For those who want to avoid the crowds and lines at museums, a new series presents art exhibits as movies.

Exhibition On Screen offers a guided tour of exhibits such as the Matisse cut-outs at the Museum of Modern Art and Van Gogh in Amsterdam, plus interviews with experts who comment on the art.

Phil Grabsky, executive producer of Exhibition On Screen and director of two of the films, said the idea is not to replace the museum experience, but make them more accessible.

“Most of our audience in the United States, Canada and the rest of the world just won't be able to get into these shows,” he said. “But maybe you are living in Philadelphia and you will go to the Barnes and look at the Matisse they've got. If you like impressionists, you can go to the Norton Simons in Los Angeles.”

Exhibition On Screen was launched last year, when about 50,000 people in the US saw three art films. The series is in 53 countries and follows a trend of "event cinema" that includes movie versions of the Metropolitan Opera and the National Theater of London.

Grabsky said the first season was very successful, and it proves they are filling a gap. “Television thinks people are not interested in art, and they are completely wrong. If given the opportunity, people absolutely love art,” he said.

According to the Museum of Modern Art, about 500,000 people have seen the Matisse cut-outs show; MoMA extended the show until Feb. 10, and will open the museum until 8 p.m. on the weekends of Jan. 17 and 24.

The film  “Matisse from MoMA and Tate Modern” opens on Jan. 13. The next film, about Rembrandt, will be released Feb. 24.