Did you know you can earn money by watching movies?
There are plenty of opportunities to turn your movie-watching hobby into a side hustle or full-time job.
In this article, we’ll explore why and how people get paid to watch movies, the skills and tools you need, and the best ways to get started.
Let’s dive in!
Why People Get Paid to Watch Movies
Many companies and organizations are willing to pay people to watch videos and movies.
Understanding the reasons people get paid to watch movies will help you identify how and where you can contribute to the entertainment industry and earn an income.
Companies pay for this service for the following reasons;
Content analysis and improvement
Marketing and promotions
Audience research
Advertising revenue
Quality assurance
Creative contributions
Skills and Tools Needed to Get Paid to Watch Movies
The skills and tools that will help you get the most out of movie-watching opportunities include;
Attention to Detail
When reviewing a film or trailer, being able to spot small details such as errors or inconsistencies is key.
You may be asked to evaluate the pacing, acting, storyline, or even technical aspects like sound and lighting.
By paying close attention to these details, you can provide valuable feedback that helps improve the final product.
Time Management Skills
Platforms that pay to watch movies set deadlines for movie reviews or tasks related to film evaluation.
Managing your time allows you to watch more films and complete tasks on time, maximizing your earning potential.
Excellent Writing Skills
Strong writing skills are necessary if you plan to submit reviews or provide feedback on movies.
Being able to express your thoughts clearly while writing reviews or offering suggestions is an asset.
The better you can communicate your opinions, the more likely you’ll get hired for additional projects or get paid higher rates.
Laptop, Smartphone, or Tablet
To get paid to watch movies, you’ll need a reliable device to access streaming platforms or review materials.
A laptop, smartphone, or tablet will aid in completing the required movie-related tasks.
Make sure your device is compatible with the platforms you plan to work with and can stream movies or videos without issues.
Reliable Internet Connection
Most paid movie-watching opportunities involve streaming or downloading films. Having a reliable internet connection ensures you can complete your tasks without issues.
Slow or unstable connections may cause buffering or delays, making it difficult to meet deadlines or fully enjoy the viewing experience.
31 Ways to Get Paid to Watch Movies
Find a Career in The Movie Industry
If you have a deep passion for movies, turning it into a career within the film industry is a great option.
While some roles may not involve directly watching movies all the time, there are plenty of opportunities to engage with films.
The movie industry is large, and the following are just some of the careers you could explore:
Casting Director
Production Assistant
Script Reader
Film Editor
Sound Editor
Movie Director
Film Distributor
Film Historian
Location Scout
If you have the right skills and passion, there are numerous opportunities to make a living from movies.
Watch Movies and Videos on Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a popular rewards platform that pays for various online activities such as surveys, watching movies and videos, searching the web, and more.
When you watch movie trailers or short video clips on Swagbucks, you accumulate SB points.
These points can be redeemed for a variety of rewards, such as PayPal cash, gift cards, and travel miles.
Swagbucks is free to join only requiring an email to sign up. You can also download the app for convenience.
Watch Short Videos on PrizeRebel
PrizeRebel is another rewards platform where you can earn points by watching short movie clips and video advertisements.
These points can be exchanged for cash via PayPal, Bitcoin, or gift cards.
Apart from watching videos, Prize Rebel offers other tasks like taking opinion surveys, signing up for offers, or completing simple online tasks to earn more.
Watch TV Shows on Viggle
Viggle is an app that rewards you for watching TV shows, movies, and live broadcasts.
By checking in on the app while watching TV shows or films, you accumulate points that can be exchanged for rewards.
The platform features an audio recognition technology that checks you into TV shows. It’s a straightforward process and you can check in to watch any show you like.
Viggle also gives you additional ways to earn points such as answering trivia questions related to the shows or films you’re watching.
Play Games and Watch Videos on Inbox Dollars
Inbox Dollars is a platform where you can earn money by completing tasks such as watching videos, reading emails, playing games, and taking surveys.
Watching movies and video content is one of the easiest ways to earn money on this platform.
You’ll earn cash which you can withdraw via PayPal or check.
Get Paid to Watch on Amazon Prime
Through Amazon Mechanical Turk, you can participate in tasks that require watching movies, reviewing content, or providing feedback on video quality.
While it may not be a direct method of earning money from streaming on Amazon Prime, the platform offers a wide range of gigs where you can watch movies or videos for a fee.
Watch Videos on MyPoints
MyPoints is a rewards site where you can earn points by watching movie trailers, TV shows, and other video content.
It has partnered with streaming services such as Disney and Hulu where you sign up for trial services and earn points.
You can redeem these points for gift cards, PayPal, or travel miles. If you pay for subscriptions with the streaming platforms, you can earn cashback.
Become a Film or Movie Critic
If you have a love for analyzing movies, becoming a film critic could be an ideal way to get paid to watch films.
Film critics write reviews for movies, TV shows, and other media. These reviews can be published on personal blogs, magazine websites, newspapers, or YouTube channels.
You can even offer freelance critique services to websites or movie production companies.
Well-known film critics can earn a steady income through advertising revenue, sponsored posts, or paid collaborations.
According to ZipRecruiter, a movie critic makes an average of $53,237 a year while a film critic makes about $40,000/year on average.
Join and Earn by Watching Videos on KashKick
KashKick is a rewards platform where you can earn money by completing a variety of online tasks.
The process is simple: you sign up, watch the content, and earn points for your time.
These points can be redeemed for PayPal once you’ve accumulated a threshold of $10.
Make Money by Watching Trailers on App Trailers
App Trailers is an app that pays you to watch trailers of movies and films.
You download the app to your smartphone, watch movie trailers or promotional content, and earn points.
The points can then be converted into cash or other rewards.
View Videos on Perk.TV
Perk.TV is a rewards platform where you can earn points by watching video ads that are 2 to 3 minutes long.
The platform allows you to accumulate points with every video you watch, and these points can be redeemed for cash on PayPal cash or gift cards for popular retailers.
Earn as a Movie Reviewer
Movie reviewers share their thoughts and opinions on movies.
You can apply to review movies for established platforms such as Rotten Tomatoes, IMDb, or even local newspapers.
Some platforms even offer paid opportunities for writing movie reviews. The report by ZipRecruiter found that movie reviewers earn an average of $62,159 per year.
As a movie reviewer, you’ll not only get to watch movies but you’ll also be paid for sharing your analysis and opinions.
Become an In-theater Checker with Market Force
Market Force is a company that hires in-theater checkers to monitor the customer experience in movie theaters.
The role involves visiting theaters, watching movies, and reporting on various aspects of the movie-going experience.
As an in-theater checker, you’ll need to watch the movie and pay attention to the details of the environment. Checkers report on the cleanliness, staff behavior, and service quality.
Market Force compensates its workers for the time spent at the theater and for completing the required reports.
Freelance For Local Movie Newspapers or Magazines Reviewers
If you enjoy writing, you can earn money by freelancing for local newspapers, magazines, or online platforms that focus on movie reviews, entertainment, or film.
Numerous publications pay for movie reviews, articles, and features related to the film industry.
You can start by submitting your work to smaller local outlets and building a portfolio of published reviews.
Joining the Netflix Tagger Program
The Netflix Tagger program offers the opportunity to get paid for watching movies and TV shows while helping Netflix categorize the content.
Taggers are responsible for watching content on Netflix and adding relevant tags to it.
While the Netflix Tagger role is not widely available to the public, there are occasional openings for this position.
Keep an eye on Netflix’s career page to see if there are any tagger openings in your area.
Participate in Movie Focus Groups
Focus groups are an excellent way to get paid to watch movies while providing feedback to film studios and production companies.
Focus groups involve watching a movie and then participating in a discussion or survey about the film’s plot, characters, and other elements.
These sessions may be conducted in person or online.
You can find focus group opportunities through marketing agencies or websites that specialize in paying for consumer feedback.
Examples of movie focus groups include; GoFoBo, Before the Premiere, USAAudiences, and iScreeningRoom.
Become a Voice Over Actor for Films and Movies
Voice-over acting is a part of the movie-making process for example with animated films.
If you have good voice and acting skills, you can consider a career as a voice-over actor for movies.
You can get freelance or contract opportunities through online platforms and casting agencies.
Start a Podcast About Movies
If enjoy talking about movies and films, starting a podcast can be an excellent way to get paid while watching movies.
Podcasts allow you to share your thoughts, reviews, and interviews with other movie lovers.
Over time, you can monetize it through sponsorships, listener donations, or advertising.
Work as a Certified Field Associate with BestMark
BestMark is a company that hires certified field associates to evaluate businesses such as movie theaters.
Field associates are responsible for visiting theaters, watching movies, and assessing the movie experience.
After watching the movie, associates submit detailed reports about their experience and get paid.
Get Paid to Watch Movies by Nielsen
Nielsen is one of the most well-known companies for monitoring television and movie viewing habits.
While Nielsen doesn’t pay users to watch movies directly, they offer programs such as Nielsen Home Scan, where you can participate in movie or TV show surveys to share your viewing preferences.
In some cases, it offers paid opportunities to take part in research related to movie and television ratings.
Work as a Closed Captioner
Closed captioning involves adding text to movies and TV shows to make them accessible to hearing-impaired viewers.
This job requires you to watch movies and transcribe the dialogue, sound effects, and other audio cues to create captions.
Closed captioners are often hired on a freelance basis, and there are opportunities to work with film production companies, TV stations, and streaming platforms.
On average, a closed captioner makes about 35,147 a year which translates to about $17 an hour.
Watch Movies While House Sitting
House sitting is a unique way to get paid to watch movies. Homeowners need someone to take care of their house while they’re away.
While house-sitting, you can use your free time to watch movies and earn money by doing so.
Become a Video Editor
Becoming a video editor can be a great way to get paid while working with movie content.
As a video editor, you’ll be responsible for assembling raw footage into a finished film or video, which involves cutting scenes and adding special effects, sound, and transitions.
You can get jobs from independent filmmakers, production companies, and YouTubers as a freelance video editor.
According to Indeed, a video editor in the US makes an average of $28.56 an hour.
Earn as a Transcriber for Movies and Videos
Movie transcribing involves listening to a film’s audio and typing out the dialogue and sounds.
Transcribers ensure that subtitles or scripts for movies and TV shows are accurate and can be used for closed captions or translations.
Freelance transcription platforms like Rev, TranscribeMe, and CastingWords offer opportunities for transcribing movies and videos.
As a movie transcriber, you’ll get paid per minute or hour of audio you transcribe.
Participate in Movie-Watching Competitions
Movie-watching competitions are another fun way to get paid for watching movies.
These competitions are organized by websites, film festivals, or production companies looking for movie enthusiasts to critique films.
Competitions reward participants with cash prizes, free movie tickets, or other perks.
They often require participants to watch a specific number of films within a set period and then answer questions or submit feedback about the films.
While this won’t be a regular source of income, it can be an enjoyable way to engage with movies and win prizes for your participation.
Join Movie or Film Festivals as a Volunteer or Paid Reviewer
Film festivals often recruit volunteers or paid reviewers to watch films and participate in judging.
As a volunteer, you may not receive direct payment, but you’ll often get free access to films and events in exchange for your time and effort.
However, some festivals do offer paid positions for reviewing movies, providing feedback, or helping with event coordination.
Notable film festivals like Sundance and Cannes offer paid opportunities for experienced professionals.
Start a Movie Review Blog
A movie review blog is a creative way to earn money while sharing your thoughts on movies.
By creating a blog, you can review films, discuss actors, and provide commentary on various aspects of the film industry.
As your blog gains traffic, you can monetize through ads, affiliate marketing, or sponsored posts.
Recap TV Shows and Movies for Money
If you have a talent for summarizing movies or TV shows, consider becoming a recapper.
Recappers watch movies or episodes of TV shows and write concise, engaging summaries for publications.
As a recapper, you’ll get paid to watch movies and then write summaries or discuss key plot points.
Some websites also pay to provide analysis or predictions about upcoming episodes or films.
Work at a Movie Theatre
Movie theater employees often work in roles like ticket sales, concession stands, or as ushers.
While this job might not involve directly getting paid to watch movies, there are plenty of ways to get the movie experience while at work.
Often, movie theaters allow employees to watch movies for free or at a discounted rate.
Launch a Movie Review YouTube Channel
A YouTube channel dedicated to movie reviews is another exciting way to get paid to watch movies.
By sharing your opinions, critiques, recaps, and reviews of films, you can build a loyal audience of viewers who enjoy your content.
Once you have a sizable following, you can monetize your YouTube channel through ads, sponsorships, selling merch, affiliates, and paid partnerships.
Offer Data on Your Watching Habits
Companies and researchers pay to access data about their movie-watching habits.
This could involve tracking what types of movies you watch, how often you watch them, and what platforms you use.
This data helps film studios and marketing agencies understand consumer behavior.
Challenges of Making Money by Watching Movies
While getting paid to watch movies is possible, there are several challenges you might face:
Limited Earning Potential
Some of the movie-watching jobs, such as those involving surveys or watching ads, offer minimal pay.
While you can earn money or rewards, the amounts are often small, and it might take a long time to accumulate significant income.
Difficulty Finding Legitimate Earning Opportunities
The internet is full of scams or unreliable platforms that claim to pay you to watch movies but don’t deliver.
Sorting through legitimate opportunities can be time-consuming and frustrating.
Time-Consuming
Watching movies to make money often requires a significant amount of time.
The process of evaluating, summarizing, or transcribing films can take hours, and the pay might not always reflect the time spent.
Poor Internet Connectivity
Many paid movie-watching opportunities require a stable and fast internet connection to stream or download films.
Poor internet connectivity can hinder your ability to watch movies and potentially lead to missed deadlines.
Tips for Success as You Get Paid to Watch Movies
Be selective about the platforms you join to ensure they are legitimate.
Stay organized to track your earnings and the time spent on each opportunity.
Consistently check for new opportunities or offers on movie-watching platforms.
Look for higher-paying tasks like movie reviews or video editing for better pay.
Keep a detailed schedule to manage time effectively between movies and tasks.
Improve your writing skills to excel as a movie reviewer or critic.
Be honest in your reviews and feedback to build a good reputation.
Use a high-quality device and a reliable internet connection for a smooth experience.
Stay updated on movie trends and genres to enhance your review accuracy.
Set realistic earning goals and understand that it may take time to build a steady income.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Get Paid to Watch Movies?
Yes, you can get paid to watch movies. Many opportunities pay to watch films, TV shows, and even short videos.
How Much Can You Make Watching Movies?
The amount you can make by watching movies varies depending on the platform, type of work, and how much time you invest.
Does Netflix Pay You to Watch Movies?
Netflix does not directly pay you to watch movies. However, it hires individuals for specific roles related to movie and content evaluation such as a Netflix Tagger.
Which Platforms Pay You for Watching Videos?
Several platforms pay you for watching videos. These include:
Swagbucks
InboxDollars
Prize Rebel
MyPoints
Qmee
Perk.TV
Conclusion
Getting paid to watch movies is a fun way to make money. You can choose one or multiple ways mentioned above to get paid to watch movies.
Success in this field requires patience, consistency, and finding the right opportunity.