Digital Technology Trends
There are two things you can do when you’ve got all the juice you could from your streaming service’s programming. You can’t find anything new to watch: hire all platforms, from Netflix to Peacock, and spend a fortune, or resort to one of the best sites to watch free movies legally, which you will conveniently find in this list. We guarantee that you will always find something new.
Table of Contents
1. Sony Crackle, Crackle, or Crackle Plus
Known in the past only as Crackle, this free streaming site has undergone as many name changes as P. Diddy. Initially controlled by Sony, it is now a joint venture between Sony and Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment (CSS).
That association created a new entity called Crackle Plus, and it was believed that it would also become the name of the streaming service. However, one look at the site, and it’s clear that simplicity has won out: it’s called Crackle.
Whatever you call it, it includes content from six ad-supported CSS streaming services (Popcornflix, Popcornflix Kids, and Popcornflix Comedy), as well as select Sony movies and TV shows.
You’ll find a good number of blockbuster titles, like Speed, The Transporter, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and a significant number of B-movies that are as dark as they are attractive.
Crackle is a great resource, although constant interruptions from advertisers can quickly get boring. The service is offered in 21 countries but is not available to Canadian, Latin American, or Australian users.
2. IMDb TV
IMDb TV, owned by Amazon (and formerly known as Freedive), has free TV series and movies with ads. In February 2020, the service acquired the rights to more than 20 Disney-owned series, including Lost, Desperate Housewives, Malcolm in the Middle, and My So-Called Life. It is also the only site that allows Lost and Malcolm in the Middle streaming to be free.
Other television shows in its relatively small library include Fringe, Heroes, Quantum Leap, and The Bachelor. Among the films, we can find “gems” like Memento, La La Land, Drive, Monster, Donnie Darko, León: The Professional, Moon, The Illusionist, and even 80s classics, like The Karate Kid.
You can watch IMDb TV on the web, Amazon Fire devices, and Apple TV, and through the Amazon Prime app, you can find it on many TVs, tablets, and smartphones. IMDb TV is available only in the United States, although it is already preparing its landing in Europe.
3. Vudu
Owned by Walmart, Vudu may be best known for its subscription streaming service, but the platform also has a special free content section. Titles like Batman Begins, Terminator 3, and The Cabin In The Woods are good examples of what you’ll come across.
You will still need a Vudu account, but you can create one for free. Your application is already compatible with many platforms, such as Roku, Apple TV, game consoles, and more. Also, there is an app for most mobile devices. Vudu is only available in the United States.
4. Tubi TV
Tubi is very similar to Crackle, watch free movies and TV episodes available. You can likely watch Tubi no matter what device you use, as it is available on Android, iOS, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, Sony Smart TV PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and via the web.
As with the vast majority of the services on this list, you should see a few commercials or advertisements, but that’s what keeps the service free.
Tubi has more than 200 partners, including Shout Factory, which offers everything. If you are using this service to supplement Netflix rather than replace it, the Not on Netflix section will help you find new and exciting movies to watch.
5. Pluto TV
Although it may not be as well-known service as the previous ones, Pluto TV is noteworthy. Not only does it feature movies on demand, but it is also a free live television streaming service, hosting selected content from around the web.
While the channels vary, they are focused on movies, and Pluto TV has live movie channels. It offers general-purpose movie channels, and the rest are concentrated in specific categories. It generally provides quite a bit of variety.
6. Hoopla Digital
What is it about? Sign up for a library card and get free movie downloads or streams, no ads. That’s the deal when you use Hoopla, a platform for digital media transmission has partnered with local libraries to allow members to access online to the content available for loan.
It’s similar to Overdrive, but with more than just e-books and audiobooks.
The 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 all libraries are currently compatible with Hoopla, so be sure to ask first. At the moment, only library users in the United States and Canada have access.
7. Youtube
YouTube is the largest online video service, and you probably already use the site to watch funny videos or your favorite songs. But YouTube also has a sizable collection of free full-length movies. Of course, most of these are B-list, but some quality ones won’t show up unless you look for them directly.
If you want a particular title, especially an old one, it’s worth a quick search to see if someone has published it. They are not always uploaded by the rights owners, and many are divided into episodes and playlists.
Watch free movies on YouTube has become more difficult lately, as more rights owners are choosing to offer their films for rental through the service.
YouTube also has subscription tiers like YouTube Premium and its live TV streaming service, YouTube TV. Still, you’ll find plenty to see, especially if your standards aren’t too high when it comes to streaming quality.
8. Vimeo
YouTube is the largest video site, but Vimeo is probably the best. The web has a clean design that lacks ads and the benefits of an active user community that is considered more professional and constructive than YouTube. From this community, a host of excellent original shorts and feature films emerge.
Vimeo also has an on-demand section, where users can purchase full movies and TV shows. Most are independent, but some offerings are also produced by major studios. Either way, Vimeo is a great place to find high-quality free movies.
9. The Roku Channel
When Roku initially launched its free and ad-supported Roku Channel, it was technically ineligible for this roundup because you had to own one of the company’s media streaming devices to view it. Roku devices certainly won’t cost you a fortune, but they don’t give them away either.
Now, however, the Roku Channel is available to everyone via the web and through the company’s free apps for iOS and Android. The service has over 10,000 titles to choose from, including old classics like Walker, Texas Ranger, and relatively recent movie releases like the excellent Whiplash.
You will need to create a free Roku account before viewing them, but it is a quick and painless process. If you ever decide to expand your options, Roku Channel is currently hosting several premium subscription options, such as Showtime, Epix, and Starz. The channel is available in the United States and Canada.
10. Plex TV
Plex is best known as a versatile and easy way to manage and view your collection of movies, music, photos, and other content. However, in 2019 it launched its ad-supported free service with a group of films and TV shows from studios like MGM, Warner, Lionsgate, and Legendary.
You can access the collection from a browser or on any of the large number of devices that support Plex software, such as Apple TV, Roku, smart TVs. All you need is a free Plex account.
For those already using Plex as their media server, ad-supported free options can be added to existing server categories, making the experience completely seamless. It is available worldwide, although the selection of titles varies by region.
11. Independent Films And Documentaries
a. SnagFilms
Snagfilms is a video on demand site that showcases a selection of movies that cannot be found anywhere else. Founded in 2008, it has amassed around 10,000 independent documentaries and narrative films.
Furthermore, its creators have established dozens of associations, and many different streaming devices support SnagFilms. The service is currently available as a free app for iOS and Android, but it is also compatible with devices like the Roku and Kindle.
b. Kanopy
Kanopy is not only free to use but also wholly ad-free. However, there is a catch: to register and watch movies; you will need a local library or library card.
Initially founded in 2008 in Australia as an educational tool, Kanopy now offers a source of more than 30,000 films through its partnerships with more than 200 public libraries. Although it focuses on independent documentaries, there you will find all kinds of feature films.
12. Top Documentary Films
If you like documentaries, Top Documentary Films is, without a doubt, the best site. Not all selections are full-length, but a good documentary doesn’t have to belong – some of the best are under 60 minutes.
With a library of more than 3,000 titles, the site has a simple and straightforward design, classifying all films by subject, making it very easy to find what interests you.
13. Classic Movies
a. Archive.org
You will surely want to watch the newly released movies, and while there is nothing wrong with that, you shouldn’t ignore all the great old tapes the internet has to offer. Archive.org presents a veritable treasure trove of old realizations you’ve probably never heard of, as well as a handful that you might recognize.
b. Open Culture
The site offers hundreds of free online classes you can sign up for, thousands of free e-books, and hours of lectures by prominent personalities. It also has many movies at zero cost. You’ll find everything here from Hitchcock-directed projects to stories from the West, as well as black and white films.
The site even hosts some of the early shorts from directors like Quentin Tarantino and Stanley Kubrick. Open Culture can be difficult to navigate, but with over 1,000 free movies available, it’s worth it.
c. Big Five Glories
If the name Big Five Glories seems a bit cheesy, it’s because the people behind the project spent their time compiling hundreds of free movies from the 1920s to the 1950s, also known as Hollywood’s “Golden Age.” This platform is perfect if your idea of a fun weekend is about going back in time to enjoy several classic movies.
d. Retrovision
Retrovision is another public domain site that features hundreds of classic movies from different eras. The word “classic” could be up for interpretation, as there are even some here that were produced as recently as last year.
Also, not all feature films are of high quality, but Retrovision is a well-designed site that allows users to filter based on genre. There is also a substantial collection of classic TV shows.
e. Shocker Internet Drive-In
The Shocker Internet Drive-In website seems to have been created in the 90s, but it is a great resource. The site is updated weekly with “featured” horror classics, which are then available for free download as WMV files in the “Snack Bar.”
The site is a fun little date with the past, with weekly presentations framed on a digital disc. Users can also purchase DVD copies of any movie for just $3. If you missed the old days of the internet when it was more like the Wild West and everything was less polished, this might be for you.
14. How to Find and Watch Free Movies
The downside of having so many services available is that all it costs to find the movie we have in mind. Luckily, as long as you have a smartphone, you will have access to a tool to help you.
Available on iOS and 4th generation Apple TV and Apple TV 4K, the Apple TV app lets you search over 50 different streaming services. For Android users, the Google Play Movies & TV app offers similar functionality, although the number of connected services is less.
Roku devices also include cross-service search, although in this case, most of what you find will be available for purchase or rent or will be on a service that requires a subscription.
Either way, while these tools can’t guarantee that you’ll find a way to see what you’re looking for free, they can be an excellent place to start.
