Watching movies on Ubuntu is remarkably straightforward, thanks to its inherent support for a wide array of media formats and the availability of several excellent media players. You can watch movies by installing a media player like VLC or MPV, ensuring the necessary codecs are installed, and then simply opening your movie file within the chosen player.
Choosing the Right Media Player
Ubuntu comes pre-installed with a basic media player, but for optimal performance and format compatibility, you’ll want to consider upgrading to a more robust solution. Several excellent options are readily available via the Ubuntu Software Center or the command line.
VLC Media Player: The Universal Choice
VLC Media Player is arguably the most popular and versatile option. Its broad codec support, intuitive interface, and cross-platform compatibility make it a winner. It can handle virtually any movie file you throw at it, including DVDs, Blu-rays (with the correct library installed), and streaming media. Installing it is as simple as running:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install vlc
in your terminal.
MPV: The Power User’s Dream
MPV is a powerful, command-line-driven media player prized for its exceptional playback quality and advanced customization options. While it lacks a traditional GUI by default, it can be configured with a front-end interface for easier use. MPV excels at hardware acceleration, providing smoother playback even on less powerful hardware. To install:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install mpv
Other Notable Options
While VLC and MPV are the frontrunners, other media players like SMPlayer (a GUI front-end for MPlayer, similar to MPV), GNOME Videos (also known as Totem, Ubuntu’s default player), and Celluloid (a GTK front-end for MPV) can also handle movie playback on Ubuntu. Explore these options to find the one that best suits your preferences.
Installing Necessary Codecs
While VLC and MPV come with a wide range of built-in codecs, some less common formats might require additional codecs to be installed. Ubuntu’s “restricted extras” package conveniently includes these frequently needed codecs.
Installing Ubuntu Restricted Extras
The ubuntu-restricted-extras package includes codecs for playing popular media formats, Flash support, and other useful components. To install it, run:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install ubuntu-restricted-extras
Accept the licensing terms during the installation process. This package significantly expands the range of video formats your system can handle.
Specific Codec Installation (Advanced)
In rare cases, you might encounter a video format that even ubuntu-restricted-extras doesn’t cover. In such scenarios, you can identify the missing codec using the error messages displayed by your media player and install it manually. This typically involves searching for the codec package name using apt and installing it. For example, if you’re missing a specific x265 codec, you might try:
sudo apt search x265
sudo apt install libx265-dev
(Note that libx265-dev is an example and the specific package name may vary).
Playing Movies: The Basics
Once you’ve chosen your media player and installed the necessary codecs, playing movies on Ubuntu is a breeze.
Opening Files Directly
Most media players allow you to open movie files directly through their GUI. Simply launch the player, navigate to “File” -> “Open File,” and select the movie you want to watch.
Using the Command Line
MPV shines when used from the command line. To play a movie, simply open a terminal and type:
mpv /path/to/your/movie.mp4
Replace /path/to/your/movie.mp4 with the actual path to your movie file.
Drag and Drop
Many media players also support drag-and-drop functionality. Simply drag the movie file from your file manager (e.g., Nautilus) onto the player window to start playback.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Despite Ubuntu’s generally excellent media playback capabilities, you might occasionally encounter issues. Here’s how to address some common problems.
No Sound
If you’re experiencing video playback but no sound, ensure that your audio output is properly configured in your system settings. Also, check the media player’s audio settings to verify that the correct audio device is selected and that the volume is not muted.
Choppy Playback
Choppy playback can be caused by insufficient hardware acceleration or a lack of processing power. Try using MPV, which is optimized for hardware acceleration, or reducing the video resolution to see if it improves performance. Closing other resource-intensive applications can also help.
Unsupported File Format
If your media player reports that a file format is unsupported, you likely need to install the appropriate codec. Refer to the “Installing Necessary Codecs” section above for instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about watching movies on Ubuntu:
FAQ 1: Which is the best media player for Ubuntu?
VLC Media Player offers the best balance of compatibility, ease of use, and features for most users. MPV is an excellent choice for those who prioritize playback quality and customization.
FAQ 2: Do I need to install codecs separately after installing VLC?
VLC comes with a wide range of built-in codecs, so you usually don’t need to install additional codecs. However, the ubuntu-restricted-extras package can provide support for less common formats.
FAQ 3: How do I play Blu-ray discs on Ubuntu?
Playing Blu-ray discs requires installing additional libraries. First, install libbluray-bdj:
sudo apt install libbluray-bdj libbluray2
Then, find the AACS keys database (KEYDB.cfg) and place it in the ~/.config/aacs/ directory. You can usually find this file with a simple web search. VLC should now be able to play Blu-ray discs.
FAQ 4: Can I stream movies from online services on Ubuntu?
Yes, you can stream movies from online services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video using a web browser such as Firefox or Chrome. Ensure you have the necessary browser extensions installed if prompted.
FAQ 5: How can I watch DVDs on Ubuntu?
DVD playback typically works out of the box with VLC. If you encounter issues, ensure you have installed libdvdcss2. You can install it by running:
sudo apt install libdvd-pkg
sudo dpkg-reconfigure libdvd-pkg
and following the prompts.
FAQ 6: How do I enable hardware acceleration for better performance?
Hardware acceleration is usually enabled by default in MPV. For VLC, go to “Tools” -> “Preferences” -> “Input/Codecs” and set “Hardware decoding” to “VDPAU” (if you have an NVIDIA card) or “VA-API” (for Intel or AMD).
FAQ 7: My subtitles are not showing up. How do I fix this?
Ensure that the subtitle file (.srt) has the same name as the movie file and is located in the same directory. You can also manually load subtitles in VLC by going to “Video” -> “Subtitles Track” -> “Load File.”
FAQ 8: How can I change the default media player on Ubuntu?
Go to “Settings” -> “Details” -> “Default Applications” and select your preferred media player from the “Video” dropdown menu.
FAQ 9: What if my video is playing but the screen is black?
This can sometimes occur due to driver issues. Try updating your graphics drivers. You can use the “Additional Drivers” tool in Ubuntu to install proprietary drivers for your graphics card.
FAQ 10: How do I rotate a video while playing it?
In VLC, go to “Tools” -> “Effects and Filters” -> “Video Effects” -> “Geometry.” You can then adjust the rotation angle. In MPV, you can use the --transform option when launching the player from the command line (e.g., mpv --transform=90 /path/to/video).
FAQ 11: Is it legal to install and use codecs?
Yes, installing and using codecs for personal use is generally legal. However, distributing copyrighted content without permission is illegal.
FAQ 12: How do I uninstall a codec I installed manually?
If you installed a codec using apt, you can uninstall it using:
sudo apt remove
Replace