Get ready for Kanopy’s Big Movie Watch, running February 9 – 23, 2026. This program is available for U.S. and Canadian libraries on a pay-per-use basis, as well as for PLUS-only accounts. For PLUS-only libraries, Across the Universe will be automatically added to your account for the duration of the program at no cost.

About Big Movie Watch

Kanopy users will be able to stream Across the Universe through their public library, ticket free. We encourage libraries to promote Big Movie Watch and have put together a marketing toolkit to help spread the word to your patrons about this ticket free program!

About Across the Universe

An original musical film, Across the Universe is a love story set against the backdrop of the 1960s, amid the turbulent years of anti-war protest, the struggle for free speech and civil rights, mind exploration and rock ‘n roll. At once gritty, whimsical and highly theatrical, the story moves from high schools and universities in Massachusetts, Princeton and Ohio to the Lower East Side of Manhattan, the Detroit riots, the killing fields of Vietnam and the dockyards of Liverpool. Combining live action with painted and three-dimensional animation, Across the Universe springs from the imagination of renowned director Julie Taymor and writers Dick Clement & Ian La Frenais and features an array of Beatles songs that have come to define the period.

Programming Ideas

• Host a Beatles Night. Play songs from the film soundtrack or hold a “Name That Beatles Tune” trivia game before screening the film (Across the Universe includes Public Performance Rights).
• Lead a lyric-to-literature discussion. Explore Beatles’ lyrics as poetry and analyze themes such as love, protest, generational change, and imagination.
• Invite patrons to make 60s-inspired artwork such as posters, collages, or psychedelic-style digital art. Display the finished pieces throughout your library and encourage patrons to stream Across the Universe.
• Set up a psychedelic photo booth corner. Use a colorful backdrop, projections, neon props, peace signs, or lava lamp visuals. Encourage patrons to share photos on social media and tag your library.
• Host a DIY tie-dye or denim patch workshop. Play Beatles music or have Across the Universe playing in the background while patrons create.
• Build a collaborative “Peace Wall”. Provide sticky notes, markers, or chalkboard space for patrons to share hopes, dreams, causes, or messages of unity.
• Curate a themed book display. Feature titles that highlight 1960s history and culture, the peace movement and activism, or coming-of-age stories

What to Watch After Across the Universe

Beatles: How the Beatles Changed the World

Watch Beatles: How the Beatles Changed the World on Kanopy

A fascinating story of the cultural, social, spiritual and musical revolution that was ignited by The Beatles, with revealing interviews and rarely-seen archival footage of the band.

Rent

Watch Rent on Kanopy

Based on Puccini’s classic opera La Boheme, Jonathan Larson’s revolutionary rock opera Rent tells the story of a group of bohemians struggling to live and pay their rent in New York’s East Village during the 1989 Christmas season. “Measuring their lives in love,” these starving artists strive for success and acceptance while enduring the obstacles of poverty, illness, and the AIDS epidemic. One of the longest-running shows on Broadway, Rent was the winner of the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Obie Award, the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, four Tony Awards, and three Drama Desk Awards.

Dirty Computer

Watch Dirty Computer on Kanopy

This video accompaniment to Janelle Monae’s 2018 album Dirty Computer tells the story of a young woman named Jane 57821 (Janelle Monae), who is living in a totalitarian near-future society where citizens are referred to as “computers.” Acclaimed actress Tessa Thompson co-stars. A timely and poignant Emotion Picture, Dirty Computer explores humanity and what truly happens to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness when mind and machines merge, and when the government chooses fear over freedom.

Rock ‘n’ Roll High School

Watch Rock ‘n’ Roll High School  on Kanopy

Vince Lombardi High School keeps losing principals to nervous breakdowns because of the students’ love of rock ‘n’ roll and their disregard of education. The putative leader of the students is Riff Randell, who loves the music of the Ramones. A new principal, the rock-music-hating Miss Evelyn Togar, is brought in and promises to put an end to the music craze. When Miss Togar and a group of parents attempt to burn a pile of rock records, the students take over the high school, joined by the Ramones, who are made honorary students. When the police are summoned and demand that the students evacuate the building, they do so, which leads to an explosive finale.

The Last Five Year

Watch The Last Five Year on Kanopy

Based on the hit musical by Jason Robert Brown, a struggling actress (Anna Kendrick) and her novelist boyfriend (Jeremy Jordan) recount the rise and fall of their 5 year love affair.

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