Movies Anywhere is the latest service to add a display party feature

Movies Anywhere is launching a new “Watch Together” party feature for its movie blocking apps, which allows multiple users to sync and enjoy a movie together.

While the current COVID-19 pandemic has seen an increase in the display of party apps for streaming services (both third-party and official), the Movies Anywhere version differs by allowing you to watch movies you’ve purchased, rather than limiting it to streaming catalogs so that you have subscriptions (something that can change from day to day). Also, Movies Anywhere’s Watch Together feature works on both your mobile and desktop apps, which is rare for most viewing party services.

Setting it up is simple: The host sends a six-digit invitation code, which guests can use to enter the page for the movie in question in the Movies Anywhere app. There are no chat features or video conferencing overlays, just simple emoji reactions and the option to request the host pause or go back.

There are, of course, a few caveats: Everyone who wants to join must have access to the movie at Movies Anywhere, which means everyone must own the movie in question or receive a copy with the company’s Screen Pass feature. Also, the movie should be on Movies Anywhere, which still lacks Lionsgate, MGM, and Paramount movies, along with other smaller studios.

Watch Together supports up to ten viewers at a time, though that number will be hard to reach as Movies Anywhere requires everyone to own one copy and can only borrow three copies of a movie with Screen Pass at a time. The new feature is now available through the Movies Anywhere website and apps.