this guide assumes you have a samba share on the network serving video files and that you're running raspbian OS on your pi (i'm running buster on a rpi 3) - and the pi is connected via HDMI to a monitor for obvious reasons...

enable ssh

sudo raspi-config

select Interface options > SSH > Yes

add the following to your /etc/fstab (example - mount to /media/television)

//<server-ip-address>/<share> /media/television cifs credentials=/home/pi/.smbcredentials 0 0

create a .smbcredentials file under /home/pi/

user=<your-samba-share-user>
password=<your-samba-share-password>

create bash script here (example): /home/pi/scripts/start.sh

#!/bin/bash

cvlc --random --fullscreen --no-playlist-tree --recursive="expand" --playlist-enqueue /media/television/Aqua\ Teen\ Hunger\ Force/**/** /media/television/The\ Simpsons/**/** /media/television/Boondocks/**/** /media/television/Home\ Movies/**/**

make it executable

sudo chmod +x /home/pi/scripts/start.sh

create desktop file here (may have to create autostart directory) ~/.config/autostart/video.desktop

[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Type=Application
Name=tv
Comment=
Exec=/home/pi/scripts/start.sh
StartupNotify=false
Terminal=true
Hidden=false

set pi to wait for network connection on boot

sudo raspi-config

select System Options > Network at Boot > Yes

remove cursor unless you move mouse

sudo apt-get install unclutter

set a cool background like this:

hide panel (task bar)

right click on panel > panel settings > set width to 0%

you can control volume of pi remotely via SSH

alsamixer