How to watch free movies online (2024)

How to watch free movies online (1)

When you hear folks talk about being able to watch TV shows and free movies online, chances are they're also talking about doing so in a way that's not entirely above board. But it doesn't have to be that way. Because there are plenty of ways to legally watch movies and shows online for free. It's not even all that difficult.

All you have to do to legally watch movies online for free is be willing to sit through a bit of advertising. And chances are you already do that on any number of "live" streaming services, right? You're paying for the privilege of a service that will feed you movies with advertising.

You can do better than that. There are several streaming services that offer live movies and TV shows —all legal —and all you have to do is be willing to watch the occasional advert.

Following are our three favorite free movie services. The only question is which to choose. On the other hand, they all offer up free movies and shows, so you really don't have to choose at all. Go nuts. Install them all.

Watch free movies online with Tubi TV

How to watch free movies online (2)

Tubi TV is one of the most popular ways to watch free movies online —and to do so legally. The ad-supported service is owned by the Fox Corporation, which gives it a huge catalog as well as the corporate support for even more content deals that give you even more free movies to watch.

Tubi TV has films from just about all the genres you'd want to watch films in —action, comedy, classics, dramas, horror, LGBTQ, romance, science-fiction, reality, thrillers and more. There are a number of series available on Tubi as well, including TV comedies and dramas. And Tubi has a number of dedicated channels, too, featuring content from A&E, BabyFirst, Complex, Dove, FilmRise, Lifetime — and of course Fox itself.

Tubi also is bolstering its news section in 2021 with nearly 80 live, 24-hour newsfeeds from major station owners including Cox Media Group, Hearst, Scripps and TEGNA (the former Gannett station network). That gives Tubi coverage in 24 of the top 25 markets in the United States.

Tubi is available in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. It's available on almost every major platform in most of those countries, including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, iOS and Android, smart TV systems, gaming platforms, and on the web.

Watch for free: Check out TubiTV.com

Watch free movies online with Pluto TV

How to watch free movies online (3)

Fox isn't the only broadcaster with its own free streaming service. ViacomCBS is the proud owner of Pluto TV, which also has its share of free movies and shows. Whereas Tubi is mostly about video-on-demand (in addition to live news), Pluto puts a live, linear channel lineup front and center. In other words, it's got what looks like a traditional live guide full of channels and shows of free content that you'll want to watch.

Those free live channels include a ton of ViacomCBS-owned content, like the MTV channels, BET, CBS and more. Individual shows have their own "channels," too, basically turning Pluto into a 24-hour streamer of some of the most popular shows out there today.

But Pluto also has a robust on-demand section, so you can watch what you want when you want. For free. All you have to do is tune in, and endure a few advertisements.

Pluto TV started in the US, but more content is starting to be available in other countries, such as Canada, the UK, Mexico and Germany. Beyond that, Pluto TV is available on pretty much every major streaming platform available, including Roku and Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, various smart TV models, and on the web.

Watch for free: Check out Pluto TV

Watch free movies online with IMDb TV

How to watch free movies online (4)

You likely know IMDb —the internet movie database. What you might not know is that it has a large section of movies and series to stream —all for free and all supported by advertising. What you might not know is that Amazon owns IMDB. Makes a little more sense now, doesn't it?

There's no shortage of movies and series available across all kinds of networks and distributors. Some are newer, some are older. But it's a pretty deep bench. There also is a decent stable of IMDb original content, too.

One thing you'll have to do here — that you don't with Tubi TV and Pluto TV — is actually log in to IMDb to watch video. (IMDb has been pretty aggressive about that in the rest of the app, too.) It's just something to be aware of since IMDB is owned by Amazon, and Amazon loves data. (Who doesn't, though.)

IMDb TV is available in the United States and the UK. You can watch it using the IMDb app, the website, on Amazon Fire TV, Roku and in the Amazon Prime app.

Watch for free: Check out IMBD TV

Watch free movies on The Roku Channel

How to watch free movies online (5)

The Roku Channel is another ad-supported channel that includes series and movies from all sorts of sources. And the most important part is that it's not only for Roku devices.

Yes, you absolutely can watch The Roku Channel on a Roku device, and that's how a good number of folks are going to do it, seeing as how Roku is one of the top streaming platforms in the United States. But The Roku Channel is also available on Amazon Fire sticks and at TheRokuChannel.com.

How to watch free movies online (6)

The best VPN for f...

It's not uncommon for free movie services to be "locked" to one country. But what if you're traveling outside your home country and still want to watch your free shows?

ExpressVPN is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to watch what you want from anywhere you want to watch it. Plus it'll help keep your network traffic away from any prying eyes on public networks.

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How to watch free movies online (7)

Phil Nickinson

Phil spent his 20s in the newsroom of the Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal, his 30s on the road for AndroidCentral.com and Mobile Nations and is the Dad part of Modern Dad.

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How to watch free movies online (2024)

FAQs

What is 123Movies called now? ›

The original name, and URL, was 123movies.to, which changed to other domains including 123movies.is before redirecting to gomovies.to and later gomovies.is.

How can I watch free movies in theaters online? ›

Some options include Crackle, Pluto TV, IMDb TV, Kanopy (if you have a library card), and Tubi. Keep in mind that while these services offer free access to content, they are supported by ads, and their libraries may not always include the most recent blockbuster movies.

Is it illegal to stream movies on 123Movies? ›

The legality of 123Movies has been a contentious issue since its inception. The platform operates in a legal gray area, allowing users to stream copyrighted content without proper licensing agreements. This has led to legal actions against the website, with authorities and copyright holders attempting to shut it down.

What is the best free streaming site? ›

The best free streaming services right now
  1. Freevee. The best free streaming service overall. ...
  2. Roku Channel. The best free streaming service originals. ...
  3. Pluto TV. The best free streaming service for live channels. ...
  4. Tubi. The best free streaming service for discovery. ...
  5. Plex. ...
  6. Crackle. ...
  7. Sling Freestream. ...
  8. Vudu.
Aug 1, 2024

Is there a legal way to watch movies for free? ›

Kanopy. Like Hoopla, Kanopy is a way to watch free movies online for patrons of many libraries, as well as for university students. While there's plenty of overlap between selections on both Hoopla and Kanopy, Kanopy is more focused on foreign films, documentaries, and arthouse releases.

Can I trust 123Movies? ›

Is 123Movies dangerous? Yes, 123Movies clone sites are associated with numerous security and privacy risks. In particular, these are malicious ads and pop-ups, spoofed links, and malware-infected download files. On top of that, using such sites is illegal in many regions.

Is Soap2Day safe? ›

Soap2Day was a free streaming site for movies and TV, but was shut down in June 2023. Some copycat sites have cropped up that also call themselves "Soap2Day," but use caution before clicking. These sites are usually safe in and of themselves, but may have malicious ads that can give you a virus if you click them.

Is 123Movies still working? ›

Due to the illegal nature of the website/service, 123movies was taken down. Since then, many alternatives to 123Movies have cropped up. You will also find 123movies proxy sites that offer similar content. However, since free streaming websites violate copyright laws, we recommend accessing them at your own discretion.

What app lets you watch movies that are in theaters? ›

MoviePass lets you see movies in theaters, nationwide, for one low monthly fee.

How to watch new movies in theaters at home? ›

Fandango at Home offers more than 250,000 new releases and a huge catalog of movies and TV shows to rent or buy, including the most extensive collection of 4K UHD titles, plus thousands of titles to watch for FREE. There is no subscription required, and you can watch from your favorite viewing devices.

Can you use free movie websites? ›

Depends on which source are you watching it from. Many websites acquire the rights to stream movies but stream it for free supported by ads. On the other hand most of the websites stream it illegaly without acquiring any streaming rights.

Does 123Movies track you? ›

Yes, many 123Movies clone sites carry viruses and trackers that can corrupt your devices or gain access to your data. While there are some trustworthy 123Movies mirrors, you might want to protect yourself with reliable ad and malware blocker.

Is there a better site than 123Movies? ›

Vumoo. It is among the greatest 123Movies alternative websites. This website is for people who enjoy watching movies and TV series since it includes a vast database of up-to-date information. The main element of this website is that it is open to everyone.

Where can I watch the latest movies for free? ›

The likes of Freevee, Tubi, and Pluto TV are all free ad-supported streaming platforms that let you watch movies for free. Search for Free under the Price filter in order to see exactly what movies are available right now without needing to pay anything.

Is 123Movies safe and free? ›

Is 123Movies dangerous? Yes, 123Movies clone sites are associated with numerous security and privacy risks. In particular, these are malicious ads and pop-ups, spoofed links, and malware-infected download files. On top of that, using such sites is illegal in many regions.

What is the best movie site? ›

Our Top Tested Picks
  • Best for Original Movies. Netflix. ...
  • Best for Movie Variety. Hulu. ...
  • Best for Affordable TV and Movie Streaming. Peacock. ...
  • Best for Free Movies. Tubi. ...
  • Best for Popular Movies. Amazon Prime Video. ...
  • Best for Family-Friendly Movies. Disney+ ...
  • Best for WarnerMedia Movies. Max. ...
  • Best for International Films. KweliTV.

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