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13 Best Places to Watch Free Movies Online

Tubi and YouTube are the best sites for streaming free full-length movies, but you've got lots of other options

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Watching free movies online is a convenient and frugal way to see the films you love right from the comfort of your own home. Yes, there are plenty of sites where you can get movies "for free" but I've taken the time to confirm that the ones listed below, although ad-supported, are clean from viruses and, importantly, 100% legal to use .

Our Top Picks

Best Overall: Tubi

Tubi has thousands of free movies and shows, including big titles and a kid-friendly area.

Best for User Feedback: YouTube

Among the millions of videos on YouTube are free movies with ads, curated by YouTube staff.

Best for Popular Titles: Freevee

Amazon's free movie streaming service includes tons of well-known films.

Best for a TV Experience: Pluto TV

It's like cable TV, but totally free. Watch on-demand movies and TV, plus live videos 24/7.

Best for High-Quality Movies: Fandango at Home

Fandango at Home's high-def movies are organized into unique sections like Blast From the Past, Hidden Gems, and Big Time Movie Stars.

Best for a Variety of Movies: Popcornflix

Jump right into watching free movies on your TV, phone, or computer without even setting up an account.

Best for Finding Movies Around the Web: Yidio

Yidio doesn't host any content, but it has a robust search feature that finds where you can watch films and shows for free online.

There's a huge variety of freely available movies on these sites, from comedies and dramas to horror and action films. There are movies from big-name studios, but also many older and independent movies that you'll love to watch over and over again. Just be sure you have the best TV you can to ensure a great viewing experience.

I spend some time each month looking for the best free movie sites on the internet. This list was last updated in April to confirm that they still work, are still free, and are still worth your time.

Most of these sites have a mobile app for watching their movies. Take a look at our list of the best free apps for streaming movies so you can take the films with you wherever you go.

High quality, popular movies.

Lots of categories.

Subtitles can be enabled for most movies.

Has a section just for kids.

You don't need to log in to start watching.

Genre categories don't separate movies from shows.

You don't want to miss the thousands of free movies and TV shows you can stream right now at Tubi.

I like to visit the Leaving Soon page to catch freebies before they start to cost somewhere else, but my favorite part of this website for inspiration is Trending Now — I often have no clue what I'm in the mood for, so to see what everyone else is watching right now is awesome.

For example, a few of the more popular titles people have been streaming over the last month include Van Wilder, Never Back Down, The Tuche Family, Black Mountain Side, Barbecue, and The New Adventures of Aladdin.

There are dozens of other genres and collections to pick from, too, like exclusives in Only Free on Tubi , and Black Cinema, Foreign Films, Based on a Book, Highly Rated on Rotten Tomatoes, and Cult Classics. There's also a Spanish section and live TV.

Tubi Kids is a section of this site perfect for streaming just kid-related films. It's available from the top of the website and has categories just for preschoolers and other kids, including Toon TV, LEGO, Animé, and Friendly Monsters films. There are also parental controls you can set through the normal website.

You don't even need a user account to watch this stuff. Just follow this link below, click something you're interested in, and enjoy!

Movies are rated by real viewers.

You can leave comments.

Single, easy-to-scroll-through list.

Most movies have subtitles.

No ads for Premium subscribers.

Many aren't in HD.

Relatively few genres.

No easy search tool for just the free movies.

I was shocked the first time I found out YouTube has free movies . And no, these aren't poorly filmed videos without subtitles that were uploaded by someone random. I mean proper, full-length, totally legal movies, uploaded and managed by YouTube.

Recently, I was able to watch Proximity and Twilight ; both included captions and were available in 1080p. Here are some other examples of free films I saw listed on YouTube this past month: The Godfather, Tremors, The Rookie, Ava, and 17 Again.

Something you can't get with YouTube, but that is supported by most of these movie sites, is the ability to search through just the free titles. However, here's a trick that has saved me loads of time: Open the full list of movies and use your browser's Find function to search by year, genre, or title.

YouTube's curated list (the link below) is the best way to find all their new and popular free movies. Some companies, like Cineverse , list movies in their own profile.

Great collection of newer free films and shows.

Browsing for movies is easy.

Includes original videos.

Locate movies with subtitles in your language.

Uncluttered video player.

User account required.

Most in-video ads are long.

Unhelpful search tool.

For US users only.

Freevee (formerly IMDb TV) is Amazon's collection of free movies. I use this a lot from my TV, but it's just as easily accessible from their website or mobile app. Everything I watch here is easy to find and seems to be high-quality.

Something I like about this site is how the genres and movie collections are organized. For example, if I'm looking through the most popular movies or recently added lists, I can filter by genre and/or subtitle language to make sure I find a movie that's a good fit for me.

The video player lets you turn on subtitles, adjust the way the captions show up on the screen, change the video quality, and go into full-screen mode.

Here are some of the most popular movies you can watch at Freevee: Fantastic Journey to Oz, All Saints, Space Explorers, Air Force 2, A Nanny's Revenge , and Emma.

Has the same feel as a TV's channel guide.

Includes thousands of on-demand movies.

Streams TV shows, news, music, and more.

No user account necessary.

Has only a dozen or so channels for just movies.

Live-streamed movies can't be watched again on demand.

There's always a video playing; you can mute, but not stop it.

Pluto TV is the closest thing I've found to free cable TV. It's owned by Paramount and fully supported by ads, so there's no worry that you might accidentally buy something.

My biggest joy about using this service is that I can just turn it on and let it play. There are hundreds of live channels, so some of them feature news, reality TV, or game shows, but there are also some with full-length movies.

Not everything is live, though, which is good. If I'm in the mood for something specific, I can look through thousands of movies and TV shows that are available on demand.

The unique categories for their on-demand films are a huge plus because most movie sites just stick to the traditional few genres. Examples include Hollywood Icons, Goofus and Goofus, Black Cinema, '90s Throwback , and Cult Films.

These are some of the most-watched movies on Pluto TV this last month: Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters, Norbit, The Quiet Man, Tommy Boy, She's the Man, Crawl, and The Truman Show.

In my experience, running Pluto TV through a TV makes it easier to use because the always-on video player gets in the way on smaller screens. But, there is a mobile app and a desktop player if you'd rather go that route.

Fandango at Home

Lots of high quality movies.

Several useful ways to find just the free movies.

Most are popular and well known, and include subtitles.

Films can be filtered and sorted in a number of ways.

Also supports buying and renting movies.

Some movies here cost.

You must log in (it's free).

There are thousands of movies on Fandango at Home (formerly Vudu) that you can watch right now. All you have to do is put up with a few commercials.

It's a great movie site whether you do or don't have an idea about what you want to watch. Films can be filtered by genre, and you can browse by most-watched or release date. All the basic genres are available: action, comedy, crime, romance, and a few others.

While it's true that the genres aren't interesting, Fandango at Home makes up for it with their curated lists. Check these out: Big Time Movie Stars , Critically Acclaimed , Hidden Gems , and Most Watched Movies . There are a few hundred videos in each section.

Something unique about this site is that not only does it let you look through the newest releases, but you can do so on a single page for every genre. Some examples of 2024 titles include Offworld: Alien Planet, Calber Island, Much Ado, Live Hard, Lola, Me & Will , and Mary Mary .

One great thing about Fandango at Home's movies is that some of them are in 1080p, so you don't have to sacrifice quality just to watch some free movies.

Once you settle on something to watch, you might be given the option to buy or rent it, but so long as you find it through one of the free pages, there will be a button you can use to stream the movie without paying. You can even watch movies still in theaters .

Popcornflix

Includes subtitles.

Has a one-page list of every movie available.

'Continue watching' section.

Can't sort by date or popularity.

Strange site navigation.

Popcornflix is another great place to watch free movies online. Their constant flow of new titles from Screen Media Ventures means they have lots of movies being added all the time.

Right off the bat, I appreciate that I don't need an account to use it. I also like that resume playback is supported so I can pause and watch the rest of the movie later.

However, there are a few things I don't like. While the website is definitely very modern-looking, it's not super user-friendly. Along that same line, I would love to have sorting options within each genre list because it's way more fun to see which documentaries, for example, were added recently so I'm not scrolling over all the same movies I always see.

There are several hundred movies here that include comedy, drama, horror, action, romance, family, documentary movies, and foreign films. They also feature web and film school originals and list some titles by a common theme. I've seen Disaster Movie Madness, Edgy Comedies, Behind Bars, Space Invaders, Pulse-Pounding Thrills , and Fear Factory .

Makes it easy to find free movies around the web.

Lots of unique filtering options.

Sort by popularity and date added.

Can be helpful for renting and buying, too.

Films are streamed through other sites.

Incorrectly labels some paid movies as free.

Shows the wrong synopsis and photo for some films.

I'm so happy I stumbled on Yidio years ago! It's like a search engine for all these other movie sites. It's incredibly handy because it shows where on the internet a movie is available for free.

A search box would be enough, but Yidio goes above and beyond with lots of other sorting and filtering options. These include MPAA rating, decade, genre, IMDb score, and others. Just fill out any of that information to get a list you can comb through, with links to free movie sites.

For example, I asked Yidio to find me free animation movies released since 2020 and to sort the list by IMDb rating. The top several results provided links to watch those films on Tubi, Roku, Pluto TV, and other free streaming sites.

This isn't a perfect service, but it works great nearly every time I use it.

Most if not all movies have subtitles.

Doesn't require a user account.

Several ways to browse the films.

Create a queue for easy passive watching.

Mostly uninteresting genres.

Lists shows alongside the movies.

Huge lists of videos that can't be sorted.

Plex is an interesting service because it's actually a much bigger package than it might seem at first. In addition to its massive collection of free full-length movies and TV shows, Plex also has live TV and associated software that serves as a really cool at-home media server .

Currently, there are tens of thousands of free movies and shows here. They're sectioned off in traditional genres like action and crime, but you can also browse by actor or channel. Plex has its own unique collections, too, including Based On a True Story, Til Death Do Us Part, Oh-My-Godzilla, Cheap Thrills, Midnight Movies, and Most Woof-listed .

On a movie's watch page are similar titles and additional details that help build a total picture of the film, like the full cast list, reviews, and trailers. I love this because it makes it easy to find other movies on Plex with the same stars.

See which movies on Plex are leaving soon to catch them before they go! Plex's Most Popular page lists these titles and more: Lord of War, Movie 43, The Impossible, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Knowing.

If you can't find what you want on Plex, the title you're interested in might still show up in the results, and you'll be given links to places you can buy/rent it (sort of like Yidio, listed above).

You don't need a user account.

Also has TV shows.

Save movies to a 'Watch Later' list.

Includes movie trailers.

The ads help fund the project and filmmakers.

Can't sort or filter any genre list.

Really distracting ads.

No age verification for NC-17 films.

Filmzie is built for streaming movies from independent filmmakers and both small and large studios. The site and app are well-designed, and there are plenty of great titles to stream.

Here are some collections I've seen here that are rare to find on a movie site: Directed by Women, Asia's Top Cinema, Cuddle-Up Comedies , and Independent Cinema .

Of course, over 20 traditional genres, like drama and thriller, are also available. Trending, new, and most-watched movies each have their own section as well.

Filmzie does a great job organizing its movies. This is the main reason I use it. That, and there are so many videos here that I have never even heard of, so it's the perfect place to find something brand new.

Some of this site's most-watched movies are The Wonderpill, The Hard Ride, and The Maid. Some trending titles over this last month include 5 Shells, In Tranzit , and Lady Chatterley's Lover.

I've used the website and the mobile app, and both work more or less the same as these other movie sites.

The Roku Channel

Provides high quality movies.

Includes newer films.

Works on computers, mobile devices, and TVs.

Offers customizable captions.

No user account needed.

Can't filter or sort any genre list.

Doesn't separate movies from shows in category lists.

Lists paid videos next to free ones.

You might already know about Roku's free movies if you have a Roku TV or streaming player. But even if you don't, you can still watch all the same free movies, TV shows, and live TV from a computer, phone, or tablet.

There are some ads in these movies, but the trade-off is high-quality videos and well-known movies.

On the home page are handy categories I have yet to find on another free movie site. They often change, but some that I've seen include Fools in Love, UFO Phenomenon, Teen Dramas, Reality Romance, Undercover Agents, Environment, and Mexican Action.

While there are also typical genre lists you can browse through, none of them let you sort by popularity or filter by rating or year. This is by far my biggest issue with the service. That, and both TV shows and movies are mixed into the same lists and said lists must be browsed horizontally in a carousel-like menu. It's just not super user-friendly.

However, I do like that you can search for actors and directors to find movies they're associated with. I also appreciate the Continue watching section.

Big selection, including recent films.

Good video quality.

Really great mobile app.

Can't sort films by popularity.

Available only in the US and its territories.

Crackle is a no-brainer for this list. I always come back to it to watch free movies online because of its list of hundreds of full-length films and original programming. These are big-name movies with stars I'm sure you know.

Although you have to sit through commercials, I find them to be relatively short, with only a few breaks during a movie.

Another reason I choose Crackle is because of its unique categories like Foreign Language, Stand-Up, British, Variety/Talk/Games, and Unidentified/Unexplained . It's fun to look through interesting genres like this.

A closed captioning toggle is available directly from the video player for all users but, if you sign up for an account (it's free), you can also enable parental controls (options are kids mode, teen mode, and grown-up mode).

Here are some examples of the most popular movies on Crackle: Rabbit, Ninja: Shadow Of A Tear, Red Line, Losin' It, Swift, and Dune Warriors.

Supports 'resume watching.'

Clearly shows which titles are leaving soon.

Genre lists can't be sorted.

Few unique genres.

Redbox is known for its DVD rental kiosks, but they also have free movie streams available through their website and mobile app. No matter where you use it, the user interface is quite bland, and you can't sort any of the lists. Still, I'll end up here from time to time if I can't find something good through these other services.

Like most movie sites, Redbox's collection can be browsed by genre to help you find dramas, kid movies, romance films, comedies, etc. Faith-Based is one category I haven't seen elsewhere.

Redbox also makes it super simple to see which movies are the most popular and which ones will be leaving the site soon. Some of the latest movies added to their streaming collection include Autumn Road, Repeat, Night Night, Megan , and Infinitum: Subject Unknown .

Includes thousands of free videos.

Adds new movies often.

No ads display within the movies.

Loads of genres to pick from.

Unique movies.

Must have a supported library card or school account.

The Kanopy movie streaming site is different from these other choices because you need a valid library card or university login before you can watch anything. However, there are zero commercials in the movies, and new films are added every month.

Use the Kanopy signup page to search for your library, whether it's a public library or one attached to a school. You can start watching movies after you've been approved.

Kanopy does a great job providing useful categories to look through. There's Short Film, History - Ancient, LGBTQ Cinema, War & Action, Sociology, Performing Arts, Human Rights, Everyday Health, and K-12 Lessons .

A few of the more popular movies here include Memento, The Girl on the Train, and Maurice.

There's also an entirely separate section for Kanopy kids movies . My son's old enough now to watch non-kid movies, but if he weren't, I'd be thrilled with this. There are subsections like Story Time and Read-Along Storybooks . You can also set up parental controls to force only age-appropriate content.

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The 15 Best Sites to Watch Movies for Free (Legally!)

Looking for the best free online movie streaming sites? Here's where you can watch free and legal movies anytime you like.

Although free movie streaming might sound synonymous with piracy, there are loads of legal free movie websites on the internet. These are packed full of movies you can stream for free without breaking the law.

Whether you're looking for movies or TV shows, finding free videos to stream is totally feasible; it just requires that you know where to look. With that in mind, here are the best free online movie streaming sites to check out.

What to Expect From Free Movie Streaming Sites

There are a ton of free, legal videos online, so you'll find a great mix of options on the below services. A healthy amount of the movies available to stream for free are in the public domain. Because these films have lapsed in ownership and fallen into common property, many sites host such video treasures.

But it isn't just B-movies available to stream online; you'll also find many big-budget releases. Usually, these are ad-supported, so like watching a movie on TV, you'll have to sit through limited commercials. Nevertheless, the movies are usually presented uncut.

You shouldn't expect to see the latest releases. Instead, you'll mostly see movies dating back anywhere from a few months to many years. Additionally, some sites include original productions and amateur films.

To watch on the go, don't forget to also install some of the best free movie apps on your phone.

It's no surprise that YouTube ranks among the best free movie streaming sites you can find. It offers a ton of free films to pick from, including many public domain films from channels such as the aptly titled Public Domain Films .

Furthermore, channels like Popcornflix host full movies via YouTube, and you'll find an official Free to Watch section in YouTube's Movies & Shows hub. There's a fantastic mix, with everything from classic comedies to sports and much more. It's a far cry from channels that only offer movies from the 1950s you've never heard of.

You may have to dig a bit for what you want to watch. But for those with patience, YouTube is a treasure trove of free, legal movies to stream.

Boasting a solid array of syndicated content and its own productions, Crackle is a must for any film buff . Its rotating selection varies, but you'll find quality movies across genres here.

Aside from films, Crackle features television shows, including original programming. And by making a free account, you can enjoy Crackle on your TV too.

3. Midnight Pulp

Midnight Pulp is the new home of the defunct CONtv It features live TV, shows, and movies. The selection is a bit wild, consisting largely of horror, offbeat comedies, cheesy action, and Asian films. Some content requires a subscription, but a lot of what's here is available to watch for free.

While Vudu is known for its digital video rentals and sales, it has a sizable selection of free movies to stream too. With a comprehensive array of movies and TV shows, plus fresh additions arriving regularly, it's a fantastic service.

Vudu's free section operates similarly to Crackle by providing full movies with limited commercials. Through hosting films with ads, Vudu is able to offer free movies and TV shows legally.

You need to register for a free Vudu account to use this service, but it's worth doing so. Once you do, you can use your account to activate digital copies of movies and shows, as well as buy and rent movies from Vudu.

5. Popcornflix

Like Crackle, Popcornflix presents full movies with limited ads. Here, you'll find a range of movies in a rotating selection, and there's no account required to start watching. The service even offers some original content, to boot.

Flicks are segmented into genres that are more unique than the standard ones, such as Out for Revenge and Medieval Action . With a beefy lineup and easy navigation, Popcornflix is an awesome choice for free, legal movie streaming.

Providing free movies and shows, Tubi is another fantastic service for legal movie streams. Here, you'll be able to view newer movies from as recent as 2022, as well as older favorites.

Helpfully, Tubi offers a Leaving Soon category. This lets you prioritize your streaming queue so you can catch movies and shows before they disappear. Be sure to check out the First Time on Tubi collection, too.

7. Pluto TV

Pluto TV has a lot to offer. You'll find a Live TV section where you can switch between channels, much like traditional cable. Switch to the Live TV section on the left side to jump to channels that only play films, though they may be in the middle of something depending on when you start watching.

If you can't find something that you like on the live stations, switch to the On Demand section at the top. Here you'll find tons of free movies you can start streaming right away.

8. Classic Cinema Online

As the name suggests, Classic Cinema Online focuses on older content. Even its website aesthetic captures a decidedly retro vibe, using a backdrop of red theater curtains. You can walk through the decades here with films from the 1930s to the 1960s. There are even some silent films on offer, if you're interested in those.

Some of the inclusions may have you calling the definition of "classic cinema" into question. Nevertheless, Classic Cinema Online is pure gold for old-school movies and one of the best sites for public domain films .

Hoopla has one barrier to entry, but is still an easy way to legally watch movies online for free. To use Hoopla, you'll need to create an account and link your supported public library card.

Once you do, you can use Hoopla to borrow movies and TV shows, plus audiobooks and ebooks, from your library's collection. The service is available on the web as well as apps for all your devices and TV streaming boxes.

If you don't have a library card or your library doesn't support Hoopla, you won't be able to use it. But if you can, it's a service worth checking out.

Although Yidio isn't a video host, it does act as an excellent aggregator of free streaming movies and TV shows. The way Yidio works is by redirecting you to third-party services such as Amazon Prime, Netflix, and others. As such, certain films and shows here do require a subscription.

Using the Free filter on the left side will help you find movies and TV that come at no cost. Unfortunately, not everything in the free categories is actually free. Clicking on some titles prompts you to sign up for a free trial.

Still, Yidio makes finding free movie streams far easier than checking individual sites manually. You can filter by rating, genre, and more to find something to watch.

11. The Roku Channel

Don't be fooled by The Roku Channel's name. While it's available for Roku streaming devices via an app, you can watch on the web too. With a few clicks, you can stream Roku Originals, popular TV shows, and new-arrival movies.

The selection rotates, and there are categories on the main page to help you find something you'll enjoy. As expected, you'll have to sit through ads, but ad-supported means free, right?

Libraries are most often associated with books, but that's not all they provide. Kanopy, like Hoopla mentioned above, lets you stream tons of "thoughtful entertainment" movies for free, making it another great way to get free content with a participating library card (or university login).

With either of those, you can watch hundreds of free movies. These include a lot of documentaries and international films, so this is a great fit for those who want something a little different.

13. Amazon Freevee

Amazon Freevee (formerly IMDb TV) lets you enjoy free movies on Amazon Video. The service launched in 2019 and while its name has changed, the experience has remained the same. It allows anyone with a free account to watch a selection of free movies and TV shows. In addition to watching online, you can enjoy this content on your Fire TV, Xbox, PlayStation, and other streaming devices.

Alongside the movies, you'll also find some TV series (including live channels) and originals to enjoy.

14. Free Movies Cinema

As the name suggests, Free Movies Cinema features legal free movie streaming. Unlike many sites, the selection touts not only general categories like action and comedy, but also short films and features.

There's also a collection of fan-made movies, such as Portal and Watch Dogs, based on video games of the same names.

15. Top Documentary Films

If you're looking for free documentaries, you'll find plenty at Top Documentary Films. It packs a varied selection, including amateur documentaries you might not have heard about before.

Browse the Top 100 documentaries to find something that's popular, or take a look at recently added movies or the various genres to drill down a bit.

The Best Free Movie Sites for Everyone

With these free online movie streaming sites, you now know where to look for hundreds of free movies. Enjoy these legal films anytime, anywhere so you never go without something to watch.

Meanwhile, you should also know how to legally download movies for offline use, so you can enjoy them on your next flight or long trip.

How-To Geek

The 12 best free movie websites (that are legal and safe).

You don't need to pay a cent to watch tons of great movies online.

Quick Links

The roku channel.

The landscape of free movie streaming sites has massively expanded in recent years, with more sites popping up all the time. If you're looking to watch free movies online, here are our picks for the best options.

It's hard to argue with the vastness of Tubi's library of free movies online, which includes everything from well-known classics and box-office hits to cult movies that sometimes are unavailable to stream anywhere else. Tubi provides an unprecedented opportunity for independent filmmakers to share their work, which means you can find a variety of micro-budget movies that otherwise might never be seen. Tubi has also branched out into original productions, although the quality of those films vary.

Since selections on free movie streaming sites change frequently, it's helpful that Tubi has dedicated sections both for movies that are newly added and movies that are leaving soon. The sheer volume of content can be a bit overwhelming, but Tubi breaks down selections by genre and into specialty collections that make the experience more manageable. The ad breaks are not excessive, and the countdown to each one makes it less jarring when the movie you're watching is interrupted.

• Huge selection of movies and TV shows
• Lesser-known films not available anywhere else
• Useful warnings about ad breaks
• Sheer volume of content can be overwhelming

Pluto TV is a pioneer in the popular free ad-supported TV (FAST) space, offering up a range of linear-style channels. That means you don't have to scroll through a library of titles if you just want to sit back and watch TV. Put on a channel devoted to a movie genre like drama or horror, or a niche interest like Godzilla movies or Hallmark, and Pluto will offer up an endless supply of programming. There are on-demand options, too, and if something on a FAST channel catches your interest, you can pause or start from the beginning.

Thanks to Pluto's Paramount Global corporate ownership, there's often premium content from Paramount Pictures, Paramount+, CBS, and Showtime cycling through the service's offerings, along with news from local CBS affiliates. The on-demand library is a little tougher to navigate than the live channels, and Pluto's interface always has some video auto-playing, which means you can change or mute the channel, but you can't turn it off while you browse.

• Wide selection of live channels
• Content from Paramount Global brands
• Large on-demand library
• Constant auto-play video

Previously known as IMDb TV, Freevee is Amazon's home for watching free movies online. That means it's fully integrated into Amazon Prime Video, so if you're an Amazon Prime subscriber searching for something to watch, you'll find Freevee offerings alongside Prime Video's library. That can be convenient because it expands the selection of what's available, but it can also be frustrating when Prime Video users click on a movie or show only to discover that it features ad breaks.

For users who aren't Amazon Prime subscribers, though, Freevee offers a convenient way to watch free movies, including some Prime Video original programming that's offered through Freevee on a limited basis. Freevee has also delved into original programming with movies like the romantic comedy Love Accidentally and series like crime drama Bosch: Legacy and Emmy-nominated reality/scripted hybrid comedy Jury Duty . With the resources of Amazon behind it, Freevee has become one of the most prominent free movie websites.

Amazon Freevee

• Integration with Amazon Prime Video
• Large selection of content
• Original programming including popular titles
• Can be confusing to distinguish from Prime Video selections

Hoopla is one of two major free movie websites available to anyone with a library card from many libraries across the country. Depending on the individual library's policies, cardholders can stream a limited number of free movies online every month, without subscription fees or ads. Hoopla's film library includes an assortment of classics as well as many of the same fare available on free ad-supported streaming sites. It can sometimes be tough to find new releases, but Hoopla often carries movies that have just been released for VOD rental and aren't available on any other ad-supported or subscription-based streaming services yet.

Hoopla's borrowing limits also apply to its other available formats, including e-books, graphic novels, music, and audiobooks, so it can be tricky for dedicated library patrons to balance those different types of media. Hoopla sometimes offers "bonus borrows" of content that doesn't count toward monthly limits, and it also offers BingePass, with unlimited access to similar content like Hallmark programming or Curiosity Stream documentaries for a set period of time.

• Completely free with no ads
• Selection of movies including exclusive new releases
• Available to anyone with a library card
• Limited number of streams per month
• Movies and TV counted along with other media borrows

Like Hoopla, Kanopy is a way to watch free movies online for patrons of many libraries, as well as for university students. While there's plenty of overlap between selections on both Hoopla and Kanopy, Kanopy is more focused on foreign films, documentaries, and arthouse releases. Like Hoopla, Kanopy offers a limited number of free movies online depending on the individual institution that provides access. Unlike Hoopla, Kanopy is entirely devoted to movies and TV, so users don't have to split their credits among different types of media.

Selections on Kanopy may differ depending on licensing agreements for each sponsoring institution, so not every movie is available for every user. In general, Kanopy features a wide range of vintage and modern films, including movies from popular indie distributors like A24, which signed a long-term deal to provide content to Kanopy. That gives Kanopy a more diverse lineup of films than many subscription streaming services.

• Impressive selection of arthouse and foreign films
• Selections differ depending on the sponsoring institution

No, you don't need to own a Roku device in order to watch the Roku Channel . That common misconception may have kept some people away from one of the most reliable free movie websites. While the Roku Channel is integrated into Roku streaming devices and Roku TVs, it's also available as a standalone app on other streaming devices and as a website, where it features a selection of free ad-supported movies.

The Roku Channel also offers more than 350 live FAST channels, from cable brands like Ion and Court TV and franchises like The Walking Dead and Power Rangers . The Roku Channel has also delved into original programming, picking up all the shows from short-lived streaming service Quibi and producing original movies like Weird: The Al Yankovic Story . Ad breaks are relatively unobtrusive and usually cluster toward the first two-thirds or so of a movie, so the most involving part can run uninterrupted.

• Available without a Roku device
• Hundreds of live channels
• Popular original programming
• Roku integration limits usefulness elsewhere

Initially launched in 2004, Crackle is one of the oldest free movie streaming sites, and it's undergone various changes in ownership and content over the years. One thing that's remained consistent is its position as a go-to site to watch free movies online, and its current ownership under Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment gives it access to a shared library of content with corporate sibling Redbox. You can find many of the same movies on both sites, with a range of genres, from classics to modern blockbusters, along with TV series including anime and British imports.

Crackle also hosts original content, including numerous romance and action movies, and TV shows like Chosen starring Milo Ventimiglia and the series adaptation of Guy Ritchie's Snatch . Although its original productions aren't as elaborate as they've been in the past, it's still a reliable destination for on-demand ad-supported movies, just as it's been for nearly two decades.

• Longtime destination for free content
• Robust library of movies and TV series
• Scaled back original content

Although Vudu is mainly known as an outlet for digital purchases and rentals, it's also a destination for watching free movies online. Vudu's selections include certain movies that are available to stream for free with ads, alongside movies for rental or purchase. That can make things a bit confusing, especially when a movie's page lists both a rental price and a free option, but if you know what you are looking for, you can find plenty of options to watch free movies on Vudu.

There's a dedicated section on Vudu's site for free movies, so users don't have to sort through paid content in order to find something to watch for free. Vudu's free selections include movies and TV series in a variety of genres. Browsing through genres pulls up both free and paid offerings, so users can find something to watch for free as an alternative to a rental or purchase. It provides a good balance as long as you pay attention to how each selection is labeled.

• Free content integrated with rentals and purcahses
• Dedicated section for free offerings
• Can be difficult to differentiate free and paid selections

People may be more familiar with Redbox for its physical kiosks outside places like grocery stores and drugstores, which offer DVDs for rent, but the Redbox website is a destination for digital purchases and rentals as well as a place to watch free movies online. There's a much wider selection of movies at Redbox online than at the kiosk, although info about movies available for physical rental comes up in search results alongside digital availability. That's handy for finding all options to see a particular movie you want to watch, including the option to watch for free with ads.

You can also browse only the free selections, although they're a little buried on the site's home page. In addition to on-demand selections, Redbox also features FAST channels for a variety of movie genres and TV series, as well as news, music videos, and more. It's not as extensive as the FAST selections on some other sites, but it offers a decent sampling of what Redbox has to offer.

• Wider selection of movies than Redbox kiosks
• Extensive lineup of live channels
• Free offerings integrated with paid rentals
• Free section is somewhat difficult to navigate

Plex is so much more than just a place to watch free movies online, although it has plenty of free options available if that's what you're looking for. It's designed as a one-stop destination for all your movie-watching needs, so you can organize your personal collection of digital movies or build watch lists for various subscription streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. Alongside those functions, Plex also includes plenty of movies to watch free with ads, which can be integrated with the rest of your movie library.

If you'd rather not sign up for an account, you can still easily just stream movies and TV shows for free with ads, and Plex features a similar range of selections as other sites that focus solely on free offerings, with more than 20,000 titles available. Plex also offers various FAST channels to complement its free on-demand lineup.

• Integrated service for digital movie library and watchlist
• On-demand selections and free live channels
• Free selections only a small part of the service

The free movie streaming site for boutique film distributor Shout Factory, Shout TV focuses on genre fare and cult classics, along with a range of other free selections. It's home to FAST channels for cult favorites like Mystery Science Theater 3000 and ALF , as well as on-demand episodes of those and other offbeat TV series. The movie selection is heavy on horror, martial arts, sci-fi, and other cult genres. While Shout may not offer the breadth of other free movie websites, it's more expertly curated.

One thing available on Shout that even most subscription streaming services don't offer is commentary tracks, which are now mostly found only on DVD and Blu-ray releases. If you want to hear director John Carpenter talk about his horror anthology Body Bags , director Larry Cohen talk about cult monster movie Q: The Winged Serpent , or other filmmakers and actors comment on their work, then Shout is the free movie website to check out.

Shout Factory TV

• Curated focus on cult and genre fare
• Commentary tracks
• Smaller selection than other services

Everyone knows YouTube as the top place for video content online, with literally hundreds of millions of user-uploaded videos of every type. But YouTube also functions as a free movie streaming site, with an official selection of movies available to watch with ads. Given YouTube's sometimes chaotic free-for-all of content, it may be tough to find a particular movie to stream for free. It's possible to browse a list of YouTube's free movies online, but that listing isn't easy to locate from YouTube's home page.

YouTube's official free offerings are far from the only free movies available on the site, though, and there are dozens of legal YouTube channels that offer free movies, from public-domain selections to small independent films looking to find an audience. If you can wade through the reams of content and wrangle your way through YouTube's algorithm, it's possible to find plenty of hidden gems along with the more popular free selections.

• Free mainstream movies with ads
• Public domain and indie films uploaded by users
• Volume of non-movie content makes curation difficult

The Best Free Movie Sites and Apps: Watch Free Movies Online

Here's where you can stream hundreds of movies online for free..

As convenient as today's grand selection of paid streaming services is, sometimes it feels good to watch a movie knowing that you aren't paying for a subscription. Luckily, there is an array of websites and services that make this possible, even with the existence of their fierce competitors. While they are less sought-after or convenience incentivized than services like Netflix , Hulu , or HBO Max , they are perfect for those penny-pinching movie viewers looking to save. Since there are so many paid streaming services in 2024, for many–if not all–of the sites on this list, advertisements are an obvious obligation.

Since there are so many options that come up from a simple search, this list will be a guide for the free movie sites that tend to be a bit less risky than some alternative options. There are plenty of sites available that are illegal in multiple provinces and countries, it should be noted that the free movie websites and appson this list are all legal in the way that the streaming rights were acquired.

You can also check out our guide on where to stream TV for free online .

The Roku Channel

One of the few on this list that has its own original content, The Roku Channel is a unique option for the casual viewer. With no need to sign up or register, it’s easy to start streaming one of the many titles available. While it is one of the favored free sites to stream, the quality of content is somewhat limited, making it a good option to catch an arthouse film you may have missed. And if you’ve been wanting to watch the Weird Al movie that came out back in 2022 this is the place to do so. There are actually quite a few Roku originals that the streaming channel has available right now outside of that film.

With a surprisingly impressive interface, Pluto TV acts almost as an interactive TV Guide of movies and TV shows. With multiple options for the layout, anyone who visits this site–no registration required–will have access to a fairly large catalog of movies. While there are no popup or banner ads, there are still ads that may interrupt in the middle of a scene or dialogue.

You can also watch live TV on Pluto , including channels like Nick Jr. Pluto and the Paramount movie channel.

A site with a higher standard of big movies available for free, Plex is a good choice for the money-saving cinephile. After a quick sign-in through Google, Facebook, or Apple, a viewer can watch many popular movies with the cast, internet ratings, and reviews from mainstream sites right there in the film summary section. On top of that, Plex is available to stream through the app on an extremely wide array of devices.

For those skeptical about the safety of various unknown websites, a well-known and overall trusted source of free movies is YouTube . While all of the movies contain a higher frequency of ads than other sites, the amount of mainstream options available here is worth the look. Since it’s a familiar layout for most, navigating the site shouldn’t cause any holdups.

Another of the sites on this list growing in popularity, Tubi rivals the best when it comes to layout and movie selection. While it resembles Netflix in look and interface, Tubi is one of the few options here that are only available in some countries: the U.S. included. It’s also got some nostalgic classics that might interest the millennial crowd.

Tubi is also a great place to stream anime for free , making it a very well-rounded service.

While Crackle carries a lot of generally unknown sequels or continuations of movie series, the sheer amount of content is enough to justify a visit. Regarding safety, this site is among the more easily trustworthy sites, as Sony is held to a much higher standard than your everyday streaming site. Along with these other pros, the ads are actually a bit lower in frequency and annoyance than the other sites.

Taking on more of an Amazon feel, Vudu has options for purchasable, rentable, on-sale, or free movies. While there are not multitudes of ideal options for movies free to watch, it still remains another good option if you’re looking for a very particular movie. As a huge bonus, the ads for this website are quite minimal in comparison to other sites mentioned.

Freevee (fka IMDB TV)

A sub-site of Amazon (formerly IMDB), Freevee has transitioned to an app-only format that requires an Amazon sign-in. Obviously available through Amazon Prime, free movies from Freevee can also be streamed via Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV, Echo Show, and more. While the library is not as expansive as some, users can feel a sense of comfort streaming through a website they may already be subscribed to: Amazon.

Amazon also offers a free trial of Prime for new users that will grant you full access to Prime Video for 30 days. It's a solid Netflix alternative that also comes with Prime benefits.

Another site where streaming live TV is an option, XUMO Play has some pretty great movie options that arguably rival the other services, depending on what a viewer is looking for. With specialized lists of movies and vast device compatibility, this is an underrated underdog of a streaming site.

Quite unique to this list, registration is required but the criteria needed for registration are a bit strange. In order to sign up for this ad-free, simultaneously streaming website, one needs to have either a public library card or a university login. The options are better than most for movies after registration, all of which can be enjoyed on your TV, mobile phone, tablet, or online. Kanopy is a great way to get free movies without ads.

Popcornflix

Popcornflix is another way to get your free movie and TV show fix (no pun intended). No registration is required, though you will have to sit through ads with whatever you choose to watch. It has quite the range of shows and films as well, both in genre and release, so you're sure to find something to suit your next movie night or TV binge-watch.

More Ways to Watch Free Movies Online in 2024

Another great way to watch free movies online is by taking advantage of free trials from different streaming services . If you're not already a member, both Prime Video and Hulu offer a 30-day free trial, but the latter depends on what plan you're interested in. At the moment, you can take advantage of the 30-day free trial on Hulu by signing up for their No Ads plan (which is $14.99/month once the trial ends). Paramount+ and Apple TV+ also offer a free trial period, though they're both 7 days long rather than 30 days.

Connor Sheppard is a contributing culture writer and critic of all things media at IGN with previous work on The Manual.

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Popcornflix

Rakuten viki, internet archive, how to watch free movies online: the 12 best websites for streaming.

We live in a world with an embarrassment of riches when it comes to streaming channels, but the cost of subscribing to the best streaming services like Netflix , Hulu , Max , Peacock and Disney Plus adds up — your monthly streaming bill can be as pricey as an old-fashioned cable subscription, or even worse. 

The antidote to endless streaming subscriptions are free movies online. Here are 12 of the best streaming apps and services for watching movies for free.

Roku doesn't just make some of the best streaming devices ; the company also has a free streaming channel that you can access from any Roku product or the web. Here you'll find an impressive array of ad-supported TV shows and feature films you can stream for free – and while Roku's movie collection is modest, it has one of the strongest lineups of free TV shows you can find anywhere. 

There's a mix of classic and contemporary movies (like "Click," "Superbad," and "Minority Report") to choose from. There's no need to create an account (though you can if you want to) and ads, while present, are not overly intrusive. Newly-added titles on the platform include "The Lovely Bones," "Blackfish," and "Burlesque."

YouTube offers hundreds of free movies and TV shows (with ads), making it a convenient one-stop shop for all types of video content. YouTube is also one of the few sites where the content is rated by users and you can read comments about the movies as you watch them.

The best part about YouTube is that all the free movies are arranged in a single category.

Vudu is the streaming video arm of Fandango that offers both free and paid videos. It's easy to find the free content thanks to a Free link at the top of the page. There, you'll find thousands of movies – new and old, popular films, and schlock.

The site also does a great job of sorting the movies into categories like Mythical Creatures, New Releases, and Thrilling Suspense, for easy browsing.

Crackle has been around a long time — it got its start in 2004. And unlike some other streaming channels, Crackle is 100% free, offering all its content at no cost (with ads), so anything you see on the site you can watch without paying. 

You can browse movies and TV shows by genre, alphabetically, or search for a specific title.

Popcornflix is another completely free video streaming site, offering about 2,000 movies with ads in a variety of categories. It's available as an app for a variety of devices, and you can also watch in a web browser. There's no account required; just open the website, select a movie and start viewing. 

Many of the entries at Popcornflix fall into the category of guilty pleasures (like "2-Headed Shark Attack") and cheap knock-offs of mainstream properties (like "Atlantic Rim" and "Almighty Thor") but there's something charming here about the movies you can binge for free with limited ads.

Pluto TV is a little different than most streaming video services. In addition to being able to watch movies and TV shows on demand, it also streams live programming that you access in a program guide as if you were watching cable or satellite TV. 

You can jump into programs in progress after browsing the dozens of categories arranged like channels, or switch to the On Demand tab, and start any of the thousands options that are, arranged into easily browsable categories. No catch here! It's all free, supported by ads.

Freevee is an ad-supported video streaming service owned by Amazon. You can stream Freevee content through a number of devices via the Amazon Freevee app, Prime Video app, or by using your web browser. 

On Freevee, you'll find a selection of completely free ad-supported movies and TV shows, including original titles that are available exclusively on the platform.

Tubi is a free streaming service with thousands of movies and TV shows. You can watch it all online or on a number of devices including Roku, Apple TV, Xbox, Playstation, Samsung smart TVs, and Sony smart TVs. 

You don't need a subscription, and Tubi boasts that it has fewer ads than cable. Like Pluto TV, Tubi has both on-demand and live programming. There's also a kids' section of the website with family movies and TV shows to watch with your little ones.

Kanopy is a bit different than the average free streaming service – it is targeted at library patrons and higher education. If you have a public library card, you can log into Kanopy with your library ID and password; otherwise, if you're a student or processor you can use your university login at participating schools.   

The number of movies you can watch depends on the specific school or library you sign up through; you might have anywhere from five to 50 credits each month. Kanopy is a great resource not just for TV shows and movies, but also documentaries, instructional, and educational videos.

Kanopy's selection includes countless thought-provoking and award winning titles from cinema titans like Akira Kurosawa, Martin Scorsese, and Raoul Peck. Many of the titles are written and performed in languages other than English, allowing you to easily explore the world's best cinema.

No subscription is required to watch Plex's more than 50,000 free on-demand titles and 250 live TV channels. You can use the Plex app to access its content on pretty much any device (Apple, Android, Smart TVs), or go to the Plex website on your computer. 

Movies and TV shows are sorted by categories, and there are special tabs for the most popular titles and ones that are leaving the platform soon. You can also use the search bar to find a specific movie or TV show, and keep track of things you want to see later with their Watchlist feature.

For those looking for non-English language content, Rakuten Viki is focused specifically on Asian live-action movies and shows. Alongside the ability to sort by genre, Viki allows you to sort by country and region. The app showcases dramas and thrillers from Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand. 

Not everything on Rakuten Viki is free, but the free content is clearly marked while browsing, and there's a helpful Watch Free section that collects all of the free titles in one place. The platform is structured with a Netflix-like set of categories (Latest Releases, Based on Novels and Toons, and more) and you can access the content on the web or in apps on most devices, including Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, and more. 

You may not be aware that the Internet Archive , in addition to being a treasure trove of books, webpages, and historical documents, also has thousands of free feature films available to watch.   

Don't look here for contemporary movies or the latest blockbusters, though. As you'd expect from the Internet Archive, these films are in the public domain – generally older films and those made outside the Hollywood cinema industry. 

This also means they're oftentimes of lower quality, so your mileage may vary when it comes to deciding if it's worth your time to browse here. The sheer scope of content on The Internet Archive (combined with the fact that it's largely volunteer-run) means you may have to do some serious digging to find gems.  

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here . Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at [email protected] .

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