(Photo by Miramax)
If you’re limiting your streaming subscriptions or simply can’t afford all of the pay services, sites like Crackle, IMDB, Tubi, Vudu, and YouTube all have free movies available. The only catch: You have to watch ads.
On the plus side,?while there are commercial interruptions, the movies are not edited for content like they are on broadcast channels.?You can still watch uncut movies and with fewer total interruptions than television airings.
A number of the movies available for free are already TV movies or made-for-video fare, but there are plenty of well-known titles if you?go deep enough. Rotten Tomatoes did some digging and sorted through the free catalogs of Vudu, Tubi, IMDB, YouTube, and Crackle to find the 100?best movies available to watch for free right now. These films, all Fresh on the Tomatometer, include?Oscar winners, blockbusters, comedy classics, informative documentaries, and family favorites?— all available to watch for free.
Check out?our?list?to find something new to watch without?paying rental or subscription fees.
December 2019 update:?Alien, Aliens, Apocalypse Now, The Conversation, Before Midnight, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Spotlight, In the Line of Fire, Risky Business, Gods and Monsters, Winter’s Bone, Die Hard, The Madness of King George, No Country for Old Men, The Sting, Whiplash, True Romance, Adaptation, La La Land, Whale Rider, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, The Aviator, Kill Bill Vol. 1, Kill Bill Vol. 2, The Shining, JFK
Critics Consensus:?Pehaps Kenneth Branagh’s most fully realized Shakespeare adaptation,Henry Vis an energetic, passionate, and wonderfully acted film.
Where to Stream:?,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:?Comprehensive yet brisk,?Nas: Time Is Illmatic?offers an absorbing look at a hip-hop classic and the life of the artist who made it.
Where to Stream:,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:?While?Alien?was a marvel of slow-building, atmospheric tension,?Aliens?packs a much more visceral punch, and features a typically strong performance from Sigourney Weaver.
Where to Stream:Crackle
Critics Consensus:?Francis Ford Coppola’s haunting, hallucinatory Vietnam War epic is cinema at its most audacious and visionary.
Where to Stream:?IMDB
Critics Consensus:?This tense, paranoid thriller presents Francis Ford Coppola at his finest — and makes some remarkably advanced arguments about technology’s role in society that still resonate today.
Where to Stream:Vudu
Critics Consensus:?Short Term 12?is an emphatic, revealing drama that pulls audiences into the perspective of neglected youths.
Where to Stream:,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:?A modern classic,?Alien?blends science fiction, horror and bleak poetry into a seamless whole.
Where to Stream:?Crackle
Critics Consensus:?Building on the first two installments in Richard Linklater’s well-crafted?Before?trilogy,?Before Midnight?offers intelligent, powerfully acted perspectives on love, marriage, and long-term commitment.
Where to Stream:?Crackle
Critics Consensus:?Insightful and swiftly paced,?Being Evel?is an entertaining, well-crafted overview of an unforgettable character.
Where to Stream:?,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:?The movie that catapulted Ang Lee into the ranks of upper echelon Hollywood filmmakers,Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragonfeatures a deft mix of amazing martial arts battles, beautiful scenery, and tasteful drama.
Where to Stream:?Crackle
Critics Consensus:?Evil Dead 2‘s increased special effects and slapstick-gore makes it as good — if not better — than the original.
Where to Stream:Vudu
Critics Consensus:?Goldfinger?is where James Bond as we know him comes into focus – it features one of 007’s most famous lines (“A martini. Shaken, not stirred”) and a wide range of gadgets that would become the series’ trademark.
Where to Stream:Vudu
Critics Consensus:My Beautiful Laundretteis fast and all over the place because it has so much to say, and show, including a highly watchable fresh-faced Daniel Day-Lewis.
Where to Stream:Vudu
Critics Consensus:?George A. Romero’s debut set the template for the zombie film, and features tight editing, realistic gore, and a sly political undercurrent.
Where to Stream:,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:?Spotlight?gracefully handles the lurid details of its fact-based story while resisting the temptation to lionize its heroes, resulting in a drama that honors the audience as well as its real-life subjects.
Where to Stream:?Tubi
Critics Consensus:?Part real-life thriller, part sobering examination of 21st century civil liberties,?Citizenfourtranscends ideology to offer riveting, must-see cinema.
Where to Stream:,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:?A feel good movie without an abundance of mush.
Where to Stream:Vudu
Critics Consensus:?A straightforward thriller of the highest order,?In the Line of Fire?benefits from Wolfgang Peterson’s taut direction and charismatic performances from Clint Eastwood and John Malkovich.
Where to Stream:?Crackle
Critics Consensus:?A stunning feat of modern animation,?Ghost in the Shell?offers a thoughtful, complex treat for anime fans, as well as a perfect introduction for viewers new to the medium.
Where to Stream:,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:?Smart, sweet, and inventive,?Groundhog Day?highlights Murray’s dramatic gifts while still leaving plenty of room for laughs.
Where to Stream:?,VuduIMDB
Critics Consensus:?Galvanized by David Mamet’s punchy dialogue and a winding succession of surprises,?House of Games?is a terse thriller where confidence is currency.
Where to Stream:Vudu
Critics Consensus:?Osamais bitterly honest, deeply disturbing, and utterly worth watching.
Where to Stream:,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:?Featuring one of Tom Cruise’s best early performances,Risky Businessis a sharp, funny examination of teen angst that doesn’t stop short of exploring dark themes.
Where to Stream:?Vudu
Critics Consensus:The Secret of NIMHis a dark, well-told tale that respects its young audience enough to not tone down its subject matter.
Where to Stream:,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:If audiences walk away from this subversive, surreal shocker not fully understanding the story, they might also walk away with a deeper perception of the potential of film storytelling.
Where to Stream,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:?Featuring plenty of the humor, action, and escapist thrills the series would become known for,?Dr. No?kicks off the Bond franchise in style.
Where to Stream:Vudu
Critics Consensus:?This classic low budget horror film combines just the right amount of gore and black humor, giving?The Evil Dead?an equal amount of thrills and laughs.
Where to Stream:Vudu
Critics Consensus:?The second James Bond film,?From Russia with Love?is a razor-sharp, briskly-paced Cold War thriller that features several electrifying action scenes.
Where to Stream:Vudu
Critics Consensus:?Gods and Monstersis a spellbinding, confusing piece of semi-fiction, featuring fine performances; McKellen leads the way, but Redgrave and Fraser don’t lag far behind.
Where to Stream:?Tubi
Critics Consensus:?A taut, solidly constructed action thriller with uncommon intelligence,?Drug Wardelivers exhilarating set pieces without skimping on so
Where to Stream:?Vudu
Critics Consensus:?Smart and absorbing,?Lone Star?represents a career high point for writer-director John Sayles — and ’90s independent cinema in general.
Where to Stream:Vudu
Critics Consensus:?The onscreen battle between Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher serves as a personal microcosm of the culture wars of the 1970s — and testament to the director’s vision that the film retains its power more than three decades later.
Where to Stream:Vudu
Critics Consensus:?Bleak, haunting, and yet still somehow hopeful,?Winter’s Bone?is writer-director Debra Granik’s best work yet — and it boasts an incredible, starmaking performance from Jennifer Lawrence.
Where to Stream:?Tubi
Critics Consensus:?Its many imitators (and sequels) have never come close to matching the taut thrills of the definitive holiday action classic.
Where to Stream:?Crackle
Critics Consensus:?Elite Squad: The Enemy Withinis a bleak, violent descent into the Brazilian underbelly, ripping into the favelas with unstoppable and kinetic force.
Where to Stream:,,VuduIMDBTubi
Critics Consensus:?Bolstered by exceptional cinematography, powerful storytelling, and an Oscar-winning performance by Denzel Washington,?Glory?remains one of the finest Civil War movies ever made.
Where to Stream:Crackle
Critics Consensus:?Thanks largely to stellar all-around performances from a talented cast,?The Madness of King George?is a funny, entertaining, and immensely likable adaptation of the eponymous stage production.
Where to Stream:,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:?Bolstered by powerful lead performances from Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, and Tommy Lee Jones,No Country for Old Menfinds the Coen brothers spinning cinematic gold out of Cormac McCarthy’s grim, darkly funny novel.
Where to Stream:?Vudu
Critics Consensus:?Bleak and darkly humorous,No Man’s Landvividly illustrates the absurdity of war.
Where to Stream:,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:?Paul Newman, Robert Redford, and director George Roy Hill prove that charm, humor, and a few slick twists can add up to a great film.
Where to Stream:?Tubi
Critics Consensus:Thiefis an invigorating cut of neon noir – proudly pulpy, steeped in authenticity, and powered by a swaggering James Caan at the peak of his charisma.
Where to Stream:,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:?Intense, inspiring, and well-acted,?Whiplash?is a brilliant sophomore effort from director Damien Chazelle and a riveting vehicle for stars J.K. Simmons and Miles Teller.
Where to Stream:?IMDB
Critics Consensus:?The brutality ofAmores Perrosmay be difficult to watch at times, but this intense, gritty film packs a hard wallop.
Where to Stream:,VuduTubi
Mystery Roadevokes classic Westerns while using its Australian outback setting to delve into a surprisingly layered — and powerfully impactful — array of social issues.Critics Consensus:
Where to Stream:YouTube
Critics Consensus:Entertaining doc about the adverse effects of eating fast food.
Where to Stream:YouTube
Critics Consensus:?Fueled by Quentin Tarantino’s savvy screenplay and a gallery of oddball performances, Tony Scott’s?True Romance?is a funny and violent action jaunt in the best sense.
Where to Stream:?,CrackleIMDB
Critics Consensus:?Dizzyingly original, the loopy, multi-layeredAdaptationis both funny and thought-provoking.
Where to Stream:?Crackle
Critics Consensus:A suitably cynical neo-noir that echoes the disillusionment of its era,Cutter’s Wayrelies on character-driven drama further elevated by the work of an outstanding cast.
Where to Stream:,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:Faultsexplores the cult dynamic to fascinating effect, bolstered by an outstanding cast and sharp work from writer-director Riley Stearns.
Where to Stream:,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:?The deft hand of director Stephen Frears and strong performances by the ensemble cast combine to tell an entertaining story with a rock-solid soundtrack.
Where to Stream:Vudu
Critics Consensus:?La La Land?breathes new life into a bygone genre with thrillingly assured direction, powerful performances, and an irresistible excess of heart.
Where to Stream:?IMDB
Critics Consensus:?This quirky little film about a gangster in therapy feels fresh and well-crafted.
Where to Stream:,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:?A punk take on the zombie genre,?Return of the Living Dead?injects a healthy dose of ’80s silliness to the flesh consuming.
Where to Stream:,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:?This riotously deadpan mockumentary about aspiring community theater performers never stoops to ridicule oft-ridiculous characters.
Where to Stream:Vudu
Critics Consensus:?An empowering and uplifting movie, with a wonderful performance by Castle-Hughes.
Where to Stream:?Tubi
Koyaanisqatsi?combines striking visuals and a brilliant score to produce a viewing experience that manages to be formally daring as well as purely entertaining.Critics Consensus:?
Where to Stream:,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:?Kung Fu Hustleblends special effects, martial arts, and the Looney Toons to hilarious effect.
Where to Stream:?Crackle
Critics Consensus:?Oscar-awarded Nicolas Cage finds humanity in his character as it bleeds away in this no frills, exhilaratingly dark portrait of destruction.
Where to Stream:?Vudu
Critics Consensus:?Based on a powerful true story and led by note-perfect performances from Judi Dench and Steve Coogan,?Philomena?offers a profoundly affecting drama for adult filmgoers of all ages.
Where to Stream:,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:?This road-trip movie about an autistic savant and his callow brother is far from seamless, but Barry Levinson’s direction is impressive, and strong performances from Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman add to its appeal.
Where to Stream:?,YouTubeTubi
Critics Consensus:?It’s sentimental and somewhat predictable, but those are small complaints, given the tender atmosphere and moving performances at the heart of?What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.
Where to Stream:?,CrackleIMDB
Critics Consensus:?Loaded with atmosphere and drenched in the sizzling chemistry between Dennis Quaid and Ellen Barkin,?The Big Easy?remains one of the strongest?— and steamiest — thrillers of the 1980s.
Where to Stream:,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:?The strong female cast and biting satire of teenage life makesGinger Snapsfar more memorable than your average werewolf movie — or teen flick.
Where to Stream:,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:?Though its sweetness borders on sappiness,Roxanneis an unabashedly romantic comedy that remains one of Steve Martin’s funniest.
Where to Stream:?Crackle
Critics Consensus:?Boasting loads of quirky charm, a pair of likable leads, and confident direction from Jonathan Demme,?Something Wild?navigates its unpredictable tonal twists with room to spare.
Where to Stream:?,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:?A quiet, dialogue-driven thriller that delivers with scene after scene of gut-wrenching anxiety. David Fincher also spends more time illustrating nuances of his characters and recreating the mood of the 70s than he does on gory details of murder.
Where to Stream:Crackle
?Arbitrageis both a tense thriller and a penetrating character study, elevated by the strength of a typically assured performance from Richard Gere.Critics Consensus:
Where to Stream:,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:?Richard Linklater’s?Bernie?is a gently told and unexpectedly amusing true-crime comedy that benefits from an impressive performance by Jack Black.
Where to Stream:,,VuduTubiCrackle
Critics Consensus:?A case study in less-is-more filmmaking,?Coherence?serves as a compelling low-budget calling card for debuting writer-director James Ward Byrkit.
Where to Stream:Vudu
Critics Consensus:?Smart, twisty, and perfectly cast, the effects-assisted neo-noirF/Xreminds viewers that a well-told story is the most special effect of all.
Where to Stream:,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:?The music, the performances, the precision in capturing the post-college malaise —The Graduate‘s coming-of-age story is indeed one for the ages.
Where to Stream:?YouTube
Critics Consensus:?Hollywood Shuffle?overcomes budgetary constraints with sharp humor and infectious energy, heralding the arrival of an exciting new filmmaking talent in the bargain.
Where to Stream:?,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:?A deft hybrid of laughs, espionage, and music,?The Mighty Quinn?is a smart, pleasant entertainment that offers an early example of Denzel Washington’s onscreen magnetism.
Where to Stream:?Vudu
Critics Consensus:?Dramatically gripping and frighteningly smart, this Lynchian thriller does wonders with its unlikely subject and shoestring budget.
Where to Stream:?Vudu
Critics Consensus:?The movie could have benefited from a more experienced director, but a great cast and script overcome any first time jitters the director may have had.
Where to Stream:,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:?Lavishly rendered set pieces and Sean Connery’s enduring charm make?Thunderball?a big, fun adventure, even if it doesn’t quite measure up to the series’ previous heights.
Where to Stream:Vudu
Critics Consensus:Terrifying and funny in almost equal measure, John Landis’ horror-comedy crosses genres while introducing Rick Baker’s astounding make-up effects.
Where to Stream:Vudu
Critics Consensus:?Inscrutably strange, yet undeniably compelling,Arizona Dreamis anchored by magnetic performances from Johnny Depp and Faye Dunaway.
Where to Stream:Vudu
Critics Consensus:?Battle Royale?is a controversial and violent parable of adolescence, heightening teenage melodrama with life-or-death stakes.
Where to Stream:,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:?Chef‘s charming cast and sharp, funny script add enough spice to make this feel-good comedy a flavorful — if familiar — treat.
Where to Stream:,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:?This underrated gem from director Peter Weir features an outstanding performance from Jeff Bridges as a man dealing with profound grief.
Where to Stream:?Vudu
Critics Consensus:?With a rich sense of period detail,?The Aviator?succeeds thanks to typically assured direction from Martin Scorsese and a strong performance from Leonardo DiCaprio, who charts Howard Hughes’ descent from eccentric billionaire to reclusive madman.
Where to Stream:?Tubi
Critics Consensus:?Perhaps less than absorbing for non-baseball fans, but nevertheless underpinned by strong performances from the cast and John Sayles’ solid direction.
Where to Stream:?,VuduYouTube
Critics Consensus:?Moving at a contemplative speed unseen in most westerns,Meek’s Cutoffis an effective, intense journey of terror and survival in the untamed frontier.
Where to Stream:Vudu
Critics Consensus:?Led by a brilliant performance from star Frank Langella,?Robot & Frank?works as both a quirky indie drama and as a smart, thoughtful meditation on aging.
Where to Stream:,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:?Slacker?rests its shiftless thumb on the pulse of a generation with fresh filmmaking that captures the tenor of its time while establishing a benchmark for 1990s indie cinema.
Where to Stream:YouTube
Critics Consensus:?Dark, violent, and drenched in dread,?Goodnight Mommy?is perfect for extreme horror enthusiasts — or filmgoers who prefer to watch between splayed fingers
Where to Stream:,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:?Kill Bill?is admittedly little more than a stylish revenge thriller — albeit one that benefits from a wildly inventive surfeit of style.
Where to Stream:?Tubi
Critics Consensus:?A moving film with moments of humor,Liberty Heightssucceeds in capturing the feel of the ’50s with great performances and sensitive direction.
Where to Stream:?Vudu
Critics Consensus:?Peggy Sue Got Married?may seem just another in a line of ’80s boomer nostalgia films, but none of the others have Kathleen Turner keen lead performance.
Where to Stream:Crackle
Critics Consensus:?Though it deviates from Stephen King’s novel, Stanley Kubrick’s?The Shining?is a chilling, often baroque journey into madness — exemplified by an unforgettable turn from Jack Nicholson.
Where to Stream:?IMDB
Critics Consensus:?Full of pith and Grand Guignol grossness, this macabre musical is perfectly helmed and highly entertaining. Tim Burton masterfully stages the musical in a way that will make you think he has done this many times before.
Where to Stream:,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:Though it may not be as comprehensive as some would like, Francis Ford Coppola’s cheerful biopic of the failed automotive designer features sparkling direction and a strong central performance from Jeff Bridges.
Where to Stream:,VuduTubi
Critics Consensus:Extraordinarily daring for a Hollywood film,Altered Statesattacks the viewer with its inventive, aggressive mix of muddled sound effects and visual pyrotechnics.
Where to Stream:Vudu
Critics Consensus:?Hello, My Name Is Doris?is immeasurably elevated by Sally Field’s remarkable performance in the title role, which overpowers a surfeit of stereotypical indie quirk.
Where to Stream:?Crackle
Critics Consensus:?As history, Oliver Stone’s JFK is dubious, but as filmmaking it’s electric, cramming a ton of information and excitement into its three-hour runtime and making great use of its outstanding cast.
Where to Stream:Vudu
Critics Consensus:?Kill Bill: Volume 2?adds extra plot and dialogue to the action-heavy exploits of its predecessor, while still managing to deliver a suitably hard-hitting sequel.
Where to Stream:Tubi
Critics Consensus:?Uniting a pair of powerhouse talents with a smart, sharply written script,?Postcards from the Edge?makes compelling drama out of reality-inspired trauma.
Where to Stream:?Crackle
Critics Consensus:?What initially begins as sci-fi transforms into a surprisingly sweet, offbeat drama, courtesy of John Carpenter’s careful direction.
Where to Stream:?Crackle
Critics Consensus:?An odd but affecting mixture of drama, comedy and fantasy,?The Fisher Kingmanages to balance moving performances from Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges with director Terry Gilliam’s typically askew universe.
Where to Stream:Crackle