Stream over 30,000 movies for free, including these Film Noir classics

When I was an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I added a concentration in film studies as part of my English degree. This choice exposed me to the wonderful world of film scholarship, adding to my already ardent love for films since I had been a self-proclaimed cinephile during my teenage years.

The decision also meant that I screened four to seven films every week for my assignments and honors thesis. The only platform that saved me from hectic screenings during my semesters was the streaming service Kanopy.

As a student, I had free access to the platform and its catalog of more than 30,000 films using my university email address. The best part – besides Kanopy being ad-free – is that I didn’t have to give up my account after I graduated; I still stream their robust offerings for free thanks to my public library card. Below I’ll show you how to sign up for Kanopy – and why you should.

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How to create a Kanopy account

With Kanopy you can stream movies, TV shows and documentaries for free (without ads). To create a Kanopy account, you can do the following:

• Go to kanopy.com and click Get started.
• The next window will ask if you are logging in with a university ID or a public library card. Select which option applies to you. You must select your library system or university from the drop-down list.
  
• To find a library near you, share your location when prompted or search for your library by name, city, or zip code. You can do the same when searching for your college.
  
• Hit Continue.
  
• Create your Kanopy account by filling in the requested fields (name, email address and password).
  
• Click To register.
  
• You will receive a verification email from kanopy@kanopystreaming.com. Open the message and click Please check my email address.
  
• Start streaming.
  

Are there limits to the number of movies I can watch per month?

Yes, Kanopy does not offer unlimited streaming. Once you sign up, you can stream up to 10 titles per month. Your 10 play credits are renewed at the beginning of each calendar month. These credits do not transfer if you do not use them.

Why is there a monthly limit?

Kanopy operates on a pay-per-checkout model, which means the public library system pays a small fee every time you check out a title. By limiting checkouts to ten titles per month, libraries can ensure they stay within budget.

What movies are offered on Kanopy?

The Kanopy catalog gives you access to more than 30,000 titles, including:

• Award-winning foreign films
• Critically acclaimed films
  
• A24 films
  
• Documentaries
  
• Classic films from the Criterion Collection
  
• Content from the Great Courses and PBS
  
• Festival indie or world cinema
  
• Storybooks
  
• Films and series for children
  

Some notable films include Moonlight (2016), Lady Bird (2017), Memento (2000), Donnie Darko (2001), The Big Short (2015), Daughters of the Dust (1991), In the Mood for Love (2000 ) and my personal favorite, Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019).

Does Kanopy offer seasonal collections?

Yes, Kanopy offers selected seasonal and special collections. Kanopy’s Holiday Collection includes a host of Christmas movies and documentaries, and Christmas classics. The Winter Collection features numerous winter-themed storybook videos that bring the magic of the season to life. In October, Kanopy released its Fright Fest Collection – a catalog of Halloween favorites – consisting of horror films, slashers, thrillers and more.

Most current is Kanopy’s latest collection, Noirvember – a collection of film noir films, including classics from the 1940s and contemporary neo-noir favorites.

Noirvember titles include critically acclaimed films such as:

• Lost Highway (David Lynch, 1997)
• The Stranger (Orson Welles, 1946)
• The Bad Sleep (Akira Kurosawa, 1960)
• Phoenix (Christian Petzold, 2014)

Also check out our full rundown of the best movies on Max, Netflix, and Amazon Prime. And stream our favorite horror double feature now on Netflix.