Two of the Best Streaming Services for Movie Buffs Are on Sale This Black Friday.

Black Friday sales officially kick off on Friday, November 28, and run through Cyber ​​Monday, December 1. Before they end, Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price tracking tools.

• Subscribe to our blog to stay up to date with the best sales we find.

• Check out our Editors’ Picks for a curated list of our favorite sales on laptops, fitness tech, appliances, and more.

• Sign up for our Add to Cart shopping newsletter to get the best deals delivered to your inbox.

• Sales data is current at the time of publication, but prices and stock levels are subject to change.

Richard Linklater’s 2025 film “New Wave,” a lighthearted film about the making of Jean-Luc Godard’s 1960 French New Wave masterpiece “Breathless,” is currently available on Netflix. However, “Breathless” itself is unavailable. This is because Netflix owns the rights to the former film but isn’t particularly concerned with licensing the latter. That’s the current streaming market in a nutshell .

While I’d never say streaming services aren’t for true movie buffs—if I remember a movie, I’ll likely find a way to watch it in seconds, even if I have to rent it or buy a digital copy—the major streaming services haven’t always been faithful to movie buffs. While Netflix is ​​increasingly less interested in featuring anything but Netflix exclusives, companies like Warner Bros. and Paramount are removing many classic films from their streaming services to emphasize newer content.

But all is not lost—beyond the big media companies, there are excellent niche streaming services for moviegoers. And right now, annual subscriptions to two of the top services are heavily discounted for Black Friday.

The Criterion Channel and MUBI are essential for film buffs.

I’ve written before about my love for The Criterion Channel , the streaming arm of The Criterion Collection, a boutique media label that has earned a reputation for over four decades as a premier tastemaker for cinephiles by releasing high-quality home video editions of “essential classic and contemporary films” spanning the last century and the world. In 2019, Criterion launched The Criterion Channel , which brings the same selective, film-snobbish spirit to a monthly streaming service. MUBI, meanwhile, is a British streaming service turned film distributor that actually got its start with Criterion back in the mid-2000s . While it has recently become known for bringing arthouse films like The Substance and Die My Love to theaters, it also operates a carefully curated streaming service focused on independent world cinema.

It’s difficult to choose between the two streaming services, as they have very different focuses: the Criterion Channel is essential if you’re interested in developing a broad knowledge of classic cinema, with an ever-changing catalog spanning decades, while MUBI tends to focus on more modern, but also lesser-known films from around the world.

So why choose?

Both are $75 on Black Friday.

The Criterion Channel typically costs $100 per year (or $11 per month), while MUBI is a bit more expensive at $120 per year (or $15 per month). Trying to keep my monthly streaming budget reasonable, I usually stick to one of these channels, but thanks to the Black Friday sales in 2026, I’ll be going all out.

You can currently sign up for an annual subscription to either service for just $75, or $6.25 per month billed annually. That means you can get both services for $12.50, or $6 less than the cost of a monthly ad-free HBO Max subscription.

• From now until December 1st, an annual MUBI subscription is $75. The offer is available directly on the service’s homepage (but please note that your subscription will automatically renew next year at the regular price of $120). The offer is valid for all new and existing subscribers.

• Until December 1st, a Criterion Channel subscription is also $75, but you must use the code BLACKFRIDAY25 at checkout. Your subscription will activate after a 7-day free trial and will automatically renew next year at the regular price of $100. Important: This offer is only valid for the first year, so if you’re an existing subscriber or already a subscriber, you’re out of luck unless you’re willing to create a new account with a different email address and credit card, thereby sacrificing your viewing history.

Whichever option you choose (again, I recommend going ahead and buying both if you can), you’re in for a great year of movie watching.

Which stores have the biggest discounts on Black Friday?

With both large retailers and small businesses competing for Black Friday shoppers, you can expect sales at virtually every store until Monday, December 1, 2025. The “best” discounts depend on your needs, but in general, the biggest discounts tend to be offered by large retailers that can afford lower prices, such as Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and Home Depot. You can find all the best sales from major retailers on our blog .

Are Black Friday deals worth it?

In short, yes, Black Friday still offers deals you rarely see the rest of the year. If you’re shopping or looking for gifts, now is the time to look for deals on essentials, especially tech , home goods , and fitness equipment . Of course, if you’re looking to save money, the best way to save is to buy nothing.

Are Cyber ​​Monday deals better than Black Friday?

Black Friday used to favor large retailers and higher-end appliances, while Cyber ​​Monday favored cheaper appliances and gave small businesses the opportunity to compete online. However, today, this distinction has become virtually meaningless. Every major retailer runs sales on both days, so it’s best to know what you need, use price trackers, or consult guides like our blog, which uses price trackers, and not worry about finding the perfect time.

More…