How to watch Love Actually online: stream the ultimate Christmas movie anywhere

(Image credit: Universal Pictures)

Christmas is finally here, which must mean it’s time to give Love Actually its annual airing. This Richard Curtis rom-com is packed with heartfelt humor and seasonal goodwill, as well as a jaw-dropping cast, so curl up by the fire with someone special – human or feline – as we detail how to watch Love Actually online from anywhere today.

Set predominantly in London and threading together the amorous entanglements of eight different couples in the run-up to December 25, it’s the perfect way to get into the festive spirit: unapologetically optimistic and cheesier than a Boxing Day buffet.

Watch Love Actually online

Released: November 21, 2003

Director: Richard Curtis

Cast: Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Keira Knightley, Emma Thompson, Bill Nighy, Alan Rickman

Run time: 2h 15mins

Rating: R

Stream: 30-day FREE trial with Prime Video (UK) | Netflix (UK, CA) | Crave (CA) | Binge (Au)

Watch anywhere: try the top VPN around 100% risk-free

Two of the film’s most memorable scenes involve Hugh Grant shaking his booty around 10 Downing Street to the Pointer Sisters ‘Jump (For My Love)’, and Andrew Lincoln pledging his undying devotion to Kiera Knightly via cue cards while her unwitting husband (Chiwetel Ejiofor) waits inside. Which will either have you gagging on your turkey or cheering at the TV.

Like many Yuletide tales, though, it’s got darker elements that belie its saccharine reputation. When Laura Linney’s character finally brings her handsome office-crush home (Rodrigo Santoro), the demands of caring for her mentally ill brother mean that filial affection trumps romantic love. There are numerous infidelities too. But the film’s executed with such open-hearted exuberance and fun that you can’t help but be charmed.

It was a box-office smash when it was released in 2003, raking in $248 million worldwide. No wonder really, with that jaw-dropping cast and the Midas touch of rom-com king Richard Curtis (Bridget Jones’s Diary, Notting Hill). Ready to enjoy the ultimate holiday treat? Then read on as we explain how to watch Love Actually online from anywhere in the world.

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How to watch Love Actually from outside your country

If you're away from home over the holidays, regional restrictions will prevent you from streaming content from your usual streaming platform – potentially robbing you of your annual dose of Love Actually.

Thankfully, the solution is pretty simple. Downloading a VPN will let you change your IP address - meaning you can connect to a server based back home and watch geo-blocked content no matter where you are.

Use a VPN to watch Love Actually online from anywhere

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How to watch Love Actually online in the US

How to watch Love Actually online in the UK

Richard Curtis rom-com fans have their choice of streaming platforms when it comes to watching Love Actually this Christmas. You can stream on Prime Video, or watch on Netflix.

Amazon Prime comes with a 30-day FREE membership, thereafter costing £7.99 a month or £79 annually. With a Prime membership you can also benefit from free one-day delivery, as well as Prime Music and other perks. Alternatively, watch on Netflix with plans starting from £5.99 a month.

Able to take the festive spirit wherever you are, Prime Video and Netflix both offer compatibility with a number of devices including iOS and Android devices, Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, PlayStation and Xbox consoles, and on select Smart TVs.

You can also watch if you're a Britbox subscriber and Virgin Go customer.

As detailed above, if you’re abroad then you’ll want a VPN to keep watching your favorite movies and TV shows. Not only do they let you access different regional content, but they’ll keep your personal details extra safe online, too.

How to watch Love Actually online in Canada

Those in Canada also have options when it comes to streaming Love Actually. Use your Netflix account, or watch on streaming platform, Crave.

Crave offers new subscribers a 7-day FREE trial. Thereafter choose between a Crave Total ($19.99 a month) or Crave Mobile ($9.99 a month) plan. The former allows you up to 4 streams at a time on 5 different devices, whereas the latter you're limited to one. You can also reduce costs by paying annually and get 12 months for the price of 10.

Netflix subscriptions cost from $9.99 a month for the Basic plan.

If you're currently abroad, however, then you won’t be able to connect to the VoD services you’d normally use at home. To overcome the obstacle of geo-blocking restrictions, just grab yourself a VPN as per our guide above.

How to watch Love Actually online in Australia

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Daniel Pateman is a freelance writer, producing articles across the cultural spectrum for magazines like Aesthetica, Photomonitor, The Brooklyn Rail and This is Tomorrow. He also provides text-writing services to individual curators and artists worldwide, and has had work published internationally. His favourite film genre is horror (bring on Scream 5!) and he never tires of listening to Absolute 80s on the radio.