← Back

Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession

2004 · 2 h 1 min
Directed by Xan Cassavetes · USA · American Independent Cinema
DocumentaryHistory

Where to watch in the United States: Stream: Amazon Prime Video, GuideDoc, Night Flight Plus, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Free: Hoopla, Fandango at Home Free, Pluto TV, Shout! Factory TV, Plex, Plex Channel, Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads, Tubi TV, Amazon MX Player · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home. Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDB; availability changes.

Cast

Jerry Harvey Chuck Ross Timothy Ryerson Bob Strock Quentin Tarantino Edwin Michaelove

Credits

Produced by: Marshall Persinger

Plot

A documentary on the Z Channel, one of the first pay cable stations in the US, and its programming chief, Jerry Harvey. Debuting in 1974, the LA-based channel's eclectic slate of movies became a prime example of the untapped power of cable television.

Sinekatalog’s take

A documentary on a pioneering cable channel and the programmer whose taste shaped film culture in Los Angeles. It's affectionate, sad and a feast for cinephiles. A must for anyone who loves discovering movies.Sinekatalog’s own editorial review – not a user or critic quote.

View on Letterboxd ↗

Ratings

IMDb: 7.6 / 10 (1,930 votes)
IMDb rating and vote count from the IMDb ratings dataset (October 2026). Scores change over time.

If you liked this

Picked by director, genre, era and shared cast. Titles only, no spoilers.