New to Cordcutting. Would like some advice.

I'd like to get a nice media server set up going with what I have. Right now I have all my media on my MacBook which is hooked up to my tv. I'd like to be able to stream everything to my iPad and iPhone and also control the MacBook with them. I have messed around with Plex a little, but it never seems to be able to stream a full movie to my iPad without crashing. I have heard of XBMC, goodplayer, and air video and I'm wondering if they or anything else would work better for me.

if it means anything the iPhone is jailbroken.