What if I told you that there are multiple streaming platforms - such as Tubi, Pluto TV, FreeVee, and more - in which you can legally watch free movies online?
You’d be surprised just how many great movies are available at no cost - save the occasional commercial interruption. The following are our picks for the best movies you can stream online for free right now and where to find them as of November 2024.
Intense Dramas
For when you want to be on the edge of your seat:
Gladiator (2000)
The Director: Ridley Scott
The Cast: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen
What It's About: Gladiator follows the story of a Roman general who is betrayed by the son of the emperor when he murders his father and seizes the throne, and then sends people to kill the general’s whole family. Years later, he comes back as a gladiator, and aims to avenge the murders of his family in Rome.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: With Gladiator II out in theaters, now is the best time to watch the original film and enjoy it in all of its glory. Are you not entertained?!
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Requiem For A Dream (2000)
The Director: Darren Aronofsky
The Cast: Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly , Marlon Wayans and Ellen Burstyn
What It's About: The film follows the lives of four people and how their addiction to drugs grows more and more until it ruins their lives, piece by piece.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: The film is considered one of the best of all time and won the Academy Award for Best Picture. But keep in mind that it is a very serious movie – and you probably will feel sad after.
Powerful, Emotional Dramas
For when you want to cry or laugh or do both at the same time, these are the films for you:
The Social Network (2010)
The Director: David Fincher
The Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake
What It's About: The Social Network follows the story of the founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, and his time trying to turn it into the website that we all know today.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: The winner of Best Picture in 2011, the film offers several amazing performances and will surely have you questioning who your true friends are.
The Founder (2016)
The Director: John Lee Hancock
The Cast: Michael Keaton, Nick Offerman, John Carroll Lynch
What It's About: The Founder follows the story of Ray Kroc and how he created a restaurant chain that turned into one of the biggest that we all know today – McDonald’s.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: If you’ve never heard of the history of McDonalds, I would highly suggest checking out this film, as it seriously does teach the audience a lot about a business that has been around for so many years – plus, Keaton gives a great performance.
August: Osage County (2013)
The Director: John Wells
The Cast: Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor, Chris Cooper
What It's About: Based on the play of the same name, this Academy Award-nominated movie follows the story of a family reunion taking place, and then subsequently thrown into chaos when the patriarchal figure appears out of nowhere.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: The entire cast is truly talented as heck, but I will say that both Roberts and Streep knock it out of the park for this emotional drama.
A Night To Remember (1958)
The Director: Roy Ward Baker
The Cast: Kenneth More, Michael Goodlife, Laurence Naismith, Kenneth Griffith
What It's About: The film is a disaster drama that follows the story of the sinking of the Titanic, mainly following the final night, when thousands of people lost their lives.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: While it’s certainly still a dramatic retelling of the events of Titanic, it takes it seriously and is utterly terrifying to think about, even with the 1950s effects.
Boyhood (2014)
The Director: Richard Linklater
The Cast: Patricia Arquette, Ellar Coltrane, Lorelei Linklater, Ethan Hawke
What It's About: Filmed from 2002 all the way until 2013, this film, directed by Richard Linklater, follows a young man from his childhood into adulthood, all the way until he turns eighteen and leaves for college.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: If we’re being honest, Boyhood is one of those movies that’s a once-in-a-lifetime film that truly captures the essence of growing up. Plus, it won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Stillwater (2021)
The Director: Tom McCarthy
The Cast: Matt Damon, Camille Cottin, Abigail Breslin
What It's About: Stillwater is a crime drama movie about a man who takes it upon himself to team up with a French woman in order to unravel the mystery of the true killer of a young college student that his daughter was accused of murdering.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: Personally, I think this is one of Damon’s best performances, and there’s nothing quite like a murder mystery to get the blood pumping.
Fun And Romantic Comedies
Are you ready to laugh so hard your sides are going to hurt?
13 Going On 30 (2004)
The Director: Gary Winick
The Cast: Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Judy Greer, Andy Serkis, Kathy Baker
What It's About: A thirteen-year-old wishes that she could be thirty, flirty and thriving, only to wake up one day and find that she’s all grown up and living in New York City, working at a fashion magazine.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: 13 Going On 30 has to be one of the most classic rom-com’s of the 2000s and is hilarious from beginning to end, as well as heartfelt. I would totally recommend it for a little movie date.
Clue (1985)
The Director: Jonathan Lynn
The Cast: Eileen Brennan, Tim Curry, Madaline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean
What It's About: Based on the celebrated board game of the same name, Clue is the ultimate whodunit comedy movie with a great ensemble cast to boot. The film follows a group of strangers as they come together for a strange party that ends with people getting killed, and them having to solve the ultimate mystery of who did it.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: If you want a classic murder mystery but also want to laugh at some of the silly jokes, then this is the perfect film to check out.
The King Of Staten Island (2020)
The Director: Judd Apatow
The Cast: Pete Davidson, Marisa Tomei, Bill Burr
What It's About: The comedy-drama The King of Staten Island follows a young man who tries to get his life together when his mother decides to move on – only for him to find out that his mother’s new man has the exact same occupation as his deceased father.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: As someone who has followed Pete Davidson’s career since he first started on SNL, I can fully say that I love him in this role and he truly knocks it out of the park as the lead.
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
The Director: Chris Columbus
The Cast: Robin Williams, Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan, Harvey Fierstein, Robert Prosky
What It's About: When a divorced actor tries to find the best way to see his kids, he decides to disguise himself as an elderly female housekeeper in order to stay close to them while keeping his true identity a secret.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: When we talk about the best Robin Williams’ movies, Mrs. Doubtfire is always on that list. The quotes from it are hilarious and the film itself will make you snicker.
A Rainy Day In New York (2019)
The Director: Woody Allen
The Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Elle Fanning, Selena Gomez, Jude Law, Diego Luna
What It's About: A Rainy Day In New York follows a college couple as they travel to New York City for a weekend, and while at first it feels like a normal romantic getaway, things begin to change not that long after they step into the big city.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: There are so many great Woody Allen movies out there but I love this one for the great cast and fun rom-com atmosphere. It’s the perfect thing to watch when you want a film with some drama but mainly comedy.
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
The Director: Rob Reiner
The Cast: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher, Bruno Kirby
What It's About: The movie follows the titular characters and their shared experiences over more than a decade, and how each time, they question if they can ever really just be friends.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: This movie is a classic enemies-to-lovers kind of deal. I mean, it’s like a blueprint. If you want a classic rom-com, this is the film to check out. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Intense Horrors
Yup, already horrified by all of these:
World War Z (2013)
The Director: Marc Forster
The Cast: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Matthew Fox, James Badge Dale
What It's About: Based on the novel of the same name and starring Brad Pitt, World War Z is the type of zombie apocalypse I know none of us would survive. The film follows a former investigator for the United Nations who has a mission – to travel the entire world in order to find a cure for a deadly zombie apocalypse that is threatening to wipe out all of humanity.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: This film is the epitome of zombie warfare and it will both terrify you and excite you. Just don’t be squeamish.
Terrifier (2016) & Terrifier 2 (2022)
The Director: Damien Leone
The Cast: David Howard Thornton
What It's About: Terrifier is just as terrifying as the title implies, following a young woman named Tara. While all she wanted to do was party, she ended up becoming the target of a serial killer – more specifically, a serial killing clown named Art, and it turned her world upside down. The sequel continues to follow the clown’s murderous rampage as he takes on teenager Sienna Shaw.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: These films have basically redefined the horror genre over the last few years and I can openly say they are horrifying in the best ways possible but PLEASE go into this with an empty stomach.
The Wailing (2016)
The Director: Na Hong-jin
The Cast: Kwak Do-won, Hwang Jung-min, Chun Woo-hee, Jun Kunimura
What It's About: The Wailing is one of the best Korean horror movies out there. The film follows a policeman who, in order to save his daughter, looks into why people are suddenly getting sick and going on crazy killing rampages in a remote village in South Korea, but the real reason is darker than anyone ever expected.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: If you were in need of horror that truly terrifies and is super creative in the way it delivers, then this is the film for you. It’s the perfect horror movie for a rainy day.
The Hunt (2020)
The Director: Craig Zobel
The Cast: Ike Barinholtz, Betty Gilpin, Emma Roberts, Hilary Swank
What It's About: The Hunt is a horror-comedy/action film and follows the story of elites who decide to kidnap the working class – the majority of them are Americans – and hunt them down. And now the working class must survive.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: This film is just zany as heck and a ton of fun, and it offers a great message on the state of politics. A win-win, if you will – and plenty bloody.
The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007)
The Director: John Erick Dowdle
The Cast: Stacy Chbosky, Ben Messmer, Ivar Brogger
What It's About: This pseudo-documentary is all about a serial killer in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, and is basically his snuff films compiled into one long feature mixed in with interviews.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: This film can be gross as heck, which is why I again warn you to go into it with an empty stomach. But it’s also terrifying and one I can certainly recommend.
The Babadook (2014)
The Director: Jennifer Kent
The Cast: Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman, Hayley McElhinney
What It's About: The Babadook is based on the short film, Monster, and follows the story of a single mother trying to take care of her child, who seems to be seeing things, but soon is haunted by a monster in their own home, and must figure out a way to stop it.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: The Babadook is so creative and will take you on a ride that you could never forget, all of it led by the game-changing female director Jennifer Kent. Seriously such a great yet terrifying horror film.
Not So Intense Horrors
For those who want a thrill – but don’t want to jump out of their seats:
The Invisible Man (2020)
The Director: Leigh Whannell
The Cast: Elisabeth Moss, Aldis Hodge, Storm Reid, Harriet Dyer
What It's About: Based on the 1987 novel of the same name, The Invisible Man follows a young woman who struggles to survive the attacks of her ex-boyfriend – who has somehow acquired the ability to become invisible as he stalks her.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: While spooky, the film is a great lesson in suspense, and it makes you look around every corner to see if someone is watching you.
Halloween (1978)
The Director: John Carpenter
The Cast: Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, P.J. Soles
What It's About: The movie follows Laurie Strode, a babysitter who is hunted down by the evil Michael Myers on Halloween night, and her legendary battle to try and survive his attempts to kill her.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: While considered one of the best horror movies ever, Halloween is pretty tame in comparison to some of its later entries but is still scary enough to get you jumping in your seat.
Night Of The Living Dead (1968)
The Director: George A. Romero
The Cast: Duane Jones, Judith O’Dea, Marilyn Eastman
What It's About: A group of strangers are forced to take refuge together in order to survive the sudden onslaught of flesh-eating, reanimated corpses, while also struggling to survive each other.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: Romero basically defined the zombie genre as a whole, so this is the zombie movie to check out, but trust me, it’s really not that scary – at least in comparison to today’s zombies.
Guns Akimbo (2019)
The Director: Jason Lei Howden
The Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Samara Weaving, Ned Dennehy, Natasha Liu Bordizzo
What It's About: When an online troller wakes up with guns literally stapled to his hands, he finds himself thrown into a deadly online game where he must kill to somehow survive.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: I love this movie. As a Daniel Radcliffe fan, this is him at his most unhinged and it is every bit as hilarious as you can expect it to be. I’d say this is more action than horror, but there are certainly some moments that are not for kids and it can get really bloody, so that’s why I put it here.
Fun For The Whole Family
Everyone could check out and have fun with these films:
The Lego Movie (2014)
The Director: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
The Cast: Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Nick Offerman
What It's About: Based on the toys of the same name, The Lego Movie follows the life of a regular Lego minifigure who finds himself involved in a resistance movement and helping those around him to stop a tyrant from changing everything they know and love about their home.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: The Lego Movie is probably one of the best animated films of the 2010s, but it’s also just a funny film with hilarious lines and plenty to go around for both kids and adults.
It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)
The Director: Frank Capra
The Cast: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell
What It's About: A working man wishes that he had never been born, and an angel who is trying to get his wings comes to Earth to help him see what life would have been like if he never was.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: I mean, the film is an absolute classic and the perfect Christmas movie for the whole family to watch. What’s not to love about it?
Wonka (2023)
The Director: Paul King
The Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Calah Lane, Keegan-Michael Key, Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas, Mathew Baynton
What It's About: Based on the main character from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this movie tells the origin story of Wonka and how he brought his famous chocolate company to life.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: This film was wildly successful when it came out and was a delightful little musical romp. I think anyone would enjoy it.
Top Gun (1986)
The Director: Tony Scott
The Cast: Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards
What It's About: This is a classic action film from the 1980s that follows the story of Lieutenant Pete Mitchell, otherwise known as ‘Maverick’ and his time as a naval aviator as part of the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School, otherwise known as the Top Gun program.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: After the success of Top: Gun Maverick, it would be a sin not to put the original on here. Maybe turn your kids away for the, uh, silly love scene in here, but the rest of this film is a pedal-to-the-metal action movie that everyone will love.
Coraline (2009)
The Director: Henry Selick
The Cast: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Ian McShane
What It's About: This stop-motion animated film follows the story of Coraline, a girl who finds that there’s this other version of her home through a magic door. But all is not what she thinks it is, and her life becomes threatened by her other mother.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: Coraline is my absolutely favorite stop-motion film ever and I watch it every year on Halloween. It’s spooky, fun, and has plenty of great lessons as well as fun music.
Sing 2 (2021)
The Director: Garth Jennings
The Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Taron Egerton, Tori Kelly
What It's About: This animated film brings the iconic Sing 2 cast together for a jukebox musical that is hard to forget, this time following Buster Moon as he puts on a brand new show to impress the moguls of the entertainment world.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: Look, if you loved the first Sing, you’ll enjoy this one too. The animation is entertaining and the music is fun. What more can you ask for?
Thrilling, Twisty, And Exciting Sci-Fi And Fantasy
Ready to dive into the world of space, fantasy and beyond?
The Dark Crystal (1982)
The Director: Jim Henson, Frank Oz
The Cast: Stephen Garlick, Lisa Maxwell, Billie Whitelaw
What It's About: Taking place in a fantasy world and featuring ingenuitive puppets, The Dark Crystal follows two Gelflings as they travel across a magical world to overthrow a dark ruler by trying to restore a crystal.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: While the film itself wasn’t huge at the box office, it is considered one of the best dark fantasies of all time, and one that I can highly recommend if you want to see some really cool puppetry.
Super 8 (2011)
The Director: J.J. Abrams
The Cast: Elle Fanning, Kyle Chandler, Joel Courtney, Gabriel Basso
What It's About: Super 8 tells the story of teenagers who decide to make their own movie with a Super 8 camera. But as they’re making it, their town begins to fall victim to strange instances that happen after a train derails.
Why It's One Of The Best Free Movies Streaming: This movie is shot amazingly well, and features some of the best sci-fi twists and turns that I have seen in a modern-day sci-fi movie. I can do nothing but recommend it for all to watch.
While movies like these are still worth every penny, the ability to watch them for free almost makes the experience all that much better.
