Get more artistry out of your movie streaming through MUBI

While there are quite a few streaming platforms available to Australian viewers, a particular one stands out for followers and connoisseurs of independent cinema, and it’s called MUBI.

What makes MUBI different from Netflix, Stan, or Disney+ is that it behaves more like a digital cinematheque than a mass-market streamer; curated by humans rather than algorithms.

Indeed, MUBI is respected for its editorial programming rather than “because you watched…” recommendations., and its library reads more like a film festival or arthouse cinema season. You often get themed collections, director retrospectives, Cannes selections, or even restorations of classic films.

The Australian catalogue differs from other countries, featuring strong European and Asian cinema selections, and the occasional gritty Australian classic. MUBI is also starting to score exclusives, first kicked off with the biopic Priscilla a couple of years ago, and hoping to continue with the exclusives in 2026 and beyond.

MUBI acquired Sofia Coppola’s ‘Priscilla’ in a multi-territory deal in 2024.

Highlights for us this month include the film The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo directed by Diego Céspedes which mixes magic, realism, queer identity, and political themes, and a fab Spike Lee double feature of Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X.

Also on our must-see list is ‘Mitski: The Land’, an atmospheric take (rather than just standard live recording) of performances by Japanese American music artist, Mitski. This feature is more cinematic and intimate rather than your typcial concert tour. If you’ve seen and liked Charli XCX’s ‘The Moment’, you’ll like this – of course with less hype and more artistry involved.

If you’re new to MUBI and would like a taste of its variety, try this handful of cool, arty films: Portrait of a Lady on Fire; Paris, Texas; Do the Right Thing; The Neon Demon; Petite Maman – all these films being bold in a visual and narrative sense, and wonderfully auteur-driven.

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