SolarMovie is one of the most popular movie streaming website on the internet. What makes this site different from others, is that it actually allows people to watch movies without the need to register for an account. Also, advertisements rarely appear on the website making it a top choice for uninterrupted viewing. With its extensive collection of movies and TV series, it sure is a one-stop shop for people who want to watch something online. However, there are times when SolarMovie is inaccessible due to various reasons. For these cases, you can watch from other sites like SolarMovie that offers the same content and video quality. Listed below are some of the best SolarMovie alternatives that you can visit anytime.
Let Me Watch This
The first movie streaming site on our list is Letmewatchthis. This website provides thousands of movies online, where you can choose various genres of films and TV series. Just by signing in, you can enjoy watching your favorite movies and TV shows for free. Moreover, this site’s interface can be navigated easily, so that you can search the newly released movies quickly. Although you can watch videos on this website for free, we can’t avoid some ads appearing when we play the film. Still, this movie site is considered as one of the best alternatives to SolarMovie.PROs
- You can easily see the recently added movies in the main page
- It contains the newly released movies
- You can watch many HD quality movies in this site
CONs
- Requires you to register before you can start watching movies online
Distinctive feature:
- You can choose the quality of the movie from Low to High quality. It can be helpful depending on your internet connection.
MovieWatcher
One of the tools that made in the list of alternatives of SolarMovie is the MovieWatcher. This site keeps on updating new movies and TV series for you to watch. Also, from its homepage, you can easily see all the popular movies and TV shows of the month. Furthermore, you can also see the biography of the most popular actors and actresses of all time. This website can help you to know all the movies of your favorite actor. This great site comes in handy if you are looking for a new film to watch.PROs
- This site has a cool and easy to navigate interface
- Latest movies from cinemas can be watch in this site
- You can see what TV shows aired every day
CONs
- It will redirect you to a 3rd party website to play the video
Distinctive feature:
- This website has a section where you can see the most famous actors/actresses today.
WatchMoviesFree
The next site that serves as SolarMovie is Watchmoviesfree. This movie streaming is well known for its number of HD quality movies. Besides, this website keeps updating the latest movies and TV series frequently. Furthermore, this site lets you see all the movies of your favorite actors/actresses, which can be done by clicking the name of the actor/actress when you watch a film with this site. That reason is enough for this movie site, to be on top of the list when it comes to watching free movies online.PROs
- You can watch movies in HD quality online for free
- It has various popular movies that you can watch
CONs
- Lots of pop-up ads appear when you click something in this page
Distinctive feature:
- You can watch the top rated anime series in Watchmoviesfree.
AllMovie
Another excellent movie streaming site that we have is AllMovie. With this site, you can easily watch all the hottest movies of the year, because you can quickly search the latest movies in theaters, new on DVD, and in the stream within this web page. Moreover, in case you are looking for a new film to watch, this site has a variety of choices that you can choose in Genres, Moods, and Themes, depending on your liking. What makes this tool special is its “Advanced Search” feature, where you only need to check some filters like the genre, the release date, and the ratings of the movie, and it will give you the recommended videos for you to watch. You must try this movie site if you want to keep updated with the film.PROs
- This site sorted the genres of the movies
- You can use the Advanced search to quickly for a movie that you want to watch
CONs
- Need to close the ads first before you can watch movies
Distinctive feature:
- In this site, every movies shows its cast, reviews, awards, and related shows. It can help you to understand the movie that you are about to watch.
TV Box
TV Box got a place on the list because of its sorted library, which means all movies and TV series are all in alphabetically, and in a timely order. TV Box, as its name suggests, has lots of TV series in its database. Also, this streaming site comes with various latest movies and animes. Additionally, this site shows all the upcoming films and TV series. In fact, you can see the most popular films and TV series from some of the famous TV streaming sites like Netflix, HBO, and Fox.PROs
- Completed episodes of the famous TV series are in this site
- You can choose movies and TV shows in its alphabetical directory
CONs
- Its homepage looks old and outdated
Distinctive feature:
- TV Box has a calendar where you can see the date and time of the uploaded videos.
IMDb
IMDb is probably recognizable website on the list. The website is an institution when it comes to everything that concerns the film industry. The site is not a video streaming site, but is packed with vast amounts of movie related content. Movie trailers and news articles are available on the site anytime and anywhere. The site is know for its fair moving rating system, where it rates movies according to their standards, which gives people an idea about the film. For many people, there is nothing more credible than a movie review from IMDb. This site deserves to be on the list of the best SolarMovie alternatives because it is able to provide quality movie reviews and recommendations to users.PROs
- IMDb is trustworthy when it comes to ratings
- You can watch newly released movies
CONs
- Some of the latest movies are still in CAM quality
Distinctive feature:
- Since IMDb is a movie rating site, you can put ratings on the movies you have watched.
MovieWeb
Another site that is not a movie streaming site, but is on the list of great SolarMovie alternative is MovieWeb. Despite being included in the list, the site is more of a movie news and blog site that contains information and news about movies being released. The site also gives a comprehensive review on films that are currently being shown and gives their visitors recommendations on what to watch. Movie trailers are also available here, though you must be logged-in to have full access to their contents. Be that as it may, this site still deserves the title of a great SolarMovie alternative.PROs
- The news of the movies can be read in this site
- You can watch the trailers of all the movies from this site
CONs
- It doesn’t play any movies in this site
Distinctive feature:
IGI 3: The Mark has got various different playing modes which includes easy, medium and hard modes in project igi 3 game free download full version for pc. IGI 3: The Mark is not the official game from Inner Studio in fact it is a modified version of IGI 1 & 2 series. This game revolves around a spy agent who has been assigned various different military missions to complete and he has got loads of different weapons. Igi 5 game setup download. The hard mode included in this game igi 3 free download is for the pro gamers who need to complete the missions in a silent mode where there is neither enemy firing nor alarms ringing.
- MovieWeb is a website where you can read the artciles and news of all the most popular, and latest movies online.
Yes Movies
Yes Movies is another site that provides satisfaction when it comes to movies viewing. Always loaded with the latest movies and TV shows, people are sure to find what they want anytime. The site runs on ads, so it is imperative that advertisements are frequent on the site. The downside is that, whenever you click something on the page, an advertisement will open on a new tab which can be annoying sometimes. Other than that, the site don’t have any other drawback as the movies within its library are all in high-definition. The site is easy to navigate, thanks to its clear and organized buttons and sections, saving time and effort especially when looking for a film to watch.PROs
- It updates the latest movie of the month
- Most of the movies are in HD quality
CONs
- You need to deal with the ads first before you can start watching movies
Distinctive feature:
- YesMovie allows you to instantly see the description of the updated episodes of a particular TV show on its main page. You can see that section from the rightmost part of the web page.
YTS
YTS or formerly known Yify is home to HD quality movies for years now. As a matter of fact, there is no movie streamer who haven’t heard or visited its website. The site has been taken down many times now, and came back with a different domain name, and now it only supports online movie downloads. YTS has a wide collection of films, from the latest release, to classic movies as old as 50 years old. That is the reason why many users still use YTS to get the movie that they want, because they are sure of the quality.PROs
- You can download movies via torrent in its highest quality
- Almost all of the movies from past to present are in this site
CONs
- Ads are appearing evertime you choose a movie
Distinctive feature:
- YTS is a torrent site where you can easily find, and download the movie via torrent. With that, you can pause your download in a torrent when needed.
HouseMovie
HouseMovie is a movie site that offers similar content as with other movie hosting website. The difference is that HouseMovie is most of the time ahead of its competitors when it comes to updating their library. People would often notice that there are movies which have not premiered yet, but the site already have them on their database. That is one reason why it makes a great alternative to SolarMovie. Not only that, you can be rest assured that you only get the highest movie quality as possible because the site indicates the video quality beforehand.PROs
- Coming soon movies are shown in this website
- All the newest movies of the month can be watch in this website
CONs
- Some of the movies are temporary unavailable due to unknown reason
Distinctive feature:
- HouseMovie has an article section where you can check the latest news from a particular movie. It also shows you various news that helps you to look for new movies to watch.
Rainierland
Rainierland is a lesser know site movie sharing site. However, it does not fall behind in-terms of movie collection, because it is always being updated from time to time. The movies here are all high-quality and most are in high-definition, so people are sure that they will be able to watch only the best movies the site can offer. Also, the site have TV shows to add more selections to their content, which is great for people who loves to binge-watch their favorite series. This truly is a great site like SolarMovie and it has proven to be for many years now.PROs
- You can choose the quality of the movie that you are about to watch
- Latest release dates are shown in this site
CONs
- Need to get rid of the ads to start streaming the movie
Distinctive feature:
- Rainierland has an alphabetical list where you can search for new movies to watch.
Download Movies with Video Keeper
Watching movies online is great and all. However, there are times when the internet is not working, therefore you won’t be able to reach the sites mentioned above. That is why it is still best practice to download the movies instead. This way, you will be able to watch your favorite movies, even without the use of internet and you can take them anywhere with you. For that matter, there is no best tool to use that Acethinker Video Keeper. The tool is able to download movies from the sites mentioned above, with just a few clicks. In order to learn how to use the tool, follow the steps below.Step1 Get the installer of Video Keeper
To install the tool, click one of the buttons below and get the installer. Once download is complete, run the installer and follow on-screen instructions.Try it for Free
Free Download
OS X 10.10
Secure Download
Step2 Launch Video Keeper and start download
Once installation is thru, you can proceed to launch the tool and reach the main interface. To start the download process, click the “Enable Detector” button and go to the “Detect” tab.Step3 Play the movie
To download a movie, use the built-in browser of the tool and go to your preferred movie hosting site. Next, select the movie you want and click the play button. A notification will appear informing you that the download has started once done.Step4 Check the download progress
2015 Movie Streaming Sites
Go back to the “Download” tab, and from there you will see the progress of the download process. Wait for the download to finish as it may take some time depending on the internet speed.Step5 Watch the completed video
Once the download is finished, it will transferred to the “Completed” section where you can watch it directly using the media player of the tool.Conclusion
SolarMovies is indeed a wonderful movie streaming site. However, the primary requirement in order to use it is being connected to the internet. Also, it is a known fact that the internet connectivity is not always available. Now all the other sites mentioned above works the same, they just need to have internet connectivity. However, there are other ways to watch your favorite movies even offline. Using Acethinker Video Keeper, you will be able to download movies from your favorite movie sharing sites. Using its breakthrough “Detect” function, the tool is a cut above the rest and can get any video from almost any website. With its robust downloading capabilities, Video Keeper is sure to get the video that want, effortlessly.The rate of online piracy is increasing at a rapid pace. There were more than 300 billion visits found to piracy sites during 2017.
Therefore, you have to secure your online tasks and IP addresses with a VPN for torrenting. Through our guide on torrent sites for movies, you can perform your torrenting activities anonymously and securely from anywhere.
Also, read our exclusive guide on best torrent sites for everything as we have listed down only those sites which are working 100%.
Table Of Content
17 Best Torrent Sites for Movies
When you want to watch your favorite movies in high-quality formats, torrent sites for movies become an interesting choice. Yes, you have guessed it appropriately. It means you can improve your movie torrenting process to the next level through HD movies torrent trouble-free.
The same applies to torrent sites for movies that cover Hollywood and Bollywood industries. This is because you can select a film torrent of your choice instantly. Hence, you can watch the latest Hollywood and Bollywood movies on your desired devices accordingly.
Here is the list of 17 best torrent sites for movies that include:
Before you proceed, we recommend the use of a VPN service for your safety and privacy. Their can be consequences if you visit these site in countries that prohibits torrents
Bollywood movie torrenting sites
Unfortunately, millions of Bollywood movies fans are unable to accomplish their Bollywood movies streaming mission. However, they should not lose all their hopes. This is because they have Bollywood torrent sites for movies at their disposal. Thus, they can avail Hindi movies download feature from anywhere.
Here is the list of Bollywood film torrent sites for movies that include:
The Pirate Bay
The Pirate Bay has all the right reasons to become one of the best Bollywood torrent sites for movies. If you want to explore HD movies torrent instantly, The Pirate Bay is an excellent choice. Likewise, it also offers new movies download feature that allows you to watch your favorite Bollywood movies hassle-free. One more thing if you find the site down then you can try out pirate bay alternatives and pirate proxy sites too.
1337x
1337x is another torrenting site for downloading Bollywood movies torrent instantly. The site offers its users torrent free movie download benefit according to their own terms. Moreover, you can complete your movie torrenting cravings to another level. Likewise, you can find latest movies torrent through 1337x straightaway.
9xmovies
9xmovies becomes an ultimate solution when it comes to exploring new torrent movie download site for Hollywood and Bollywood movies. Through Hindi movies download feature, you can download latest movies torrent in no time.
SeedPeer
SeedPeer is an attractive torrent site for Bollywood movies that help you to watch various Bollywood movies on your desired devices. It provides huge database benefit to its users. Therefore, you can find solutions to your torrent movie download queries sstraight away
RARBG
RARBG is one of the most popular torrent sites you can opt to download Hindi movies torrent in no time. Thus, you can download verified torrents on your devices from anywhere. Furthermore, you can enjoy using free movie downloads feature according to your own demands. Sometimes you may find Rarbg down, thus you can read our guide on Unblock Rarbg.
Torrentz2
Torrentz2 is an appealing option when you want to download Bollywood movie torrent on your devices securely. You can assume the site as super torrent index as it allows you to examine Meta search engine feature hassle-free.
TorrentFunk
TorrentFunk is another trust worthy torrent site that offer free Bollywood movies download links to its users. Moreover, you can find out its cross movie recommendation feature that allows you to watch all the latest Hindi movies stress-free.
LimeTorrents
LimeTorrents is another amazing site that fulfills streaming desires of Bollywood movies fans straightaway. Through the site, you can download full new movies on your preferred devices from anywhere. In addition, you can download movie torrents free online with LimeTorrents hassle-free. Also read our guide on limetorrents unblocked and limetorrents proxy because there are numerous countries where it’s still blocked.
Torlock
Torlock is another torrent sites for movies that cover Bollywood category specifically. What makes this free torrent movie site different from other websites is its legitimate content feature. Therefore, you can accomplish your new movies download cravings trouble-free.
Extratorrents
Extratorrents is striving hard to become one of the best torrent sites for movies in near future. Interestingly, you can find searches from other free torrent movie sites through Extratorrents according to your own terms. Thus, you can explore free torrent movies of your choice from anywhere stress-free.
Read our blog on Extratorrents Proxy.
Free uTorrent Hollywood movie sites
There is no denying you can find Hollywood movies fans from all parts of the world. Still, billions of Hollywood movies streamers do not know the importance of torrenting. Hence, they are unable to enjoy Hollywood movies download feature free from anywhere.
The same goes for E-books fans too; you can explore our guide on torrent sites for E-books to accomplish your reading cravings.
Fortunately, you have arrived at the right place. We have curated an exclusive list of uTorrent movies download sites for Hollywood movies that enable you to complete your movie torrenting needs accordingly. Here is the list of foreign or Hollywood movies that consists of:
EZTV
EZTV is a torrent site that provides free movie torrents to its users. Through its free torrent movies search option, you can find relevant Hollywood movies links instantly. Likewise, the site offers a comprehensive list of interesting features that make EZTV an ideal choice for English or American movies fans. There are some regions where eztv is might not be available, instead you can use eztv proxy.
TorrentDB
TorrentDB becomes an ultimate choice for Hollywood movies fans when they want to watch latest Hollywood films. Furthermore, you can include it in the list of best uTorrent movies download sites quite easily. Hence, you can enjoy using uTorrent search movies feature from anywhere instantly.
Zooqle
Zooqle is coming up with the terms and expectations of Hollywood movies lovers at a rapid pace. It means you can find film torrents of your choice on the site in no time. In addition, it follows the concept of DMCA guidelines in true letter and spirit.
Therefore, you should use a VPN before using the site. Furthermore, you can include it in the list of free uTorrent movies.
Dirty Torrents
Dirty Torrents is one of those uTorrent download movies website that allow you to watch all the latest Hollywood films on your preferred devices straightaway. This is because the site provides UTorrent movie search option that helps you to avail UTorrent download movies feature.
Kickass Torrents
https://kickass2.cc/movies/
is your go-to choice when you want to explore new movies torrent to accomplish your Hollywood movies streaming mission. When you start visiting this torrent search engine movies site, you will not go anywhere to find free movie torrent sites. If you are unable to access it then read our blog on Kickass Proxy Sites.
NYAA.SI
NYAA.SI is an interesting choice for those users who want to avail free movie torrents hassle-free. Likewise, you can watch your favorite latest Hollywood movies in HD quality formats from anywhere quite easily. This is how you can fulfill your free movie torrenting streaming cravings to next level.
Yidio
Yidio is another torrenting site for movies you must try out to explore your preferred Hollywood movies download links. Furthermore, you can enjoy free torrent movie download feature that helps you to watch your desired movies instantly.
Laws for Torrenting
It depends on which country you are using torrenting sites for movies. There are countries where you can conduct the task of torrenting legally. Thus, you can download your desired torrent files stress-free. Still, there are countries where you cannot perform torrenting activities. It means torrenting is considered illegal in those countries.
We recommend you to use a VPN for torrent to avoid accidental notices
Reddit is one of the most valuable platforms that help you in finding solutions to torrents related queries instantly. Moreover, you are able to attain relevant and updated response from different users straightaway.
According to the response of one Reddit user, you can watch your preferred movies through torrent sites for movies in no time.
Likewise, you can opt various torrent sites that allow you to accomplish your movies streaming cravings.
Furthermore, different users indicate that RARBG works much better than The Pirate Bay.
Twitter is another platform you can try out to solve your torrent related problems hassle-free. Interestingly, you can consider using different torrent sites to watch your favorite Hollywood movie from anywhere.
I guess a lot of us see mostly Hollywood films because they are big. But there is really a whole lot to discover from other countries. Most of the films I will share should be available on Torrent sites
— Twumasi (@TwumTweets) May 6, 2018
Moreover, you do not need to pay so much for getting unlimited internet to watch your desired movies. Luckily, you can achieve your movie-streaming mission with the help of torrents sites stress-free. In addition, you can watch Black Panther in high quality through new movies torrent quite easily.
Black Panther 720p is now available on torrent sites.
— Brian Mbunde ™ (@Brianmbunde) March 26, 2018
Wrapping Up
We expect you would appreciate our guide on torrent sites for movies in 2019. After going through our guide, you can watch your favorite Bollywood or Hollywood movies from anywhere straightaway. However, you need to avail the VPN to secure your online privacy.
Feel free to share your thoughts about our blog in the comments section below.
It's Friday night and you're too tired to go out (same). You know how this conversation goes. Should we watch a movie? What's on Netflix?
But halt, dear reader, because there is so much more you could be doing to maximize your home movie viewing, and we here at Mashable can no longer bear it.
So, movie fans, if you're serious about this whole staying-in thing and catching up on the latest releases, let us offer you a few non-Netflix and chill options for streaming movies online. Although yes, Netflix is in there too. On a budget? Be sure to check out our guide to watching movies online for free — legally of course.
1. Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime lets you access almost every movie out there, and many are free with a membership.- Price: $99/year or $12.99 monthly
The selection is extensive, including critical darlings like the Oscar-winning Moonlight and Amazon Studios' own Manchester by the Sea, as well as a massive library of foreign films. And they're downloadable.
Cons: No streaming site seems to have fully figured out a viable browsing function. The minute you click 'see more' you end up on Amazon proper and primed for the type of analysis paralysis that can strike while online shopping. Also, free and paid titles are mixed together so you may end up wanting to watch something you weren't ready to pay for. That said, it's often only $4, so you can do it.
2. Hulu
Hulu is known for TV, but actually has a ton of great movies, too. You'll just have to use search instead of its cluttered interface.- Price: $5.99/month
Cons: Another miserable browsing platform – Hulu's looks almost primitive. Like most sites, it works best if you search for exactly what you want.
3. Netflix
Netflix owns the market for a reason, but lately has been prioritizing original content over other movies.- Price: $7.99 - $13.99/month
Cons: The movie selection has plenty to offer, but a lot of filler to comb through and limited selection depending on what you're looking for. Over the past couple years, Netflix has made clear that it's – and crushing it.
4. HBO Go/HBO Now
HBO offers high-quality films and the best documentary selection, and the ability to browse alphabetically and by genre.- Price: $15/month
Cons: The smaller selection is what it is, but you can also scroll through it all alphabetically if you need to, which can't be said for Amazon, Hulu, and Netflix.
5. Crackle
Sure, lots of the movies available are totally random, but you can't argue with free, can you?- Price: Free
Cons: The movies are mostly unknown, but they do have a partnership with Sony (which is how The Social Network ended up there in the first place).
6. iTunes
If a movie is available to rent or buy, iTunes probably has it, but you'll have to download it if you don't have Apple TV.- Price: Per-movie basis
Cons: These stream well enough if you have an AppleTV, but have to be downloaded on computers and mobile devices. Gimme my instant gratification!
7. YouTube
YouTube works better on devices than on smart TVs, but you can often find hidden free gems, especially in the foreign film genre.- Price: Free, with some movies priced on a per-movie basis
Cons: It's friendlier on desktop or mobile than with a smart TV.
8. Popcornflix
Popcornflix is another great free service with a lot of filler to sift through, but lots of good movies, too.- Price: Free
Cons: There's a lot of filler to sift through, and you have to browse by genre. Why is this a thing!
9. Vudu
Vudu has movies for rental, but also a good selection of free movies with ads.- Price: Free (with ads), with some films for rent
Cons: Literally how hard is it to alphabetize these libraries. Come on guys!
The Best Alternatives to Cable: Video Streaming Services
Streaming services started as an add-on to DVD and digital download offerings with a trickle of second-run movies and TV shows. They were supplements to the programs you watched on their first (and second) runs on cable TV. But speedier internet connections and an abundance of video streaming devices have accelerated the decline of traditional cable. More and more viewers are cutting the cord entirely in favor of dedicated streaming alternatives.
Entertainment and tech giants are not blind to the threat, however, and the media landscape is rapidly changing. Consolidation and curation (that is, owning the most media properties and serving the best content) seem to be the overarching goals of the players involved.
For instance, AT&T's (which operates live TV service DirecTV Now) purchase of WarnerMedia and all of its subsidiaries (including CNN, Crunchyroll, the CW, DC Comics, and HBO) has now cleared its last legal hurdle. Disney purchased 21st Century Fox and is launching its own video streaming service, called Disney+, later this year. Disney also now has full operational control of Hulu. Viacom owns the free, ad-supported Pluto TV service. On the tech side, Apple recently overhauled the Apple TV app and unveiled Apple TV+, its forthcoming premium video streaming service.
As mentioned, a video streaming service's success largely depends on what its library offers. That's why so many services are investing heavily in developing high-quality original content. Consider, for example, Netflix's Stranger Things, Amazon's The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale, all of which are Emmy-winning shows. Although these services compete more on their original offerings than their resold broadcast content and post-theater-run movies, several platforms have also saved popular shows from the grave. Without these hooks, standalone video streaming services would likely be unable to compete with existing entertainment behemoths.
Apart from on-demand video streaming services, complete cable-replacement services with live broadcasts are becoming increasingly viable and attractive options. Some of the best services, for example, such as fubo, Hulu, Sling TV, and YouTube TV, offer robust channel collections with excellent DVR functionality. Even DirecTV Now and PS Vue are more practical now, as they no longer require specific hardware to use.
Smaller and sometimes cheaper options also exist with a more limited focus. For example, Philo primarily offers entertainment content, while ESPN+ is best suited for sports fans. Crackle, Pluto TV, Mubi, and various anime-streaming sites attract certain audiences as well. Although it is not what typically comes to mind, Vimeo also offers a small selection of indie films and video projects via its On Demand section. Plex is yet another option for streaming your local media content as well as a platform for free over-the-air cable (provided you have the right hardware). If you want to watch people play games, Twitch is your best bet.
You should use a virtual private network (VPN) for all your internet-related tasks, but VPNs are particularly useful for streaming services since they can sometimes grant access to region-locked content. For example, if you connect to a VPN server in the UK from a device in the US, you may be able to watch free content from BBC TV. That said, streaming services are cracking down on VPN usage, so we recommend signing up for a trial to test your network setup before fully committing to a service. Make sure to check out our guide on how to unblock Netflix with a VPN as a starting point.
If you want to cut the cord, here's our rundown of what you can expect from the most popular services. You shouldn't fall into the trap of paying more for video streaming services than you did for cable, so make sure to only sign up for those that offer the content you actually want to watch. If we missed your favorite option, make sure to let us know in the comments.
Best Video Streaming Services Featured in This Roundup:
Netflix
$8.99 per month
Netflix is the standard-bearer of streaming. It hosts an impressive selection of content at all times, with new titles exchanged for older ones monthly. And then there's Netflix constantly growing library of premier original programming, which currently outclasses every other streaming service. Netflix's impressive catalog includes shows such as Altered Carbon, Black Mirror, Bojack Horseman, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina,The Crown, Lost in Space, Mindhunters, Narcos, Orange is the New Black, Santa Clarita Diet, and Stranger Things. Netflix is expected to spend somewhere in the range of $15 billion on original content this year, so it will likely retain its advantage for the foreseeable future. Netflix also currently offers the most high-quality movies of any streaming service, eclipsing competitors such as Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO.
Netflix recently raised the price of each of its subscription plans. For $8.99 per month (up from $7.99), you can stream unlimited standard-definition content on a single device. The Standard tier, which now costs $12.99 per month (up from $10.99), unlocks HD content and supports streaming on two devices simultaneously. The top-of-the-line Premium plan costs $15.99 per month (up from $13.99). This tier gives you four concurrent streams and access to 4K content where available. You can download Netflix on a variety of devices, from your PC and tablet to the Chromecast and game consoles.
Alongside Amazon Prime Video, Netflix is one of the few streaming services that supports both offline downloads and 4K streaming. And yes, Netflix's DVD mailing service still exists if you want newer releases, though streaming is clearly its primary focus going forward.
YouTube TV
$49.99 per month
YouTube TV offers an excellent selection of live sports and news channels, as well as many popular entertainment options. A few of the top networks available include ABC, AMC, CBS, CNN, ESPN, FX, and NBC. It recently added content from the Discovery network too, with channels such as Animal Planet, Food Network, HGTV, and Travel Channel. If YouTube TV's library of over 70 channels still doesn't meet your needs, you can also add other packages, such as NBA League Pass, Showtime, and Starz to your subscription. The service also now claims to cover over 98 percent of households in the US.
With YouTube TV, you get unlimited cloud DVR storage. The service will keep your recordings for nine months and you can stream your content from anywhere in the US. One YouTube TV membership supports up to six accounts, so you can share with family or roommates, though note that you can only stream from three accounts simultaneously.
YouTube TV's apps look and work great across a variety of platforms. Its capable search tools and solid streaming performance in our testing establish it as one of the best cable replacement services for general audiences. Make sure that the service is available in your location before you consider it as an option.
Hulu
$5.99 per month; $44.99 for live TV service
Hulu impresses as one of the best all-in-one options for cord cutters, given its diverse set of streaming options. In addition to quality original programming, a strong library of classic shows, and a good selection of anime series and movies, Hulu now offers a robust live TV option (more than 60 channels of news, sports, and entertainment programming). Still, Hulu trails some top competitors, given its limited HD and 4K selections. Hulu subscribers also cannot currently download content for offline viewing (an ad-supported solution is supposedly in the works.) However, unlike Netflix and Amazon, which typically get new TV series months or even a year after their TV debuts, Hulu gets some content almost immediately after airing on TV thanks to its big studio backers.
Hulu's basic on-demand streaming plan now only costs $5.99 per month, but the ad-free version will run you $11.99 per month. The Hulu + Live TV plan costs $44.99 per month and combines Hulu's live TV service with the ad-supported streaming plan. For $50.99, you get the ad-free version of Hulu's on-demand service along with the Live TV functionality. Premium Spotify subscribers can now get Hulu's ad-supported streaming plan for free, too.
You can add Enhanced Cloud DVR (increases the available DVR storage to 200 hours from 50) or the Unlimited Screens package (allows an unlimited number of concurrent device streams in your home and up to three outside of it) to your plan for $14.99 per month each or $19.99 for both. If you want even more options, you can add HBO or Showtime for $14.99 and $8.99 per month, respectively.
Hulu supports an impressive range of gadgets, but you can only stream to one device at a time with the basic accounts. Make sure to check out Hulu's latest redesign across all of its platforms; it features elegant navigation menus and a glossy aesthetic, though the new layout admittedly makes it more of a pain to discover content.
Disney now controls Hulu and is set to launch Disney+ later this year, so we can't predict Hulu's future. Will Disney+ absorb Hulu's on-demand library and maintain the existing cable-replacement service? Maybe Disney will just shutter the Hulu branding for good. Regardless of what happens, Disney clearly sees Hulu as a major part of its video streaming strategy.
Sling TV
$25 per month
Sling TV is probably as close to the traditional TV experience as you can get online. For $25 per month, Sling TV offers live access to channels like AMC, TBS, The Food Network, CNN, TNT, and more.
As you add more services, though, Sling TV can add up. There's the basic Sling Orange plan with support for one stream at $25 per month, Sling Blue with support for three simultaneous streams for $25, or both with support for four simultaneous streams at $40.
Why would you want both? Some channels on Sling Orange are not available on Sling Blue and vice versa. The Disney Channel, for example, is only on Sling Orange, while Fox Sports is only on Blue.
Sling also offers extra add-ons for $5 per month each. A Comedy extra adds MTV, Spike, Logo, and more, while a Kids extra offers channels like Teen Nick and Disney Junior—none of which are available via Sling Orange or Blue.
Another $5 extra is cloud DVR, which supports up to 50 hours of content. You can record multiple programs simultaneously and watch on Amazon, Android, Apple TV, Roku, and Xbox One devices. Cloud DVR is not currently supported for Disney and ESPN or on-demand channels like Newsy and Local Now.
Amazon Prime Video
$8.99 per month
Amazon offers access to its video content in one of two ways: a standalone Amazon Video subscription or an Amazon Prime subscription. An Amazon Video subscription costs $8.99 per month and only includes access to Amazon's streaming video library. An Amazon Prime account, which includes Prime Video content and a ton of other shipping and shopping perks, costs $12.99 per month (or $119 per year). Amazon refers to its video streaming service as Amazon Prime Video in most of its support documentation.
In recent years, Amazon has focused on curating a wide range of original shows, such as Bosch, Catastrophe, Electric Dreams, Homecoming, The Man in the High Castle, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, One Mississippi, Patriot, Red Oaks, Sneaky Pete, The Grand Tour, The Tick, and Transparent. Many of these shows are excellent and on par with Netflix's offerings, though the latter has a much deeper content library. Prime Video also hosts top shows from other networks, including HBO, at no additional cost, though you can add a Prime Channel subscription to your account for full access to the libraries of HBO, Starz, Showtime, CBS All Access, and Cinemax.
Amazon's video library also includes tons of popular movies available for streaming at no additional cost. Users have the option to purchase or rent movies and TV shows as well, similar to Apple's iTunes, Google's Play Movies and TV Shows, and Microsoft Store's Movies and TV section.
Prime Video is notable in that it supports 4K and HDR streaming as well as downloads for offline viewing. Amazon's video service works on a web browser, as well as Android and iOS devices, Fire devices (TV, TV Cube, TV Stick, phones, and tablets), game consoles (PlayStation, Xbox, and Wii), Smart TVs, and set-top boxes (Apple TV 4K, Roku, Google TV, TiVo, and Nvidia Shield), though it does not natively support Chromecast devices. With Prime Video, you can stream up to three titles at the same time from the same account, but it limits you to streaming the same title to two devices simultaneously.
DirecTV Now
$50 per month
The DirecTV Now streaming service offers dozens of channels of live TV without installing a satellite dish or running cables. The service features excellent picture quality and plenty of connectivity options, and subscriptions start at $50 per month.
DirecTV Now offers five main plans (up from four), ranging from the $50-per month Plus plan (40 channels) to the $135-per-month Ultimate package (125 channels). Prices for the service have significantly increased across the board recently, in some cases nearly doubling.
HBO is now included in DirecTV Now's base plan, while Cinemax, Showtime, and Starz can each be added for $11 per month. DirecTV Now also offers 20 hours of DVR storage for free and supports simultaneous streaming on up to three devices.
fuboTV
$54.99 per month
fuboTV is a great option for any cord-cutting sports fans. This 'sports-first, but not sports-only' service offers extensive live sports and entertainment content for all your devices. Whether you want to watch NFL games on Sunday, catch up an MLB game that aired during the day, or even stream a movie on-demand, fuboTV has you covered.
Its base subscription plan, simply called fubo, does cost $54.99 per month, but it grants you access to 85+ television channels. For the national sports events, there's NBC, CBS, FOX, NFL Network and NBA.TV. For international sports, you get channels from the beIN network and Univision. And if you're ever not in the mood for sports, fuboTV offers a wide variety of entertainment channels such as AMC, BBC America, CNBC, The Food Network, FX, National Geographic, SYFY, and USA, to name just a few. fuboTV recently added Viacom channels to its base plan, including BET, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., and VH1. You not only get to watch live events and programs from these channels, but also a ton of on-demand shows and movies.
fuboTV offers some cheaper plans aimed at international markets, including fubo Latino for $17.99 per month and fubo Portugues for $19.99 per month. You can also supplement any base plans with add-on content, including the Sports Plus ($8.99 per month) and Adventure Plus ($4.99 per month) options. fubo Extra, which includes 90+ channels to watch, costs $49.99 per month.
To top it all off, fuboTV offers excellent DVR capabilities and Lookback, a feature that lets you watch anything you may have missed up to 72 hours after it first aired. fuboTV also recently introduced Startover, which enables viewers to watch currently airing events from the beginning no matter when they tune in. Enjoy solid streaming performance via its web interface or dedicated apps for Android, iOS, Apple TV, Roku, and Fire OS devices.
PlayStation Vue
$44.99 per month
Sony's PlayStation Vue live-streaming service is an excellent option for anyone who wants to get rid of their cable bill, not just PlayStation owners. The basic Core plan starts at $44.99 per month offers a good range of news and entertainment channels, but it is a little light on sports coverage. More expensive packages expand on this coverage and are worth a look for fans of movies, sports, and other premium content providers, such as HBO and Showtime. You can augment any tier with add-ons, such as the Sports Pack or Español Pack. PlayStation Plus subscribers get discounts on some of these packages.
PlayStation Vue's DVR functionality is top-notch. For channels that allow recording, users can record an unlimited number of episodes of up to 500 shows for up to 28 days. Since the service supports up to five simultaneous streams at once, we also like that you can set up profiles for each user. This helps PlayStation Vue better tune its recommendations. We do wish it offered parental control options though.
In addition to the PlayStation 3 and 4, you can use the service on a variety of devices, such as your web browser, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast, and iOS or Android devices—provided you have internet access. PS Vue's mobile apps are notable in that they are highly customizable. PlayStation Vue's streaming performance was excellent across all the platforms we tested.
CBS All Access
$5.99 per month
While it might seem rather limiting to pay for on-demand access to just one broadcast TV channel, CBS does have a popular lineup of TV shows, and CBS All Access is the only place you can watch The Good Wife spin-off The Good Fight, Star Trek: Discovery, and The Twilight Zone reboot. You can also watch NFL games that are broadcast in your local market, including Thursday Night Football on CBS (though you can't watch on a mobile phone because of a deal Verizon has with the NFL).
For $5.99 per month, you can tap into 8,500 episodes; stay up to date with shows currently on the air or catch up with old favorites like The Twilight Zone, Taxi, and every Star Trek you could hope for. New episodes are available the next day, and it supports live TV streams in over 200 markets.
Like Hulu, the $5.99 plan includes commercials, but you can ditch the ads with CBS All Access Commercial Free for $9.99 per month (with the exception of live TV and select shows). TV classics are ad-free on both plans.
Watch on your mobile device (iOS, Android), PC, or Android TV, or stream to your TV via Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, PS4, Xbox 360, or Xbox One. CBS All Access now allows you to download shows for offline viewing on mobile devices.
ESPN+
$4.99 per month
ESPN+ offers a respectable lineup of live and on-demand sports programming for only $4.99 per month (or $49.99 per year). It's not a replacement for ESPN's regular channels, but it might be just enough for cord-cutting sports fans. With the service, you can watch a selection of live sports events on a daily basis, including many from the MLB, NHL, MLS, PGA Tour, and various college sports leagues. Unfortunately, neither ESPN's Monday Night Football nor its live NBA coverage are part of this subscription.
You can also dive into ESPN's on-demand archive of premier shows such as 30 for 30,E:60, and SC Featured. It doesn't, however, include flagship ESPN shows, such as Around the Horn, First Take, NFL Live, Outside the Lines, Pardon the Interruption, SportsCenter, and SportsNation.
ESPN+ is available via the web or via the ESPN app on Android and iOS. App performance is solid, and you won't have any trouble streaming from your mobile devices. Chromecast, FireTV, tvOS, and Roku users can also join in on the fun and take advantage of ESPN+'s generous support for up to five concurrent streams.
HBO Now
$14.99 per month
HBO Now delivers an impressive catalog of new on-air original content, including Westworld and Game of Thrones, in addition to beloved older series such as Curb Your Enthusiasm, Deadwood, Girls, The Sopranos, Sex and the City, Six Feet Under, and The Wire. On top of that, HBO's on-demand streaming service includes a collection of popular movies across a wide range of genres including action, comedy, drama, family, horror/sci-fi, Latino, romance, and suspense. That said, HBO Now works best in conjunction with another streaming service that offers a live TV component or a larger and more diverse content library. In fact, many other streaming services offer HBO Now as an add-on, which helps streamline the billing and account management process.
In testing, all of HBO Now's apps look modern and streaming performance is excellent across the board. In addition to the web, HBO Now is available on Android, Chromecast, Apple TV, iOS, PS4, Roku, and the Xbox One, just to name a few. Still, HBO's service costs more than many competitors without being as technically advanced. For example, HBO Now does not feature any 4K or HDR content, nor does it let subscribers watch shows offline. These omissions are not deal breakers, though, and HBO Now could still be a valuable addition to your streaming lineup based on the quality of its content alone.
Philo
$20 per month
Philo is an affordable video streaming service that offers a good mix of live and on-demand content. For just $20 per month, you get 58 channels, including AMC, Animal Planet, BBC America, BET, Cooking Chanel, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel, Food Network, HGTV, SCI, and the Travel Channel. Philo's less expensive $16-per-month plan will soon be unavailable to new subscribers. Philo focuses on entertainment and lifestyle content, so consumers who primarily want to watch news and sports should look elsewhere.
Philo takes a novel approach in a few different areas. For example, although Philo's sign in process is not a true two-factor authentication set up, it is very convenient. Users sign in with their phone number and a six-digit verification code sent via text, which is easier than typing in an email and password. Furthermore, Philo allows users to save the entire available catalog of a show for on-demand viewing, instead of just a single episode. Philo keeps saved shows for 30 days but does not impose any storage limits. Philo also plans to integrate social features, such as synchronized streaming, in future updates.
Despite some layout issues on the web and its lack of a dedicated Android app, Philo is still highly usable and performs well on the platforms we tested it on. Both live and saved content stream without any lag. Philo allows up to three concurrent streams.
Showtime
$10.99 per month
Showtime's original programming includes current titles such as Black Monday, Billions, Homeland, Kidding, The Chi, Shameless, and Ray Donovan. It also boasts a library of slightly older shows including Dexter, House of Lies, Penny Dreadful, and Twin Peaks: The Return. In addition, Showtime offers live streams of Showtime East and Showtime West, as well as a decent selection of movies. Most people will find something worthwhile to watch on Showtime, but whether the subscription is worth it, in the long run, depends on the quality of content it offers going forward.
Showtime is one of the more expensive standalone options we've tested at $10.99 per month, but know that you can get a deal on pricing if you bundle it with CBS All Access. You can also add in on to other video streaming services, such as Hulu, Prime Video, and YouTube TV. Subscribers can access Showtime on Android and iOS devices; Roku devices; Oculus Go and the Xbox One; and via a web browser.
Showtime's extra capabilities are about average for the category. For example, you can download content for offline viewing with the Android or iOS app, but the service limits the resolution to a disappointing 720p. Showtime also supports ratings-based restrictions for shows and movies, but it doesn't let you create separate profiles, which makes these rules more difficult to manage on a per-user basis.
Starz
$8.99 per month
If you are a big fan of Starz shows, such as America to Me, American Gods, Boss, Counterpart, Liberty City, Outlander, and Survivor's Remorse, you should consider subscribing to its dedicated video streaming service. Note that Starz's original shows are generally not as numerous, popular, or prestigious as those available on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, or HBO Now.
That said, Starz is a great destination for films. As of the time of our last review, the service hosts over 1,200 streaming-ready titles. These entries are not obscure either; popular movies such as 2012, 27 Dresses, Independence Day, Juno, Jumanji, RV, Spiderman: Homecoming, Surf's Up, The Social Network, and Up are just a few examples.
Starz costs $8.99 per month, which is reasonable, but only if you don't already subscribe to several other video streaming services already. For the cost, Starz does allow users to stream on up to four devices simultaneously, which is convenient for households. Parents should take some time to configure parental controls for individual profiles as to prevent kids from stumbling upon inappropriate content.
Starz also lets users download shows and movies on mobile devices for offline viewing, which is a great feature to have for frequent travelers or anyone who doesn't want to rack up exorbitant data costs while roaming. The service does not, however, support 4K or HDR content, which Netflix and Amazon Prime do.
Maybe you’re sick of paying for streaming services you don’t actually use as much as you thought you would. Maybe you’ve just gone through all the movies you want to see on Netflix. Maybe you’re looking for something a little weirder or less mainstream than what you’ll find on traditional streaming services. Whatever the reason, there may come a time when you’re looking for something to watch that won’t dent your wallet. There are tons of sites and services out there, but some are less legal or trustworthy than you may feel comfortable using.
Additional guides
That’s why we put together a list of sites where you can watch movies online for free — without breaking any laws or jeopardizing your computer’s security. The following are some of the most trustworthy video-streaming services on the web and, combined, they host more movies than you could watch in a lifetime.
The big players
Sony Crackle
Once known simply as “Crackle,” Sony Crackle features a robust lineup of movies and TV shows from Sony Pictures Entertainment — for now. In March 2019, Sony announced that it was selling Crackle to Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment (CSS), and that it’ll be partnering with CSS to rebrand the service as “Crackle Plus.” The updated service will include content from six of CSS’ ad-supported streaming services (Popcornflix, Popcornflix Kids, Popcornflix Comedy, Frightpix, Espanolflix, and Truli), as well as a number of Sony movies and television shows.
While that deal is being finalized, you’ll still find a good number of blockbuster hits and a generous smattering of obscure-but-interesting B-movies on Crackle. Crackle is a great resource, though the constant interruptions from advertisers can get old pretty quickly. The service is offered in 21 countries, but has shut down its Canadian and Latin American offerings.
Freedive
New to this roundup is the Amazon-owned IMDb Freedive. It has free, ad-supported TV shows and movies. So far, it’s not a very big library, but it has some decent titles. TV shows include Fringe, Heroes, The Bachelor and Without a Trace. Movies include Memento, Reservoir Dogs, Blade Runner, Monster, Legally Blonde, Groundhog Day, The Illusionist, It Follows, and more. You can watch Freedive on the web, or on Amazon Fire devices. It’s expected that Freedive will soon launch its own app. Freedive is U.S.-only for now.
Vudu
Walmart-owned Vudu might be better known for its subscription streaming service, but the platform also has an impressive and free ad-supported content section. Titles like Zombieland, An American Werewolf in London, and Air Force One are good examples of what you’ll find. If you take a cruise through the site’s selection of 4K/HDR titles, there are even one or two free-to-watch options, like Tucker. You’ll still need a Vudu account, but you can create one for free. The Vudu app is already supported by plenty of platforms including Roku, Apple TV, game consoles, and more. Plus there’s an app for most mobile devices. Vudu is only available in the U.S.
Hoopla
How’s this for a good deal: Sign up for a library card and get free downloads or streams of movies, with no ads at all. That’s the deal when you use Hoopla, a digital media streaming platform that has partnered with local libraries to let members access borrowable content online. It’s similar to Overdrive, but with more than just ebooks and audio books. Availability of any given title will depend on your location, and the number of copies available for download. Streaming will work on any device with a browser, while downloads require the Hoopla app on a mobile device. Not every library currently supports Hoopla, so make sure you ask. So far, libraries in the U.S. and Canada have access to Hoopla.
YouTube
This one is really a no-brainer. Everyone knows YouTube is the biggest video-hosting service online, and you probably already use the site for silly cat videos and footage of people getting hit with exercise balls. But YouTube has a sizable collection of feature-length movies on its free tier as well. Granted, the majority of these are B-list novelties, but there are a few quality flicks hiding in there.
In addition to the free, Google-curated movies, there are thousands of films on the site that won’t show up unless you search directly for them. If you’re looking for a particular flick, especially an older one, it’s worth performing a quick search on YouTube to see if someone has posted it. These aren’t always uploaded by the film’s rights holders, and many of them are divided into episodes and playlists, but as they say, beggars can’t be choosers.
Finding free movies on YouTube has gotten more difficult lately, as more rights holders are opting to offer their films for rent via the service, and YouTube also has subscription tiers like YouTube Premium and its live TV streaming service, YouTube TV. Still, you’ll find plenty to watch, especially if your standards aren’t too high regarding the quality of the stream.
Vimeo
YouTube might be the biggest video-hosting site, but Vimeo is probably the best. Yeah, them’s fighting words, but Vimeo has the muscle to back them up. The site dons a clean layout that’s devoid of ads and benefits from an active user community that’s widely considered more professional and constructive than YouTube’s. From this community emerges a lot of great original short and feature-length films. Vimeo also has an On-Demand section where users can purchase full-length movies and television shows. The majority of these are independently produced by Vimeo users, but some offerings are produced by major studios as well. Either way, Vimeo is a great place to find free, high-quality movies.
The Roku Channel
When Roku initially launched its free, ad-supported Roku Channel, it wasn’t technically eligible for this roundup, because you had to have one of the company’s streaming media devices in order to see it. Roku devices certainly won’t break the bank, but they aren’t free. Now, however, the Roku Channel is available to anyone, via the web, as well as through the company’s free apps for iOS and Android. The service boasts more than 10,000 titles to choose from, including old favorites like Gravity, Lethal Weapon, and The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension. You’ll need to create a free Roku account before you can watch, but that’s a quick and painless process. If you ever decide to expand your choices, the Roku Channel is now home to several premium subscription options including Showtime, Epix, and Starz. The Roku Channel is available in the U.S. and Canada.
Pluto TV
Though it may not be as well-known as the above services, Pluto TV is absolutely worthy of your attention. Not only does it host free films on-demand, it’s also a totally free live-TV streaming service, hosting content curated from across the web. While the channels vary wildly, we’re focused here on the movies. Pluto TV currently features multiple live movie channels, perfect if you want to watch something but don’t know what. There are two general purpose movie channels, with the rest being focused on specific genres or categories, including Action movies, Flicks of Fury, Horror 24/7, Classic Movies, Black Cinema, Gravitas Movies, and The Asylum. The service works in the U.S., as well as many international locations.
Pluto TV’s on-demand movie library is relatively small and rotates frequently, but offers just as much variety as its live movie channels. It’s also available on a ton of devices in addition to your computer, including Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku devices, and more. To find out more about Pluto TV, see our full guide to the service.
Tubi TV
Another up-and-comer, Tubi is very similar to Sony Crackle, in that it offers both free movies and TV episodes. No matter which device you use, chances are pretty good that you’ll be able to watch Tubi, as it’s available on Android, iOS, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TVs, Sony Smart TVs, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the web. As with the vast majority of services on this list, you’ll need to watch a few commercials, but that’s what keeps the service free.
Tubi has content from over 200 partners, including NBCUniversal, which brings with it nearly 400 classic titles like Xena: Warrior Princess, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, The A-Team, Punky Brewster, and the original versions of Magnum, P.I., The Bionic Woman, and Transformers. Cult classics like Assault on Precinct 13, Sleepaway Camp, and Piranha, along with soon-to-be cult classics like Cockneys vs. Zombies and Sharktopus vs. Pteracuda, can also be found in the growing catalog. If you’re using this service to supplement Netflix rather than replace it, the “Not on Netflix” section will help you find new and interesting films to watch.
Independent and documentary films
SnagFilms
Snagfilms is a video-on-demand site that sports a selection of films you can’t find anywhere else on the web. Founded in 2008, it’s amassed around 10,000 independent documentaries and narrative films. There are plenty of rare gems to watch here, and since the founders have worked to establish dozens of partnerships, there are also plenty of different streaming devices which support free SnagFilms. The service is currently available as a free app for iOS and Android, but it’s also compatible with various Roku devices, Kindles, and a host of other streaming devices. The main website is also a breeze to navigate. Snagfilms is available internationally, but some titles are only available in the U.S. and Canada.
Kanopy
Just like Hoopla, Kanopy is not only free to use, it’s commercial-free if you have a library card. Originally founded in 2008 in Australia as an educational tool, Kanopy now offers a library of over 30,000 films through its partnerships with more than 200 libraries. There is a heavy focus on independent movies and documentaries (the company even has access to many recent films from the A24 catalog), but you’ll find all sorts of films available, and even more are on the way thanks to a deal that will see the entire catalog of filmmaker Fred Wiseman coming to the service. Kanopy is available internationally, but the content may vary by location.
Top Documentary Films
Love documentaries? So do we. You know what they say, truth is stranger than fiction. The aptly titled Top Documentary Films is, hands down, the best site for documentaries. Not every selection is full-length, but a good documentary doesn’t have to be long — some of the best are under the 60-minute mark. Boasting a library of more than 3,000 films, the site also has a simple and straightforward layout and categorizes all of its films based on subject matter, making it really easy to find something you’re interested in right away. The content isn’t hosted by the site, but rather curated and embedded from other sites such as YouTube, Vimeo, Daily Motion, etc. It’s available internationally, but not all content will work in all locations.
Sources for classic films
Archive.org
Chances are, you’re reading this article because you’re looking for a place to watch newly released movies online. While there’s nothing wrong with that, you definitely shouldn’t ignore all of the fantastic older films the internet has to offer. Archive.org offers a veritable treasure trove of old movies you’ve probably never heard of, as well as a handful that you’ll recognize.
The Archive — which is also the home of the famous Wayback Machine that shows you how the internet used to be — has silent films, black-and-white horror flicks, obscure sci-fi movies, and an assortment of other movies. They may not have all the fancy CGI we’ve all grown so accustomed to, but the occasional throwback is a great way to mix things up.
Open Culture
Open Culture is designed to be your one-stop shop for all things free and cultured. The site offers hundreds of free online classes to enroll in, thousands of free ebooks to read, and hours upon hours of lectures from prominent figures such as Carl Sagan and Leonard Bernstein. It also offers a ton of free movies. Here, you’ll find everything from silent films and Hitchcock-helmed projects to Westerns and film noir. The site even houses some early shorts by legends like Quentin Tarantino and Stanley Kubrick. Open Culture may be difficult to navigate, but with more than 1,000 free movies available, it’s definitely worth the slog.
Big Five Glories
If the name seems kind of corny, that’s because the folks behind the project spent their time compiling hundreds of free movies from the 1920s to the ’50s — aka the “Golden Age” of Hollywood — instead of coming up with hip and edgy names. (If you’re curious, it’s a reference to the former big five movie houses: 20th Century Fox, RKO Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.) If your idea of a fun weekend is kicking back and watching Turner Classic Movies, you’ll dig Big Five Glories. All of the movies are considered public domain, so there’s no restriction on availability.
Retrovision
Retrovision is another public domain site that features hundreds of classic movies from several different eras. The word “classic” might be up for interpretation — there are some films here that were made as recently as last year, and not all of Retrovision’s movies are high-quality — but there’s still plenty of good stuff here. Retrovision is also a well-designed site that allows users to filter based on genre. It’s not limited to feature-length movies, either, as there’s a robust collection of classic TV shows to choose from.
Shocker Internet Drive-In
Shocker Internet Drive-In is a bit niche, and its website looks like it was made in the ’90s, but it’s a great resource. The site is updated weekly with “featured” horror classics, which are then made available for free download as WMV files at the website’s “Snack Bar.” The site is a fun little blast from the past, with weekly showings framed in a digital drive-in. Users can also purchase DVD copies of any film on the website for a mere $3. If you miss the old days of the internet when it was more like the Wild West and everything was less polished, this might be for you.
The downside to so many different services being available is that if you have a film in mind but don’t know where to watch it, you have a lot of different catalogs to wade through in the hopes of finding it. Fortunately, as long as you have a smartphone, you probably have access to a tool that can help you. Apple’s TV app, which is available on iOS as well as the fourth-generation Apple TV and Apple TV 4K, lets you search across more than 50 different streaming services.
For Android users, the Google Play Movies & TV app offers similar functionality, though the number of connected services is smaller. Roku devices now include the ability to see all of the free content available on the platform, whether you have a specific channel installed or not. This is in addition to its existing cross-service search, though most of what you’ll find will either be available for purchase or rent, or will be on a service that requires a subscription. Either way, while these tools can’t guarantee you’ll find a way to watch what you’re seeking for free, they can be a good place to start.