Watching movies is the perfect way for many people to get some quirky and convenient entertainment. In this article, we warn you about illegal sources for downloading movies and introduce you to free websites for downloading movies that you can talk to. There are many legal sources that offer free movies and television shows to check out, such as our list of sites for free and legal music and free sports streaming. The best is yet to come, so cineastes should look around for free great sites to download free movies.
“How to download free movies?
To download movies for free from these websites, you must access them from your desktop or mobile web browser. Different websites with different download options offer direct download links or torrent links. For the torrent links, you need to install a separate BitTorrent client.”
1. YouTube
While YouTube remains the largest provider of online video on the Web, it also invests heavily in original programming and is exploring new revenue streams.
This makes YouTube a free movie site for those who can’t afford to spend on premium access to Netflix or Hulu content. You will be surprised to know that YouTube offers more than 350 feature films for free streaming. You can also borrow most of the new movies on YouTube. Note that this is different from YouTube TV, a live TV streaming service. YouTube is also mentioned in our current list of the best movie streaming sites.
What we like about YouTube:
- More than 350 movies for streaming
- Reliability of YouTube’s interface
- Cross-device functionality
What we didn’t like about YouTube:
- No latest movies for free
Availability: USA
- Zookeeper
- Legally Blonde
- The Terminator
- Flawless
- Kung Fu Killer
- IP Man
2. The Internet Archive
Thanks to torrent links, you can download hundreds of movies without spending a penny. Internet Archive fits perfectly into our list of websites for downloading and streaming free content. With its mission of universal access and knowledge, this website acts as a savior in many cases, enabling you to access blocked websites, open offline websites and develop websites over the years. For 4-5 years, it has provided direct links to movies for download without doing so if the file size is too large. The overall catalog on the website is growing and new content is added every day.
What we like about The Internet Archive:
- Vast directory of movies to download across multiple genres
- Movie downloads available all across the world
- Torrent download option on some movies
What we didn’t like about The Internet Archive:
- Only classic movies are available
- No direct link to download
Availability: Everywhere
Some notable titles:
- The original Jungle Book
- Farewell to Arms
- Iron Mask
- Night of the Living Dead
- The Brother from Another Planet
3. Watch TCM
The most popular way to watch free movies and television in the US is with a cable subscription. Many movie studios and streaming players work with cable networks to provide access to an amazing collection of movies on the Internet. Free movie download sites allow you to create a free virtual library card that gives access to forums, the ability to upload videos and bookmarks for your favorite content.
With Turner Classic Movies (TCM), called Watch TCM, you can watch an unlimited number of free movies without cable or satellite packages. With such free offers, the site offers the best collection of movies. It contains articles, information about artists, short film lists, and film recommendations. What makes TCM even better is the availability of special apps for Android, iOS, and Apple TV.
Well, first of all, there is nothing else than TCM, which has been around for decades.
What did we like about Watch TCM?
- Can be coupled with cable TV subscription
- Watch classics across different platforms
What we didn’t like about Watch TCM:
- Only available in the USA
- You need to select your TV service provider before watching movies on Watch TCM
Availability: USA
Free on Watch movies on TCM:
- Gone With The Wind
- Westworld
- Casablanca
4. Disney+ Hotstar
Let’s talk about Indian Hindi content after talking about American viewers and the availability of free movies for them in the YouTube section. While paid services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are aimed at more Indian audiences, Disney+ Hotstar remains the best source of free streaming of films for download and offline streaming. Disney+ Hotstar hosts exclusive movies and top-notch Indian movies on its platform and you must be a paying customer of the service.
The user interface of the service is clear and well designed, just like an app would have to be to get there.
With the recent influx of amazing films such as Parasite, Minari, The Burning, and Handmaiden, American cinema-goers are exposed to a wealth of excellent content. That’s why we like Hotstar so much. It is great to watch Indian TV shows, sports, and news for free.
What did we like about Hotstar?
- Best source of free entertainment for Indian viewers
- Affordable premium subscription for movie downloads
What we didn’t like about Hotstar:
- Only available in India
- More Indian regional content
Availability: India (free), USA (Paid)
Some free movie titles:
- Dil Bechara
- Super 30
- Houseful
- Raid
- Kaabil
- Jolly LLB
- Bodyguard
5. The Korean Film Archive
The Korean film archive on YouTube is a hidden gem for cineastes looking for movies to download and treasure. Named after a Korean film classic, the site contains more than 200 Korean film classics since the 1930s. Given the growing popularity of Korean cinema in the West, this is the perfect opportunity to explore the classical works of South Korean cinema. The films have English subtitles, so you don’t have to worry about language barriers. If you love cinema, give it a try, you won’t be disappointed.
What did we like about The Korean Film Archive?
- Best source of free movies for Korean cinephiles
- Availability of English subtitles
What we didn’t like about The Korean Film Archive:
- Only South Korean movies are available
- Limited number of movies
Availability: Everywhere
Some free movie titles:
- The Day A Pig Fell Into The Well
- Aimless Bullet
- A Dwarf Launches A Little Ball
- Sopyonje
6. Le CiNéMa Club
The curated indie film streaming website Le Cinema Club is known to stream a new film a week and is open to contributions from filmmakers. Launched in 2015, the site aims to nurture new talent and bring rare gems that don’t get the attention they deserve to the public. While most of the content you will find on the site are short films in nature, it is also open to feature films. At the beginning of the year, the website was relaunched with a redesigned interface.
At the time of writing, this article streams the page Squat and Frank Lebon. It has also been streamed by Claire Denis in the past. It’s a great site for free movies, and it’s owned by Sony. That’s why we like it so much.
So you have a lot of movies that you can watch here as well as on Amazon.com and Netflix.
All you need to do is sign up and create a watchlist, and then recommendations are displayed based on your priorities.
Availability: Everywhere
What did we like about Le CiNéMa Club?
- One new and curated movie every week
- Diverse and original movies
What we didn’t like about Le CiNéMa Club:
- Only one movie is available per week
- You won’t find popular movies here
7. Crackle
Crackle offers a lot of popular movies and TV shows for free that you won’t find on other websites. Major offerings include Seinfeld, Firefly, Sports, Jeopardy, and more. It also has an Android and iOS app, which is an obvious plus point. If you are willing to look at some ads, there are no ads.
Some of the content on Crackle may be blocked in your country due to licensing restrictions. You can access it via a VPN or proxy service. That’s why we like crackling so much.
What did we like about Crackle?
- More than 100 fully legal movies for free streaming
- Handy subtitle settings for easy viewing
What we didn’t like about Crackle:
- Geo-restricted content
- In-movie advertisements
Availability: USA
Free movies on Crackle:
- Predestination
- Train to Busan
- I Am Not Your Negro
- Oldboy
8. Pluto TV
Pluto TV tries to mimic a traditional TV-style layout, which is why it is one of my favorite services on this list.
The service watches free movies and offers 75 TV channels in various categories. The channels are divided into news, television, movies, technology, sports and other popular areas. Pluto TV also has its own movie channels. The service offers its official application on all major platforms, so you can enjoy the content on the go.
One thing to keep in mind is that the channels are only available if you are in the US. You must use a VPN service or proxy for an uninterrupted experience.
What did we like about Pluto TV?
- Traditional TV-like interface
- Wordwide, cross-platform availability
What we didn’t like about Pluto TV:
- No latest movies
- Frequent advertisements and commercials
Availability: Worldwide (More content in the US
9. A24 Movies on Kanopy
When we talk about hidden gems of movie streaming, we can’t miss Kanopy. By partnering with libraries and universities around the world, Kanopy is able to provide a unique collection of content free of charge. Last year, the company announced its partnership with Oscar-winning film studio A24. That’s why we like Kanopy so much.
What did we like about Kanopy?
- Tons of award-winning and independent movies
- Unique streaming model (library card supported)
What we didn’t like about Kanopy:
- Limitations on number of movies you can stream per month
Availability: Everywhere
Free movies on Kanopy:
- Lady Bird
- Good Time
- Room
- The Lobster
- The Florida Project
- Moonlight
- First Reformed
10. Open Culture
Open Culture is all about free movies, free online courses and free language courses. Open Culture was founded in 2006 and comprises six main sections: films, online courses and language instruction, e-books, textbooks, and audio books. Open Culture offers high-quality videos from all over the world.
The film division consists of an excellent collection. It hosts over 1,150 free films, including a special collection of Oscar-winning films and Charlie Chaplin films. OpenCulture hosts free films of cult classics, short films, documentaries, and comedies. We like this site a lot because it curates free movies from independent movies, TV shows, stand-up comedy, and videos.
What did we like about OpenCulture?
- Special award-winning collection of Andrei Tarkovsky and Charlie Chaplin movies
- Online courses, podcasts, ebooks, and audio books
What we didn’t like about OpenCulture:
- No latest movies
Availability: Everywhere
11. MoviesFoundOnline
This website curates and serves many public domain movies. It does not host or upload media itself and is working to delete some of the films for copyright infringement. That’s why we like this site so much. Also called Nobudge, this is a one-person project, and that’s not wrong.
What did we like about MoviesFoundOnline?
- Night mode feature for comfortable browsing
- Also features short films, documentaries, animations, and TV shows
What we didn’t like about MoviesFoundOnline:
- Intrusive advertisements on website
Availability: Everywhere
12. NoBudge
Founded by Kentucky Audley, an indie filmmaker, and actor, the website is dedicated to independent short and feature films. Most movie websites don’t see reviews from critics, but you can stream movies on Nobudge without any help. The money is carefully chosen by Audley and the chances of stumbling across a bad film are slim.
That’s why we like Nobudge, which is a must for anyone who likes something like that.
What did we like about NoBudge?
- One fresh, hand-picked film every day with director’s interview
- 60% profit goes to independent filmmakers
What we didn’t like about NoBudge:
- No latest movies
- Frequent advertisements and commercials
Availability: Everywhere
13. PopcornFlix
This free movie streaming site is owned by Screen Media Ventures. It offers a lot of public domain movies and original content. It hosts thousands of free movies spread over several categories such as drama, action, comedy, horror, etc. You can use this page to view the content on any device without spending a penny. You get many free TV shows from the full catalog of the National Geographic series.
That’s why we like Popcornflix, which is a must for anyone who’s ever been on the road.
What did we like about PopcornFlix?
- Dedicated PopcornFlix kids app
- Unique feature to add comments to movie sections and create GIFs
What we didn’t like about PopcornFlix:
- No latest movies
- Geo-restricted content
Availability: USA
14. Hulu
You can opt for Spotify Premium for students, Showtime, or the subscription-based streaming site Hulu for $4.99 a month. If Hulu is your service, you can opt for a 30-day trial account. In this way, you get all three services at an unbeatable price.
Hulu also has apps for Android and iOS. However, it is not available in every country in the world. The use of a VPN or proxy is required. With movies, you can watch many free TV episodes for hours.
What did we like about Hulu?
- Spotify’s eligible student plan lasts for up to 4 years
- Excellent cross-platform functionality
What we didn’t like about Hulu:
- Premium account required for downloading movies offline
- Frequent advertisements and commercials
Availability: USA
15. Vimeo
Just like YouTube, Vimeo has a good collection of free movies. It goes without saying that it has a clean layout, which makes it a great place for film lovers who want to enjoy free independent movies and documentaries. We also like Hulu, which is a must for everyone.
What you may not know is that Vimeo also has an on-demand content section where you can obtain paid television shows and movies. There are also a lot of short films for entertainment. That’s why we like Vimeo so much.
What did we like about Vimeo?
- Just like YouTube, tons of free movies to watch
- On-demand section for further viewing and download
What we didn’t like about Vimeo:
- No latest movies
- More user-uploaded content
Availability: Everywhere
16. IMDb TV
The latest addition to this list of movie streaming sites is IMDB FreeDive. While IMDB is owned by Amazon, it is provided free of charge to owners of Fire TV in the United States. The initial collection of free films and television shows is impressive and they promise to add more content from time to time.
Users can use Alexa to launch FreeDive for online streaming. You just have to say, “Alexa, go to free Dive.”.
What did we like about IMDb TV?
- Fully free, ad-supported service with cross-platform availability
- Advanced Title Search to find what you’re looking for
What we didn’t like about IMDB TV:
- Only available on FireTV
- Website’s UI feels buggy
Availability: USA
Some free movies:
- Midnight in Paris
- The Illusionist
- Memento
- Born This Way
- Quantum Leap
17. Yidio
What many of you may not know is that Yidio Movie Site is the full name of your Internet video. Speaking of the complete library of content available on the website: the online video guide includes more than 1 million TV shows and movies.
If you move on to the free part, you can select the free filter above to categorize the content in one place. The correct option sorts the content by popularity, date, and genre. You will also be able to sort the free movies by R, PG-13, PG, G, and NR ratings. This feature is very useful to maintain your collection of favorite movies. Users can sign up for the website and add movies to the watchlist for later viewing.
What did we like about Yidio?
- Unique platform that gathers content from Amazon. Crackle, Hulu, Netflix, etc.
- Yidio, short for Your Internet Video, is more of an online video guide with free and paid content all at one place
What we didn’t like about Yidio:
- The search feature of Yidio is broken as it still shows paid movies under free section
- No option for subtitles
Availability: Everywhere
18. Legal Torrent Sites
There are tons of legal torrent sites that share content from the public domain. However, there is a unique platform for collecting content from Amazon. That’s why we like Yidio.
Availability: Everywhere
19. Yify Movies
You can visit these secure torrent sites to download movies and watch them at will. If you are a fan of torrenting, you have probably heard of YTS. It offers a large selection of free movies that you can watch in excellent quality. It offers classic films as well as the latest films, which you can also watch for free. It is the official website of YTS, a streaming video streaming service.
At the time of writing, Yify Movies has 32,592 movies available for free download. The movies are only available as torrents and not as MP4 files. The search function of the website allows you to search for various parameters such as quality, genre, rating, year, and language. That’s why we like this site so much.
What did we like about Yify Movies?
- A large collection of free to watch movies
- Excellent search functionality
What we didn’t like about Yify Movies:
- Intrusive ads might be a deal breaker for some
Availability: Everywhere
20. Ant Movies
Ant Movies is one of the best sites to watch free movies in the interface. Ant Movies is a new website that offers the possibility to watch free movies. It offers a decent collection of Hollywood movies. You can not only watch the movies but also download and watch them offline.
The website is designed so that the films are divided into different sections: Featured, Top View Today, Favourites, Top Ratings, Top, etc. That’s why we like Ant so much. By linking to this article, you can also visit our list of the best apps to stream free movies from us.
What did we like about Ant Movies?
- A large collection of free to watch movies
- Excellent categorization
What we didn’t like about Ant Movies:
- Only available in the US
Availability: US
Tip: Most websites do not offer a subtitle download function, which is a big disadvantage for many viewers. If this is the case, you can check out our list of the best subtitles websites to download subtitles. You can also use the VLC media player with the VLSub extension to load the subtitles of your choice.
Read more: Onionplay.Co: Free To Watch, Features And Alternatives (2021)
Free Movie Download: Our Recommendation
Now that you have a list of the top 20 sites for downloading movies, you’ve done your job. You have some of the best pages on this list, but as I said, it all depends on the type of movie you want to see.
If you want to download the latest movies, we recommend Yify movies or ANT movies. For classics, we recommend TCM or Crackling and for indie films Kanopy or Open Culture.
Free Movie Download FAQs:
1. How to tell if a movie download website is legal?
We have tested and made sure that all the sources on our list are 100% legal. As far as I can tell, all websites for downloading movies are legal. There is no specific test you need to carry out to confirm whether they offer legal films. When you see them offering recently released movies or trying to make money with tons of advertising and VPN recommendations, it is a red flag of an illegal source.
2. Do I need a VPN for free movie download?
There is no need for a VPN for free movie downloads. If you are certain you are using a legal website to download movies, you do not need a VPN or a proxy to hide your online activities.
3. Is it legal to download movies/shows on Netflix?
It is perfectly legal to download movies and series from Netflix. After paying for the Netflix subscription, you can download the content to your Android or iOS smartphone.
On Windows, you need to download the official Netflix app. There is also an app for watching and downloading Netflix for Mac.
4. Where can I download movies for free?
You can download free movies from various websites such as Yify Movies, Open Culture, Pluto TV, Crackle, Yify Movies, and more. See this article for a full list. Download movies from here for free.