TAGGED AS: Crackle, movies, streaming, television, TV, Vudu, YouTube
(Photo by ©United Artists)
[Updated: 3/2/23]
Apps and sites like Crackle, Freevee, Tubi, Vudu, YouTube and now Peacock all have free movies online for you to stream. 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. Which means you can still watch uncut movies and with fewer total interruptions than television airings.
And did we mention the movies were free?
Which movies should you watch, though, now that you know where to find them? Rotten Tomatoes did some digging and sorted through the free movie catalogs of Peacock, Vudu, Tubi, Freevee, 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 of the Freshest movies to watch free online to find something new without paying rental or subscription fees.
Newly added: Dirty Dancing. Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Malcolm X, Promising Young Woman, Rocky, Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky Balboa, Selena, 12 Years a Slave, Waitress
Dirty Dancing (1987)
72%
Critics Consensus: Like its winsome characters, Dirty Dancing uses impressive choreography and the power of song to surmount a series of formidable obstacles.
Where to Stream: Freevee
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
78%
Critics Consensus: While Fast Times at Ridgemont High features Sean Penn’s legendary performance, the film endures because it accurately captured the small details of school, work, and teenage life.
Where to Stream: Freevee
Promising Young Woman (2020)
90%
Critics Consensus: A boldly provocative, timely thriller, Promising Young Woman is an auspicious feature debut for writer-director Emerald Fennell — and a career highlight for Carey Mulligan
Where to Stream: Freevee
Rocky Balboa (2006)
77%
Critics Consensus: Implausible but entertaining and poignant, Rocky Balboa finds the champ in fighting form for the first time in years
Where to Stream: Tubi
12 Years a Slave (2013)
95%
Critics Consensus: It’s far from comfortable viewing, but 12 Years a Slave‘s unflinchingly brutal look at American slavery is also brilliant — and quite possibly essential — cinema.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
83%
Critics Consensus: With ample laughs and sharp performances, Forgetting Sarah Marshall finds just the right mix of romantic and raunchy comedy.
Where to Stream: Freevee
Hidden Figures (2016)
93%
A League of Their Own (1992)
81%
Critics Consensus: Sentimental and light, but still thoroughly charming, A League of Their Own is buoyed by solid performances from a wonderful cast.
Where to Stream: Freevee
Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
93%
Critics Consensus: Warm, whimsical, and poignant, the immaculately framed and beautifully acted Moonrise Kingdom presents writer/director Wes Anderson at his idiosyncratic best.
Where to Stream: Freevee
The Shape of Water (2017)
92%
Critics Consensus: The Shape of Water finds Guillermo del Toro at his visually distinctive best — and matched by an emotionally absorbing story brought to life by a stellar Sally Hawkins performance.
Where to Stream: Freevee
Sing Street (2016)
95%
Critics Consensus: Sing Street is a feel-good musical with huge heart and irresistible optimism, and its charmimg cast and hummable tunes help to elevate its familiar plotting.
Where to Stream: Freevee
13 Assassins (2010)
95%
Critics Consensus: Takashi Miike’s electric remake of Eiichi Kudo’s 1963 period action film is a wild spectacle executed with killer, dizzying panache
Where to Stream: Vudu
The World's Fastest Indian (2005)
82%
Critics Consensus: Overcomes its formulaic storyline thanks to Anthony Hopkins’ warm and endearing portrayal of an age-defying thrill seeker.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020)
82%
Critics Consensus: As wholesomely goofy as its heroes, Bill and Ted Face the Music is a rare long-belated sequel that largely recaptures the franchise’s original charm.
Where to Stream: Freevee
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs (2009)
86%
Critics Consensus: Quirky humor, plucky characters and solid slapstick make this family comedy a frenetically tasty time at the movies.
Where to Stream: Freevee
Grindhouse Presents: Death Proof (2007)
66%
Critics Consensus: Death Proof may feel somewhat minor in the context of Tarantino’s larger filmography, but on its own merits, it packs just enough of a wallop to deliver sufficiently high-octane grindhouse goods.
Where to Stream: Vudu
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
75%
Critics Consensus: A rare film that surpasses the quality of its source novel, this Devil is a witty expose of New York’s fashion scene, with Meryl Streep in top form and Anne Hathaway more than holding her own.
Where to Stream: Tubi
The King's Speech (2010)
94%
Critics Consensus: Colin Firth gives a masterful performance in The King’s Speech, a predictable but stylishly produced and rousing period drama.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Planet Terror (2007)
77%
Critics Consensus: A cool and hip grindhouse throwback, Planet Terror is an unpredictable zombie thrillride.
Where to Stream: Vudu
The Breakfast Club (1985)
89%
Critics Consensus: The Breakfast Club is a warm, insightful, and very funny look into the inner lives of teenagers.
Where to Stream: Freevee
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
99%
Critics Consensus: Playing as both an exciting sci-fi adventure and a remarkable portrait of childhood, Steven Spielberg’s touching tale of a homesick alien remains a piece of movie magic for young and old.
Where to Stream: Freevee
Blade Runner (1982)
89%
Critics Consensus: Misunderstood when it first hit theaters, the influence of Ridley Scott’s mysterious, neo-noir Blade Runner has deepened with time. A visually remarkable, achingly human sci-fi masterpiece.
Where to Stream: Freevee
Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
88%
Critics Consensus: Visually stunning and narratively satisfying, Blade Runner 2049 deepens and expands its predecessor’s story while standing as an impressive filmmaking achievement in its own right.
Where to Stream: Freevee
The Sisters Brothers (2018)
87%
Critics Consensus: The Sisters Brothers rides familiar genre trails in occasionally unexpected ways – a satisfying journey further elevated by its well-matched leading men.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
75%
Critics Consensus: Fried Green Tomatoes‘ tearjerking drama is undeniably manipulative, but in the hands of a skilled cast that includes Jessica Tandy and Kathy Bates, it’s also powerfully effective.
Where to Stream: Freevee
Transamerica (2005)
77%
Dark Waters (2019)
89%
Critics Consensus: Dark Waters powerfully relays a real-life tale of infuriating malfeasance, honoring the victims and laying blame squarely at the feet of the perpetrators.
Where to Stream: Freevee
The Endless (2017)
92%
Buffalo 66 (1998)
76%
Critics Consensus: Self-indulgent yet intriguing, Buffalo ’66 marks an auspicious feature debut for writer-director-star Vincent Gallo while showcasing a terrific performance from Christina Ricci.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Drugstore Cowboy (1989)
97%
Critics Consensus: Drugstore Cowboy takes us into a violent, transient world with cool, contemplative style.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Man of Tai Chi (2013)
71%
Professor Marston & the Wonder Women (2017)
87%
Critics Consensus: Professor Marston & The Wonder Women winds a lasso of cinematic truth around a fascinating fact-based tale with strong performances from its three stars.
Where to Stream: Vudu
The Last Seduction (1994)
94%
Critics Consensus: Like Body Heat, The Last Seduction updates film noir techniques for a modern era, imbuing this erotic film with ’90s snark.
Where to Stream: Vudu
King of New York (1990)
70%
Critics Consensus: King of New York covers familiar narrative ground with impressive style — and leaves plenty of room for its talented cast to deliver gripping performances.
Where to Stream: Vudu
On Golden Pond (1981)
93%
Critics Consensus: Henry Fonda and Katherine Hepburn are a wondrous duo in On Golden Pond, a wistful drama that movingly explores the twilight years of a loving marriage.
Where to Stream: Freevee
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2009)
85%
Critics Consensus: Its graphic violence and sprawling length will prove too much for some viewers to take, but Noomi Rapace’s gripping performance makes The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo an unforgettable viewing experience.
Where to Stream: Tubi
The Girl Who Played With Fire (2009)
70%
Critics Consensus: Noomi Rapace and Michael Nyqvist remain extraordinarily well-suited to their roles, but the second installment in Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy doesn’t pack quite as much punch as the first.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Wind River (2017)
88%
Critics Consensus: Wind River lures viewers into a character-driven mystery with smart writing, a strong cast, and a skillfully rendered setting that delivers the bitter chill promised by its title.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Battleship Potemkin (1925)
100%
Critics Consensus: A technical masterpiece, Battleship Potemkin is Soviet cinema at its finest, and its montage editing techniques remain influential to this day.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Starred Up (2013)
99%
Time Is Illmatic (2014)
98%
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: Tubi
Short Term 12 (2013)
98%
Being Evel (2015)
98%
Critics Consensus: Insightful and swiftly paced, Being Evel is an entertaining, well-crafted overview of an unforgettable character.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
96%
Citizenfour (2014)
96%
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: Tubi
For Ahkeem (2017)
96%
Critics Consensus: For Ahkeem uses one young woman’s stirring story to offer a sobering reflection of the lives of many in modern America.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Train to Busan (2016)
94%
Critics Consensus: Train to Busan delivers a thrillingly unique – and purely entertaining – take on the zombie genre, with fully realized characters and plenty of social commentary to underscore the bursts of skillfully staged action.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Re-Animator (1985)
94%
Critics Consensus: Perfectly mixing humor and horror, the only thing more effective than Re-Animator‘s gory scares are its dry, deadpan jokes.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Holy Motors (2012)
92%
Critics Consensus: Mesmerizingly strange and willfully perverse, Holy Motors offers an unforgettable visual feast alongside a spellbinding — albeit unapologetically challenging — narrative.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Super Size Me (2004)
92%
Transsiberian (2008)
91%
Critics Consensus: Traditional in form yet effective in execution, this taut thriller updates the “danger on a train” scenario with atmospheric sense.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Ginger Snaps (2000)
90%
The Messenger (2009)
90%
Critics Consensus: A dark but timely subject is handled deftly by writer/directer Owen Moverman and superbly acted by Woody Harrleson and Ben Foster.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Better Watch Out (2016)
89%
Critics Consensus: Carried by its charismatic young cast, Better Watch Out is an adorably sinister holiday horror film.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Dial M for Murder (1954)
90%
Critics Consensus: Dial M for Murder may be slightly off-peak Hitchcock, but by any other standard, it’s a sophisticated, chillingly sinister thriller — and one that boasts an unforgettable performance from Grace Kelly to boot.
Where to Stream: Tubi
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
88%
Battle Royale (2000)
88%
Critics Consensus: Battle Royale is a controversial and violent parable of adolescence, heightening teenage melodrama with life-or-death stakes.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Roger Dodger (2002)
88%
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: Tubi
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009)
86%
We Are What We Are (2013)
86%
Critics Consensus: A compelling story cleverly told, We Are What We Are quenches horror buffs’ thirst for gore while serving up serious-minded filmmaking and solid acting.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Goodnight Mommy (2014)
85%
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: Tubi
The Proposition (2005)
85%
Critics Consensus: Brutal, unflinching, and violent, but thought-provoking and with excellent performances, this Australian western is the one of the best examples of the genre to come along in recent times.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Wendy and Lucy (2008)
86%
Critics Consensus: Michelle Williams gives a heartbreaking performance in Wendy and Lucy, a timely portrait of loneliness and struggle.
Where to Stream: Tubi
I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story (2014)
84%
Critics Consensus: Every bit as good-natured as longtime fans might hope, I Am Big Bird: The Carroll Spinney Story offers heartwarming behind-the-scenes perspective on a cultural icon.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Listen Up Philip (2014)
82%
Critics Consensus: As thought-provoking as it is uncompromising, Listen Up Philip finds writer-director Alex Ross Perry taking a creative step forward while hearkening back to classic neurotic comedies of ’70s cinema.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Nothing but the Truth (2008)
82%
Critics Consensus: A well-crafted political thriller, Nothing But the Truth features a strong cast that helps the real-life drama make an effortless transition to the big screen.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Sleepaway Camp (1983)
81%
Zero Charisma (2013)
77%
Critics Consensus: Zero Charisma takes a refreshingly empathetic — and often quite funny — look at characters historically marginalized as one-dimensional archetypes.
Where to Stream: Tubi
The Illusionist (2006)
73%
Wish You Were Here (2012)
72%
Critics Consensus: Smart, slick, and thrilling, Wish You Were Here benefits from a compelling mystery at the center of its tightly wound plot, as well as strong performances from a cast that includes Joel Edgerton.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Highlander (1986)
71%
Critics Consensus: People hate Highlander because it’s cheesy, bombastic, and absurd. And people love it for the same reasons.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Afternoon Delight (2013)
66%
Critics Consensus: Afternoon Delight‘s uncertain tone is entertainingly offset by smart dialogue and standout starring work from Kathryn Hahn.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Thumbnail image courtesy of ©Warner Bros.