In the modern age of the internet, there are ways to watch movies for free that are completely legal. Yes, you read that correctly. There’s no need to visit any shady sites or jump around YouTube in order to watch free movies.
Free (and legal) movies are waiting for you only a few clicks away, and there’s a pretty easy hack to get you there. It all hinges on one crucial step: Get creative with utilizing free trials, and you’ll have hundreds of free movies right at your fingertips.
SEE ALSO: Netflix has the most, best movies out of all the streaming services
Almost every movie streaming service offers new subscribers a free trial period to “try before you buy.” Taking a test run on a streaming service is the best way to know if it’s a good fit for you and your individual movie tastes. Of course, eventually you’ll run out of free trials, but the idea is to use these free trials to shop around so you can find the streaming service that you truly love — and don’t mind paying for. Read more…
More about Entertainment, Movies, Netflix, Hulu, and Roku
IMAGE: Netflix (30 days)
BEST FOR ORIGINALS
Netflix
You can cram a lot of movies into that 30-day free trial if you do it right.
- Free trial: 30 days
- Basic: $8.99 per month
- Standard: $12.99 per month
- Premium: $15.99 per month
$0 from Netflix (30 days)
IMAGE: Mashable
BEST FOR DISNEY FANATICS
Disney+
Since Disney pulled its movies and shows from other streaming platforms, Disney+ is the absolute best place to find everything Disney.
- Free trial: 7 days
- Monthly: $6.99 per month
- Annual: $69.99 per year
IMAGE: Hulu (7 days)
BEST FOR DOCUMENTARIES
Hulu
Not just for TV anymore, there’s a surprisingly good selection of new movies.
- Free trial: 7 days
- With ads: $7.99 per month
- Without ads: $11.99 per month
$0 from Hulu (7 days)
IMAGE: Amazon (30 days)
BEST FOR MORE THAN JUST MOVIES
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Studios has produced more award nominated movies than Netflix.
- Free trial: 30 days
- Prime membership: $119 for 12 months
$0 from Amazon (30 days)
IMAGE: HBO Now (7 days)
BEST FOR MATURE THEMES
HBO Now
We dare you to watch every single “Game of Thrones” episode during the 7-day free trial.
- Free trial: 7 days
- Membership: $14.99 per month
$0 from HBO Now (7 days)
IMAGE: Crackle
BEST FOR FREE MOVIES
Crackle
A totally free video streaming service. The catch? You’ll have to watch ads.
- Membership: Free with ads
$0 from Crackle
IMAGE: Kanopy
BEST FOR INDIE AND FOREIGN FILMS
Kanopy
All you need is a library card and you’ll get streaming access to 10 movies per month.
- Membership: Free with valid library card
$0 from Kanopy
IMAGE: YouTube
BEST FOR WATCHING ONLINE
YouTube
Way more than just silly cat videos.
- Membership: Free with ads
$0 from YouTube
IMAGE: Showtime (7 days)
BEST FOR COMEDIES
Showtime Anytime
Showtime Anytime unlocks just about everything found on Showtime.
- Free trial: 7 days
- Subscription: $10.99 per month
$0 from Showtime (7 days)
IMAGE: Starz (7 days)
BEST FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
Starz
Plenty of options for the kids — then enough to keep you entertained once they’re in bed.
- Free trial: 7 days
- Membership: $8.99 per month
$0 from Starz (7 days)
IMAGE: VUDU
BEST FOR WATCHING MOVIES FROM THE ’90S AND THE 2000S
VUDU
Rent, buy, or watch for free.
- Free movies: Yes with ads
- Membership: À la carte from $4.99 to $14.99
$0 from VUDU
IMAGE: Roku
BEST FOR ROKU USERS
Roku Channel
An easy way to get free movies if you already have a Roku device or account.
- Membership: Free with ads
$0 from Roku
IMAGE: MUBI (7 days)
BEST FOR EXPANDING YOUR MOVIE PALATE.
MUBI
This is a curated streaming service that focuses on indie and foreign arthouse films.
- Free trial: 7 days
- Membership: $10.99 per month
$0 from MUBI (7 days)