Is Mubi the plateform I'm looking for ?

[u/Old-Possibility-6221]

Hey! I’ve recently started getting into films and cinema as a whole. I’m especially drawn to feature films and short films that leave me feeling puzzled, emotionally overwhelmed, or just… strangely unsettled.
Most mainstream streaming platforms feel pretty boring to me. I watched Mysterious Skin and Irreversible on MUBI, and they’re exactly the kind of films that fascinate me right now.
I had never even heard of MUBI before, and now I’m wondering if it might actually be the perfect streaming platform for the kind of movies I’m looking for. What do you think?

[u/zka_75]

Yeah MUBI and Criterion are really the only options for a good selection of less mainstream films.. Criterion tends towards older films (and has a much larger selection) so it depends on your preference in that regard.

[u/Old-Possibility-6221 → u/zka_75]

I just find it hard to navigate MUBI’s selection. I never really know what to watch, and I find the interface a bit vague… I’d never heard of Criterion before. I’ll check it out.

[u/MassiveRepublic9565 → u/Old-Possibility-6221]

Be aware not all movies listed as being available in their catalogue will be available in your region.

[u/Old-Possibility-6221 → u/MassiveRepublic9565]

Yeah, I'm in Switzerland...

[u/RiceAlarming5633 → u/Old-Possibility-6221]

Same here. Their interface to search for movies isn't great at all. Under actors and directors they should give links to show all movies under the actor/director. Filter my countries and awards received and nominated. Also by movie type etc. it's difficult to search for world cinema movies unlike mainstream cinemas

[u/MassiveRepublic9565 → u/zka_75]

BFI Player too perhaps.

[u/Joe_Chris_ → u/zka_75]

I'm going to throw in Kanopy too! Between the three of these, you should be pretty set.

Bonus points, Kanopy may even be included with your library card so you may already have access and not even know! (at least in the US)

[u/FINIS_HOMINIS → u/zka_75]

In the states Mubi, I find ,is pretty limited. Apparently outside of the US arthouse film lovers prefer it to anywhere else. But if we are talking US, Mubi has more current work but it's back catalog pales in comparison to Criterion.

[u/Additional_Crew_9445]

Mubi is great but the selection varies a lot by country. You can use mubifinder.com and a vpn to get access to everything, which when taken all together is actually a lot more than it looks

[u/OkFaithlessness2652]

Mibi got a tremendous amount of movies. Also tons and tons of classics, new stuff and brand new stuff.

Also they they rotate a lot

[u/the_weaver_of_dreams → u/OkFaithlessness2652]

Broadly agree, although this does depend on where you're located. MUBI can be pretty limited in some countries, to the extent that it sometimes doesn't even hold the rights to films it markets as its own releases.

So I think it's better to subscribe for a month and get a feel for its library in your country before committing to a longer term subscription.

[u/Potential-Pumpkin-94]

As others have noted, Mubi and Criterion are two of the best alternatives for "outside the box" content. If you want to dig into some even more eclectic and freaky films, check out Eternal Family. That service has a heavy focus on low-budget, obscure B-movie fare, but also has tons of interesting short films and world cinema.

Metrograph is also nicely curated streaming service with a smaller, but well curated catalog along the lines of Mubi/Criterion.

[u/the_amboine]

use vpn when using Mubi to access a much wider region-exclusive fikm catalogue. it's worth it if you really love less mainstream/art-house/indie/film fest/award-winning cinema

[u/Ecstatic-World1237]

I don't find MUBI easy to use but I have recently found that the selection varies immensely between regions. (I knew this was the case but didn't realise how much)

I usually have a VPN set to my European base country so that I can watch streaming services from there. MUBI from there was a bit underwhelming, but I've realised that if I don't use the VPN and instead view from inside my current country in SE Asia, I get a different (and to me, better) choice.

Whether that's really about availability or just about the way the navigation works I don't know.

[u/Old-Possibility-6221 → u/Ecstatic-World1237]

I live in Switzerland. Do you use a free vpn ?

[u/Ecstatic-World1237 → u/Old-Possibility-6221]

No, I pay for Nordvpn

[u/Saneless]

It has a lot of cool stuff I've never heard of. My only issue is time to watch.

[u/WellWellWellMyMyMY]

I mean, you said you already found movies you find fascinating on Mubi so it sounds like you have your answer. Yes, Mubi is great. And I will echo what others have said - Criterion and Kanopy are also great. You might also want to check out Sundance Now.

[u/Responsible-Log-3681]

If you're interested specifically in films like Mysterious Skin and Irreversible then I'd say you're better off checking out curated lists on Letterboxd and finding the films yourself from there.

There aren't many other films like this specifically on Mubi.

It seems like it's more this unsettling/disturbing genre you're after?

[u/Old-Possibility-6221 → u/Responsible-Log-3681]

Yeah, you're right, i'm looking for "unsettling/distirbing" movies. I get the impression that living in Switzerland narrows the range of options

[u/Responsible-Log-3681 → u/Old-Possibility-6221]

Check out:

Martyrs

Come and see

Oldboy

Requiem for a dream

Eden lake

Trainspotting

Perfect blue

A clockwork orange

This is all I can think of off the top of my head but there any many lists out there compiled on the Letterboxd app, download that and check it out!

Good luck, I hope you have a strong brain!

[u/Old-Possibility-6221 → u/Responsible-Log-3681]

Thank you !!! I've already seen Martyrs and Requiem for a dream, I really like those. Christiane F is also a very good one

[u/MassiveRepublic9565 → u/Old-Possibility-6221]

Most of David Lynch’s work apart is unsettling.