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How & Where to Watch Citizen Kane Online From Anywhere in 2025

As one of the most legendary drama mystery works, Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane is a regular feature on several “best movies of all time” roundups. Read on to find out how and where to watch Citizen Kane from anywhere in the world.

Kit CopsonSandra PattisonJasna Mishevska

Written by Kit Copson (Writer, Briefing Editor)

Reviewed by Sandra Pattison (Writer, Editor)

Facts checked by Jasna Mishevska (Lead Fact-Checking Editor)

Last Updated: 2025-02-02T10:09:18+00:00

All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.

Where to Watch Citizen Kane

Key Takeaways: Watch Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane

  1. Sign up for a 72% discounted plan on NordVPN’s website.
  2. Connect to a Canadian server.
  3. Go to Amazon Prime Video Canada and start streaming Citizen Kane.

Best VPNs for Streaming Citizen Kane:

  1. NordVPN — Best VPN overall with great speeds, advanced features and affordable pricing. New NordVPN subscribers get up to 72% reduced rates on long-term commitments.
  2. Surfshark — Best VPN with unlimited simultaneous connections. A 66% (plus 3 months free) discount is available for users who choose Surfshark’s extended subscription options.
  3. ExpressVPN — Seamless security for the tech-shy. ExpressVPN’s yearly plan offers 25% off on the first two years with three months free.

What to Know About Citizen Kane:

  • Citizen Kane, one of the most renowned pieces of cinema in history, is available to stream on a variety of services including Max and Amazon Prime Video. 
  • You can stream Citizen Kane free with an Amazon Prime subscription in Canada. If you’re outside of Canada, you can connect to a Canadian VPN server to access Amazon Prime Video Canada. 
  • NordVPN is the best VPN for streaming Citizen Kane, followed by Surfshark and ExpressVPN.
Best VPN for Streaming Citizen Kane

In the world of streaming services, getting a hold of legendary movies like Citizen Kane has never been easier. That said, it’s spread across various streaming services and libraries — some of which are not available in every country.

A VPN, like NordVPN, can solve this problem. This guide explains how to watch Citizen Kane with a VPN from anywhere.  

In Citizen Kane, newspaper tycoon Charles Foster Kane utters his last word, “rosebud,” before dying in his sprawling mansion, Xanadu. A reporter, Jerry Thompson, interviews the millionaire’s associates and explores his past to unravel the meaning of Kane’s cryptic final word. 

While researching, Thompson gets a deeper look into Kane’s intriguing life stories — his early mentorship under a wealthy banker, a New Yorker named Walter Parks Thatcher; his rise to prominence in the publishing world; his complex and troubled relationships; and his reclusive later years. Now let’s get straight into how and where to watch this celebrated film.  

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Not available in your country?

Watch Citizen Kane now on Amazon Prime Video and BBC iPlayer

Status checked 2025/02/16:

  • 10/01/2024

    We revamped this article’s how-to section and adjusted the rankings to reflect the current VPN landscape.

  • 01/26/2025 Facts checked

    Added more details on the top VPNs to watch Citizen Kane.

  • 02/01/2025 Facts checked

    We’ve updated our free VPN section to include PrivadoVPN as the top choice.

Where to Watch Citizen Kane: Full Movie Online

Fortunately, Citizen Kane is readily available to stream, buy or rent online. Here’s a roundup of everywhere we found Citizen Kane.

StreamBuy or Rent
Max (various locations)Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video (Canada — free with Prime)Google Play
Amazon Prime Video (U.K. — free with BFI Player trial)Vudu (U.S.)
Amazon Prime Video (U.S. — free with Max trial)ROW8 (U.S.)
BFI Player (U.K.)iTunes

Where Can I Watch Citizen Kane Online for Free?

You can watch Citizen Kane for free with an Amazon Prime Video 30-day free trial in Canada. If you’re outside Canada, you’ll need to connect to a Canadian VPN server to access the Canadian library. We’ll show you how to do that below.  

Alternatively, you can watch Citizen Kane on Amazon Prime Video U.S. with a Max free trial or on Amazon Prime Video U.K. with a BFI Player free trial. These trials both last seven days. 

How to Watch Citizen Kane With a VPN

This tutorial will show you how to watch Citizen Kane on Amazon Prime Video Canada. You’ll need an Amazon Prime Video account to do this, so make sure you’ve signed up for your free trial before starting. We’ll use our favorite streaming VPN, NordVPN, for this tutorial. 

You can also use this method to access your other streaming service accounts from overseas. For example, if you want to watch Citizen Kane on Max but are traveling somewhere Max isn’t available, simply connect to a server in an Max available country like the U.S., and log in to your account as normal. 

  1. Get NordVPN

    Go to NordVPN’s website and sign up at a 72% discount. The two-year plan is the cheapest and a 30-day money-back guarantee is available if you change your mind.

    nordvpn step 1
  2. Download NordVPN

    Download and install the NordVPN app for your device. Then, open the app and log in.

    nordvpn step 2
  3. Connect to a Canadian Server

    Connect to a Canadian server. You can use NordVPN’s server list of the interactive map to find the server you need.

    nordvpn connecting to canada
  4. Stream Citizen Kane

    Go to Amazon Prime Video Canada, and log in to your account. Then, search for Citizen Kane and click “watch on PrimeVideo.com.” 

    apv citizenkane

The 3 Best VPNs for Watching Citizen Kane

Streaming a film as renowned as Citizen Kane calls for only one of the very best VPNs to get the job done. Here are our top three recommendations. 

1. NordVPN — Best Streaming VPN

nordvpn app canada
NordVPN boasts superior speeds and affordable long-term plans.
Best VPN for Streaming Citizen Kane

Pros

  • Superior speeds
  • Affordable two-year plan
  • Secure protocols

Cons

  • Fiddly mobile app 

Stream freely across the globe — get NordVPN’s best deal at 72% off today.

Download
90 Mbps
Very Fast
Upload
9 Mbps
Very Fast
Latency
4 ms
Very Fast
Source: Cloudwards VPN Speed Test. We test daily. Data from 01/21/25 to 02/18/25
Data for region:

NordVPN is the best VPN if you’re looking for a VPN with lightning-fast speeds to keep buffering at bay. We test VPN speeds daily, and NordVPN has consistently proven itself the fastest VPN overall, with Surfshark and ExpressVPN rounding out the top three. Better yet, NordVPN offers a selection of plans, some of which are very reasonably priced. 

All that being said, we consider NordVPN a better VPN for streaming on a desktop than on a mobile device due to the map you use to change server locations. The mobile app can be a tad finicky, especially if geography isn’t your strong suit. 

Other than that, NordVPN is the best overall choice and also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Find out more in our NordVPN review

Plus
  • *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
  • Unlimited GB
  • 10
  • Yes
Complete
  • *The prices are shown only apply for the first 12 months.
  • Unlimited GB
  • 10
  • Yes
Prime
  • **The prices are applicable only for the first 24 months. Secure, high-speed VPN Threat Protection Pro™: Anti-malware and advanced browsing protection Threat Protection Pro™: Ad and tracker blocker Password manager with Data Breach Scanner 1 TB of encrypted cloud storage Identity and SSN monitoring and alerts Credit monitoring services Up to $1M in identity theft insurance Up to $100K in cyber extortion insurance
  • 10

2. Surfshark — Best Cheap Streaming VPN

surfshark canada
Surfshark is a great VPN that’s capable of streaming and allows unlimited device connections.

Pros

  • Strong security suite options
  • Solid security
  • Excellent speeds

Cons

  • Site may collect your real IP
  • High latency on close servers
  • No Mac/iOS split tunneling

Unlock a world of entertainment — subscribe to Surfshark with a 66% (plus 3 months free) discount and 30-day money-back guarantee.

Download
93 Mbps
Very Fast
Upload
9 Mbps
Very Fast
Latency
3 ms
Very Fast
Source: Cloudwards VPN Speed Test. We test daily. Data from 01/21/25 to 02/18/25
Data for region:

If you’ve decided not to go with NordVPN, you might get along well with Surfshark, which is owned by the same company. The services are very alike feature-wise, and while NordVPN edges ahead in terms of speed, Surfshark is more affordable long-term. It also performs well with streaming services like Amazon Prime Video.

Moreover, Surfshark has taken the unusual step of not limiting the number of device connections — a major perk. You can try Surfshark risk-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee. If you need more information before you take the leap, our Surfshark review should come in useful.

Surfshark Starter
  • Unlimited GB bandwidth, Unlimited devices, Secure VPN, Ad blocker, Cookie pop-up blocker. Pricing for the annual and biennial plans only apply for the first payment. Renewal fees vary.
  • Unlimited GB
  • Unlimited
  • Yes
Surfshark One
  • Everything in Starter, plus Antivirus protection, Identity protection, Email Breach and Credit Card Alerts, Online Alias Pricing for the annual and biennial plans only apply for the first payment. Renewal fees vary.
  • Unlimited GB
  • Unlimited
Surfshark One+
  • Everything in One, plus Data removal Pricing for the annual and biennial plans only apply for the first payment. Renewal fees vary.
  • Unlimited GB
  • Unlimited

3. ExpressVPN — Best Beginner-Friendly VPN for Streaming

expressvpn app canada
ExpressVPN is a secure, fast, easy-to-use VPN that consistently gets around geoblocks.

Pros

  • Consistently opens geoblocks
  • Highly secure
  • Easy to use 

Cons

  • Expensive

Break through streaming barriers — sign up for ExpressVPN now and enjoy 25% savings.

Download
84 Mbps
Very Fast
Upload
8 Mbps
Very Fast
Latency
4 ms
Very Fast
Source: Cloudwards VPN Speed Test. We test daily. Data from 01/21/25 to 02/18/25
Data for region:

Whichever service you’re planning to access, ExpressVPN is an excellent VPN for streaming. As well as being secure, ExpressVPN is also the best VPN for beginners, thanks to its no-nonsense desktop and mobile apps. If you’re a complete newbie, and a bit nervous about using new software, ExpressVPN could be the VPN for you. 

ExpressVPN is also unfailingly consistent with streaming services. On the other hand, it’s a more expensive choice than our top two recommendations. Find out more in our ExpressVPN review, and try out the service yourself with its 30-day money-back guarantee

ExpressVPN Plans
  • Pricing for the annual and biennial plans applies only on the first year.
  • Unlimited GB
  • 8
  • Yes

Best Free VPN for Streaming Citizen Kane: PrivadoVPN

privadovpn connected to a server
PrivadoVPN is one of the best free VPNs on the market, with a wide variety of free servers. 

Pros

  • Unlimited free data
  • Wide variety of free servers
  • Works well with streaming services

Cons

  • Only 10GB fast streaming speeds each month

PrivadoVPN — one of our recommendations for the best free VPN — is a decent option if you’d like to pair a secure free VPN with your Amazon Prime Video free trial. With PrivadoVPN, you get unlimited free data with 10GB of high-speed connections each month. After 10GB, speeds are slower and you can’t choose your server location.

One of the strengths of PrivadoVPN’s free plan is the wide variety of servers it offers, including free servers in Canada. If you want unlimited access to servers, though, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan. Find out more in our PrivadoVPN review

Should I Watch the Citizen Kane Full Movie Before Mank?

You should watch Citizen Kane before you watch Mank if you want to get a better understanding of some of the references, but it’s not necessary. You can still enjoy and understand Mank — a 2020 film about screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz’s work on Citizen Kane — without watching Citizen Kane at all. 

Final Thoughts

If Citizen Kane is next up on your watchlist, we hope our guide on how to watch it from anywhere with a VPN has been helpful. A VPN is an invaluable piece of software for streamers because it can offer you a much wider selection of content from around the world.

NordVPN is the best choice when it comes to streaming. With NordVPN’s risk-free 30-day refund period, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by giving the service a try.

Have you tried out a VPN with Citizen Kane? If so, do you plan to continue using one for streaming? What do you think of the mystery of Charles Foster Kane’s final words and his Xanadu mansion? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading.  

FAQ: How to Watch Citizen Kane

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