If you're looking for a satisfying horror thriller to kick off spooky season a bit early, look no further than the latest Shyamalan blockbuster The Watchers. The movie was produced by M. Night Shyamalan and written and directed by Ishana Night Shyamalan (the famous director's 25-year-old daughter) in her directorial debut.
The Watchers is "a hell of a scary good time," according to Mashable's film editor Kristy Puchko. Dakota Fanning leads a strong ensemble alongside Georgina Campbell, Oliver Finnegan, and Olwen Fouéré. And as of Aug. 30, it's officially streaming.
Here's everything you need to know about how to watch The Watchers at home — including some of the best streaming deals that might let you catch the flick for free.
What is The Watchers about?
Based on the novel of the same name written by A.M. Shine, The Watchers follows a young artist named Mina (Fanning), whose life is derailed when she ends up stranded in a vast forest in western Ireland. When she finds shelter in a bunker alongside three strangers (played by Barbarian's Campbell, Outlander's Finnegan, and The Northman's Fouéré), she unknowingly becomes a captive performer for unseen creatures — aka the watchers. No one knows who they are, what they look like, or what they want. All that is known is they do not want their performers breaking out.
Judging by the trailer alone, viewers are in for a spooky atmosphere and plenty of jump scares:
Is The Watchers worth watching?
The Watchers didn't dominate at the box office, but it didn't completely bomb either, grossing just shy of $33 million globally. Against a $30 million budget, according to The Numbers, it at least broke even. Box office numbers don't always tell the whole story, though.
The film also received largely negative reviews from critics, earning a sad 32 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Mashable's own film critic, however, had mostly positive things to say about Ishana Night Shyamalan's directorial debut.
"Admittedly, the final act loses momentum in its eagerness to explain all the finer points of the movie's lore...Still, The Watchers is a sharply satisfying horror thriller thanks to a crackling cast, unnerving sound design, stomach-churning creatures, and an emotional story that offers far more than cheap thrills."
Audiences are torn, with the Rotten Tomatoes score currently hovering slightly above the 50 percent mark. In other words, you may hate it or you may love it — but it's worth watching to find out.
Read our full review of The Watchers.
How to watch The Watchers at home
Less than a month after its theatrical debut, The Watchers became available to watch at home via video-on-demand sites like Prime Video and Fandango at Home (Vudu). You can purchase the film for your digital collection or rent it for 30 days. Within those 30 days, you'll have just 48 hours to finish the film once you start watching. After that, you'll lose access.
As of June 28, you can purchase and rent the film at the following retailers:
Prime Video — buy for $18.49, rent for $4.49
Apple TV — buy for $19.99, rent for $5.99
Fandango at Home (Vudu) — buy for $19.99, rent for $5.99
YouTube — buy for $19.99, rent for $5.99
Is The Watchers streaming?
As a Warner Bros. film, The Watchers made its streaming debut on Max starting Aug. 30 — joining the likes of other recent theatrical releases such as Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Civil War, and Dune: Part Two. Max subscriptions start at $9.99 per month, but we've rounded up a few ways you can save some money on your plan below.
Best Max streaming deals to watch The Watchers
Best Max streaming deal for most people: Save 17% on Max with ads annual subscription
While a monthly Max subscription would run you $9.99 per month with ads, you can save 17% (or $1.66 per month) by paying upfront for a year. An annual plan with ads goes for $99.99 per year, which breaks down to just $8.33 per month. If you're in it for the long haul, you might as well keep more money in your pocket.
Best Max deal with no ads: Save 22% on a Max Ad-Free annual subscription
If you'd rather not have ads interrupting your viewing experience, you have two options: Max Ad-Free and Max Ultimate. You can opt for an annual Max Ad-Free or Max Ultimate subscription and save 17% compared to a monthly subscription. The Ad-Free tier is $16.99 per month, while the Ultimate tier is $20.99 per month. With a yearly plan, however, those prices drop to just $14.17 per month ($169.99 per year) or $17.49 per month ($209.99 per year).
Note: While both tiers offer an ad-free viewing experience, the Ultimate tier takes things a step further with 4K Ultra HD video quality and Dolby Atmos immersive audio.
Best way to get Max for free: Sign up for a DashPass annual plan
Earlier this month, DoorDash partnered with Max to offer those on the annual DashPass plan free Max with ads subscriptions. If you're already on an annual DashPass plan, head over to the "Manage Max Subscription" page in your DoorDash account to activate your free subscription. If not, you can sign up for the DashPass annual plan for just $96 per year ($8 per month) and unlock access to the streaming library for free. That's a $99.99 value for zero dollars. Plus, with your DashPass plan, you'll also have access to free food delivery.
Read more about terms and eligibility requirements on the DoorDash FAQ page.
Another way to get Max for free: Free Max with ads for customers on the $60/month Cricket unlimited plan
If you're a Cricket Wireless customer on the $60 per month unlimited plan, you can also get Max with ads for free, so long as your account remains in good standing. Just head over to Max and select Cricket as your provider to log in. You'll be able to watch The Watchers and plenty of other Warner Bros. releases at no extra cost. Check out the terms and conditions on Cricket's website to learn more.
Best Max deal for students: Save 50% on Max with ads monthly for one year
College students can score half-priced Max subscriptions (with ads) for an entire year with Max's new student discount. That means you'll pay only $4.99 per month instead of the usual $9.99. Just verify your student status with UNiDAYS, then head back over to Max and redeem your unique discount code to stream for 50% off.
Best bundle deal: Get Max, Disney+, and Hulu for up to 38% off
Last month, a new bundle deal emerged, offering streamers access to three top apps for one low price. This new deal includes Max, Disney+, and Hulu with ads for just $16.99 per month (reg. $25.97) or ad-free for $29.99 per month (reg. $48.97) — that's up to 38% in savings. Obviously, this isn't the cheapest option overall for watching The Watchers, but it will definitely get you the most bang for your buck in the streaming world.
Topics HBO Streaming How to Watch
