How do I watch my favorite shows and movies once they're removed from streaming

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Key takeaways

  • Streaming services can remove certain content from their platforms for various reasons.
  • If your favorite movie or TV show has been removed from your current streaming service, you can check it out on alternative platforms.
  • Additionally, there are other ways to watch your favorite content when it has been removed.



Due to complex licensing rights, streaming services regularly remove certain TV shows and movies from their services. However, whenever one of my favorite shows or movies is removed, I still find ways to watch it using one of these four methods.


Find and stream alternative streaming services

A smartphone displaying different logos of the streaming platform
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The first thing I do is check if the show or movie is still available on a different platform. It is currently common for streaming services to pull their original titles from competing platforms and make them exclusive to their own streaming services. For example, Disney has pulled all of its licensed content to third-party platforms like Netflix, but you can still watch it on Disney+ and Hulu.


So, when a title is removed from your current streaming service, please check if it is available on another service. Many streaming services still offer free trials, so you can use this opportunity to find and watch your favorite titles without making a full commitment.

Huge DVD collection in store
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Another alternative method I use to watch my favorite shows purchased DVD or Blu-ray discs. While the technology may seem old-fashioned to some, physical media is still a powerful way to watch content. One reason Physical media is better than streaming because you own your content.


Moreover, this may be the only sure way to watch content when it is no longer offered on any streaming service or old content is not available on streaming platforms. You can purchase physical media for your favorite shows and movies online, on major platforms like Amazon and eBay, or physically at Walmart, Target, and similar places. There are also some specialty stores and platforms that sell physical media exclusively, such as Blu-ray.com, Criterion, and Arrow Video.

3. Buy or rent digitally

Amazon Prime Video home page

Let's say I can't find a title on any actual streaming or media platform. In this case, I look for rental or purchase options. Sometimes, when movies and TV shows are pulled from streaming, they may still be available for individual purchase or rental. In addition, purchasing or renting digitally can be a convenient alternative if you do not have the appropriate hardware to watch physical media (such as a DVD or Blu-ray player).


Platforms like Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play allow you to purchase movies and shows that you can watch across all your devices. If you prefer to rent, check out our list of the best places to rent movies online. Most of the platforms listed offer both options, so you can choose what suits you best. The only limitation is that purchasing or renting can be a bit expensive compared to live streaming. But there are ways to get cheap movie rentals and discounts.

4. Check reruns on cable TV

Someone watches breaking news on cable TV
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As a last resort, I make sure to rerun the show on cable TV when the previous methods are no longer applicable. This may not be the best option, but it works with some older movies and TV shows.


Many networks, especially those that specialize in old shows or classic movies, regularly rebroadcast popular content. Although it may not be as flexible as streaming, cable reruns are still an excellent option for finding content that has disappeared from digital platforms.

There are various reasons why streaming services remove movies and TV shows from their platforms. Although I prefer streaming, because it gives me access to a wide range of content for a small monthly fee, I'm always willing to go the extra mile to watch my favorite content, even if it's pulled from my current streaming service. So, if this happens to you too, these four methods should ensure that you can still watch your favorite movies and TV shows.

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