The story of With/In Volume 2
With/In Volume 2 is an ambitious anthology project that flips the traditional filmmaking playbook on its head. Rather than giving crews unlimited budgets and freedom, the film strips everything away—confining a collection of directors to their homes and handing them nothing but an iPhone and basic production gear. The premise is deceptively simple: what happens when creatives are forced to work within the tightest possible parameters? The result is a 122-minute exploration of how constraint breeds innovation, featuring work from both established directors and emerging voices who'd never made a film before. It's a genuine experiment in what's possible when you remove the excuses and just start creating.
Behind the making of With/In Volume 2
With/In Volume 2 is part of the larger Contigo - Colección franchise, a series designed around the idea of creative limitation as a springboard. The film was produced by Maven Screen Media and Off Media, two companies with a track record of taking risks on unconventional storytelling formats. Released in 2021, it arrived at a moment when the entire film industry was grappling with lockdown constraints—which made the project's central conceit feel less like a gimmick and more like a mirror held up to the moment we were living through. The anthology format allowed the filmmakers to sidestep traditional casting hierarchies and box-office expectations; instead of betting everything on star power or a single narrative, the collection succeeds or fails on the merit of the ideas themselves. That's a refreshing approach, even if not every segment lands equally. The film earned one award nomination, a modest but meaningful recognition in the crowded field of pandemic-era cinema.
What makes With/In Volume 2 stand out
What's striking about this project is that it takes the "limitations breed creativity" mantra seriously—and then actually tests it. You can't hide behind production design or expensive cinematography when you're shooting on an iPhone in your apartment. What you're left with is story, performance, and directorial voice, which means the work either connects or it doesn't. Some segments are genuinely inventive, finding ways to use domestic spaces and available light that feel fresh. Others struggle with the format, and that unevenness is honest; it's what you'd expect from a true experiment. The performances vary too—some actors rise to the challenge of working in such stripped-down circumstances, while others seem to be fighting the constraints rather than working within them. I keep coming back to the fact that this collection doesn't pretend everything works equally well, which is more interesting than a polished anthology where every piece feels like it's been focus-grouped. The IMDb rating of 4 out of 10 (based on 119 votes) reflects that mixed reception, but it also reflects the film's willingness to take risks that don't always pay off—and there's something valuable in that honesty.
Where to stream With/In Volume 2 online
With/In Volume 2 is available across major OTT platforms, making it accessible whether you're subscribed to Netflix, Prime Video, or other streaming services. Movie OTT tracks current streaming availability in real time, so you can find exactly where it's playing in your region without hunting through multiple apps. The "Where to Watch" widget at the top of this page shows all the platforms currently carrying the title—check there first to avoid the frustration of searching three different services only to find it's not on any of them. Since streaming rights shift regularly, it's worth confirming availability before you settle in to watch, especially if you're planning a group viewing.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Is With/In Volume 2 a sequel to the first With/In film?
Yes, it's the second installment in the Contigo - Colección series, meaning it follows the same creative framework as the original—filmmakers working under identical constraints. You don't need to watch Volume 1 to understand Volume 2, since each anthology stands alone, but fans of the first film will recognize the conceptual DNA.
Q: What's the runtime for With/In Volume 2?
The film runs 122 minutes, which is a solid length for an anthology—long enough to give each segment room to breathe, but short enough that it doesn't overstay its welcome even when certain pieces aren't working.
Q: Can I watch With/In Volume 2 on streaming, or is it only in theaters?
It's available on streaming platforms through Movie OTT and the major OTT services, so you can watch from home—which feels appropriate given the film's own lockdown origins.
Q: Who directed With/In Volume 2?
The film is an anthology, so it features multiple directors ranging from established names to first-time filmmakers, all working within the same creative constraints and using identical gear.
Q: What was the budget for With/In Volume 2?
The beauty of the project is that budget became irrelevant—every director got the same iPhone and basic gear, so production cost was kept deliberately low. It's a creative exercise, not a blockbuster production.
Final thoughts on With/In Volume 2
With/In Volume 2 won't be for everyone. The uneven quality, the 4/10 IMDb score, the fact that some segments fall flat—these aren't bugs, they're features of an honest creative experiment. But if you're interested in seeing what happens when filmmakers can't rely on money or technology or star power, when they've got nothing but an idea and a phone, then it's worth your time. It's a film about filmmaking, really—a love letter to the craft that says: the tools don't matter as much as the vision. Stream it, judge it yourself, and don't worry if you end up liking some pieces and hating others. That's kind of the point.
