YouTube TV includes a movies section, but it works differently than a streaming service like Netflix
YouTube TV's movie offering is not a library you can browse and watch whenever you want. Instead, movies appear in the Movies tab as part of your live TV channels—they air on cable movie channels you already have access to through your subscription, like HBO, AMC, or Showtime. You watch them on a schedule, the same way you would watch a movie on traditional cable television.
If you want to watch a specific movie at a specific time, you can search for it in YouTube TV's search bar, see when it airs across your channels, and set a reminder. The movie will record to your library if you have cloud DVR enabled (which comes with most YouTube TV plans), so you can watch it later without ads—though some channels still insert ads even in recorded content.
YouTube TV also lets you rent or buy movies through the YouTube Movies & Shows store, which is separate from your TV subscription. Those purchases appear in your YouTube account and can be watched on demand, but they cost extra and are not included in your YouTube TV membership.
Key Takeaways
- Movies on YouTube TV air on live cable channels like HBO and AMC according to their broadcast schedule, not on demand.
- You can search for a movie title to find when it airs on your channels and set a reminder to watch it.
- Cloud DVR records movies so you can watch them later, though some channels include ads even in recorded programs.
- YouTube TV also offers a separate rental and purchase store where you can buy movies to watch on demand for an additional cost.
- Not all movies are available through YouTube TV channels—availability depends on which cable channels you have in your plan.
How to find a movie on YouTube TV
Open the YouTube TV app or website and tap or click the Search icon at the top. Type the movie title and YouTube TV will show you every channel and time slot where that movie airs in the next two weeks. If the movie is not scheduled to air, the search results will be empty or will show rental options instead.
Once you find a showing, you can tap the movie to see more details: the channel, the air time, the runtime, and a description. From there, you can set a reminder so YouTube TV alerts you before the movie starts, or you can tune in live when it airs.
Using cloud DVR to record movies
Most YouTube TV plans include cloud DVR storage, which means movies that air on your channels are automatically recorded and saved to your library. You do not have to do anything—YouTube TV records them for you. You can then watch the recording whenever you want, as long as you keep your YouTube TV subscription active.
The length of time recordings stay in your library depends on your plan. Standard YouTube TV plans keep recordings for nine months. If you run out of storage space, older recordings are deleted automatically to make room for new ones. You can also manually delete a recording at any time by opening it and selecting the delete option.
Keep in mind that some cable channels insert advertisements into recorded movies even though you recorded them. This is a channel-level restriction, not a YouTube TV limitation, so you will see ads when you play back the recording.
Renting or buying movies through YouTube TV
If a movie is not airing on your channels soon, or if you want to watch it when ready, you can rent or buy it through the YouTube Movies & Shows store. Search for the movie title in YouTube TV, and if a rental or purchase option is available, you will see a price next to it. Tap to rent or buy, and the movie will be added to your YouTube account.
Rental prices vary but typically range from a few dollars to around $6, depending on the movie and how new it is. Rentals usually last 48 hours from the time you start watching. Purchases are permanent and cost more—usually $10 to $20—but you can watch them as many times as you want. Both rentals and purchases are separate charges on top of your YouTube TV subscription.
What channels carry movies on YouTube TV
The movie channels available to you depend on which YouTube TV plan you have. The base plan includes channels like HBO, AMC, Showtime, Starz, and others that air movies regularly. Premium add-on channels like HBO Max, Showtime, and Starz also carry movies, and you can add them to your plan for an extra monthly fee.
Not every movie ever made airs on these channels, and the schedule changes constantly. A movie you want to watch might air next week, or it might not air for months. Checking the search results for your specific movie is the only way to know when—or if—it will air on your channels.
Differences between YouTube TV movies and streaming services
YouTube TV is a live TV service, not a streaming library. The movies section is really just the movie programming that happens to air on the cable channels included in your subscription. You cannot browse a catalog and pick any movie to watch right now the way you can with Netflix or Disney+.
If you want on-demand movie watching, you have two options through YouTube TV: rent or buy individual titles through the YouTube store, or add a premium streaming channel like HBO Max or Showtime as an add-on to your plan. Those add-ons give you access to a full streaming library in addition to the live channel.
Troubleshooting common movie-watching issues
If you search for a movie and see no results, it either is not scheduled to air on your channels in the next two weeks, or it is not available through YouTube TV at all. Check back in a few days—schedules update regularly. You can also check the rental and purchase options to watch it when ready for a fee.
If you set a reminder but missed the movie when it aired, check your cloud DVR library. YouTube TV automatically records most programs on your channels, so the movie should be there waiting for you. If it is not, the channel may have had a scheduling change, or your DVR storage may have been full and the recording was deleted.
If you rented or bought a movie but cannot find it, go to your YouTube account settings and check your Purchases or Rentals section. Movies you buy or rent are tied to your YouTube account, not just YouTube TV, so you can watch them on any device where you are signed into that account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch movies without ads on YouTube TV?
Movies that air live on cable channels include ads—that is how cable television works. If you record the movie with cloud DVR, some channels still insert ads into the recording. If you want to watch a movie without ads, you can rent or buy it through the YouTube store, though that costs extra.
Do I need to pay extra to watch movies on YouTube TV?
Movies that air on the cable channels included in your YouTube TV plan cost nothing extra to watch. If you want to rent or buy a specific movie on demand, or if you want to add a premium streaming channel like HBO Max, those do cost extra.
How long can I keep a recorded movie in my DVR library?
Recordings stay in your library for nine months on most YouTube TV plans, or until your storage fills up and older recordings are automatically deleted. You can manually delete any recording at any time to free up space.
Can I watch YouTube TV movies on my phone or tablet?
Yes, you can watch live movies and your DVR recordings on any device where you have the YouTube TV app or can access the website, as long as you are signed into your YouTube TV account. Rentals and purchases also work across devices.
What if the movie I want is not on YouTube TV?
If a movie does not air on your channels and is not available to rent or buy through YouTube, you can watch it on a different streaming service if you have a subscription, or rent it through another platform like Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV.