Hey there, movie buff! If you work to live but live to watch movies… you have come to the right place. What if we told you that you could turn your hobby into a money-making activity?
You might think we were joking, but it is 100% possible to get paid to watch movies! From side hustles that make a few extra bucks per month to high-paying occupations that could land you in the local news, we’ve got you covered.
In this guide, we’ve rounded up 14 legit ways you can make money watching movies and videos on your own schedule.
How much can you earn watching movies?
It’s hard to say exactly how much money you can make by watching movies because it heavily depends on the approach you take, the platform you use, and the number of movies you watch. But for most side hustlers, it is not unrealistic to make an extra $10 to $200 per month… especially if you stack platforms!
To find a method that works for you and start getting paid to watch movies, simply choose from one of the options below. We have outlined everything from part-time apps to full-time careers in the entertainment industry.
14 best ways to get paid to watch movies
When you have a spare moment, skip scrolling social media. Instead, try one of these fun ways to get paid to watch movies:
1. Watch ads and movie previews on InboxDollars
InboxDollars is one of the most popular reward sites, where you can get paid to take surveys, shop online, or watch movie trailers.
The website pays cash rewards equivalent to about $0.01-$0.04 for each short video playlist you watch. Most playlists are only a few minutes long but they can range up to nearly half an hour. Be aware that to get paid, you must watch the entire playlist.
InboxDollars offers a $5 sign-up bonus and a minimum withdrawal limit of $30. Those who value flexibility may enjoy taking surveys and watching ads in their free time, but for those interested in serious earning opportunities, this site falls a bit short.
2. Sign up for Nielsen’s panel
One of the simplest ways to get paid to watch movies is to sign up for Nielsen’s panel. Nielsen is one of the oldest and most trusted market research providers, specializing in collecting information about media usage patterns.
If you are the kind of person who can’t wait to tell others about your new favorite show, consider Nielsen’s Computer and Mobile plan as a way to do this on autopilot.
All you need to do to start making money is give Nielsen access to your viewing data. The company pays a flat $50 per year to track your watching tendencies, but you can also enter their monthly sweepstakes for a chance to win up to $10,000.
3. Earn reward points with Swagbucks
Swagbucks is another well-regarded reward site, mostly known for its cashback rewards and e-gift cards. You can earn points in a myriad of ways on Swagbucks, including shopping, taking paid surveys, watching movies, and playing fun games.
Once you reach $10 in total earnings, you can cash out with one of 100+ gift card options. One popular advantage of Swagbucks is that you can let videos and ads run in the background. This allows you to earn money almost effortlessly while you go about your day.
4. Movie mystery shopping with Market Force
As a movie mystery shopper, you will visit a theater and then report back on your experience. This usually involves taking a short survey about the quality of the movie, the theater, and the staff. You may also be asked to take photos or videos, count patrons, or answer questions about the movie’s content.
Market Force is one of the most popular mystery shopping companies, and they frequently have movie theater mystery shopper assignments available. To get started, sign up as a certified field associate (CFA). Once onboarded, you will be assigned specific tasks in your local area.
While this is more work than most other websites require, it is a great gig if you love going to the movies. And if you are already a theater checker, you may be able to double-dip and earn extra money on the side while at your day job.
5. Make money as a movie editor
Movie editors are integral to the success of a film. They do everything it takes to transform scenes into the final product you see on the big screen. This includes cutting out irrelevant footage, adding transitions, and piecing together the scenes in a way that makes sense.
While you may not be able to land a job as a movie editor right away, you can start by editing your own movies. This is a great way to get practice and learn the ropes. Once you have a strong portfolio, you can reach out to small production companies and see if they need help.
Yes, you ultimately get paid to watch movies as a movie editor, but you also get an even more critical role behind the scenes.
6. Join focus groups
Movie production studios and other companies are always looking for honest feedback. To be a source of that feedback, consider joining a paid focus group.
After all, first impressions matter in the movie industry. If a trailer gets panned in a focus group, the studio may make changes before it’s released to the general public.
Many websites can connect you with opportunities to join focus groups. Keeping It Reelz is a popular example that offers hundreds of movies and trailers. To get paid, join the platform and review and discuss the movies with other site users. In exchange, you will get reward links from your selected merchants.
7. Work as a movie tagger for streaming platforms
Netflix and Hulu employ people to manually categorize and tag the content that they watch. Sound too good to be true? It’s not!
Taggers are asked to add relevant keywords to everything they watch to help users discover new movies and shows. And Netflix taggers are also required to assign metadata and descriptions using details like the movie’s release date, language, and genre in a database.
If you want to get paid to watch movies, this is an incredible way to make up to $800 per week. Unfortunately, these jobs are hard to come by. So be on the lookout here to catch the next open position.
8. Get paid to watch trailers on AppTrailers
As the name suggests, AppTrailers pays people to watch movie trailers. This is an easy, fun way to make extra cash during your spare time. Movie trailers are typically shorter than five minutes, so you don’t have to invest much of your time to make an extra buck.
To start earning, download the AppTrailers app from the Google Play store and sift through the trailers available. For every trailer you watch, you will earn points that can be redeemed for PayPal cash or gift cards.
With most trailers offering less than 5 points, which equates to half of a cent, your earnings potential is pretty low. But if you’re okay with that, this is an easy way to make a little extra money in your downtime.
9. Sign up for AdWallet
AdWallet works slightly differently from other feedback platforms. Instead of scrolling freely, AdWallet pairs you with products and services that fit your profile. Every time you get a match, the website texts you a link to the short video.
Each video pays from $0.50 to $3.00 and only takes a few minutes to watch. Although you can only watch the number of videos that you are sent, the rate at which you earn is up to 100x higher than sites like InboxDollar and Swagbucks. Plus, you can earn $1 for every friend you refer!
10. Work for Checker Patrol
Checker Patrol helps companies market their products to consumers. Movie studios, for example, may want to know about your local movie theater’s prices or if their posters are on display.
As a Checker, you would visit the specified location and take photos or videos to document what you see. This is a simple way to make extra cash if you like freelance work or visiting the movie theater.
11. Earn rewards on MyPoints
MyPoints is an app where you can get paid to watch movies. To get started, all you have to do is complete a questionnaire and confirm your email address.
On MyPoints, you can earn up to 500 points a day for watching videos online. Points are awarded upon completion of a prepared playlist of videos. And once you’ve accumulated enough points, there are three ways to get paid: PayPal, gift cards, or shopping vouchers.
12. Make money captioning movies
As movie and video platforms continue to make their content available to hearing-challenged people, transcription jobs are becoming more and more common. As a transcriptionist or a closed captioner, you are tasked with writing captions for movies, videos, and ads.
If you know you have what it takes to transcribe audio accurately, it’s relatively easy to land a transcription gig. Depending on your employer and experience level, you could make anywhere from $10 to $75 per hour.
13. Write movie reviews
Movie reviewers get paid to watch movies and share their opinions publicly. What a dream! To be a good movie critic, you must be a strong writer, have a close eye for detail, and be able to succinctly articulate your thoughts and feelings about a movie.
Consistency is key if you want to make a name for yourself as a movie reviewer. But if your goal is to make money watching movies, there may be no better way.
14. Launch a YouTube channel
If you like the idea of becoming a movie critic, consider putting a modern spin on it by creating a YouTube channel. Not only will you get paid to watch movies, but you will also have the chance to hone your own creative process.
To get started, all you need is a camera and an opinion. As you build an engaged audience and a personal brand, you can strike partnership deals, put ads on your videos, and more. Although it can take years to monetize a YouTube channel, your potential earning power is almost limitless.
Other easy ways to make money
If you’re looking for other ways to turn your downtime into spare cash, consider the following options:
Chat with people online
Many people don’t have anyone to talk to on a regular basis. If you’re a good listener and can engage in conversation, you can make money by chatting with lonely people online. Not only will you be providing them with companionship, but you can also earn up to $30 per hour! From text messaging to phone calls or video chat, there are a variety of ways (and platforms) to chat and earn.
Record audiobooks on Audible
Audible is an Amazon-owned platform that offers audiobooks, original content, and other audio products. Authors looking to have their books turned into audiobooks often turn to Audible’s ACX platform to find narrators. If you have a great voice and think you can commit to reading an entire book, you could make a lot of money recording audiobooks!
Offer house-sitting services
Working as a house-sitter is one of the easiest ways to make money on the side. Your job is to look after a house while the owners are away 一 watering plants, keeping an eye on the pets, and picking up mail.
This is a great earning opportunity, especially because you can still do other side hustles while house-sitting. You can get paid to watch movies or take on transcription gigs in between check-ins or while visiting with pets.
Rent out space with Airbnb
Airbnb is a great way to supplement your income, provided you have the space to rent. But remember that Airbnb doesn’t require an entire house! You can rent out a single room, an RV, or even the garage for extra money. During peak seasons, Airbnb has become a tremendous opportunity to cash in on any spare rooms you may have.
Related reading: How To Create A Money Mindset That Manifests Wealth
Final thoughts
If you want to earn extra income without breaking a sweat, you can always get paid to watch movies and videos. And with so many opportunities available, there’s no excuse not to give it a try!
Take advantage of platforms like Neilsen and Swagbucks to earn rewards just for watching short advertisements. It might only add an extra $100 to your monthly income, but why not get paid to do what you love?
For those looking for more long-term opportunities, consider becoming a movie reviewer or a closed captioner. These positions offer consistent income and often come with other great benefits like early access to new movies!
So what are you waiting for? There’s no time like the present to get paid for watching movies.
Get paid to watch movies FAQs
To make money by watching videos, sign up for sites like Swagbucks, MyPoints, and AppTrailers. These platforms will pay you to watch movie previews and video ads, take surveys, and play fun games.
You can make money watching movies on InboxDollars, Swagbucks, or Neilsen. To can also watch movie previews, tutorials, or ads on AppTrailers for extra cash.
You can make money by watching Netflix if you are hired as a Netflix Tagger. Taggers are paid $25 to $30 per hour to watch and categorize movies for other viewers. A Netflix tagger is intended to improve the search experience for the entire platform.
Currently, Netflix has only about 40 taggers and they are not taking any more applications. But you can keep an eye on their job board for new openings.
