The magic of movies has captivated audiences for over a century, but now, thanks to the wonders of virtual reality, that magic is being taken to a whole new level. With the Meta Quest 3 (and Quest 2), you have the unique opportunity to watch movies in an immersive environment, blurring the lines between cinema and reality.
That’s right. In VR, you get to own your very own cinema and watch anything you want on it – even 3D movies!
You get to invite anyone over, or join a lobby and watch movies with strangers. It can be a great way to socialize and meet new friends.
Can You Watch Movies on an Oculus Quest 3?
You absolutely can! The Oculus Quest 3 is primarily known for its cutting-edge gaming capabilities, but it also offers a fantastic platform for watching movies.
In fact, the Quest 3 is one of the best headsets for watching movies! That’s as long as you get these comfort mods, which eliminates 100% of the discomfort, because you’ll be wearing the headset for a while.
Here’s how to watch movies on your Meta Quest 3:
Method 1: Using Skybox (Paid)
While not entirely new to the VR scene, Skybox is new to me.
It’s a solid app with plenty of great features, such as:
- Easy to set up and play.
- Accesses your home network for media viewing.
- Clean, crisp UI
- Plenty of viewing options for different VR modes, 180 and 360 videos too.
The main downside of Skybox is it’s not a streaming service and requires you to have local files to watch anything.
Step 1: Download the Skybox App on your Computer
You can pick up the Skybox app on the Quest store here for $9.99, which you’ll need to do anything, of course. Once you’ve installed it on your headset, go ahead and pick up the PC or Mac client to set up local streaming.
Step 2: Set up wireless streaming
Once you’ve installed the Skybox software, getting started is pretty simple. All you need after that is to add your media folders to the Skybox desktop software and open the app in your headset.
After you’ve opened the app, click ‘AirScreen’ and ‘Search Device’ to pick your PC and appropriate media. Once you’ve gotten that done, you’re free to enjoy your movies!
Verdict: For those who want an ultra convenient, simple experience (and have the media files to support it), Skybox is an excellent solution for watching movies on your Quest 3. But for me (and most people who rely on streaming services), you’ll want to look elsewhere.
Method 2: BigScreen VR (Free)
One of the ‘bigger’ names for VR media consumption (hah, get it?), BigScreenVR offers a massive swath of options for your movie needs.
Whether you want to watch YouTube, local media, or just browse your desktop wherever BigScreenVR covers it. They also offer movie rentals, streaming TV (for a small number of ‘channels’ and the most essential aspect: Public Lobbies.
Sure, you can watch a movie alone. But who doesn’t want to watch stuff with your friends? Or the authentic movie theater experience with popcorn and soft giggles? BigScreen offers both, with a grand lobby system so you can host private screenings or jump into some definitely legally acquired movies and shows run by other people.
Step 1: Getting Started
While BigScreenVR offers both a Steam version and a Quest version, I’ll just be going over the Quest version in this article.
You can download the BigScreenVR app here and the remote desktop software here since you’ll need both for the best experience. You’ll also want to create an account with BigScreen to access some of the social features and movie rentals. It isn’t mandatory but suggested.
Once you’ve got them installed, go ahead and fire up the app on your headset and jump in!
Step 2: Watching Stuff
In the app, you’ll see a LOT of options to choose from. If you’ve got the remote desktop installed on your PC, you can click the blue Remote Desktop button to access your PC and load up non-VR PC games, open streaming services, and whatever else you want.
For those who are looking to be a bit more social (or just want to watch something else), you can click the Social tab under the menu to open up the social menu.
Here, you’ll be able to host or join other lobbies to watch media, hang out, or more!
Verdict: Overall, if you’re looking for an excellent free way to watch stuff on your PC or hang out with friends (or both), Bigscreen is a great option. It has the most social features by far, a ton of environments to choose from, and it’s simple to get set up. This has been and will be my go-to for being social and watching movies.
Method 3: Virtual Desktop (Paid)
Winston may stan Skybox hard, but Virtual Desktop is the one piece of software I think every Quest 3 owner needs. Not only can it connect to your PC to play games, but it also allows you to watch movies and streaming services on your PC with zero lag.
In fact, the software is so simple that I don’t even need to tell you how to set it up. Buy it on your Quest headset and the PC component here, and you’re all set. There are no complex menus, just you and your desktop.
While it may seem simple, Virtual Desktop offers the most bang for your buck just because of how smooth the software is and the ability to play PCVR on your Quest 3.
Verdict: Out of the three options, Virtual Desktop probably offers the most features, mainly because media consumption is an afterthought here, in exchange for a great remote desktop app for PCVR. However, you will probably have a bad time if you don’t have a PC and can’t meet their strict requirements for seamless play.
Method 4: Streaming Services
A few popular streaming services offer their own apps with mixed quality. I haven’t tried them all, but you might find more success with some than others if you don’t want to try one of the remote desktop options.
Netflix, YouTube, Sling, Amazon Prime Video, and Showtime all offer their own standalone Quest apps that you can try out. From my personal experience, both Netflix and YouTube felt lacking as a VR app, but you may have lower standards than I do.
Verdict: These can work if you absolutely can’t use the other methods to watch movies on your headset. However, they should be best used as a last resort, if anything.
How To Watch 3D Movies on Your Meta Quest 2
One of the neat things that VR offers you is the ability to watch 3D movies! You can ditch the glasses and experience them in your headset with minimal effort!
All three of our options listed today offer the ability to watch 3D movies. All you need to do is change the settings in your respective option.
How to Watch 3D Movies on Bigscreen VR
- Open the Bigscreen VR app and choose a movie room.
- Select the movie you want to watch, ensuring it’s a 3D version.
- In the settings menu, select the 3D mode (side-by-side or over-under, depending on the movie format).
- Adjust the screen size and position to your preference and enjoy your 3D movie experience.
How to Watch 3D Movies on Skybox VR
- Launch the Skybox VR app and navigate to your movie library.
- Choose a 3D movie you want to watch (make sure it’s in either Side-by-Side or Over-Under format).
- Click on the settings icon and select the appropriate 3D format (Side-by-Side or Over-Under).
- Customize your viewing environment and adjust the screen size to your liking, then sit back and enjoy the immersive 3D experience.
