Kino Lorber Announces New Streaming Service Kino Now

Just when you thought we were all loaded up on streaming services, in comes boutique home video label Kino Lorber with their new digital platform Kino Now. But unlike the subscription-based model of Netflix, Hulu or the Criterion Channel, Kino Now will offer its library a la carte.

The initial launch includes 600 titles, including many hard-to-find documentaries and international films, as well as TV shows like Deutschland 83. Many titles are available for rental elsewhere, and some are streaming on services like Kanopy (which only certain public library systems offer). But the service will add 600 more titles before the year is out, then augment with 500 annual releases, including acquisitions direct from film festivals.

They'll also offer 50 additional new titles every year after they finish their theatrical runs. New releases coming soon include the Jeff Goldblum sci-fi flick The Mountain and Chinese sensation Long Day's Journey into Night (one of my favorite movies of the year). The service is curated with themed playlists and lots of categories, including Silent Classics, LGBTQ Cinema, and Mature Themes for those looking for some more artistic adult films. There's even a section of $1.99 rentals for the budget-conscious cinephile.

Kino Now is live at KinoNow.com and on Roku devices. Apple and Amazon apps will be launching soon.

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About Kip Mooney

Kip Mooney
Like many film critics born during and after the 1980s, my hero is Roger Ebert. The man was already the best critic in the nation when he won the Pulitzer in 1975, but his indomitable spirit during and after his recent battle with cancer keeps me coming back to read not only his reviews but his insightful commentary on the everyday. But enough about a guy you know a lot about. I knew I was going to be a film critic—some would say a snob—in middle school, when I had to voraciously defend my position that The Royal Tenenbaums was only a million times better than Adam Sandler’s remake of Mr. Deeds. From then on, I would seek out Wes Anderson’s films and avoid Sandler’s like the plague. Still, I like to think of myself as a populist, and I’ll be just as likely to see the next superhero movie as the next Sundance sensation. The thing I most deplore in a movie is laziness. I’d much rather see movies with big ambitions try and fail than movies with no ambitions succeed at simply existing. I’m also a big advocate of fun-bad movies like The Room and most of Nicolas Cage’s work. In the past, I’ve written for The Dallas Morning News and the North Texas Daily, which I edited for a semester. I also contributed to Dallas-based Pegasus News, which in the circle of life, is now part of The Dallas Morning News, where I got my big break in 2007. Eventually, I’d love to write and talk about film full-time, but until that’s a viable career option, I work as an auditor for Wells Fargo. I hope to one day meet my hero, go to the Toronto International Film Festival, and compete on Jeopardy. Until then, I’m excited to share my love of film with you.