Because if you want to watch 13 Going on 30 bad enough, you’ll pay whatever dollar amount (OK, maybe not whatever dollar amount—but you know, within reason) in order to get it. Combine some of best free services with paid-for services, and your living room just turned into the ultimate movie theatre. So, pop some popcorn, dim the lights, and pretend it’s Friday at the movies. Keep scrolling for the best movie streaming sites, free and subscription-based.
2. The Roku Channel
Each week, the Roku Channel adds suggested free films to their weekly watch-list. But that’s not all you get with this free streaming service, which can be streamed on Roku devices or Roku TVs with the streaming app built-in. You’ll find some classic, family-friendly favorites on the Roku Channel, including The Water Boy starring Adam Sandler, Addams Family Values and Looper starring Bruce Willis, as well as dramas and romantic comedies like Fruitvale Station and You’ve Got Mail.
Roku Channel Cost
It’s free and many of the movies come at no cost, while some are pay-per-view.
3. Disney+
Disney+ has certainly been the talk of 2020 so far, at least when it comes to streaming services. The movie and TV show subscription service features everything from Disney Channel Original Movies—we’re talking The Cheetah Girls 1, 2 and 3 and all the High School Musical movies—to classic Disney animated movies. And they’ve got recent live-action movies—like Maleficent: Mistress of Evil and the new Lion King—and National Geographic documentaries. Plus, Hamilton’s coming to Disney+ this summer!
Disney Plus Cost
$7/mo or $70 a year
4. Kanopy
With a public library or university card, users can access Kanopy’s ad-free digital catalog of critically acclaimed movies—like Memento, Room, Lady Bird, Moonlight and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. You’ll also find customizable search options that allow you to look for movies by the year it was made, IMDB or Rotten Tomatoes score, and of course, genre. To access these movies, just input your library card or university login onto Kanopy. Then get to watching!
Kanopy Cost
It’s free!
5. Hulu
Even Hulu offers more movies than Netflix; Hulu has 6,656 movies available for streaming as of the end of March, according to Variety. Movie titles now available on Hulu include Rocketman, Friends With Kids, Wayne’s World 2, Book Club and Spider-Man (the Kirsten Dunst-Tobey MaGuire version).
Hulu Cost
Hulu Basic costs $6 a month, but that includes ads. If you’re looking to stream ad-free, Hulu Premium costs $12 a month and gives you access to totally ad-free movie (and TV show) viewing.
5. Vudu
Vudu requires no contract and no subscription to enjoy movies, while still giving you access to thousands of free movies. On Vudu, users will find classic comedies like Three Men and a Baby, iconic dramas like Thelma & Louise and movies based on real events like Patriot’s Day. Users can watch Vudu in 1080p on a mobile device, TV or laptop. Talk about convenience!
Vudu Cost
Free to use, some movies are pay-per-view.
6. Peacock
Peacock is NBC’s new streaming service originally launched for Comcast customers. However, a version for everyone drops on July 15—along with original movies including a Psyche movie sequel, as well as a trove films from Universal and Dreamworks’ catalogs, including American Pie, The Big Lebowski, Boss Baby, Bridesmaids, Chicken Run, Erin Brokovich, E.T., the Fast & Furious franchise, How to Train Your Dragon,Jurassic Park, Shrek and more. Peacock is available for streaming on all Apple devices, as well as its own TV app, and Xbox One consoles including Xbox One S and Xbox One X. It’s also available for download through the Microsoft store.
Peacock Cost
The streaming service will offer three tiers: a limited tier that is free, an all-inclusive tier that costs $5 a month but still features ads, and an all-inclusive Peacock tier that costs $10/mo and comes without ads.
7. YouTube
YouTube isn’t just for music videos and watching clips of viral videos at midnight. The social media platform also has a section of movies, some of which are free. Of course, the free movies are punctuated by ads and are a limited selection, but if you’re looking for a specific movie, you might just find the one you’re looking for on good old YouTube. You can find these movies under the “Free to Watch tab.”
YouTube Cost
Many YouTube movies are free! Free to watch YouTube movies include Legally Blonde, Sleepover, Zookeeper, Rocky and Rocky IV—just to name a few. Others are pay-per-view.
8. The Criterion Channel
Formerly known as FilmStruck, The Criterion Channel is a movie-streaming service specifically made with cinephiles in mind. With a library of more than 1,000 films, The Criterion Channel Collection showcases classic and arthouse films, as well as special features, archived footage and interviews, and documentaries. Here you’ll find Wuthering Heights, Anna Karenina, Around the World in 80 Days, The Times of Harvey Milk and more.
Criterion Channel Cost
$100/year or $11/month. It also offers a free 14-day trial.
9. HBO Max
One of the newer subscription services, HBO Max is filled with 10,000 hours of curated premium content. It offers hit movies like A Star Is Born, The Wizard of Oz, Crazy Rich Asians, Wonderwoman, Casablanca and more. And there are loads of original films to come starring legends like Lupita Nyong’o, plus a documentary following Amy Schumer’s pregnancy.
HBO Max Cost
Existing AT&T HBO customers and HBO Now direct-billed subscribers get HBO Max at no additional cost. Others can get a 7-day free trial then a monthly subscription fee of $14/mo
10. Popcornflix
While you don’t need to actually create a login to use Popcornflix, it’s worth noting that this streaming service is supported by ads.
Popcornflix Cost
It’s free!
11. Apple TV+
You may already have Apple TV but Apple TV+ is upping the game. The streaming servicefeatures all Apple originals. New series such as Defending Jacob, Mythic Quest, and The Morning Show starring Reese Witherspoon will complement original movies and documentaries such as Dear…, Beastie Boy Story, and The Elephant Queen.
Apple TV Plus Cost
7 days free to start, then costs $5/mo
12. Hoopla
With a similar setup to Kanopy, Hoopla is a digital media service that requires users to input their library card information to digitally “take out” movies and TV shows to watch at home. Any of these movies or shows can be watched on a tablet, computer, phone, or TV. Hoopla’s titles include family-friendly movies like Ella Enchanted and 13 Going on 30 to classic movies like Good Will Hunting and Bridget Jones’s Diary.
Hoopla Cost
It’s free!
13. Crackle
Crackle works with smart TVs, mobile devices, set-top boxes and video game consoles, and online. Available in both the United States and Canada, Crackle allows users to stream full-length movies and even some original programming. With Crackle, you can stream movies like Bad Teacher, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, Julie & Julia, Catch and Release and more.
Crackle Cost
It’s free!
14. Netflix
It may have started as a DVD subscription service, but Netflix paved the way for streaming services and is considered by many as the OG streaming subscription. It’s become most famous for its original series like Orange Is the New Black, Making a Murderer, Stranger Things and Tiger King, but it remains to this day a very popular option for streaming movies. In the way of movies, you’ll find popular titles like Django Unchained, Back to the Future, The Social Network, The Florida Project, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse and more. There’s also a “Kids” profile option that features popular children’s TV movies.
Netflix Cost
A basic subscription to Netflix costs $9 for one screen. The standard subscription offers two simultaneous streaming screens for $13/mo, and for $16/mo, you can get the premium subscription that features four simultaneous screens. Still stuck on Netflix? These are our favorite scary horror movies on Netflix.
