If you’re traveling abroad for longer and are afraid of boredom, you might just want to watch a movie and enjoy the evening in your hotel room. However, you may be surprised to learn about some streaming services blocking access to their movies when entering another country due to their licensing regulations.

There are also distribution rights that limit your chances of seeing a movie even if it’s licensed. So, overall, watching a movie internationally has become quite complex if you don’t own another account, especially when you’re traveling abroad.

However, you may find some simple solutions to watch movies while still being out of the country, so let’s talk about them.

Check for movies on YouTube

Surprisingly or not, YouTube is full of entire movies or series from around the world. While in most cases they’re in English or another language, the advanced functions of the service will provide accurate subtitles. But if you search enough, you might be able to find these movies in your native language.

From a quick look, we found movies like The Truman Show, Fantastic Mr. Fox, or A Walk to Remember on YouTube, but there are many others out there. But since you need an internet connection (in case you didn’t download them), you should look for a digital eSIM that offers you high-quality internet access. You could stay connected in Europe with Holafly through unlimited internet and use it for calls, posting on social media, and navigating as well, besides using the internet. This option will also help you download movies since you access 4G and 5G connectivity, and you don’t need another phone number on the eSIM.

Consider a VPN

The VPN option is usually the most used for movie lovers, even in their own country, so they can watch movies from around the world without restrictions. For example, if you live in Europe, chances are you cannot see most of the content from Japan in the same streaming service, like Netflix, due to licensing and distribution rights.

So, a VPN lets you hide your location so you can navigate multiple websites and movies from streaming services. They are beneficial because they protect your data and security, but you must choose a professional service because not all VPNs offer speed and reliability. It’s best to research the VPNs people use specifically for streaming, so you can watch movies in high-quality and avoid waiting for the media to load, or to see it buffering all the time. However, know that the VPN doesn’t make you anonymous while browsing, so be cautious about how you use your debit or credit cards when making online payments abroad.

Try out the local television

Indeed, few people, besides our grandparents, still watch TV religiously. Although we used to do the same thing when we were children, now with so many streaming services available, we can skip the ads and watch only what we want instead of waiting for our favorite program to tune in.

Still, watching TV now is becoming a trending habit that young people do as an anti-brain-rot strategy. That’s because watching TV is now considered less harmful than scrolling on social media endlessly, because you are forced to watch only one movie/news category at a time. Of course, it could be difficult in the beginning to avoid switching channels until you find something you like, but we promise you that watching a movie without getting distracted can be helpful for you, especially if it’s from another country. Not only do you get a good activity, but you also discover more about the cultural appeal of movies and media of a different nation than yours. Chinese, Mexican, and French movies are some of the greatest examples of international genius in films.

Buy a gift card for a streaming service

Sometimes you find gift cards for streaming services at supermarkets, and they’re great for legally accessing them in another country to watch movies. You may even find them online, but watch out for where you get them. Netflix may offer them, for example, but this function may also be limited by country.

This option is much more secure when using a credit or credit card when you purchase directly from the streamer or use it at a local shop, so you don’t expose your data to cyber risks. In most cases, you can choose the period for which you want the card available and pay exactly for two weeks of unlimited content, or one month.

Search for local video stores

Lastly, this is an option if you’re a film lover who likes to watch movies in the traditional way. Unfortunately, in most cases you will be unable to find local video stores where you travel, because very few people are still renting or purchasing physical copies of movies, mainly because modern movies are rarely or scarcely offered in the physical format.

Still, some places have been transforming and adapting to what young people demand, so big cities like Paris make movie buying or renting an entirely unique experience. You can go to Crocodisc, O’CD, or Potemkine to find movies, books, and vinyl records at good prices. You can get the movie you want to see if you have the right hardware at your accommodation, or simply buy it to watch it at home. So, you’re leaving with souvenirs for yourself and those at home, which are more valuable and cooler since they’re from Paris. Or, if you’re a bigger fan of movies and locations, go to Vienna and visit the bookshop Alt & Neu, which appears in the movie Before Sunrise (1995).

Conclusion

Watching movies while you’re traveling sometimes feels like an inconvenience, but if you want to do it to kill time or simply have fun, there are ways to do it. Whether you get yourself some internet and search for movies on YouTube, or get gift cards for streaming services internationally, there are safe ways to watch movies and protect your data. Or, if you are old-school or simply want an anti-brain-rot activity, rent a movie and watch it the good old way.