In today’s digital age, watching movies has become an integral part of our entertainment routine. Whether it’s the latest blockbuster, a classic film, or a beloved TV show, having a reliable and feature-rich video player can significantly enhance the movie-watching experience. A top-tier video player should not only support various file formats but also offer smooth playback, subtitle support, customizable settings, and easy navigation.
With an abundance of video players available, each boasting unique features, it can be challenging to choose the perfect one. To make your decision easier, here are some of the best video players for watching movies, each excelling in its own right. In this guide, I’ll discuss some of the most popular video players and provide an overview of their key features, usability, and platform compatibility. Please note that the order in which these video players are presented does not imply any ranking. Let’s dive in.
Best Media Players for Watching Movies in 2024
Here is the list of the top 7 video players that we have selected for watching movies after putting in lots of effort & testing. The good thing is that the research is done in 2024. So, you will get the latest ones available in 2024. So, without any further delay, let’s get started!
1VLC Media Player
VLC Media Player is a widely acclaimed, free, and open-source media player that has gained a strong reputation for its versatility and compatibility. It supports an extensive range of video and audio formats, including popular ones like MP4, MKV, AVI, and more.
The VLC player further offers a user-friendly interface with straightforward controls and an intuitive playlist manager. It also includes advanced features like subtitle synchronization, video filters, and the ability to play damaged or incomplete video files. VLC is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and even mobile platforms like Android and iOS.
It includes a wide range of advanced features and customization options. You can adjust video and audio settings, apply filters, and even synchronize subtitles with the video. It supports multi-track audio and subtitles, allowing you to choose the preferred language or subtitle track. VLC also offers playback speed control, frame-by-frame advancement, and the ability to take screenshots during playback.
Overall, VLC Media Player offers a powerful, feature-rich, and user-friendly experience for watching movies on your laptop. It’s extensive format compatibility and advanced features make it a go-to choice for many users.
2KMPlayer
KMPlayer is a versatile media player that combines a user-friendly interface with a vast array of features. It supports a wide range of formats and codecs, including 3D and UHD video playback, and other popular ones like MP4, AVI, MKV, FLV, WMV, and more. It also adds various subtitle formats, allowing you to easily add subtitles to your movies.
KMPlayer provides various playback options, such as adjustable playback speed, audio and video effects, and customizable subtitle settings. Additionally, it offers additional features like screen capture, DVD playback, and streaming content from online platforms. As far as advanced features are concerned, the KMPlayer includes advanced features such as audio and video effects, equalizer settings, and 3D video playback.
It supports playback speed control, frame capturing, and screen capture functionalities. KMPlayer also provides options for video rotation, aspect ratio adjustment, and video bookmarking. KMPlayer is available for Windows, macOS, and mobile platforms.
Overall, KMPlayer provides a feature-rich media player experience with wide format compatibility, customizable options, and advanced features. Whether you’re watching movies in various formats or looking for additional functionalities, KMPlayer offers a robust solution for enjoying your movie collection on your laptop.
3GOM Player
GOM Player is a popular media player that offers a user-friendly interface and a wide range of features. It supports various video and audio formats, including popular ones like MP4, AVI, and MKV. GOM Player provides smooth playback and includes features like subtitle support, screen capture, and video playback customization options. It also offers advanced features like 360-degree VR video playback and the ability to search and play YouTube videos directly within the player.
The good thing is that it includes a built-in Codec Finder feature that automatically searches and downloads missing codecs for specific video formats. This helps ensure smooth playback for files that may require additional codecs. It further provides access to online content through its integrated GOM Picker feature. You can search and stream videos directly from popular online platforms such as YouTube, Dailymotion, and more, without leaving the player.
Whether you’re watching movies in different formats or looking for advanced playback options, GOM Player offers a feature-rich media player experience for your laptop. As far as availability is concerned, GOM Player is available for multiple platforms, including Windows and macOS. This cross-platform compatibility allows you to enjoy your movies on different devices.
4DivX Player
DivX Player is designed to provide excellent video quality with support for high-definition (HD) and Ultra HD (4K) resolutions. It utilizes the DivX codec, which delivers efficient video compression while maintaining visual fidelity. It also supports a wide range of video formats, including popular ones like AVI, MP4, MKV, and DivX. It also supports various audio formats, allowing you to enjoy movies with different audio tracks and codecs.
DivX Player integrates with the DivX Media Server, which allows you to stream movies and media files from your computer to compatible devices, such as smart TVs, game consoles, and mobile devices. This feature enables you to enjoy your movies on different screens within your home network.
It has advanced playback controls, including fast forward, rewind, and frame-by-frame navigation. You can also adjust the playback speed to suit your preferences and quickly jump to specific scenes using the chapter navigation feature. DivX Player supports chapter points, allowing you to navigate through movies using predefined chapter markers. It also provides a scene selection feature, enabling you to quickly jump to specific scenes within a movie.
Other enhancement features include brightness, contrast, and audio equalization settings. It also provides the ability to create and stream DivX videos, as well as perform screen mirroring for compatible devices. Just like other listed players, it is available for both Windows and macOS, allowing you to enjoy your movies on different operating systems.
5Windows Movies & TV/Media Player (Windows)
If you are using a Windows laptop, you have the option to use the default Windows Movies & TV app (Windows 10 and above) or Windows Media Player (Windows 7 and earlier). These built-in players are lightweight and offer basic playback functionality. They support a range of video formats and include features like subtitle support, playback controls, and playlist management.
While they may not have all the advanced features of third-party players, they can be a convenient choice if you prefer simplicity and integration with the Windows operating system. However, the built-in player is not highly preferable because of often crashes, but still, you can play movies using an internal player if you don’t want to use third-party apps.
6QuickTime Player (macOS, Pre-installed)
For macOS users, QuickTime Player is the default media player that comes pre-installed. It supports various video and audio formats and offers basic playback functionality. While it may lack some advanced features found in other media players, it provides a seamless experience within the macOS ecosystem. You can load subtitle files in various formats and adjust settings like font, size, and synchronization to match the movie’s dialogue.
QuickTime Player delivers high-quality video playback with support for HD and 4K resolutions. It utilizes hardware acceleration to ensure smooth playback even for large or high-resolution video files. It arrives with a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate. All the playback controls are available, including play, pause, rewind, and fast forward, which are easily accessible from the player’s interface.
Moreover, You can export videos in different formats or directly upload them to social media platforms like YouTube or Vimeo from within the player. QuickTime Player supports AirPlay, allowing you to stream movies wirelessly to compatible devices such as Apple TV. You can also use QuickTime Player for screen mirroring, displaying your Mac’s screen on a larger display.
Subsequently, it integrates well with other macOS applications. For example, you can directly import and edit videos from your iPhone using QuickTime Player, thanks to its integration with the Photos app. Overall, it delivers a convenient and user-friendly media player experience for macOS users. Its format compatibility, high-quality playback, editing capabilities, and screen recording feature make it a reliable choice for watching movies and performing basic video-related tasks on your Mac.
7MPC-HC (Optional for Windows)
MPC-HC is a lightweight, yet powerful, media player that focuses on delivering high-quality video playback. It boasts low system requirements while providing excellent performance and compatibility with a wide range of formats. MPC-HC has a clean and customizable interface, allowing users to tailor their viewing experience. It supports a broad range of video and audio formats, including popular ones like MP4, MKV, AVI, MPEG, WMV, and more. It also supports various subtitle formats, allowing you to easily add and customize subtitles while watching movies.
You can adjust video and audio settings, apply filters, and enhance the viewing experience. It supports playback speed control, frame stepping, and A-B repeat, allowing you to closely examine scenes or repeat specific sections. MPC-HC offers additional features like customizable shaders for video enhancement, extensive subtitle options including subtitle synchronization, and configurable keyboard shortcuts. It also provides options for audio and video synchronization adjustments, so you can fine-tune the playback.
Apart from that, MPC-HC is an open-source project, which means it is free to download, use, and modify. The open-source nature allows for ongoing development, bug fixes, and improvements based on community feedback. It’s important to note that MPC-HC is exclusively available for Windows. If you are using a Windows laptop, MPC-HC provides a lightweight and feature-rich media player specifically tailored for the Windows operating system.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are these video players free to use?
Yes, all the mentioned video players are free to download and use. They are open-source or freeware options, offering powerful features without any cost.
Do these video players support subtitles?
Yes, these video players have subtitle support. You can load subtitle files in various formats and customize subtitle settings such as font, size, and synchronization.
What are the best Media players for macOS?
VLC Media Player and GOM Player have versions available for macOS. Additionally, macOS comes with its default video player, QuickTime Player, which offers features for watching movies on Mac.
Can I use these video players on mobile devices?
VLC Media Player has versions available for both Android and iOS, allowing you to watch movies on your mobile devices. Some other players, like KMPlayer, also have mobile versions for Android.
Important Tips to Watch Movies on a Laptop or Desktop PC
Before diving into the media players list, here are some important tips for watching movies on your laptop or PC:
- Ensure you have a movie file: Obtain the movie file you want to watch. This could be a downloaded movie file or a DVD/Blu-ray disc that you want to play on your laptop. If you have a physical disc, you may need an external DVD/Blu-ray drive.
- Check the file format: Make sure your laptop supports the file format of the movie. Most laptops can handle common formats like MP4, AVI, MKV, and MOV. If your movie is in an unsupported format, you may need to convert it using a video conversion tool.
- Install a video player: If your laptop doesn’t come with a pre-installed media player, you’ll need to install one. Popular video player options include VLC Media Player, MPC-HC (Media Player Classic – Home Cinema), KMPlayer, GOM Player, DivX Player, and QuickTime Player (for macOS). Choose a player based on your operating system and personal preferences.
- Open the video player: Launch the video player you have installed on your laptop.
- Open the movie file: In the video player, navigate to the “Open” or “Open File” options. Browse your computer’s file system to locate the movie file you want to watch, and then select it to open.
- Enjoy the movie: Once the movie file is opened, the video player will start playing the movie. Use the playback controls provided by the player to adjust volume, play/pause, skip scenes, or rewind as needed. You can usually find these controls on the player’s interface or through keyboard shortcuts.
- Connect to a larger display: If you prefer a bigger screen, you can connect your laptop to a TV or external monitor using an HDMI cable or wireless screen mirroring technologies like Miracast or Apple AirPlay.
- Connect external speakers or headphones: For an enhanced audio experience, you can connect external speakers or headphones to your laptop’s audio output jack or via Bluetooth.
Disclaimer: Remember to respect copyright laws and only watch movies that you have legal access to or have obtained through legitimate means.
The verdict
In conclusion, selecting the best video player for watching movies depends on individual preferences and the platform you use. The aforementioned players, VLC Media Player, MPC-HC, PotPlayer, MPV, and Kodi, are among the finest choices available, each offering unique features to cater to different user needs.
Whether you prioritize versatility, simplicity, or an all-in-one media center, these video players will undoubtedly enrich your movie-watching experience and provide countless hours of entertainment. If you have anything else to ask? Please do let’s know in the below comment section!