The extra device support greatly expands the scope of Watch Party, and arguably gives it the flexibility it was sorely missing. Previously, you’d have to either watch on a smartphone or tablet or use a PC or laptop to stream to a TV or the likes of a Chromecast; hardly an elegant way to enjoy a movie with a mass of people. This updated version of Watch Party is very easy to use.
- Simply click or tap on the Watch Party icon that’s been added to the options menu you’ll find alongside a movie or TV series.
- From there, choose a name you’d like to use while chatting, then tap “Create Watch Party.” After that, you’ll be able to share this Watch Party link with up to 100 people; these folks can join the party by simply clicking or tapping on the link.
- Once the party is set up and you know everyone is ready, simply start the Watch Party. This will play the movie or show, and will give the host the ability to play, pause, skip and seek for the group. People will also be able to chime in with comments, directions, observations and smug cinephile knowledge in a pop-up chat panel. This means people can chirp in with their reactions to the stellar Free Navy battle in The Expanse, or ‘that moment’ at the end of The Boys season 2. They could pontificate on why the crew of the USS Discovery seems rather dumb. That one super-smug friend can comment that they saw the twist of No Time to Die from a mile off, while those of a cerebral nature, like our own Henry T. Casey, can observe just how binge-worthy The Wilds is. Then again, as much as I like watching movies alone, there’s a sense of camaraderie when watching a blockbuster or hit TV series with a few friends, then chewing the fat afterwards. And Watch Party could be one way to do that without needing excessive planning or getting everyone in one place. Next: Check out the one Netflix show you need to binge watch this month, which is coming back for season 4. Plus, this new Disney Plus show has 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, making it a must-watch. And see the 9 new movies and shows to watch this weekend on Netflix, Hulu and more.
