Watching movies is not restricted to just your TV screen, mobile device, or even going to movie theaters. VR headsets are the hype when it comes to watching movies in virtual reality. Imagine having a virtual hangout with friends and watching movies together. If you prefer watching movies alone, you can also have your private movie experience with VR. You also won’t be restricted in your living room because with VR, you can transport yourself to different VR rooms for your movie night.
If you want to watch movies in VR, you will definitely need a virtual reality headset. If you have an Oculus Quest, HTC Vive, PSVR, or even a Google Cardboard, you can start watching movies in VR!
It sounds so simple but there are other things you need to do when watching VR movies. This article will tell you apps that will give you the best virtual hangout experience for watching movies with your friends, or alone. So, if you want to know how to watch videos in VR, read on!
Can You Watch Movies In VR
Watching a movie in VR is now accessible to a lot of people more than ever. You only really need a VR headset but you can also hook it up to a PC if you want.
Standalone VR acts as your mobile device or computer as the processor for watching movies. You can stream movies online and watch VR movies on Netflix, Youtube VR, Samsung VR, and other apps you can download on your headset.
You can even watch VR content on Facebook.
There are a lot of headsets in the market that you can use to watch different types of VR videos.
Types Of Videos For VR Headsets
Full-reality immersive videos are not the only content that you can consume on HMDs (Head Mounted Displays). You can watch 2D, 3D, and 180 or 360-degree movies on a VR headset.
2D Videos
2D videos are just what you would see when you are watching TV, streaming movies online, or in a regular cinema.
It would not likely give you a fully immersive VR experience, but you can certainly have a private theater experience when you watch 2D movies on a VR headset. Or you can watch movies with friends, too.
180 or 360-degree Videos
180 or 360-degree videos are one of the popular types of videos that people like to watch on VR headsets.
While there are not a lot of 180 and 360-degree full-length films at the moment, there are other videos that you can watch. Facebook and Youtube VR are two online platforms where you can watch 180 or 360-degree VR videos.
3D Videos
If you have ever watched a 3D movie in a cinema, you know how it makes your movie experience more immersive. Especially if you are watching action movies where things are flying around all the time, you can really feel like those things are hitting you too.
It is certainly a level up from the 2D videos where you can really get into the three-dimensional aspect of the content.
There are software products that you can use to convert 2D movies into 3D but, the quality might not be the same.
Full Virtual Reality Videos
There are still not many full VR movies that are live-action out there but there are full VR experiences that you can watch and immerse yourself in.
You usually see a computer-generated environment that makes it look real. Virtual reality designers use real-world photos to generate the 3D environment for VR
Full virtual reality videos can really give you a realistic simulation of the world you are in. If you want to watch these types of videos, you need VR goggles or HMDs.
How Can You Watch Movies In VR?
- You need to have a VR Headset
If you want to watch movies in VR, you definitely need a VR headset.
HMDs like Oculus Quest, HTC Vive, and PSVR are just some of the VR headsets in the market that you can use to watch VR movies. Most VR headsets are standalone and you can start to watch movies in VR as soon as you have downloaded the apps needed.
Oculus Quest 2 is one of the popular VR headsets not only for gaming but for watching movies too. It is a standalone headset and is compatible with most streaming apps online.
- Get apps that are compatible with your VR headset
As much as you want to start watching VR movies immediately, you can’t do that until you have downloaded apps that are compatible with your headset.
There are a few apps that you can download to be able to start your VR movie experience.
Bigscreen
If you like watching movies with friends, this app should be on your list of apps to have.
Bigscreen is a virtual hotspot and you can essentially hang out with your friends to have VR experiences together. Bigscreen has different rooms, private and public, that you can enter with up to 12 people.
If you choose to have a private room with your friends, you have to give them a code and they can enter your room. You can watch movies together and play games together.
Bigscreen has new On-Demand movies where you can watch 2D and 3D movies anytime you want. The catch is those movies are for rent and you have 48 hours to finish the movie once you have started it. If you are watching with a friend, both of you need to rent the movie to be able to watch it together. So, make sure to plan your movie nights accordingly so you can finish your rented movie.
This app is compatible with Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift S, Valve Index, Windows Mixed Reality, and Vive.
Whirligig VR Media Player
Whirligig is another app that you can download so you can watch movies in VR. This app is a VR media player where you can watch videos as well as playback images.
You can watch videos you have transferred to your VR headset. You can then use the Whirligig app to playback videos and images. This app is not like the Bigscreen app where you can enjoy VR experiences together.
But, it does have custom environments or rooms that you can be in. You can be in a home cinema, bedroom, or living room when you playback your videos or images.
This app has different projection types for you to view your videos or images. You can opt to have a fisheye, panoramic (barrel), cinema, and custom projections. Whirligig also offers streaming video and Youtube playback support.
The video type this app supports are .mp4, .m4v, .mov, and others. And, you can also view .jpg, .png, and .pns files as well.
Whirligig supports Vive, Oculus, Windows Mixed Reality, and openVR headset.
Netflix
Who would not know what Netflix is? Netflix is one of the popular streaming platforms for movies, tv shows, documentaries, and more.
But, can you stream VR movies via Netflix?
Yes, you can. You can download the Netflix VR app on Oculus Quest, Oculus 2, and Oculus Go headsets. Netflix VR also supports Samsung Gear VR and HTC Vive Pro.
Netflix VR has a Living Room mode where your VR self can stream Netflix shows. It will look like most living rooms with a couch, coffee table, windows, and a TV screen.
Netflix VR does not offer virtual hangouts so you would have to watch VR movies on your own.
YouTube VR
You can also find 180 or 360-degree videos on YouTube VR. They may not be full-length live-action VR films but, there is still a lot of VR content that you can watch.
YouTube VR is compatible with a lot of VR headsets, but the YouTube VR app works best with the Daydream View headset. The downside is this headset is discontinued but if you still have one, you can still use it. If you also still have a Google Cardboard, you can also use that to start watching YouTube VR content.
PlayStation VR
Now, this one is only for people who have PlayStation 4 but I am including it in the list because if you have PSVR, watching movies in VR is possible.
PSVR has VR videos and streaming services where you can watch and enjoy VR videos such as movies and documentaries. Its cinematic mode can make your VR experience more immersive.
PS4 has a TV and Video app where you can install different online streaming platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video. If you have a PSVR, you can use your headset to watch movies and tv shows from those platforms.
- Watching VR movies in your VR browser
If your VR headset does not support certain apps, you can still watch VR movies via your VR headset’s browser.
VR headsets like Oculus Quest and HTC Vive have built-in browsers where you can browse websites like HBO Max and Hulu to watch movies. Just log on to your account to start watching movies.
- Watch VR movies on your computer
If you don’t want to install apps on your headset, you can connect your headset to your PC so you can watch movies in VR.
You can install Bigscreen on your desktop for your VR movie night. On the Bigscreen website, download the Bigscreen Remote Desktop and run it on your computer.
After you have downloaded and installed Bigscreen Remote Desktop, log in to your account and your desktop screen will show up on your headset.
- Take breaks in between
I know that missing a part of the movie because you went to the bathroom is the worst. But, the good thing about watching movies on your VR headset is that you can pause the movie that you are watching. You can even rewind the movie if you want!
Taking a break in between watching movies is important. You want to rest your eyes every now and then, especially with the screen so close to your eyes. Since there are also head straps in VR headsets, it might be uncomfortable to wear for how long the movie you are watching is running.
Watching VR movies for 2 to 3 hours straight might cause eye strain and headaches. So, be sure to take breaks, especially if you are doing a movie marathon.
Advantages of watching movies in VR
Watching movies in VR can really feel like a different experience and can feel like you have your very own private theater.
You also don’t have to go to a movie theater to watch movies. Some might say that watching VR can be a little too lonely but, you can definitely hang out with your friends virtually using a VR headset.
There are apps like Bigscreen where you can have a movie night with your friends virtually from anywhere in the world. Also, virtual gatherings have been the thing to do these days even when restrictions in most countries have eased. It’s definitely easier now to catch up and watch movies with family and friends virtually.
If you like your privacy, you can definitely watch movies in VR by yourself. You can focus on the movie that you are watching without anything around your environment distracting you. You can also choose a wide selection of movies depending on what app you have on your VR headset.
Disadvantages of watching movies in VR
If you are watching 2D movies on a VR headset, the quality of the movie is not going to be better. In fact, some have said that the quality dipped when they watched movies in VR.
High-definition movies in 4K HD are still better even though most VR headsets offer high-resolution graphics and audio.
There are mostly 2D and 3D full-length movies in VR at the moment and while it is nice to have a VR movie experience, it will not be a fully immersive one.
If you are just watching alone, it might be nicer to watch regular TV instead. But, for watching with friends, movies in VR can be a good one.
Conclusion
Watching movies in VR can be as simple as having a VR headset and downloading a couple of applications for your virtual hangout.
You can definitely host a virtual movie night out with family and friends. You can also have your own private movie theater if that is your preference. Whatever setting you prefer, we hope this article helped you.
Let us know if you have any comments or questions!
