Online Movies: Where to Watch Free Movies Online

Posted by Heiwhite on September 6th, 2023

There is a great selection of free movies you can stream online, whether you enjoy comedies, mysteries, documentaries, or something else entirely. 

Here are 12 of the best movie websites and resources where you can watch free movies online. I tested a few videos from each site to ensure quality, check for ads, and see what's available for free.

Online Movies To Watch For Free

When you start looking for free movies online, it won’t be long before you start coming across less-than-reputable websites. Some may require paid memberships or subscriptions while others offer pirated content. The Crackle, The Roku Channel, Amazon Freevee (formerly IMDb TV), Tubi and Vudu are just a few of the websites and apps you can use to legally watch movies and TV shows.

You probably won't find it on this list if you're looking for a full list of free ways to watch movies that you would normally have to pay for. I have compiled 12 Free Movies Online you can watch for free, most of which are ad-supported. Ad Pain is rated from low to high based on the amount and frequency of advertisements.

How do people watch movies for free?

The internet offers many legal and accessible ways for people to watch movies for free. Here are some of the most common methods:

A number of legitimate streaming services provide free movies and TV shows, supported by ads. Examples include Tubi, Crackle, Popcornflix, and Vudu. Users do not need to subscribe to any of these services to start watching.

Movies and short films are available for free on YouTube, including classic as well as contemporary movies. Most of these films are uploaded by creators who have secured the rights to distribute them.

A public domain movie is one whose copyrights have expired, making it free to stream, download, and share. Websites like Archive.org offer a vast selection of public domain films, including classics and lesser-known gems.

Streaming services like Kanopy and Hoopla offer free video access to library cardholders, as well as digital copies of movies, similar to a physical DVD library.

Sites that provide free access to public domain or creator-permitted torrents: Some websites host torrents of movies in the public domain or with the permission of the creators. Public Domain Torrents is an example of these sites.

In the course of special events or festivals, film festivals and organizations may screen films online for free. These opportunities allow viewers to enjoy a wide selection of films without incurring a fee.

To avoid copyright infringements or legal issues, users should always ensure they are accessing content legally through these methods, even if they provide access to free movies.

Is it legal to watch movies online for free?

In the opinion of legal experts, free streaming, downloading, or watching movies online for free are probably illegal services. There are no laws in the UK that directly prohibit the streaming of movies over the internet, but international copyright laws do.

Despite this, no one has ever been prosecuted for watching free movies online in the UK. In general, only those who provide illegal online streaming services are prosecuted. Find out how to watch movies online for free in the UK safely by reading on.

Free online streaming from questionable sources can pose cybersecurity risks. Crimestoppers UK reported that money was stolen from 926,836 people due to illegal streaming in 2019.

A number of legal streaming services, including Youtube, Netflix, and Apple TV Plus, and satellite/cable TV operators, are now offering movies to stream for a modest price, or free. Because of this, it makes sense to think before exposing yourself to illegal sites. You don't have to watch Free Movies online from the underworld of illegal websites. You can watch movies online for free, or for very little money.

Can you be fined for streaming movies?

There has never been a case of illegally downloading or streaming movies in the UK. End-users are probably streaming and downloading movies illegally, which makes it hard for film copyright owners and organizations that represent them to keep track of them. However, theoretically, you can be prosecuted for downloading or streaming movies illegally online.

A more likely outcome is that those who provide illegal online movie streaming services will be prosecuted. There has now been a 10 year maximum sentence for online copyright infringement as a result of the Digital Economy Act passed by the UK government in 2017. All people are subject to the tougher sentences, but they are more likely to be used against those who provide illegal streaming and downloading services.

Be warned, threats of prosecution have been made to users of illegal streaming and downloading sites. In 2020, Norfolk and Suffolk police issued a warning to subscribers to GE Hosting that they could face prosecution for their activity. On top of prosecution threats, internet service providers sometimes withdraw internet services from customers who frequently use illegal sites for streaming and downloading movies. This is because internet service providers in the UK and the EU are usually required to sign up to schemes which require them to block illegal websites.