How to watch ‘Problemista’ at home (maybe even for free)

The directorial debut of Julio Torres, co-creator and co-star of the celebrated comedy series Los Espookys, has already won over the hearts and minds of critics and now it’s on its way to streaming to win over yours. Problemista is a whimsical tale of of immigrants and outsiders in New York who make the city their home. It stars Torres himself opposite Tilda Swinton, not to mention a gaggle of other stars, including Isabella Rossellini, Past Lives‘ Greta Lee, A League of Their Own‘s Kelly McCormack, Hacks‘ Meg Stalter, Abbott Elementary‘s Larry Owens, and Wu-Tang Clan‘s RZA. Mashable’s Film Editor Kristy Puchko has dubbed it “one of the best films of 2024,” highlighting that it’s not only a clever story, but also “a deeply funny, feel-good movie that doesn’t pull punches on its political or social satire.”

Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch Problemista at home.

What is Problemista about?

Problemista is a quirky comedy about how Alejandro (Julio Torres), a young man from El Salvador, seeks to make his dreams of designing toys in New York City a reality. Those dreams, however, along with his immigration status, are in jeopardy and he must turn to the aggressive, fire-breathing art critic Elizabeth (Tilda Swinton) for support. She takes him under her wing and an unlikely friendship between misfits is born. Expect tons of laughs, zany characters, political and social satire, and lots and lots of trash.

Is Problemista worth watching?

As noted above, Problemista has earned a top five spot on our list of the best movies of 2024 (so far), and other critics appear to agree. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has earned an 88 percent critic rating and 84 audience rating. It may not have wowed overall at the box office, but its limited release in New York City and Los Angeles on the first weekend in March posted the highest per-screen average, grossing $140.9k on just five screens. That just proves that box office numbers aren’t everything.

As Mashable’s Film Editor put it, “In short, it’s one hell of a directorial debut.”

Read our full review of Problemista.

How to watch Problemista at home

Just a month shy of its theatrical debut, Problemista became available to watch at home via video-on-demand sites like Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home (Vudu). You can purchase the film for your digital collection or rent it for 30 days. Just remember once you start watching a rental, you’ll have just 48 hours to finish before you lose access. If you’d rather stream Problemista, keep reading to learn more.

As of April 19, you can purchase and rent the film at the following retailers:

Prime Video — buy for $17.74, rent for $3.74 for Prime members

Apple TV — buy for $19.99, rent for $5.99

Fandango at Home (Vudu) — buy for $19.99, rent for $5.99

YouTube — buy for $19.99, rent starting at $4.99

Is Problemista streaming?

Problemista is set to make its streaming debut on June 28 on Max. This comes as no surprise, since A24 has a licensing deal with Max to bring its releases to the platform following their theatrical run. Max subscriptions start at $9.99 per month, but there are some ways you can save some money on your plan. Check out the deals below.

Best Max streaming deals

Best for those new to Max: Get a free seven-day trial through June 23

Max is one of many streamers that typically does not offer a free trial to its service. However, through June 23, new users can sign up for a free seven-day trial. That trial period would allow you to watch Problemista when it premieres on Max, if you time your trial to line up with the release date. It’ll be a close call, but you can technically stream it for free, then cancel your account before being charged. The trial is available through all three tiers: With Ads, Ad-free, and Ultimate Ad-free. Just remember, if you don’t cancel before the trial is up, you’ll be charged the full monthly price for whichever tier you choose — $9.99/month, $16.99/month, or $20.99/month.

Best Max streaming deal for most people: Save 17% on Max with ads annual subscription

Max subscriptions start at $9.99 per month if you don’t mind ad interruptions. You have the option to sign up for a single month (once Problemista is released), then cancel before you’re charged for another. However, if you stick with it for the long haul, you can score a discounted subscription. An annual plan with ads goes for $99.99 per year, which breaks down to just $8.33 per month — that’s 17% (or $1.66) in savings per month. The only downside is you’ll have to splurge on a full year upfront.

Best Max deal with no ads: Save 17% on a Max Ad-Free annual subscription

Can’t stand ads interrupting your viewing experience? There are two ad-free tiers to choose from. The basic Max Ad-Free tier will run you $16.99 per month, while the Max Ultimate tier goes for $20.99 per month. However, if you opt for a yearly plan instead, it will only cost you $169.99 per year (which breaks down to $14.17 per month) or $209.99 per year (which breaks down to $17.50 per month). That’s a total savings of 17% on either plan.

Note: While both tiers offer an ad-free viewing experience, the Ultimate tier takes things a step further with 4K Ultra HD video quality and Dolby Atmos immersive audio.

Best Max deal for Cricket customers: Free Max with ads for customers on the $60/month unlimited plan

If you’ve never considered Cricket as a wireless provider, this deal might change that. Cricket Wireless customers on the $60 per month unlimited plan get Max with ads for free as long as their accounts remain in good standing. That’s a $99.99 per year value. Head over to the Max app or navigate to Max.com on a browser, then choose Cricket as your provider and enter your credentials to log in. Then you’ll be able to watch Problemista and plenty of other A24 films at no extra cost. Check out the terms and conditions on Cricket’s website to learn more.