20 Best Movie Streaming Sites to Watch Free Movies Online
I did the painstaking (not really) research and found 20 sites where you can stream free movies online. It just makes sense to stay at home and watch free movies where the popcorn is darn near free and your feet won’t stick to the floor. It’s worth noting that some free online movie streaming sites requires a streaming device like an Apple TV, Roku, or Amazon Fire Stick and some of these can only be viewed on your computer or tablet. In either case, these free streaming sites are the wave of the foreseeable future as many Americans will be hesitant to go back to movie theaters when they eventually do reopen.
Charge!
Charge! is a free broadcast network that offers a ton of free movies online via the STIRR app.
They actually have a viewing schedule of not only movies, but also top TV shows, both old and new.
Because of this schedule, they are different than other free streaming services as you have to tune-in at a specific time to watch the movie or TV show you want to see.
With that said, they are a must-stop for fans of classic shows like Magnum P.I., Chips, Walker Texas Ranger, and Knight Rider.
Comet TV
If you’re a sci-fi fan, Comet TV is a must watch as they specialize in sci-fi movies and TV shows, many of which you won’t find available for free anywhere else.
They are similar to Charge! in that they have a broadcast schedule, but they do a good job telling you in advance when a particular show or movie will be on live.
Top shows available for streaming include Babylon 5, Quantum Leap, Stargate SG-1, Outer Limits, and Dwight Schrute’s favorite Battlestar Galactica.
Crackle
My family has had Crackle (by Sony) on our Apple TV for a couple years and we almost always find something good to watch.
Crackle is 100% on-demand streaming and does have ads (but less ads than network TV).
Not only do they have FREE hit movies, but also classic TV shows. like All in the Family, 21 Jumpstreet, 3rd Rock From the Sun, and Barney Miller.
See Also: 8 Genius Apple TV Hacks and Tricks You Gotta Use NOW
Crunchy Roll
If you’re a fan on Anime movies and shows you gotta check out Crunchy Roll.
It’s all free content and it’s all available for instant streaming.
They do have a premium plan that starts at $7.99/month if you’re interested.
The premium plan lets you watch new episodes 1-hour after they air in Japan and you won’t have to put up with any ads.
CW Seed
CW Seed says FREE FOR ALL right on their homepage which makes it worth a look.
It’s all TV shows from the CW Channel and you can stream them for free from anywhere.
If you’re a fan of shows like Schitt’s Creek, Limitless, Hellcats, and Intruders you should check it out.
FilmRise
Download the FilmRise app onto your steaming device and get FREE access to 1,000’s of shows.
Many of the shows you’ve heard of and some are cult classics that are worth discovering.
The best part is they are all FREE and they update their interface with new content on a monthly basis.
See Also: Does Netflix Offer a Student Discount? (Plus Free Netflix Alternatives)
Hoopla
Another popular free streaming site is Hoopla as they’re a bit different from the rest.
Think of them as a public library where you borrow not only hit movies, but also TV shows, audiobooks, music, and even comics.
They update their digital content on a monthly basis and they let you “keep” movies and TV shows for 72 hours.
Pretty cool concept and the movies are top notch “hit” blockbuster movies and not a bunch of cult classics that only 10 people have ever seen.
IMDb TV
I was blown away with all of the high-quality FREE content on IMDb TV.
Not only do they have blockbuster movies available for immediate streaming, but also hit TV shows.
They make you create a free account but that gives you access to their content from any streaming device via their app.
Internet Archive
Internet Archive is “a non-profit library of millions of free books, movies, software, music, websites, and more.”
What I love about the site is it let’s you search for your favorite movie or TV show and you stand a great chance of finding it archived somewhere for free viewing.
The one downside is you’ll have to screencast the content to your TV or you’ll be stuck watching it from your computer, tablet, or smartphone screen.
Kanopy
Kanopy let’s you login with your library card or college I.D. and gain access to 1,000’s of critically acclaimed movies, documentaries, and award-winning foreign films.
You can stream content instantly via all of the major streaming devices currently available.
See Also: Amazon Fire TV Stick Review (Is It a Cord Cutters Dream or False Hope?)
Peacock
Peacock is NBC’s new streaming service and all of the content is completely free, no credit card required.
My family recently downloaded the Peacock app on our Apple TV and have already taken advantage of several free movies.
I introduced my son to Reservoir Dogs and we also watched one of the Bourne movies….for FREE. Winning.
They have premium options (starting at $4.99/month) that unlocks all of their movies, TV episodes, and live sporting events.
Plex
When you download the Plex App not only do you get access to over 14,000 on-demand movies, but you can also stream over 80 channels of live TV.
If you pay to upgrade your account you can even use the DVR feature which lets you watch and record your local shows.
After some research, I discovered that you don’t have to download their app and can watch live TV, and free movies, straight from your computer or smartphone.
Pluto TV
The Pluto TV app was one of the first apps I downloaded when we got an Apple TV.
The idea of firing it up to find free online streaming movies made it a bit of a no-brainer.
But the coolness of Pluto doesn’t stop at their movie selection as they also offer hundreds of TV shows and even live TV.
Similar to Netflix, they perform a HUGE content redo at the beginning of every month so you can almost always find something new to watch for FREE.
PopcornFlix
I spent a good chunk of time looking around the PopcornFlix site and the free content they have available is very interesting.
Some the movies they have available for instant streaming is quite eclectic but I loved the “Staff Picks” which was filled with cool documentaries and classic movies.
They break down movies by category and make it very easy to search.
Roku Channel
Oddly enough, the Roku Channel can be watched on pretty much any streaming device, not just a Roku.
All you have to do is create a free Roku account to access the free movies, TV shows, and more.
The movies are blockbusters as well, not stuff only starring Jean-Claude Van Damme or Steven Seagal.
The TV shows are kinda random and feature a lot of shows that were B-grade hits at best.
Shout! Factory
There’s no doubt that people have different viewing tastes which is what makes Shout! Factory so perfect.
They specialize in “cult classic films, classic TV series, live streaming events and original content.”
The best part? It’s all FREE.
See Also: Sling TV Review: The Pros and Cons + Insider Tips for Success
Tubi
Tubi is similar to Pluto in that it’s a total no brainer app to download to your streaming device.
The movies are fairly big blockbusters that have come out in the past 3-4 years.
Nothing super new, but I’ve found a lot of good content that I’ve not seen before.
The free TV shows are top content from the following channels: FOX, Lifetime, A&E, Dove, and BabyFirst TV to name a few.
They make money off ads which is why it’s a free service, but the ads aren’t terrible and definitely not a deal breaker.
VRV
VRV is “a fan-first streaming service that connects the dots between sci-fi, tech, anime, and more to bring you shows and movies you actually want to watch.”
I’m just gonna leave this right here because I’m not exactly sure what kind of shows VRV specializes in, it appears to be a lot Anime from Japan.
Go check it out if that’s your thing. It’s all free apparently.
Vudu
Yes, you’ll get ads with Vudu, but the movies are very close to new releases in many cases, and they are free to stream after you sign-up.
With many of the newest releases, you’ll have to pay a rental fee of a few bucks, but everything else you can stream for free.
I added the Vudu app to my Apple TV when I first got it and I check it out regularly.
I almost always find a great movie or TV show to watch.
YouTube
Did you know that YouTube has a section of their site dedicated to free movies that you can stream?
If you’re like me, this was a complete surprise.
The movies do have ads, but the titles look great and they have a wide selection of genres available for streaming.
They try and trick you and throw in some movies that you can buy or rent so make sure you look for the titles that say “Free with Ads” underneath them.
Bonus Tip: Free Disney+ for 6 Months
If you have an Unlimited plan from Verizon you’ll score 6-months of FREE Disney+.
Coming in at $6.99/month the savings is substantial.
If you’re not familiar, Disney+ is a “newish” streaming services that offers pretty much every minute of Disney programming every produced.
Ask the Reader: Did I miss any free online movie streaming sites? Let me know in the comments and I’ll check them out.
By Kyle James