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Long-distance movie night: how to watch a film together online

By the Popmelon team · Last updated

Distance makes the small rituals harder, and a film on the sofa together is one of the first to go. A long-distance movie night brings it back: you both press play at the same moment, laugh at the same scene and see each other on a call while you watch. Popmelon, a free browser extension, keeps your two players in sync in desktop Chrome, Brave or another Chromium browser, with chat, reactions and free video and voice calls.

At a glance

  • Cost: Popmelon is free to use, video and voice calls included. Streaming subscriptions are separate.
  • What you each need: a computer, Popmelon with a Google sign-in, and your own access to what you’ll watch.
  • Where it works: desktop Chrome, Brave and other Chromium browsers, version 116 or later. It doesn’t work on phones or TVs.
  • Seeing each other: free video and voice calls in the party, with chat and emoji reactions.

Pick a time that works for both of you

  • Start from the tighter schedule. If one of you finishes work late, plan around that evening and work out the other person’s local time.
  • Big gaps can still work. 11 pm for one of you can be 7 am for the other: a late-night film on one side and breakfast with coffee on the other is still the same scene at the same second.
  • Watch for clock changes. Countries change their clocks on different dates, so the gap between you can move by an hour for a week or two in spring and autumn.
  • Pick a shorter film on a weeknight, or split a long one across two nights. Either of you can pause when you need to.

Choose something you can both watch

Popmelon keeps your players in sync; it doesn’t provide the film. You each play it from your own access, so check before the night that it’s available to both of you. Catalogues differ from country to country, which matters when you live in different ones.

  • Netflix and YouTube work today, and so does Spotify Web Player for an album night.
  • Prime Video and Twitch videos are in beta: they work in our tests, and we’re still checking them on real accounts.

How to set it up with Popmelon

  1. Both add Popmelon from the Chrome Web Store and pin it. Do it a day early, together on a call if one of you is new to browser extensions.
  2. One of you starts a party. Click the Popmelon icon and choose Start a party. The first time, it asks you to sign in with Google.
  3. Send the link. Click Copy party link and send it to the other person, who opens it and clicks Join party.
  4. Join the call. Click Join call to see and hear each other. Your microphone and camera stay off until you turn them on.
  5. Pick the film and press play. Choose the service in the party room, find the title and press play. Their player follows; if their tab isn’t open yet, they click the Go to button for that service in the party room.
Popmelon’s toolbar popup with a Start a party button, next to the words Start together, pick later.
Start a party first, then decide together what to watch. Popmelon’s own screen, with an illustrative name.

Make it feel like a date

  • Share a menu. Order the same takeaway, or cook the same simple dish together on the call before the film.
  • Dress for it. It sounds silly and works anyway.
  • Keep the call on, quietly. Headphones keep the film out of your microphone, and you’ll still hear each other laugh.
  • Pause to talk. By default either of you can pause, and the other sees who did. Popmelon keeps you together when you press play again.
  • Leave a reaction at the scene that gets you. A heart lands on both screens.
Popmelon’s floating control bar, a row of emoji reactions and a chat box over an illustrated film scene.
Reactions and chat sit on the film while you watch. The scene is an illustration.

Ideas for your next night

  • The film from your first date, or the one you’ve both always meant to see.
  • Start a series together, one episode a night, and agree not to watch ahead.
  • Album night: take turns playing a record on Spotify Web Player and talk through it on the call.
  • Trailer roulette: watch five trailers on YouTube and pick next week’s film.
  • A rewatch with commentary, pausing to say what you noticed the first time.

Honest limits

  • Desktop only, for now. There are no phone, tablet or TV apps, and Popmelon doesn’t work in Safari or Firefox.
  • You both install Popmelon and each need your own access to what you watch.
  • Each service’s rules still apply, including its ads and what’s available in each country.
  • Protected video can look black in a screen share, so use Popmelon’s synced playback for films and series.
  • Popmelon is new. If something doesn’t work, the help page covers the usual fixes and how to reach us.

Frequently asked questions

Can we see each other while we watch?

Yes. Popmelon has free video and voice calls in the party. Click Join call; your microphone and camera start off.

Do we both need the extension?

Yes. You each add Popmelon to a desktop Chrome, Brave or other Chromium browser, and sign in with Google.

We live in different countries. Will it work?

Yes, as long as the title is available to both of you. Catalogues differ by country, and Popmelon doesn’t change that.

Is Popmelon free?

Yes. Popmelon is free to use, video and voice calls included. Each of you still needs your own access to what you watch.

Plan your first movie night

Add Popmelon, start a party and send the link. The other person adds Popmelon too, then you press play together.

Add Popmelon to Chrome. It’s free

Works in desktop Chrome, Brave and other Chromium browsers. You each install your own copy.

Netflix, YouTube, Spotify, Prime Video and Twitch are trademarks of their respective owners. Popmelon is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to Netflix, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon, Twitch or Google.