Amazon Prime Video is a wonderful way to watch movies, particularly because of just how large their catalog is.
If you’re watching a movie for the first time and you’re not sure how much you’ll like it, it makes sense to rent it rather than to buy it completely. Renting movies on Amazon is quite cheap, and comes in at only a few dollars.
But can you watch a rented movie on Amazon more than once, and are there any other restrictions you need to know about?
In this article, we’ll cover everything that you need to know!
How Many Times Can You Watch A Rented Movie On Amazon?
You can watch a rented Amazon movie as many times as you want throughout the duration of your rental period. There are no limitations as to how many times you can view a film, as long as its within the rental period for the movie.
For most movies, the rental period is 48 to 72 hours from the first time the movie is started.
So, if you’re the type of person that likes to watch movies several times in a short period, or there’s someone else in your household that missed the first viewing, you don’t need to worry.
Until the rental period expires, you’re free to watch it over and over again.
How Many Devices Can You Watch Rented Amazon Movies On?
There are no limitations to the number of different devices you can watch Amazon movie rentals on.
You are free to start the film on one device, and continue watching it on another. Additionally, you’re able to watch through the movie fully on as many devices as you’d like, as long as you’re still within the rental period for the movie.
If you’re going to use multiple devices (such as a Smart TV, a tablet or a phone) to watch the film, you’ll want to make sure that you’re signed into the same Amazon account that the movie was originally rented on.
This will ensure that you aren’t charged again.
Remember this – Amazon movie rentals are tied to your Amazon account, not your device. This means that as long as you use the same Amazon account, you won’t be charged extra for watching the movie on different devices.
Can You Watch Amazon Movie Rentals Offline?
Let’s say that you rented an Amazon movie, but you won’t have an internet connection to actually stream it. Is there any way that the movie can be downloaded, so it can be viewed offline?
Fortunately, the answer is yes. Most Amazon movie rentals can be downloaded to your device by clicking the download button on the movie rental page.
This is perfect if you want to pick out a great movie to watch on a flight, or you’re going on a road trip with your kids and want to bring along some of their favorite movies to watch on an iPad.
It should be noted however that downloaded movies can take up a lot of space. So, you should ensure that your device has adequate free space to download the movie you plan on renting.
Once the rental period expires, the movie will be automatically removed from your device, freeing up the space that it took.
Note that movie rentals cannot be downloaded to computers. Presumably, this is to prevent any sort of piracy or theft from occurring. However, movies can be downloaded to smartphones and tablets with ease.
How Long Do Amazon Movie Rentals Last?
When you rent a movie from Amazon Prime Video, you’re required to start it within 30 days, otherwise you risk losing it. Note that you may be able to receive a refund for rented movies as long as you have not attempted to watch it, even partially.
Once a movie has been rented, you’re usually able to watch it an unlimited number of times, up to 48 hours after the first viewing has started. However, some movies have longer rent times, potentially up to 72 hours.
It’s generally a good idea to wait until you’re about to watch a movie to rent it, then start watching it shortly after you’re charged.
This way, you’ll ensure that you’ll have ample time to view the movie in its entirety, without running the risk of the rental period expiring.
If you want to add a movie to your library permanently, you’ll also be able to buy it on the same page that you rent it from.
However, buying a movie permanently is much more expensive. While rentals typically run for around $4-6, buying a movie on Amazon Prime Video can run you $15-20.
Therefore, you’ll want to realistically ask yourself how many times you plan to watch the movie, to better determine what choice will save money in the long run.
Do You Need To Be An Amazon Prime Member To Rent Movies?
No. You do not need to be a member of Amazon Prime in order to rent or purchase movies on Amazon.
However, one of the benefits of Amazon Prime is that you have the ability to stream over 24,000 movies for free, without paying any additional rental fees.
Movies eligible for free streaming with Amazon Prime are marked with the ‘Prime’ symbol while browsing through the Amazon Prime Video catalog.
If you happen to watch a lot of movies, this benefit can pay for the cost of Amazon Prime alone.
For most people however, it is simply another perk in addition to the shipping benefits on Amazon store items.
Conclusion
Once you rent a movie on Amazon, you are able to watch it as many times as you’d like within the rental period.
For most movies, this lasts between 48 and 72 hours after the first viewing has started.
I hope that you’ve found this article helpful. If you have any questions about renting movies on Amazon, please feel free to ask using the comment form below.
Thank you for reading, and enjoy your movie!
– James McAllister