Yanira D. Kivi 
With robots and Console resellers snatching the option of buying a PlayStation 5 or a new OLED Switch directly from many people, VR headsets were a popular giveaway during the holiday season. The Meta (Oculus) 2 quest in particular has seen an increase in corresponding app downloads as the New Year approaches.
Whether you’ve finished browsing the Lady Gaga Music Pack by Beat Saber or need a break from the Horizon workroom, VR headset owners can take the time to relax and stream a movie. (This supernatural training can be postponed until tomorrow, you earned it.)
Other than a few experiences, watching a movie with a VR headset doesn’t mean you’re in the action. When streaming in VR, your avatar is often placed in a virtual room or cinema with a 2D viewing screen.
Streaming services like Netflix and Prime Video have native apps for Quest that are easy to download. Video-on-demand rentals through YouTube or Bigscreen require a few extra steps, but the process is straightforward. Other movies can be viewed on VR browsers or downloaded to the headset.
While setting up a remote desktop client through Bigscreen will take a few minutes, the process is well worth it for those who have video files saved on their computer and primarily use a headset at home. Our guide to watching VR movies focuses primarily on the Quest 2, but some suggestions apply to the HTC Vive and the Valve Index.
How to stream Netflix movies and more
From Do not seek at dusk, you just need to download the Netflix app to watch the movies from the VR streaming service. Once the app is downloaded, active members can log in and new members can sign up for Netflix. (Personally, I recommend watching the Fear street trilogy of movies for some creepy and bloody fun.)
Amazon Prime members can stream movies in VR through the Prime Video app. All you need to do is download the app and log into your profile to start watching movies like Extraterrestrial, The big sick, and Jennifer’s body.
Are there any Showtime subscribers? The service is quite specialized, but the Showtime app lets you discover Moonlight and other award-winning movies with a VR headset.
How to rent movies
If you want to rent recent movies to watch in VR, the YouTube app offers a large catalog of movies at different prices. free guy is available to rent for $ 6, while Dune costs $ 25. Other strengths of YouTube rental include: Barb and Star go to Vista Del Mar ($ 6), No time to die ($ 6), and Spencer ($ 5). After you rent a movie from YouTube, you have one month to start streaming and 48 hours to complete the movie.
Bigscreen is another essential app for watching movies on your VR headset. It’s basically a virtual movie theater where you walk into different environments and watch movies on your own or with other people. The rental selection is not as extensive as on YouTube, but popular movies like Arrival ($ 4), Top Gun ($ 5) and Titanic ($ 5) are available. Unlike the physical world, if you’re streaming a rental with friends in VR, you all have to pay the fees.
Do the VR browser workaround
What about all streaming services without a native app? HBO Max, Hulu, and Paramount Plus may not have VR apps, but headphone owners can open websites in a browser as a basic workaround. The Firefox Reality app is on Oculus and works more consistently for videos than other VR browsers.
Open Firefox in VR and visit the website of the streaming service you are interested in. Use your member information to log in and start watching movies. This method is a bit clunky and less reliable than streaming from a dedicated app. If issues arise, you may be able to resolve the issues by switching between mobile mode and desktop mode in Firefox.
Watch movies from your computer
The Bigscreen app can be used for more than just renting movies. All the movies available on your PC can be streamed in VR. It is possible to load movies on your Quest 2 for viewing offline by plugging the headset with the charging cable into a PC. Put on the headset and allow data access for the connected device.
Once this is done, the Quest 2 should appear as a device in the This PC tongue. Load all the entertainment you want to watch in the Movies Quest folder 2. Restart Bigscreen on your helmet and in the look section choose Video player then Local video files to access downloads.
