You’ve seen the clips. A guy in a kitchen is slicing vegetables with the terrifying, mechanical precision of a factory robot while his own face looks absolutely horrified. That’s Grey Trace. Or rather, that’s STEM, the sentient chip implanted in Grey’s spine. If you’re trying to figure out where to watch Upgrade, you’re likely chasing that specific itch for "low-budget movie that looks like a billion bucks."
It’s a Leigh Whannell masterpiece. Before he did The Invisible Man, he gave us this gritty, neon-soaked Australian cyberpunk nightmare. But honestly? Finding it on a streaming service is a total moving target because of how Blumhouse and Neon handle their distribution rights. One month it’s chilling on a major platform; the next, it’s vanished into the digital ether.
Right now, the landscape for streaming Upgrade is fragmented. If you’re in the US, your first stop should be Max (formerly HBO Max). They’ve held the primary streaming rights for a while, though these deals usually refresh every fiscal quarter. If you have a Hulu subscription, you might find it bundled there if you have the Max add-on. For those outside the States, particularly in the UK or Canada, the movie frequently pops up on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, but it’s inconsistent.
The Current Digital Rental Landscape
Sometimes you just want to own the thing. If you aren't subbed to Max, you’re looking at the usual suspects for a digital purchase. Apple TV (iTunes), Amazon, Google Play, and Vudu all carry it.
The price usually hovers around $3.99 for a rental and $14.99 to buy. Is it worth buying? Look, if you’re a fan of physical stunts and "gun-fu," yes. Whannell used a unique camera rig where the camera was literally locked to actor Logan Marshall-Green’s movements. When Grey moves, the frame moves with him. It creates this nauseating, robotic fluidity that looks better than most $200 million Marvel movies.
Don't settle for SD. Seriously. The color palette in this movie—heavy reds, deep blacks, and clinical blues—needs 4K or at least a high-bitrate 1080p stream to pop. If you watch a compressed, grainy version, you lose the texture of the "near-future" world Whannell built on a shoestring budget of about $3 million.
Why Everyone is Suddenly Searching for Upgrade
It’s the "Tom Hardy" effect. Sorta.
For years, people confused Logan Marshall-Green with Tom Hardy. They look strikingly similar. When Venom came out around the same time as Upgrade, a lot of people actually preferred Upgrade’s take on the "voice in my head is controlling my body" trope. It’s meaner. It’s tighter. It’s got a much darker sense of humor.
Then there’s the TV show rumor. For a long time, there’s been talk of an Upgrade television series. Whannell and Tim Walsh (the showrunner) have been working on a sequel series that picks up years after the film, where STEM has found a new host. Every time a new casting rumor drops or a production update leaks, people flock back to the original movie to see what the hype is about.
The Physical Media Factor
If you’re a nerd about bitrates, you should probably ignore streaming entirely.
Shout! Factory released a 4K UHD Blu-ray of Upgrade a while back. It’s the definitive way to watch it. The disc includes a bunch of commentary tracks that explain how they did the fight scenes. For example, in the famous "kitchen fight," Logan Marshall-Green had to learn the choreography while pretending he wasn't the one doing it. His limbs are fighting, but his head is trying to pull away. It’s an incredible piece of physical acting that gets lost if you're watching a low-res stream on a phone.
Regional Availability and VPNs
Streaming rights are a headache. Distribution is handled by different companies depending on where you live.
- United States: Check Max first. If not there, it's a rental-only title on Amazon/Apple.
- United Kingdom: It often cycles through Netflix and Now TV.
- Australia: Being an Aussie production, it’s frequently on Stan or Binge.
If you find that Upgrade isn't available in your specific region, many people use a VPN to hop over to a country where it is currently streaming. It's a gray area, sure, but when a movie this good is locked behind regional licensing walls, people get creative. Just make sure your VPN provider has high-speed servers; otherwise, the hyper-kinetic action scenes will turn into a pixelated mess.
Common Misconceptions About Streaming Upgrade
People often think because it’s a Blumhouse movie, it’ll be on Peacock.
That’s a logical guess. Universal owns Peacock and Universal often distributes Blumhouse. But Upgrade was actually distributed by OTL Releasing and Neon in the US. This means it doesn't follow the standard "theatrical to Peacock" pipeline that movies like M3GAN or Five Nights at Freddy's follow. It’s a bit of an orphan in the streaming world, which is why it jumps around so much.
Technical Specs to Look For
When you finally land on a platform to watch it, check the specs.
- HDR10 / Dolby Vision: This is huge for Upgrade. The movie has a lot of dark, claustrophobic interiors. Without HDR, the "crushed blacks" will make it hard to see the gritty details of the futuristic slums.
- 5.1 Surround Sound: The sound design of STEM—the voice Grey hears—is directional. It’s designed to feel like it’s inside the back of your own skull. A laptop speaker won't do it justice. Use headphones or a decent bar.
Whannell didn't just make a sci-fi flick; he made a body-horror movie. Every "crunch" and "whir" of Grey's mechanical joints is intentional. If the platform you’re using doesn't offer at least 5.1 audio, you’re missing half the experience.
👉 See also: The Chipmunk Christmas Song Original Story: How a Desperate $190 Debt Created a Holiday Empire
Is It on Free Streaming Sites?
You might see it pop up on "FAST" channels (Free Ad-supported Streaming Television) like Tubi, Pluto TV, or Freevee.
It’s rare, but it happens. Usually, these platforms get the rights for 30 to 60 days. The downside is the ads. Upgrade is a movie built on momentum. It’s a 95-minute sprint. Having a mid-roll ad for insurance pop up right as Grey is about to perform a non-consensual spinal surgery on a thug really kills the vibe. If you can swing the four bucks to rent it ad-free, do it.
Your Next Steps for Watching
Don't spend an hour scrolling. If you want to watch Upgrade right now, follow this sequence to save time.
First, open a search aggregator like JustWatch or Reelgood. These sites track daily changes in streaming libraries. Set your region and search for "Upgrade." It will tell you instantly if it’s currently on a subscription service you already pay for.
If it’s not on your subs, head to the Apple TV app or Amazon. They generally have the highest bitrate for rentals. Purchase the 4K version if available. Grab a pair of decent headphones, turn off the lights, and prepare for one of the best "hidden gem" endings in sci-fi history.
Once you finish, you’ll probably want more. Go look up The Invisible Man (2020) or Whannell’s earlier work with the Saw and Insidious franchises. He has a very specific way of moving the camera that started right here with Grey Trace and his murderous spine chip.