Movie nights are a great way to get friends together for some quality time, but during the pandemic getting together in physical space wasn't an option. That's where Amazon Prime Video party comes in, delivering a way for you to share your movies and TV shows with your friends, even if you are on different coasts.
Amazon launched this feature back in July of 2020, to make it possible to share your favorite shows with friends. You can even chat while the moving is going thanks to the chat box, making this a group activity for you and up to 100 viewers. While there are some limitations to be aware of, this is a great way to spend time with friends even when physical distance gets in the way.
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What is Amazon Prime Video Party?
To begin with, it’s a great way to keep film fun. An Amazon Prime Video subscription will let you invite up to 100 people to join a Watch Party, and at no extra cost. There are thousands of Prime Video titles to view together, from recent releases to familiar favorites across TV and film. Participants must be Amazon Prime members to join however; unless you’re watching a bought or rented title, in which case all attendees need to have purchased it.
After being sent the link to enter the Watch Party, viewers can chat through the text box as the film plays in real-time, messaging their “LOL” reactions and built-in “OMG” emojis. Playback is controlled by the host, so they’ll pause, rewind, fast-forward and press play for everyone (which could make them potential toilet-break tyrants). But at least audio and subtitle settings can be adjusted individually.
Although the host can create a Watch Party from another country, they’d need to login using their home Amazon account, e.g., Amazon.com for a US member. Meanwhile, only those that are subscribed to the same Amazon region as the host would be eligible to join.
How to use the Amazon Prime Video Party feature
The hardest part is agreeing on what to watch. There’re no plug-ins to install, so it’s plain sailing really:
- Select the movie or TV episode you want to watch and then click on the Watch Party icon
- Enter the name or alias you’d like to use while chatting, then select Create Watch Party
- Invite your friends. Share the link via email, FB, or Twitter (or copy to a third-party app)
- Start watching and chatting! The host will be in charge of playing and pausing the film
While you can get Amazon Prime Video on Roku, as well as watching Amazon Prime Video on Chromecast and other devices, at the moment Watch Party is only compatible with web browsers (with the exception of Safari), so media streaming devices, gaming consoles, Smart TVs etc., aren’t supported.
What can I watch with Amazon Prime Video Party?
Amazon Prime Video has almost 13,000 titles, and if it has a Prime logo on it, or is available to rent or buy, then you can create an Amazon Prime Video Party and arrange a virtual gathering.
If you want to re-visit older movies with loved ones, or share in the excitement of brand-new releases, it’s all here. There’s loads of third-party content: nostalgic classics Dazed and Confused and The Monster Squad, indie hits The Last Black Man in San Francisco and High Life, and high-propane blockbusters like Rambo and Marvel’s Studios The Avengers.
Then there’s a brilliant collection of Amazon Originals, including the Golden Globe-winning comedy, you can watch Borat’s Subsequent Moviefilm, thrilling superhero drama The Boys, Fleabag, Hunters, and Steve McQueen’s Small Axe anthology. And if you still haven’t found what you’re looking for, there a great selection of titles to rent, currently including Zootopia, Spider Man: Far From Home, and Tenet.
Content you can’t create a Watch Party for though? Amazon Channels, live programming, and IMDB TV.
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