{{Short description|British video streaming service}} {{distinguish|Tubi}} {{Use British English|date=December 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2025}} {{Infobox website | name = Mubi UK Limited | logo = frameless|class=skin-invert | url = {{URL|http://mubi.com/}} | type = {{Plainlist| * OTT platform * Film production * Film distributor * Film criticism * Publishing }} | location = London, England | founder = Efe Cakarel (CEO) | num_users = 1.7 million subscribers (April 2026)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Ben Fritz and Kate |date=2026-04-10 |title=How VC Money and Israel Outrage Derailed a Hot Hollywood Startup |url=https://www.wsj.com/business/media/how-vc-money-and-israel-outrage-derailed-a-hot-hollywood-startup-3d6f46ff |access-date=2026-04-12 |website=The Wall Street Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> | launch_date = {{Start date and age|2007|2|14|df=yes}} | current_status = Active }} '''Mubi''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|uː|b|I}}) is a British over-the-top subscription video on-demand streaming platform, production company and film distributor. Mubi produces<ref>{{cite web | last=Etherington | first=Darrell | date=2019-12-12|title=MUBI's production effort nets it a sundance selection as the company goes cashflow positive |url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/12/12/mubis-production-effort-nets-it-a-sundance-selection-as-the-company-goes-cashflow-positive/ | website=Tech Crunch | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414220945/https://techcrunch.com/2019/12/12/mubis-production-effort-nets-it-a-sundance-selection-as-the-company-goes-cashflow-positive/?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJWMVcLdxyS6GfB6yrO9Wr-6-_NvlLbnoEKx-LNW_ko80b8iBLf8UBfnoqujfZ0KHp23XJLyQRxmCVJzl3pp0vnFyoRRPp3oFAPBlVtMxXSoGCpSPBl0EdqRb9ipe6UowCOf7v5M9AmAt2D1u6tDd3Gn6LGTChSCcCsqiA3O-TSt | archive-date=Apr 14, 2023}}</ref> and theatrically distributes films by emerging and established filmmakers, which are exclusively available on its platform. The catalogue consists of world cinema films, such as arthouse, documentary and independent films.<ref>{{cite web | title=What kind of films does MUBI show?|url=https://help.mubi.com/article/24-what-kind-of-films-does-mubi-show |website=MUBI FAQ | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430182451/https://help.mubi.com/article/24-what-kind-of-films-does-mubi-show | archive-date= Apr 30, 2024}}</ref> Additionally, it publishes ''Notebook'', a film criticism and news publication, and provides weekly cinema tickets to selected new-release films through Mubi Go.
Founded as The Auteurs in 2007 and known by that brand until 2010, Mubi's streaming platform is available in over 190 countries through its website, or using Android TV, Chromecast, Roku devices, Apple Vision Pro, PlayStation consoles,<ref>{{cite web | last=Pendlebury | first=Ty | title=Bring on the popcorn! Mubi makes its Roku debut | url=https://www.cnet.com/news/arthouse-streaming-service-mubi-launches-on-roku/ | date=Dec 16, 2016 | access-date=2020-06-03 | website=CNET | language=en}}</ref> Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV,<ref>{{cite web | title=Apple TV Universal Search Now Includes MUBI, Hopster, and CW Seed |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2016/11/10/apple-tv-universal-search-mubi-hopster-cw-seed/ | first1=Mitchel | last1=Broussard | access-date=2020-06-03 | website=MacRumors | date=10 November 2016 | language=en}}</ref> LG or Samsung Smart TVs,<ref>{{cite web | last=Langridge | first=Max | title=MUBI streaming film app now on Samsung Smart TVs | url=https://www.whathifi.com/news/mubi-streaming-film-app-now-samsung-smart-tvs | access-date=2020-06-03 | website = What Hi-Fi? | date=19 February 2014 | language=en}}</ref> or mobile devices including iPhone, iPad<ref>{{cite web | title=iTunes Store: MUBI | url=http://appstore.com/mubi/mubi | website=appstore.com}}</ref> and Android.<ref>{{cite web | title=Google Play: MUBI | url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mubi | website=play.google.com}}</ref>
== History == The Auteurs was founded in 2007 by Turkish entrepreneur Efe Çakarel. The next year, in 2008, the American home-video distribution company Criterion Collection partnered with The Auteurs to begin a video-on-demand service.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keslassy |first=Elsa |date=2025-05-14 |title=Is Mubi Really Worth $1 Billion? Inside Efe Cakarel's Plan to Make the Global Streamer Cooler Than A24 |url=https://variety.com/2025/film/features/mubi-worth-billion-streamer-taking-on-a24-1236395959/ |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2010, The Auteurs changed its name to "Mubi" or "MUBI",<ref name=why>{{cite web | url=http://mubi.com/topics/why-did-we-change-our-name-to-mubi | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320170842/http://mubi.com/topics/why-did-we-change-our-name-to-mubi | url-status=dead | archive-date=March 20, 2012 | title=Why did we change our name to MUBI? - Film Forum on mubi.com | date=March 20, 2012}}</ref> a two-syllable word with no specific meaning that rhymes with "movie",<ref>{{cite news | date=2023 | title=Mubi - a branding story with a twist | url=https://novanym.com/blogs/blog/52139905-mubi-a-branding-story-with-a-twist | work=Novanym | access-date=31 December 2023}}</ref> its creators stating that they wanted "a name all audiences can say and spell, without the burden of exclusionary meaning."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Thompson |first1=Anne |title=The Auteurs is Now Mubi |url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/general/the-auteurs-is-now-mubi-238706/ |access-date=5 February 2026 |work=IndieWire |date=13 May 2010}}</ref><ref name=why/>
In January 2022, Mubi announced the acquisition of arthouse cinema production and sales company The Match Factory.<ref>{{cite web | last=Grater | first=Tom | date=January 14, 2022 | title=Mubi Makes A Splash With Acquisition Of Arthouse Sales & Production Powerhouse The Match Factory | url=https://deadline.com/2022/01/mubi-german-sales-production-company-the-match-factory-1234912839/ | website=Deadline Hollywood | access-date=February 10, 2022}}</ref>
Prior to the 79th Venice International Film Festival world premiere, Mubi entered the TV industry by acquiring ''The Kingdom Exodus'' miniseries and bringing out the first two seasons of the original series in director's cuts.<ref>{{cite web | last=Roxborough | first=Scott | date=July 27, 2022 | title=Mubi Takes Lars Von Trier's TV Show 'The Kingdom Exodus' | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/mubi-takes-lars-von-triers-tv-show-kingdom-exodus-for-north-america-uk-india-latin-america-turkey-1235187154/ | website=The Hollywood Reporter | access-date=August 19, 2022}}</ref>
In 2023, the company announced Mubi Fest, its annual film festival, to be held in Chile, Colombia, Argentina, Mexico and Brazil. The event was expanded to cities in Europe, the United States and Canada a year later.<ref>{{Cite web | last=Tabbara | first=Mona | date=2024-06-06 | title=Mubi unveils Mubi Fest to take place in nine cities worldwide (exclusive) | url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/mubi-unveils-mubi-fest-to-take-place-in-nine-cities-worldwide-exclusive/5194229.article | access-date=2024-09-21 | website=Screen Daily | language=en}}</ref>
In February 2024, Mubi acquired a majority stake in Benelux distributor Cinéart.<ref>{{cite web | last=Ritman | first=Alex | date=February 6, 2024 | title=Mubi Buys Majority Stake in European Indie Distributor Cinéart | url=https://variety.com/2024/film/global/mubi-buys-cineart-european-distributor-1235899263/ | website=Variety | access-date=February 24, 2024}}</ref>
On September 20, 2024, Mubi released ''The Substance'' in theaters worldwide and received critical and commercial success, grossed $77 million as their highest-grossing film ever, which received a Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Screenplay, Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy out of the 5 nominations at 82nd Golden Globe Awards, 5 Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress, and Best Makeup and Hairstyling at the 97th Academy Awards (eventually winning in the Makeup and Hairstyling category),<ref>[https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2025 2025|Oscars.org]</ref> and 5 nominations at the 78th British Academy Film Awards.
In February 2025, ''The New York Times'' published a major profile piece on Mubi and Efe Çakarel, positioning Mubi as "a real Hollywood player" following the success of ''The Substance''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sperling |first=Nicole |date=2025-02-27 |title=How 'The Substance' Helped Mubi Break Through |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/business/media/the-substance-mubi-streaming.html |access-date=2025-06-02 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
At the Cannes Film Festival in May 2025, Mubi made their largest acquisition to date, as well as the largest deal closed at the festival that year, by paying $24m for distribution rights across multiple territories to Lynne Ramsay's film ''Die My Love'', starring Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keslassy |first=Elsa |date=2025-05-18 |title=Mubi Buys Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson's 'Die My Love' in $24 Million Cannes Deal |url=https://variety.com/2025/film/global/mubi-jennifer-lawrence-robert-pattinson-die-my-love-1236402473/ |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Grimes |first=Christopher |date=2025-05-31 |title=Sequoia bets on indie films with $100mn Mubi fundraising |url=https://www.ft.com/content/1e0645d5-054e-4b00-a545-b95a1e2b261a |access-date=2025-06-02 |work=Financial Times}}</ref>
Mubi set a 31 October 2025 date for the company's debut as a direct distributor in the Spanish market with the release of ''The Mastermind''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kinotico.es/industria/2025-09-19/mubi-desembarca-espana-excepcional-comunidad-cinefilos-que-estamos-deseando-conectar|website=Kinótico|date=19 September 2025|first=Daniel|last=Mantilla|title=Mubi desembarca en España, “una excepcional comunidad de cinéfilos con la que estamos deseando conectar”}}</ref><ref name="dod">{{Cite web|url=https://www.dodmagazine.es/mubi-llegara-a-espana-en-octubre-como-distribuidora/|website=Dod Magazine|title=MUBI llegará a España en octubre como distribuidora|date=20 September 2025}}</ref> The company had previously relied on third parties such as Elastica Films, Avalon, A Contracorriente Films, or Filmin for the distribution of its portfolio in Spain.<ref name="dod" />
In 2026, the limited series, ''Mussolini: Son of the Century'' (also distributed by Mubi), won the prestigious Peabody Award.<ref>[https://peabodyawards.com/award-profile/mussolini-son-of-the-century/ The Peabody Awards]</ref>
== Publication ==
=== Mubi Notebook (online) === Mubi's International film publication named Notebook, is composed of daily online publications freely accessible via the website (same as streaming), which has been an essential part of the website's relevance as a curated cinema streaming service.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Notebook {{!}} MUBI |url=https://mubi.com/en/notebook |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=mubi.com}}</ref>
The online publication includes a wide variety of coverage of cinema from interviews, features, columns, news, as well as coverage of selected major film festival such as Cannes, Berlinale, Toronto, Sundance and Rotterdam.
Since 2009, the publication has featured an ongoing column named "Movie Poster of the Week" by writer Adrian Curry, which curates and discusses mostly contemporary movie posters. The column's focus allows space to discuss and highlight many territory-specific posters of well-known films around the globe.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Movie Poster of the Week – Notebook {{!}} MUBI | url=https://mubi.com/en/notebook/posts/tag/Movie%20Poster%20of%20the%20Week | access-date=2024-10-09 |website=mubi.com}}</ref>
The publication is also known for its focus on a wider range of world cinema and highlight of independent, artist-driven, and experimental cinema. Since its beginning in 2009 its contributors have often published writings on sections from major film festivals that are often ignored by other publications such as Toronto International Film Festival's Wavelengths, the Berlinale Forum Expanded, and the New York Film Festival sections Views from the Avant-Garde (until 2013), Projections (2014–2018), and more Currents (2019–). Throughout the years, the most consistent coverages of these sections in MUBI Notebook has been made by writers Michael Sicinski<ref>{{Cite web | title=Michael Sicinski – Notebook {{!}} MUBI | url=https://mubi.com/en/notebook/posts/author/61?page=3 | access-date=2024-10-09 | website=mubi.com}}</ref> and David Hudson.<ref>{{Cite web | title=David Hudson – Notebook {{!}} MUBI | url=https://mubi.com/en/notebook/posts/author/55?page=77 | access-date=2024-10-09 | website=mubi.com}}</ref>
In the same form as other online publications of cinema and art at large, MUBI Notebook, is open to the public for pitching and it states its pitching guidelines very clearly on its website.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Pitching Guidelines {{!}} MUBI | url=https://mubi.com/en/notebook/pitching-guidelines | access-date=2024-10-09 | website=mubi.com}}</ref>
=== ''Notebook Magazine'' (print) === In 2021 Mubi launched the ''Notebook Magazine'' ({{ISSN|2769-7681}}), an editorially independent semiannual print magazine with limited sale.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Notebook Magazine | url=https://mubi.com/en/notebook/magazine | access-date=2024-10-09 | website=MUBI | language=en}}</ref> The magazines are sold globally via both a subscription service (purchased separately from the streaming service) and in selected bookstores around the world.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Where can I find the list of stockists/participating stores for Notebook? – MUBI FAQ | url=https://help.mubi.com/article/289-where-can-i-find-the-list-of-stockists-participating-stores-for-notebook | access-date=2024-10-09 | website=help.mubi.com}}</ref> The magazine is only available in English language<ref>{{Cite web | title=What languages is Notebook published in? - MUBI FAQ | url=https://help.mubi.com/article/279-what-languages-is-notebook-published-in | access-date=2024-10-09 | website=help.mubi.com}}</ref> and has no digital archive or version available.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Is there a digital version or a digital archive of the magazine? – MUBI FAQ | url=https://help.mubi.com/article/278-is-there-a-digital-version-or-a-digital-archive-of-the-magazine | access-date=2024-10-09 | website=help.mubi.com}}</ref>
== Podcasts == In 2021, Mubi launched two original podcasts. An English language podcast called ''Mubi Podcast''<ref>{{cite web | last=Greene | first=Steve | date=May 26, 2021 | title=MUBI Launching Film Podcast Next Week with Debut Episode on Paul Verhoeven | url=https://www.indiewire.com/2021/05/mubi-podcast-host-premiere-date-1234640078/ | website=IndieWire}}</ref> produced and hosted by Rico Gagliano, and a Spanish language podcast titled ''Mubi Podcast: Encuentros'',<ref>{{cite web | last=De La Fuente | first=Anna Marie | date=June 15, 2021 | title=Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna's La Corriente del Golfo, Streamer MUBI Launch Spanish-Language Podcast (EXCLUSIVE) | url=https://variety.com/2021/global/global/gael-garcia-bernal-diego-luna-mubi-podcast-1234996868/ | website=Variety}}</ref> produced in collaboration with La Corriente del Golfo, the production house founded by Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna. In 2023, Mubi launched an Italian-language podcast, ''Mubi Podcast: Voci Italiane Contemporanee'', in collaboration with Chora Media, hosted by critic Gianmaria Tammaro.<ref>{{cite web | date=September 28, 2023 | title=MUBI Podcast: Voci Italiane Contemporanee | url=https://mubi.com/en/notebook/posts/mubi-podcast-voci-italiane-contemporanee | website=MUBI.com}}</ref>
== Mubi productions == Mubi productions and co-productions include:
=== Released === * ''Port Authority'' (Danielle Lessovitz) * ''Farewell Amor'' (Ewka Msangi) * ''Our Men'' (Rachel Lang) * ''Memory'' (Michel Franco) * ''My First Film'' (Zia Anger) * ''Bring Them Down'' (Christopher Andrews) * ''One Fine Morning'' (Mia Hansen-Løve) * ''Gasoline Rainbow'' (the Ross brothers)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2023/08/gasoline-rainbow-release-mubi-venice-film-festival-premiere-1235452125/ | title='Gasoline Rainbow' Release Set With Mubi Ahead Of Pic's Venice Debut | website=Deadline Hollywood | first=Matt | last=Grobar | date=August 1, 2023 | access-date=August 22, 2023}}</ref> * ''Father, Mother, Sister, Brother'' (Jim Jarmusch) * ''Witches'' (Elizabeth Sankey) * ''Magic Farm'' (Amalia Ulman) * ''The Mastermind'' (Kelly Reichardt)
=== In production === * ''Rosebush Pruning'' (Karim Aïnouz) * ''Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma'' (Jane Schoenbrun) * ''Fatherland'' (Paweł Pawlikowski) * ''Let Love In'' (Felix van Groeningen) * ''A Long Winter'' (Andrew Haigh) * ''If Love Should Die'' (Mia Hansen-Løve)
== Mubi releases == {{Main|List of Mubi films}}
Mubi is also a film distributor. In addition to releasing films on the platform, it started distributing theatrically in the United States and United Kingdom in 2016, in Latin America and Germany in 2021, and in Italy and Spain in 2025.
== Controversy == In May 2025, the venture capital firm Sequoia Capital invested $100 million in Mubi, valuing the company at $1 billion.<ref name=":0" /> However, the investment has sparked significant backlash due to Sequoia's ties to Kela, an Israeli defence-tech startup founded by former intelligence officers during the Gaza invasion. Critics, including Film Workers for Palestine and supporters of the BDS movement, have condemned Mubi's decision, calling for boycotts and demanding the company return the funds. Mubi has responded by distancing itself from the views of its investors, stating that the partnership aimed to support its global mission in independent cinema.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ritman|first=Alex|date=15 June 2025|title=Mubi Responds to Backlash Over New Investor's Ties to Israeli Defense-Tech Startup|url=https://variety.com/2025/film/global/mubi-responds-backlash-investor-links-israeli-defense-firm-1236420611/|work=Variety|access-date=15 June 2025}}</ref>
In an open letter written for the press on August 14, 2025, Efe Çakarel addressed the issue by stating that Mubi is not directly tied with the firm while condemning the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and reaffirmed support for peace, dignity, and freedom for all people. To avoid confusion and anger, Mubi launched an Ethical Funding and Investment Policy along with the Artists Advisory Council; while expanding their Artists At Risk Fund "to support filmmakers under conflict, displacement, or censorship through commissions, residencies, and restoration projects".<ref>{{cite web|last=Ford|first=Lily|date=August 14, 2025|title=Mubi Responds to Director Backlash Over Investor's Israeli Military Ties: "Suggestions Our Work Is Connected to Funding the War Is Simply Untrue"|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/mubi-responds-directors-open-letter-sequoia-israel-military-1236344485/|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=August 14, 2025}}</ref>
== See also == * List of streaming media services * Vulgar auteurism
{{Div col|colwidth=12em}} * Cinephilia * Curzon Home Cinema * Fandor * The Film Detective * FilmStruck * Indieflix * Kanopy * Netflix * Shudder * Tubi {{Div col end}}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website}}
{{VOD services}}
Category:Internet properties established in 2007 Category:Subscription video on demand services Category:Online film databases Category:Film websites Category:British brands Category:Turkish brands Category:Social cataloging applications Category:PlayStation 4 software Category:TvOS software