If you’re a bit of a film buff, then I’m sure you’re always on the lookout for new material to watch without paying through the nose for it. Well, you’re in luck. Here’s a complete list of sites for you to enjoy movies online, completely free.
The best UK sites to watch movies online for free
I remember years ago, I used to complain about the cost of my Sky subscription and how much time I spent haggling with them to get a better price. But at least all of my movies and sport were all in one place. But with so many streaming services now on the market, including Netflix, Disney and Amazon Video, it becomes quite an expensive business if you want access to a decent catalogue of films.
But fortunately, there are plenty of sites out there that will allow you to watch a whole range of movies for free. And I’m not talking about ‘those’ sites. You know the ones. They ask you to download a VPN, shower you with pop-ups and probably install a virus onto your device.
No, the sites I discuss in this post are all from legitimate sources. And don’t think they only show silent films from the 1920’s. A lot of these providers play some recent and exclusive content, and there’s a good chance you can find some real gems.
Why do companies offer free films?
In most cases, streaming services will show adverts when they show content, which earns them money. Or they hope that you will see the kind of programmes they have on offer, which will encourage you to sign up for a paid subscription.
And in some few cases, the movies have no real value, so they’re happy to give them away for free.
Where can you watch these free movies online?
This depends on your chosen provider and the devices you own. Nearly all these sites allow you to stream straight to your computer or phone.
However, if you have a more recent television, you can download your provider’s app straight to your TV.
So, let’s take a look at the best services on offer.
BBC iPlayer
You may know that iPlayer shows a lot of recent BBC content, but it also has a whole range of films too. From classics to thrillers to comedies, there’s an extensive selection. As with most streaming sites, the content you can watch changes regularly. But some examples on there as I write this post include The Jackal, Boyz n the Hood, Stan & Ollie and Shakespeare in Love.
How can you watch BBC iPlayer?
- Stream directly to your computer or mobile device
- Download the iPlayer app for your phone, tablet or compatible device
- Download the app to your smart TV
ITVX
ITVX has improved quite a lot over the years, and it offers a fairly decent number of movies. We’re not talking about the latest blockbusters, but I’ve seen films like Austin Powers, Die Hard, Paul Blart and The Cable Guy. Many of these depend on what’s been shown recently on the main ITV channels.
How can you watch ITV movies?
- Stream directly to your computer or mobile device
- Download the ITVX for your phone, tablet or compatible device
- Download the app to your smart TV
Channel 4/All 4
Channel 4 has been making its own films since the early 80’s and has built up quite an impressive back catalogue. Like iPlayer, the list of movies you can watch will change regularly. And you need to remember that, unlike the BBC, using the service also comes with ad breaks.
At the moment, there are 44 movies on offer to watch, including Withnail & I, Rocketman and John Wick: Chapter 3.
How can you watch Channel 4 movies?
- Stream directly to your computer or mobile device
- Download the All 4 app for your phone, tablet or compatible device
- Download the app to your smart TV
My5
And to complete our list of mainstream TV channels and their movies comes My5. With over 40 movies to watch, there’s something there for almost everyone. Although some of these films are a straight-to-TV affair, there are some blockbusters, including Dances With Wolves and The Fifth Element.
How can you watch Channel 5 movies?
- Stream directly to your computer or mobile device
- Download the My5 app to your phone, tablet or compatible device
- Download the app to your smart TV
Rakuten TV
Rakuten offers access to TV channels and films, with a mixture of free and paid-for content. You’ll find lots of popular Hollywood movies, although the latest releases are generally only available if you rent or buy. But there are some good options available for free, such as The Heist, The Little Vampire and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.
How can you watch Rakuten TV?
- Stream directly to your computer or mobile device
- Download the Rakuten TV app to your phone, tablet or compatible device
- Download the app to your smart TV
Internet Archive
This is a non-profit library that shares not only movies but also music, software, and books. There are over 83,000 movies listed, although most are ones you will never have heard of. But they’re separated into categories, so if you’re looking for a bit of a surprise, then this site is ideal.
How can you watch movies on Internet Archive?
- Stream to your computer or mobile device
- Download the file
Plex
Plex allows you to stream over 130 channels for free and has over 20,000 free on-demand movies and shows from Warner Brothers, Lionsgate and MGM. There are some popular films there, including Lord of War, Zulu and Stakeland. The US version of Plex has far more movies to offer, so hopefully, they will soon become available in the UK too.
How can you watch films on Plex?
- Stream directly to your computer or mobile device
- Download the Plex app to your phone, tablet or compatible device
- Download the app to your smart TV
Pluto TV
Pluto TV is similar to Sky. You have access to over 100 channels of television, which you watch live with adverts. But there is also on-demand content, including TV shows and movies. These aren’t blockbusters but generally films you’ve heard of and never bothered to watch.
How to watch free movies on Pluto TV
- Stream directly to your computer or mobile device
- Download the Pluto TV app to your phone, tablet or compatible device
- Download the app to your smart TV
Wedotv
This site brings you sports, TV and movies, all for free. Like Pluto TV, you won’t find many mainstream films, but with over 500 titles, there is still plenty of choice.
How to watch Wedotv
- Stream directly to your computer or mobile device
- Download the Wedotv app to your phone, tablet or compatible device
The Roku Channel
The Roku Channel brings you movies, as well as entertainment TV and kids’ shows. It even makes its own original shows. The content is always changing, and although you won’t find the biggest films on Roku, there’s still a good choice.
How to watch The Roku Channel
- Stream directly to your computer or mobile device
- Watch the Roku channel or Hisense TV, SkyQ or NowTV
Filmzie
Filmzie brings you plenty of TV shows as well as movies. These generally aren’t major films but those made by independent makers. They claim to treat all content equally and provide recommendations based on viewer preferences. So there’s a good chance that you could find some great, lesser-known movies here.
How to watch Filmzie
- Stream directly to your computer or mobile device
- Download the Filmzie app to your phone, tablet or compatible device
- Download the app to your smart TV
Top Documentary Films
If watching a man visiting his wife at Nakatomi Plaza on Christmas Eve or watching dinosaurs eating goats isn’t your thing, then perhaps you’re looking for something a little more highbrow. Well, you can’t go wrong with a documentary.
With arts, sports, politics, history, science and many more topics covered, there should be something there to pique your interest. Most of the films are actually listed on YouTube, but the site points directly to them.
How to watch Top Documentary Films
- Stream directly to your computer or mobile device
UK Film Channel
Another site that features British indie films. You’ll find both full-length movies and shorts, and there’s also an option to pay a small rental fee for some of their movies. Like Top Documentary Films, Uk Film Channel streams most of their movies straight from YouTube.
How to watch UK Film Channel
- Stream directly to your computer or mobile device
YouTube
And I thought it was just a place for funny cat videos. Although it’s not the easiest to search through, type in ‘movie’ and change the filter to over 20 minutes, and you will see a list of films you can watch. And there are some decent ones too.
How to watch YouTube
- Stream directly to your computer or mobile device
- Download the YouTube app to your phone, computer or compatible device
- Download the YouTube app to your smart TV
So, which is the best service to watch free movies on?
This mainly depends on the type of film you want to watch. If you’re looking for well-known and more recent films, then take a look at Rakuten and Plex. But don’t discount BBC iPlayer and All 4.
If you want to watch something away from the norm, look at Filmzie for some great indie content.