If you’re limiting your streaming subscriptions or simply can’t afford all of the pay services, sites like Crackle, 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, 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.
July 2019 update: Paddington, The Dish, Ghost in the Shell, Places in the Heart, Unforgiven, Remains of the Day, This Is Spinal Tap, The Guard, Hugo, Whiplash, Looper, Coriolanus, Shakespeare in Love, The Big Picture, Eat Drink Man Woman, District 9, Leaving Las Vegas, Moon, Philomena, Clerks, Hollywood Shuffle, Roger Dodger, Six Degrees of Separation, Submarine, The Blair Witch Project, Chef, Coherence, Easy Rider, Junebug, Election, Meek’s Cutoff, Still Alice, Hello My Name Is Doris, Pieces of April, Starman, Begin Again, Black Dynamite, The Muppets Take Manhattan
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: Vudu
Critics Consensus: Sense and Sensibility is an uncommonly deft, very funny Jane Austen adaptation, marked by Emma Thompson’s finely tuned performance.
Where to Stream: Crackle
Critics Consensus: Short Term 12 is an emphatic, revealing drama that pulls audiences into the perspective of neglected youths.
Where to Stream: Vudu
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: Vudu
Critics Consensus: Paddington brings a beloved children’s character into the 21st century without sacrificing his essential charm, delivering a family-friendly adventure as irresistibly cuddly as its star.
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: Vudu
Critics Consensus: Part real-life thriller, part sobering examination of 21st century civil liberties, Citizenfour transcends ideology to offer riveting, must-see cinema.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Critics Consensus: A feel good movie without an abundance of mush.
Where to Stream: Vudu
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: Vudu
Critics Consensus: Osama is bitterly honest, deeply disturbing, and utterly worth watching.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Critics Consensus: Places in the Heart is a quiet character piece with grand ambitions that it more than fulfills, thanks to absorbing work from writer-director Robert Benton and a tremendous cast.
Where to Stream: Crackle
Critics Consensus: As both director and star, Clint Eastwood strips away decades of Hollywood varnish applied to the Wild West, and emerges with a series of harshly eloquent statements about the nature of violence.
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 Queen of Versailles is a timely, engaging, and richly drawn portrait of the American Dream improbably composed of equal parts compassion and schadenfreude.
Where to Stream: YouTube
Critics Consensus: Smart, elegant, and blessed with impeccable performances from Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson, The Remains of the Day is a Merchant-Ivory classic.
Where to Stream: Crackle
Critics Consensus: Smartly directed, brilliantly acted, and packed with endlessly quotable moments, This Is Spinal Tap is an all-time comedy classic.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Critics Consensus: A taut, solidly constructed action thriller with uncommon intelligence, Drug War delivers exhilarating set pieces without skimping on sophisticated filmmaking.
Where to Stream: YouTube
Critics Consensus: A violent, crackerjack comedy with a strong Irish flavor and an eminently likable Brendan Gleeson in the main role.
Where to Stream: Crackle
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: This re-imagining of Shakespeare’s Crookback King relocates the story in 1930 and features an indelible star turn for Ian McKellen as the monstrous and magnetic King Richard.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Critics Consensus: This is an old-fashioned, richly textured family film that will appeal to children and adults alike.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Critics Consensus: Elite Squad: The Enemy Within is a bleak, violent descent into the Brazilian underbelly, ripping into the favelas with unstoppable and kinetic force.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Critics Consensus: Hugo is an extravagant, elegant fantasy with an innocence lacking in many modern kids’ movies, and one that emanates an unabashed love for the magic of cinema.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Critics Consensus: As thought-provoking as it is thrilling, Looper delivers an uncommonly smart, bravely original blend of futuristic sci-fi and good old-fashioned action.
Where to Stream: Crackle
Critics Consensus: Bleak and darkly humorous, No Man’s Land vividly illustrates the absurdity of war.
Where to Stream: Vudu
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: Crackle
Critics Consensus: The brutality of Amores Perros may be difficult to watch at times, but this intense, gritty film packs a hard wallop.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Critics Consensus: Visceral and visually striking, Ralph Fiennes’ Coriolanus proves Shakespeare can still be both electrifying and relevant in a modern context.
Where to Stream: YouTube
Critics Consensus: With its hyper-stylized blend of violence, music, and striking imagery, Drive represents a fully realized vision of arthouse action.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Critics Consensus: Faults explores the cult dynamic to fascinating effect, bolstered by an outstanding cast and sharp work from writer-director Riley Stearns.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Critics Consensus: Endlessly witty, visually rapturous, and sweetly romantic, Shakespeare in Love is a delightful romantic comedy that succeeds on nearly every level.
Where to Stream: Vudu
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: Crackle
Critics Consensus: Dizzyingly original, the loopy, multi-layered Adaptation is both funny and thought-provoking.
Where to Stream: Crackle
Critics Consensus: The Big Picture aims at targets that might not be familiar to viewers who aren’t well-versed in movie-biz chicanery, but hits most of them so solidly that laughter is the only option.
Where to Stream: Crackle
Critics Consensus: A richly layered look at the complex interactions between a widowed chef and his daughters, Ang Lee’s generational comedy Eat Drink Man Woman offers filmgoers a tasty cinematic treat.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Critics Consensus: Mystery Road evokes classic Westerns while using its Australian outback setting to delve into a surprisingly layered — and powerfully impactful — array of social issues.
Where to Stream: YouTube
Critics Consensus: This quirky little film about a gangster in therapy feels fresh and well-crafted.
Where to Stream: Vudu
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: Vudu
Critics Consensus: This riotously deadpan mockumentary about aspiring community theater performers never stoops to ridicule oft-ridiculous characters.
Where to Stream: Vudu
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: Koyaanisqatsi combines striking visuals and a brilliant score to produce a viewing experience that manages to be formally daring as well as purely entertaining.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Critics Consensus: Kung Fu Hustle blends special effects, martial arts, and the Looney Toons to hilarious effect.
Where to Stream: Crackle
Critics Consensus: Safety Not Guaranteed‘s ostensibly modest ambitions are outmatched by the movie’s strong performances, beguiling charm, and heartfelt story.
Where to Stream: Crackle
Critics Consensus: Boosted by Sam Rockwell’s intense performance, Moon is a compelling work of science-fiction, and a promising debut from director Duncan Jones.
Where to Stream: Crackle
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: Vudu
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: Vudu
Critics Consensus: Though its sweetness borders on sappiness, Roxanne is an unabashedly romantic comedy that remains one of Steve Martin’s funniest.
Where to Stream: Crackle
Critics Consensus: Bursting with frantic energy and tinged with black humor, After Hours is a masterful — and often overlooked — detour in Martin Scorsese’s filmography.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Critics Consensus: With its quirky characters and clever, quotable dialogue, Clerks is the ultimate clarion call for slackers everywhere to unite and, uh, do something we guess?
Where to Stream: Vudu
Critics Consensus: Elevated by some of Robin Williams’ finest non-comedic work and a strong performance from Robert De Niro, Awakenings skirts the edges of melodrama, then soars above it.
Where to Stream: Crackle
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: Vudu
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: 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: Vudu
Critics Consensus: Informed by director Oliver Stone’s personal experiences in Vietnam, Platoonforgoes easy sermonizing in favor of a harrowing, ground-level view of war, bolstered by no-holds-barred performances from Charlie Sheen and Willem Dafoe.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Critics Consensus: Despite its somewhat disjointed narrative, Oliver Stone’s Salvador is a vivid and powerful political drama that sets an early tone for the director’s similarly provocative future projects.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Critics Consensus: Though it betrays its theatrical roots, Six Degrees of Separation largely succeeds thanks to astute direction and fine performances — particularly from an against-type Will Smith.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Critics Consensus: Funny, stylish, and ringing with adolescent truth, Submarine marks Richard Ayoade as a talent to watch.
Where to Stream: YouTube
Critics Consensus: Smart, funny, and thoroughly well-cast, To Die For takes a sharp – and sadly prescient – stab at dissecting America’s obsession with celebrity.
Where to Stream: Crackle
Critics Consensus: Inscrutably strange, yet undeniably compelling, Arizona Dream is 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: Vudu
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: Vudu
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: Edgy and seminal, Easy Rider encapsulates the dreams, hopes, and hopelessness of 1960s counterculture.
Where to Stream: Crackle
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: Aided and abetted by a wonderful cast, director Phil Morrison transforms familiar material into an understated and resonant comedy.
Where to Stream: Crackle
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: Extraordinarily daring for a Hollywood film, Altered States attacks the viewer with its inventive, aggressive mix of muddled sound effects and visual pyrotechnics.
Where to Stream: Vudu
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: Vudu
Critics Consensus: Election successfully combines dark humor and intelligent writing in this very witty and enjoyable film.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Critics Consensus: Moving at a contemplative speed unseen in most westerns, Meek’s Cutoff is 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: Vudu
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: Offering a unique look at modern fears and our fascination with film, The Wolfpack is a fascinating — and ultimately haunting — urban fable.
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: Vudu
Critics Consensus: A moving film with moments of humor, Liberty Heights succeeds 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: Elevated by a gripping performance from Julianne Moore, Still Alice is a heartfelt drama that honors its delicate themes with bravery and sensitivity.
Where to Stream: Crackle
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: Pieces of April transcends its small-scale setting and budget with endearing performances, playful humor, and genuine sweetness, resulting in a touching holiday treat.
Where to Stream: Vudu
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: Shining a spotlight on activists as unorthodox as they are entertaining, The Yes Men proves advocating for social change can be seriously funny.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Critics Consensus: Writer-director John Carney’s return to musical drama isn’t quite as potent as it was with Once, but thanks to charming work from its well-matched leads, Begin Again is difficult to resist.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Critics Consensus: A loving and meticulous send-up of 1970s blaxsploitation movies, Black Dynamite is funny enough for the frat house and clever enough for film buffs.
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
Critics Consensus: If it’s not quite as sharp as The Muppet Movie, The Muppets Take Manhattan is still a smart, delightfully old-fashioned tale that follows the formula established by the first two movies — a madcap adventure assisted by a huge group of human stars.
Where to Stream: Crackle
Critics Consensus: This doc about the making of Vogue’s biggest issue and its frosty editor-in-chief is fascinating eye candy and light-on-its-feet fun.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Critics Consensus: 1984 doesn’t fully emerge from the shadow of its source material, but still proves a solid, suitably discomfiting adaptation of a classic dystopian tale.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Critics Consensus: Quick Change makes the most of its clever premise with a smartly skewed heist comedy that leaves plenty of room for its talented cast to shine.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Critics Consensus: The Assassin‘s thrilling visuals mark a fresh highlight for director Hsiao-hsien Hou, even if its glacial pace may keep some viewers at arm’s length.
Where to Stream: YouTube
Critics Consensus: Little Children takes a penetrating look at suburbia and its flawed individuals with an unflinching yet humane eye. Where to Stream: VuduLittle Children (2006) 80%
Critics Consensus: T2 Trainspotting adds an intoxicating, emotionally resonant postscript to its classic predecessor, even without fully recapturing the original’s fresh, subversive thrill. Where to Stream: CrackleT2 Trainspotting (2017) 80%
