What Is Nacho Time? Popcorn Time-Inspired Movie Streamer Blocked As Interest Grows

Nacho Time, the browser plug-in that allowed users to stream new movies illegally, was knocked offline Thursday, only days after its debut. The video service earned favorable comparisons with the streaming service Popcorn Time, with reviewers lauding Nacho Time for not forcing them to download a potentially dangerous app.

Popcorn Time, downloadable software that lets users stream copyrighted movies, has been called the “Netflix for pirates” for its clean interface and easy navigation. Now Nacho Time has the nickname “Popcorn Time for browsers” for giving users access to brand-new TV shows and movies within their browser. Whether Nacho Time has any connection to the loosely affiliated network of Popcorn Time sites isn't immediately clear, though Nacho Time's display is almost identical to the one used by the most popular Popcorn Time services.

And the similarities don't stop there. Similar to Popcorn Time before it, Nacho Time was shut down early Thursday by Dutch anti-piracy organization Brein, according to the news site MYCE.com. Brein's chairman told Dutch cable executives that he's been pursuing Nacho Time since its inception, MYCE reported, and now the service's main site broadcasts a message making it clear he was successful.

“This site has been deleted by Brein for offering illegal entertainment content,” read a notice on NachoTime.io. “This website made use of an illegal online selection of movies and TV shows.”

If Nacho Time is anything like Popcorn Time and its other piracy predecessors, though, users should expect the blocked site to reboot again in the near future under a new domain.