When you start looking for free movies online, it won't be long before you start finding disreputable websites. Some may require paid memberships or subscriptions, while others provide access to pirated content. Still, there are several streaming websites, apps, and services that you can use to watch movies and TV shows legally and completely free of charge. Among them are Crackle, The Roku Channel, IMDb TV, Tubi, Vudu, and more.
If you're looking for a comprehensive list of free ways to watch movies that you'd normally have to pay for, you probably won't find it on this list. Instead, I've compiled 12 completely legal and free ways to watch movies online, most of which are ad-supported. Please note that "Ad Pain" is ranked from lowest to highest based on the duration and frequency of disruptive ads.
Kanopy
Kanopy partners with thousands of public libraries and universities to offer ad-free movies and shows or new movies coming out. You can use your library card or school email address to access content on your TV, mobile phone, tablet, or online. I entered my library card number and then used my name and email address to create a Kanopy account.
Once logged in, you can watch up to 10 TV episodes / movies per month. In the upper right corner of the screen, you will see a number indicating how many "credits" you have left for the month or how many shows you can watch. You can enjoy unlimited games in the Kanopy Kids section.
In addition to movies, Kanopy also provides access to documentaries on culture, arts, business, education, global studies, health, and more. As I scrolled through the selection, I didn't see many titles that I recognized. Still, the wide selection of independent films, documentaries, and world cinema was enough to keep me browsing through several pages of interesting titles.
Once you've found a movie you'd like to watch, you can click on the title for additional information, related titles, and comments, which can often include helpful recommendations. Most of the videos also include ratings, captions, and transcripts.
Crackle
Owned by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television, Crackle is a streaming service that features original content, as well as TV shows and movies purchased from other companies.
You'll find old and new shows / movies in a wide variety of genres featuring hidden talents and famous names. As I scrolled through the featured categories, I recognized The Rock, John Travolta, Ashton Kutcher, Steve Carell, Gene Wilder, Chase Elliott, and more. There is something for everyone at Crackle with many featured categories including "Cars, Trains and Planes", "Summer Kickback", "Home School", "Documentary" and "Classic".
aTube
On aTube, you will find hundreds of free TV channels and thousands of free movies. The Internet TV service offers free ad-supported content including live TV and on-demand titles.
You can access aTube online using your computer, iOS or Android device. I used my computer to visit the website online.
When I first came to the website, I clicked "Watch Free Now" to get started. From there, I was able to choose between "Live TV" or "On Demand" at the top of the screen. "On Demand" features several categories, including the genres listed above, plus popular movies, top TV series, new movies, and more. If you are looking for live TV, you will find a great selection of free channels.
This free-to-use entertainment network is available on many popular platforms, including web browsers, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Chromecast, Roku, Android devices, and Apple. For a complete list of compatible devices, visit the website.
With aTube, you don't need to create an account to start streaming. But if you want to save any movies to watch later, you will need to log in. Creating an account is easy and free; just click "sign in" on the home page to get started. Whether you create a free account or start watching right away, you will still have to sit back and watch some ads.
Final Words
Ultimately, any of these websites are worth visiting if you are looking for free movies online even for videos for kids download.
If you are looking for popular names in Hollywood and hit TV shows or movies, check out Crackle or IMDb TV. If you have a library card, you can visit Hoopla or Kanopy for a completely ad-free experience. Crunchyroll is a great resource for watching free anime movies and shows, while Tubi and YouTube provide access to a great selection of movies for families and kids.
For live TV, check out Pluto TV and The Roku Channel. If you're more interested in indie movies and hidden gems, you might find something you enjoy on Popcornflix or Vudu. Lastly, if you have a specific title in mind, check out Yidio over here to see if it's available for free on any of these websites.
No matter where you decide to watch free movies or funny videos online, just make sure you do it legally and safely. While you may need to disable your online ad blocker or enter your email to create a free account, you shouldn't have to download anything to your computer or enter any payment information.