How To Watch Small Axe In The United States & Canada (free)

Small Axe is a 2020 anthology series created and directed by Steve McQueen, comprised of five stand-alone films exploring the experiences of West Indian immigrants in London between the 60s and 80s.

If you are here to find out where to watch Small Axe in the US and Canada for free, read this guide to the last.

How to Watch Small Axe on BBC iPlayer in the United States

Small Axe is a British TV show divided into five episodes, the series is available on BBC iPlayer in the UK. If you reside outside the UK, then follow these steps:

1- Get a reliable VPN to unblock BBC (We recommend ExpressVPN and NordVPN after testing)

2- Download the VPN application on your device (Both ExpressVPN and NordVPN have dedicated apps for several devices, including PC, Mac, iPhone, Linux, and Android devices)

3- Select a British server from the country list

4- Now open BBC.com on your browser or in-app

5- Search for Small Axe on BBC

6- Enjoy

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How to get a BBC iPlayer account in the US & Canada

Unfortunately, BBC iPlayer is restricted to the UK only. You can not stream it from outside the UK, but that does not mean you can not have an iPlayer account from the US and Canada. Follow these steps to get a BBC iPlayer account from outside the UK:

Get ExpressVPN for BBC iPlayer (30-day money-back guarantee)
Connect to a British IP address (UK – Dockland)
Open BBC.co.uk in your browser or click here
Click on Sign in, which is located in the top left corner
It will redirect you to another page now click on register now
Select your age (Below 16 or Above 16)
Add your date of birth, email ID, and password
Select the United Kingdom as your country and add “E16 1AD or E16 2AF” as the postal code for Dockland
Verify your email address
Done! Now you have access to BBC iPlayer in the US and Canada

Small Axe release date

Small Axe is a five-part British Drama Series released for the first time on November 20th, 2020. The show is currently in its first season, and five episodes have been released. The 2nd season of the show is not confirmed yet, and according to the sources, there are no talks about renewing it for another season.

If you like watching British shows, check out Great Expectations, Sherlock, Planet Sex with Cara Delevingne, and The Split on BBC.

Small Axe- Trailer

Where to watch Small Axe in the United States

Small Axe is a British tv series only available on Prime Video in the United States. You can also get a digital copy of the movie on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu.

If you are not an active Prime Video subscriber, watch Small Axe on BBC from the United States with ExpressVPN. An ExpressVPN account will cost you around $6.67/m with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can also watch Hulu from France and enjoy watching several American shows from outside the US.

Is Small Axe available on Crave in Canada?

Unfortunately, Small Axe is not streaming on Crave in Canada. The British tv series is only streaming on Prime Video and is also available on Google Play Movies for a digital purchase.

Small Axe- Plot

One of the most prominent themes in Small Axe is racism, which is touched upon in all parts of the series.

Each episode tells a different story, but what they all have in common is the setting. The stories are centered around the lives of West Indian immigrants living in London. The episodes talk about a multitude of topics, from the most riveting ones like police brutality and racial discrimination to the more insightful ones like the importance of community and music in the lives of immigrants.

The first film, “Mangrove,” covers the theme of police brutality in the context of the trial of the Mangrove Nine. The Nine were a group of Black activists who were involved in a march to the local police station to protest police brutality in Notting Hill in the 70s. The courtroom drama provides insight into the level of bias that existed in all avenues of the justice system. On a more positive note, the role of solidarity in the community was highlighted in the fight for justice.

“Lovers Rock,” touches upon the importance that music and dance hold in the lives of young immigrants from the West Indies. Set at a house party in the 80s, the episode celebrates Black culture and community.

“Red, White and Blue,” is focused on the efforts of a young black man to change the system from within. Leroy Logan joined the police force in the 80s to effect a change in how officers interacted with black people, and this episode covers his story and touches upon institutional racism.

In the film “Alex Wheatle”, the life, and experiences of the titular writer being brought up in a children’s home in the 80s are in focus. The importance of community is revisited in this episode which also touches upon the extremely poignant theme of identity.

The final film is titled “Education” and is in some ways an avenue of self-expression for the director and close to his heart. This is because “Education” is based on McQueen’s experiences while growing up in London in the 70s. The episode sheds light on the report that declared West Indian children “subnormal” and how racially biased IQ tests were used as the basis to send the children to “special needs” schools.

The cast of Small Axe

The entire cast of “Small Axe” is exceptional and delivers masterful performances to bring these important stories to life.

The cast of “Small Axe” is led by a talented group of actors, including John Boyega as Leroy Logan, Letitia Wright as Altheia Jones-LeCointe, Shaun Parkes as Frank Crichlow, Malachi Kirby as Darcus Howe, and Micheal Ward as Franklyn.

The show’s creator and director were Steve McQueen, who also contributed to writing the show.

Small Axe- Ratings

All of the films were released in film festivals first, then broadcast on TV. The whole anthology of Small Axe is rated 7.8 out of 10 on IMDb, and it has a perfect score of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes.

What else can you watch on iPlayer?

Here is a list of popular tv series and movies you should check out on BBC iPlayer:

Wrap Up

The series is McQueen’s tribute to his community and his and other West Indian immigrants’ experiences in London. It is a timely reminder to the institutions and the wider general audience that the fight against racism needs to be fought on fronts. “Small Axe” is a must-watch for everyone everywhere.

We have tested ExpressVPN to unlock iPlayer in the USA, and with its excellent servers in the UK, it worked flawlessly. Therefore we highly recommend the use of ExpressVPN.

How to Watch Small Axe (2020) in the United States and Canada| Watch it on BBC iPlayer in 2023.