Yahoo Movies The best movie watchalongs and film events happening online, from Secret Cinema to the AFI Film Club
Few things can transport people and provide much-needed escapism like movies at the moment, and more people than ever are turning to them to help during self-isolation.
Film fans are being sociable, too, by using apps like Netflix Party and Kast to host virtual movie nights.
It’s not just groups of friends though. There are plenty of public watchalongs taking place across the coming weeks, helping us get our collective fix before the cinemas re-open.
These are our picks of the best watchalong parties and film community events online.
Secret Cinema’s Secret Sofa
Secret Cinema has organised some of the most spectacular film events over recent years, and now its taking its watchalongs online. The group is launching a new weekly series of online screenings taking place at 7.30pm on Fridays, starting with Wes Anderson’s Grand Budapest Hotel on April 17. Sign up to the mailing list for ideas on prop-making ideas, sing-a-long playlists and even dance routines, with Secret Cinema making sure the virtual watchalongs are as immersive as possible.
The 4:3 Online Film Festival
There are 13 works featuring in this new online movie festival from 4:3 – Boiler Room's platform celebrating underground film. Expect a fantastic range of documentary features and shorts to be live broadcast across the event, analysing subjects as diverse as the Mafia in Palmero and the underground black lesbian culture movements of the 00s. Things are taking place from April 16-May 18.
Monsterverse movie watchalong
In the mood to watch 100-foot monsters smash the living daylights out of each other? Escape with some sci-fi during lockdown with this series of Monsterverse watchalongs, which is being hosted by Legendary and Nerdist.
The first one took place last week, with the series starting with 2014’s Godzilla. This Thursday (April 16) is the turn of Kong: Skull Island, followed by Godzilla: King of the Monsters on April 23. This is one for hardcore UK fans, with the sessions not beginning until 1am (5pm PST), but hardy viewers can follow the session on Twitter and Instagram.
Fractured Visions
Cardiff’s horror festival Fractured Visions is celebrating cult hits and niche favourites over the coming weeks with a series of spooky virtual screenings. The next one is taking place on April 19, with fans tuning in for 1988’s Critters 2. Watch along to the film via Amazon from 8pm, and get involved on Twitter for a scary Sunday night at the virtual movies.
AFI Film club
The American Film Institute teamed up with Steven Spielberg to launch its daily movie club recently, designed to help film fans through self-isolation. The organisation is hoping to “leverage our collective love of film on behalf of optimism in this time of global uncertainty” with the initiative. Head online to find the daily film selections and guides to watching the movie online, before connecting with film fans all over the world using the #AFIMovieClub hashtag. Choices so far have included the likes of the Wizard of Oz, Moulin Rouge and Arrival.
