You decide to watch a movie with friends. It doesn’t require much planning at all, which is perfect. But do you have a movie night with everyone together or separately? Do you have a virtual watch party or an in-person one?
Watch parties are excellent because you can easily watch a movie with your friends who live somewhere far away, and it’s easy to set up. But does it miss that human touch of all being in the same room?
We’re going to analyze the pros and cons of watch parties and see whether it’s better than in-person group viewings.
Pro: You Have No-One to Impress
Going out to an in-person party means dressing up and changing out of your casual gear. You have to brush your hair and make a general effort to look put together. That takes time and effort, which you sometimes can’t be bothered to spend.
Whereas if you’re having a watch party, you can do it in your pajamas, with no pants on, zit cream on your face, and a tooth brightening patch.
Not that you can’t do that in front of your friends, of course! It just depends on how close you are.
Con: It Can Get Expensive
Say you’re going to host an Amazon Prime Video watch party.
First, you have to ensure that everyone who will be a part of the watch party has an Amazon Prime Video subscription, which starts at $8.99 per month.
If you already have that subscription, then great. But if someone doesn’t, and you get them to buy it for the occasion, that’s an unexpected cost that person’s then stuck with.
Also, you have to consider what you’ll be watching. If you decide on a movie that’s not part of the free selection, it means you either have to rent it or buy it. Some titles cost as little as $2 to rent, but others reach up to $7 or higher. That’s another cost to consider.
When you’re all together in one place, you pay for a single subscription and a single rental or purchase; no matter the cost you rack up, you can always split it among yourselves. It’s more cost-effective to be together.
Pro: You Don’t Need to Travel
One of the worst parts about going out is figuring out how you’re coming back home.
Are you getting an Uber or Lyft, maybe a cab, walking back, or using public transportation? These are questions you need to answer in advance so that you can prepare; ensuring you have cab fare or your metro card with you or that your Uber account is good to go. Otherwise, you might find yourself stuck somewhere unpleasant because you didn’t think to grab your wallet.
When you’re having a watch party, all that’s off the table. Everyone’s already home, and you don’t need to worry about moving and spending money on getting back home.
Con: Connectivity Is Crucial
Having a watch party instead of an in-person one has many upsides, but a very prominent downside is that you’re heavily reliant on your internet connection. And not just yours, but that of every participant in the watch party. If one doesn’t have a good connection, you all suffer.
Buffering time is something you’ll need to consider. If you know that one or more people have poor connectivity or unreliable internet, maybe you can plan ahead. If you pre-load the movie you plan to watch before your watch party begins, maybe you’ll have a better chance at avoiding dealing with buffering.
In this regard, in-person parties are better. While you may still deal with incessant buffering or poor connectivity, at least you’ll be together in one place, and you can do something else until the connection gets better.
The unexpected buffering can lead to an unscheduled break, refilling drinks, getting more snacks, or even having a conversation while the issue gets resolved.
Pro: Space Doesn’t Matter
When you live in a small space and have friends over, it can be a nightmare to find room for everyone. Sometimes you find yourself having to rearrange all your furniture in one way while people are there, and then put it back how it was when they leave. That’s such a hassle.
Also, if your couch is too small or simply doesn’t fit as many people as you have over, you’d have to sit people on the floor with blankets and pillows. That tends to work if you’re young, but it’s likely your back will kill you the next day.
When you’re enjoying a watch party, you’re doing it from the comfort of your own home. That means a soft bed, comfy couch, whatever you want. You can sprawl about without having to be considerate of others.
Con: Pausing Is Not Always an Option
Many of the streaming services that offer a Watch Party feature have a way for participants to control the viewing, but that’s not always without issue.
For example, Hulu’s watch party has a pause feature, but users have complained that it’s temperamental. So, some people have it paused, and others have it continue to play. This means you have to find a way to match up again, which is a hassle.
Elsewhere, Twitch’s watch party feature doesn’t even offer the option of pausing. This means that once the viewing begins, you can’t leave the screen without missing out.
If you’re together watching a movie, pausing is a non-issue.
Pro: You Don’t Have To Share Snacks
This might seem silly, but it’s an important benefit to watch parties.
At home, you’re in your own space. No sharing is necessary. Whereas if you’re in a room full of people, and someone asks for a cookie or chips from your snack pile, it’s socially acceptable to give them some.
You can always go full Joey and not share the food, but your friends might take offense to that.
A Watch Party Is the Better Party
Most streaming services offer the option to have a watch party, and those that don’t are working on doing so soon. When it’s not always possible to meet up with friends to watch a flick, why not dive right into watch parties?
Watch parties might have some drawbacks, but the convenience of them wins. Why not give them a chance?