Kanopy: The free streaming service you didn’t know you had

As life gets more expensive, this seems a good time to alert you to a free video streaming service that you can access with your library card or university login.

It’s available in a number of countries around the world, but for this article, we’re going to focus on the experience in Australia, since that’s where we use it.

What is Kanopy?

It’s an ad-free streaming service that lets you watch “thoughtful and meaningful” movies, TV series and documentaries on a variety of devices, from TVs to PCs. Think of it as a replacement for the DVDs and Blu-ray Discs you used to borrow from your library.

What kind of content does Kanopy have?

It’s really varied: movies and TV series from around the world (Australia, Britain, China, Italy, France, Guatemala … you name it), classic cinema, independent films, arthouse, documentaries and kids’ shows. There are even silent movies. If the phrase “thoughtful and meaningful” puts you off, don’t worry – there’s also plenty of comedy, lightheartedness and escapism to be had here.

The titles are chosen by a team of cinephiles, backed by user data and feedback.

If you’re a university student or staff member, your uni – such as the University of Canberra or RMIT – might also have “owned content” available.

What devices can I watch Kanopy on?

• A simple browser on a Mac or PC
• Apps on your TV or set-top box, including Apple TV and Airplay, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, Amazon Fire TV, Telstra TV, Chromecast and Roku
• Mobile apps on iOS, Android and Amazon Fire devices

How do I get Kanopy?

You simply go to kanopy.com, set up an account and click “Find your library” or “Find your university”. Once you’ve chosen it, it will ask for your library card number and PIN/password, or your student or staff login. After that, you can log in on any supported device (see above).

How many videos can I watch on Kanopy?

You get 10 play credits at the beginning of each month. One credit allows you to watch a piece of content as many times as you want within three days. Kanopy Kids videos have unlimited plays.

How can Kanopy be free?

Well, it’s free to you, the end-user, but only because your library or university is paying for you.

What are some examples of movies and TV shows?

There are more than 30,000 titles available. Here are just five of my favourites:

Léon: The Professional

One of my all-time favourite movies, this is one of French director Luc Besson’s best works. Circumstances force professional assassin Leon to take in his 12-year-old neighbour to protect her, and she soon turns into his protegee. Great performances from Jean Reno, Natalie Portman and Gary Oldman.

Death in Paradise

A very enjoyable and escapist British-French crime comedy TV series set on the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie (Guadeloupe).

The Dinner Game (Le Dîner de Cons)

An excellent French comedy of errors built around a game in which a group of snobs take turns to invite someone they see as an idiot to dinner. It was remade (badly) by Hollywood as Dinner For Schmucks, starring Steve Carell.

SS-GB

A six-episode TV-series adaptation of Len Deighton’s alternative-history novel set in the United Kingdom of 1941 after Nazi occupation.

Stop Making Sense

Director Jonathan Demme broke new ground in the world of concert documentaries with this 1984 movie capturing the seminal Talking Heads on stage in Los Angeles. Songs include Take Me to the River, Once in a Lifetime and Burnin’ Down the House.