10 Legal Ways to Stream Movies for Free

In the list below, most platforms are geo-restricted. That means they are accessible in a specific region only—in our case, the US. Fortunately, you can use a VPN to bypass the restriction. After setting up a VPN and opening it, it hides your real IP address and replaces it with that of the location associated with the server. By doing so, no one will be able to trace your actual location, track your online activities, or restrict your access based on geography.

While VPNs with premium services are paid for you can find free ones that will still help you stream anonymously. Some free and reliable VPNs to consider include Proton VP, Windscribe, TunnelBear, and Hide.me.

Crackle takes the number one spot because it has the largest collection of free, legal movies and television shows of all the free streaming sites. Its content includes classic TV series, Hollywood films, and independent films from studios like MGM, Lionsgate, and Sony Pictures. Unlike most of the other free streaming sites, Crackle also produces and licenses original content. For example, the crime thriller series The Oath, starring Sean Bean, is a compelling option for viewers who enjoy intense, gritty dramas.

Surfing Crackle's vast library is easy with its easy filtering choices. You may search by genre, release year, popularity, IMDb rating, or runtime to find what fits your mood in a snap. There is even a recommendation engine on the site that suggests films from what you have watched, so finding new favorites will be easier.

Pros

• No registration is required.
• It has an easy-to-use interface.
• SD quality videos so you won't need very high internet speed.

Cons

• Requires a VPN if you're not in the US.
• You have to watch 30 seconds long unskippable ads every 15 to 20 minutes

Plex made it to this list because of its customizable nature. Besides offering a growing collection of free, ad-supported movies and shows, it also functions as a personal media server. This means you can upload, organize, and stream movies that you’ve already saved in your local storage.

Plex’s free streaming catalog isn’t lacking either. It includes the entire Crackle library, alongside movies from major studios such as MGM and Warner Bros. Movies are organized into categories like action, drama, comedy, horror, and documentaries, making it easy to find something that suits your taste.

And that’s not all. Its media server automatically categorizes and enhances movies by adding posters, plot summaries, cast and crew details, technical specs, critical reviews, and subtitles. This transforms your collection into a professional and detailed streaming library, making it easy to browse and enjoy your movies.

Pros

• You don’t have to sign up to start enjoying free content.
• A simple user interface that doesn’t compromise on important features.
• Can act as storage for your movies to free up local storage.

Cons

• Uploading your media requires technical know-how.
• You have to watch ads while streaming
• You can’t customize the interface.

TubiTV has to be at the top because it gives you free streaming services that don’t feel cheap, thanks to its sleek, well-organized interface and vast content library. Couple this with its vast library collection of over 200,000 movies and 300-plus originals— most from Fox Corporation—-and you get a streaming service that feels premium. It’s no surprise the site receives over 97 million viewers each month.

If you love Spanish movies, TubiTV doesn’t leave you behind. It has an Espanol section where you can find a solid selection of Spanish titles. Better still, if you’re a parent Tubi Kids will keep your young ones occupied with entertaining shows. And with the parental control feature, you can easily make sure they’re only watching content that’s right for their age, making Tubi a family-friendly streaming option.

Pros

• No registration is required to start streaming.
• Hosts well-known movies and TV shows.
• Allows you to create a watchlist.

Cons

• It doesn’t have a movie download feature.
• Ads are more intrusive compared to other similar sites.
• You’ll need a VPN.

If you're tired of seeing the same mainstream movies everywhere, Filmzie is a breath of fresh air. While most free streaming platforms focus on blockbuster movies, Filmzie shines a light on independent movies, foreign films, and under-the-radar gems you won't find anywhere else.

Just like any free movie website, Filmzie operates on the advertisement model. The difference, however, lies in the fact that the profit generated by you from these adverts is at least partially shared with the directors and filmmakers involved so that they earn income for something they've worked on. By simply streaming on Filmzie, therefore, you're investing directly into the wallets of independent creatives.

Another great perk? Filmzie is available everywhere in the world, so you won't have to worry about VPNs or geo-blocks.

Pros

• No registration is required.
• No need for VPN usage.
• Offers good picks that you will not find on most free websites.

Cons

• Requires high-speed internet.
• Advertisements are intrusive.
• The interface is too basic and lacks advanced functionality.

Are you looking for a free premium viewing experience? You can't go wrong with Amazon Prime Video. Though it's subscription-based, you can take advantage of its 30-day free trial available for new users. If you have more than one email, you can technically extend your free access by signing up with different accounts—though this may not be in line with Amazon’s policy.

Therein, you'll find a vast lineup of TV shows and Hollywood films, credits to Amazon’s MGM acquisition which has led to an increase in the selection of classic and modern movies. For binge-watching, you can watch popular originals like Jack Ryan, The Boys, and Good Omens.

Unlike most streaming platforms, Prime Video also caters to sports fans. It owns the rights to Thursday Night Football and will stream NBA games for the first time in the 2025-26 season, thereby becoming a compelling option for both movie and sports lovers alike. Also, Amazon Kids provides a separate section for family content, ensuring there's something for every member of the family.

Pros

• Movies have better picture quality than free sites.
• You get access to all content available to subscribers.
• Allows you to cancel the subscription anytime.

Cons

• It requires you to sign up and provide your credit card details.
• Money will be deducted from your account if you fail to cancel the subscription.
• You’ll have to watch ads.
• You’ll only have access for 30 days.

Looking for a place to watch African culture-inspired movies for free? IronFlix offers new users a 7-day free trial, giving you access to a vast collection of African films and series. From Nollywood hits and Ghanaian dramas to eye-opening documentaries, the platform is all about authentic African storytelling—offering a refreshing change from Hollywood and other mainstream films.

In addition, you'll find original movies and series, starring some of Africa’s biggest names like Mercy Johnson, Patience Ozokwor, and Adesuwa Etomi. The movies are organized in genres, such as romance, comedy, action, and thrillers, ensuring there’s something for everyone. The best part? You can save some of these films to your local storage to watch after your trial period expires.

Pros

• You can access all content during the free trial period.
• Allows you to download movies to your local storage.
• You can cancel the subscription anytime.

Cons

• You have to sign up and provide credit card details for the free trial.
• You won’t access movies after the free trial.
• Has fewer features compared to larger streaming services.

Pluto TV, a part of the ViacomCBS family, is another reliable movie streaming site. It avails content from provides content from well-known networks like CBS, Nickelodeon, MTV, and Comedy Central. As such, it is a great choice for fans of classic sitcoms, reality TV, and popular films. Better yet, it has a live TV feature, which mimics traditional cable, featuring more than 250 channels streaming everything from entertainment to news.

When it comes to organizing movies, Pluto TV doesn’t lump everything into broad genres. It breaks them down into specific subcategories. For example, the Sci-Fi section has subsections such as Classic Science Fiction, Space Stories, and Godzilla, making it easier to find exactly what suits your entertainment needs.

Pros

• No need for registration to access content.
• Wide selection of popular movies.
• Has a better organization of movies compared to other free sites.

Cons

• Doesn’t have a movie download feature.
• Limited to the US so you’ll need a VPN
• You’ll have to watch ads in the middle of the movie.

With over 145 million viewers by 2024, The Roku Channel is another sort-after ad-supported streaming platform. Its library consists of over 80,000 free movies and shows, along with 500 plus live TV channels, broadcasting news, sports, and entertainment. All this you watch in high resolution, guaranteeing a smooth binging experience. You also get access to Roku originals, adding fresh, exclusive content to your watchlist.

All the same, the content library is not as big as other free streaming sites. Additionally, movies are not organized into categories, making it less convenient to browse and discover new shows. However, Roku Channel's simple interface does have a search option where you can simply look for specific movies you want to watch. One other plus is that you can bookmark those films you must see with the help of the "Save List" feature where you can easily find them. For this, however, you’ll need to create a free account.

Pros

• You can access content without signing up.
• Videos are of high quality.
• The interface is simple, making it easy to navigate

Cons

• You’ll need a VPN to access the platform.
• Lack of categorization makes it hard to find new movies in the genre you like.
• Movies are fewer compared to other free sites.
• Doesn’t allow downloading.

With over 15,000 movies and 300 plus free channels, Xumo Play is another great alternative for free, ad-supported streaming. This pairing of live and on-demand TV channels gives you a lineup of binge-worthy content. In addition, Xumo Play categorizes its content into 12 levels of channels, including news, movies, kids & family, comedy, food & travel, music, sports and more, so you can search content by interest

The best part? The platform operates more like a traditional TV service, automatically playing live content as soon as you visit the site. While this might feel familiar to those who enjoy channel surfing, new users may find the interface a bit confusing at first.

Pros

• You start streaming without creating an account.
• Offers smooth playback with minimal buffering.
• Adds new movies regularly.

Cons

• Limited content variety.
• The interface can be confusing for new users.
• You’ll need a VPN as it’s only available for US citizens.
• Doesn’t support downloading.

If you’ve heard of a streaming platform called Vudu, you’ll now find it under a new name—Fandango at Home. This rebranding which happened in 2024 wasn’t just for show. It was meant to bring everything under the Fandango brand from ticketing to home streaming, under one umbrella. As such, you can watch free movies and access premium services such as buying movie tickets for theaters, renting new releases or buying your favorite films.

Although the platform’s free library doesn’t host a vast collection of movies, you can find popular releases and well-known mainstream movies. The other perk you’ll enjoy is a premium interface that makes it easy to browse. In addition, the playback speed is fast, so there will be no buffering which can be frustrating.

Pros

• Sign-up is not necessary for free streaming.
• Avails popular titles.
• You can rent or buy content that’s not free.

Cons

• Requires a VPN outside the US.
• New releases are few.
• Smaller free movie selection.

With the above list, you can watch movies for free legally. Whatever genre you're into—be it action, drama, comedy, documentaries, or even niche international films—these platforms have something to offer. However, you have to watch free ads as that’s how these sites make money. And in some cases, you’ll need a VPN to bypass geo-restriction.