Best way to watch a movie on my iphone 4s ????

PLEX works on your local network too.

I don't understand question, it's way too vague. Teasingly, I said get an Android phone, LOL.

I'm assuming this question is about local media you have stored somewhere. As above stated, if you have Plex, you're set. All you need to go is download the appropriate front end client. For your phone, just look in iTunes (iTune link?). If you're running the Plex server 9.5 and have MyPlex setup, just sign in on your phone. It should find your PMS locally with no problems.

I use Plex, but with WIndows, Android and Roku. I use it both locally on my LAN and over 3G at work. They made it really easy to setup.

Other than that, I would suggest Netflix, Hulu Plux and Crackle. They all play well. Oh, don't forget some kind of magnifying sheet, LOL

File Sharing above and beyond movie playback?

The paid version of CrashPlan+ does that AFAIK. My son uses it but I don't and I'm not sure but I think it loads them to their cloud server and you can access them through their smartphone app.

i use air video or air media center. both very good.

i have read external streaming is a little easier with air media center. air media center does music and photo streaming too.

there is another software that lets you stream or download from your share. I will have to check the name. wifes taken over the 4s. im stuck with the work crackberry.

Sure beats the 1950's "fish bowl" TV's that you had to fill with water.

Plex. I have been recommending this to you for months.

+1

I can access my windows/samba shared directories on my android via most file manager apps. Doesn't iPhone have similar apps?

I am confused. Your thread title asks how to play a movie on your iPhone.

There is an app called filebrowser but it will only play iPad friendly media (mp4 for video). Filebrowser allows you to access samba shares easily. I have a FreeNas server and most of my media is in MKV format and would like an app that could stream these files to my ipad. I can't use plex cause I am unable to install it on Freenas.

Any options for this?

Another vote for Air Video

the server software lets you select what you share. you browse your subfolder structure the way its organized. only thing is it shows the filetypes it supports as thumbnails. its not a plex style catalogueing function.