023-04-16T23:05:30Z")
You could use a streaming service guide site like justwatch to see if it exists out there on another service. They aren’t perfect catalogues, but they’re good for the big services. Then you can abuse a free trial of that service with a burner email address. If you know, if you’re morally flexible like that. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2023, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-per-view-streaming-service-not-amazon/982754/4 "2023-04-16T23:17:56Z")
> [@KMS94](#): > > If you type "Stream “the movie you want to see’.” into a search engine, it should offer some options, some of which may just be a single rental. I understand how Google works. It just happened, when I wasn’t looking, the word ‘streaming’ ONLY became a subscription situation. They won’t tell you that. So if I wanted to stream anything at all there are loads of choices, but every one is a lie. I want to stream The Name of The Rose (1986). I shouldn’t have to pay more than $4. How can I do this? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-per-view-streaming-service-not-amazon/982754/5 "2023-04-17T00:16:35Z")
> [@Palooka](#): > > You could use a streaming service guide site like justwatch to see if it exists out there on another service. They aren’t perfect catalogues, but they’re good for the big services. > > Then you can abuse a free trial of that service with a burner email address. If you know, if you’re morally flexible like that. Some movies are only available as a pay-per-view rental, or digital purchase so I think you wouldn’t be able to watch them even with a trial account. And also, [justwatch.com](http://justwatch.com) says The Name of the Rose isn’t available for streaming anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-per-view-streaming-service-not-amazon/982754/6 "2023-04-17T01:33:42Z")
I normally do the IMDB search for the movie, and there will be an option for most movies labeled “Watch options” or “More Watch options.” For current crops of movies, RedBox of kiosk fame has a pay-to-watch streaming service as well. Sadly, for more obscure stuff, you’re normally at the mercy of Amazon or other service, or as in the earlier example, it’s just not available at all. A friend (yes, actually, not “a friend”) actually keeps his Netflix DVD sub in force, and has for years gotten more obscure movies which he then … well, you wouldn’t do that, but if you want something off the beaten path a few times a month, it’s still a thing. But I have heard that their selection and speed are both on a decided wane, so YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-per-view-streaming-service-not-amazon/982754/7 "2023-04-17T02:37:05Z")
Although The Name of the Rose isn’t available as a rental or even a purchase there, Apple still offers rentals using either iTunes or the Apple TV app. It’s a crapshoot if the title is available for rental, but that’s up to the rights holder. It’s about $4-6 per rental. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-per-view-streaming-service-not-amazon/982754/8 "2023-04-17T02:40:40Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > I want to stream The Name of The Rose (1986). I shouldn’t have to pay more than $4. How can I do this? ⁢ As far as I can tell, Amazon has the rights to that one, and it seems like it won’t allow you to watch it in the US. I did notice that Roku claims it’s available on several of its channels. I did find it on a site that is “free”, but it has ads and may not be legit. * * * In general, I’d probably look for movies on YouTube. They do have some paid rentals, and not just the free ad tier. Google Play may also have some rentals. That’s the term I’d look for: online movie rentals. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-per-view-streaming-service-not-amazon/982754/9 "2023-04-17T17:12:34Z")
If you have an Xbox, the online console store includes not just games but also movies and TV shows which can be rented or purchased like any other streaming service. I don’t use it very often, but it occasionally has semi obscure titles not found elsewhere. (This is how I showed my kids the 20s _Thief of Bagdad,_ for example.) If you have a console, check out this alternative. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-per-view-streaming-service-not-amazon/982754/10 "2023-04-17T17:39:40Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > I know of no other option. Vudu, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube all have movie rental options. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-per-view-streaming-service-not-amazon/982754/11 "2023-04-17T18:11:07Z")
Also, I feel like this title just came up a few weeks ago from someone looking to stream it. I wonder what the increased interest is for this movie. Anyway, sometimes movies just fall out of distribution for online streaming, even if you want to pay for it. Happens a lot with Weinstein movies lately, as there’s an issue with everything in that studio being frozen (of sorts) during lawsuits. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-per-view-streaming-service-not-amazon/982754/12 "2023-04-17T19:43:22Z")
I use Google Play; I usually buy, but “rental” is an option. However, The Name of the Rose is not available. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-per-view-streaming-service-not-amazon/982754/13 "2023-04-17T19:51:58Z")
FWIW your local library might have access to Hoopla, a digital media service, that has not only e-books but music and movies as well. All free to borrow digitally. I just looked on Hoopla for my library and this movie isn’t on there. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-per-view-streaming-service-not-amazon/982754/14 "2023-04-17T21:06:54Z")
Moving this to cafe. It’s certainly a factual question, and answers should continue to be based on that, but you might get more visiblity from people who rent a lot of videos on-line if this is in Cafe. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-per-view-streaming-service-not-amazon/982754/15 "2023-04-17T21:22:39Z")
On a ROKU device you can enter the title on the search from the main menu. It will give you a list of those streaming it along with the prices. Most of the ones I look for are available through Redbox streaming. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-per-view-streaming-service-not-amazon/982754/16 "2023-04-18T14:10:13Z")
I use Roku and didn’t know this! Great, will try it when I get home. Thanks. And also thanks for the helpful replies, I will follow up on all the promising ones. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-per-view-streaming-service-not-amazon/982754/17 "2023-04-18T14:21:37Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > FWIW your local library might have access to Hoopla, a digital media service, that has not only e-books but music and movies as well. All free to borrow digitally. > > I just looked on Hoopla for my library and this movie isn’t on there Kanopy is another free library streaming app to try. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-per-view-streaming-service-not-amazon/982754/18 "2023-04-18T14:24:07Z")
I didn’t see that movie on Kanopy. Though the library might have the DVD. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-per-view-streaming-service-not-amazon/982754/19 "2023-04-18T14:28:14Z")
Some libraries have Criterion, as well, which is like Kanopy. I didn’t see _Name of the Rose,_ though. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-per-view-streaming-service-not-amazon/982754/20 "2023-10-03T21:40:06Z")
-Bump- Since it was such a common request in this thread (and I happened to remember) I should advise all that Name of the Rose (1986) is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime, along with the Roku Channel, Tubi, and Plex (the latter three don’t require a sub, but have commercials). You’re welcome. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-per-view-streaming-service-not-amazon/982754.md?page=2)