We will explain how to buy or rent movies on Amazon Prime Video, the streaming service with which Amazon competes with Netflix or HBO.
One of the particularities with which this service is trying to differentiate itself is that of allowing you to purchase released movies from the studios which it already offers on the platform.
In this way, if you cannot wait for a new movie that is already on sale in Bluray to reach the Prime Video catalog, you can rent it to watch for a certain period or buy it to be able to watch it as many times as you want.
However, in addition to telling you how to do it, we will also explain the conditions and characteristics of these rentals and purchases, since they have generated some controversy.
What are the purchase or rental options?
In the world of digital film acquisition, we can differentiate two timelines. First, the film is in theaters. Then it goes on sale on Bluray, and by doing so it can also be purchased in digital format. And later, the film will finally reach the catalogs of streaming platforms.
In general, most streaming platforms do not mix these two types of digital content, they prefer to be clear, and that you know that if you pay a monthly fee you will be able to access all the content.
As for the platforms that allow buying and renting, some also offer free content, but these catalogs do not usually have that much weight either.
Renting a movie means that you pay to be able to see it for a short period and the price on Amazon Prime Video is usually around 4 or 5 US dollars.
Once you rent a movie you have 30 days to start watching it before it disappears from your catalog, and when you start watching it you have 48 hours to finish it before it becomes unavailable.
Buying in your film is paying to keep it in your catalog indefinitely. Although it does not exactly mean that it is your property, as it could become unavailable due to possible content provider licensing restrictions or for other reasons.
Moreover, Amazon will not be liable to users for Purchased Digital Content that is no longer available.
In general, none of these cases should occur and you should always keep the movie, but there will always be the possibility that you pay and at the same time lose that content. Instead, by renting it you will always know that it will disappear when that time passes.
You should also know that there may be movies that are only available to buy, especially some of the latest ones, and that you cannot rent them.
This no longer depends exclusively on Amazon Prime Video since other aspects, such as the rights and interests of its producers and distributors, also come into play.
And finally, don’t forget that to use this service, you need to be an Amazon Prime subscriber since streaming movies and series services are part of the advantages of Amazon’s premium service, which costs around 36 dollars per year.
How To Buy Or Rent A Movie On Amazon Prime Video?
To buy or rent a movie, you have to enter the Amazon Prime Video website and log in with the Amazon account where you have contracted Amazon Prime.
Once inside, you will see the streaming catalog. Here, you have to click on the Store section that you will see in the upper bar to go to the paid content. In the catalog of movies to buy and rent, you can find different sections to navigate through.
In them, hovers your mouse over a movie so that a tab will appear in which you will see a description, its year and duration, the recommended age and if it has subtitles. Moreover, you will also see the rental or purchase price.
Click on one of the movies on the list, and you will enter its profile page where all the information will appear with more details. Here, just click on the Rent or Buy buttons to proceed.
By default, the content should always appear in HD, but if you click on ‘More’ purchase options, you will see the prices for low resolutions, which are generally the same.
Since your payment information is already stored in your Amazon account, by simply pressing the button, you will proceed to purchase or rent.
Be careful because there is no purchase confirmation notice, it is done immediately and it is easy to buy something inadvertently if you are not careful.
However, you will see an option to cancel your order in case you did it by mistake.
Now, all you have to do is enter the ‘My Space’ section that you will see at the top of the screen.
Within My Space, you can enter a section called ‘Titles’ purchased and rented in which the films you have purchased will appear.
‘My Space’ section will also be available in the mobile versions of Amazon Prime Video. So, although the rental or purchase must be made through the web, when downloading and consuming the content you can do it through the application in any device.
