Watching movies online is convenient and generally cheaper than paying for a ticket at the movie theater. But is it possible to watch movies online and stay on the right side of the law? In short, yes. With the explosion of free media sharing and torrent websites in recent years, film makers and studios are having to embrace alternative online distribution and screening models in order not to lose viewers altogether to illegal uploaders.
Here is a list of websites that offer free online films – and are licensed to do so, which means viewers can sit back and enjoy the show with a clear conscious.
Watch Full-length Movies Online
Founded in 2007, Hulu is an online video service offering a good selection of movies, TV shows and clips. Content is provided by a host of major US broadcasting and entertainment companies, including FOX, NBC Universal, ABC, Paramount, PBS and Warner Bros.
Many of the hundreds of free full-length movies online are of a dubious standard. Sift through the chaff, however, and it is possible to uncover titles such as the Coen brothers’ Ladykillers (2004), updated Western The Quick and the Dead (1995), Alfie (2004), starring Jude Law, and the black and white Cary Grant classic His Girl Friday (1940).
Hulu also scores well on free TV series. Watch episodes of The Simpsons, 30 Rock, Lost, Glee and The Office the day after they air; as well as old favorites like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The A-Team, and Married...with Children.
Access to all this free video content does not come without a catch. Hulu operates on a advertisement-supported model, which means viewers have to sit through commercial breaks. Hulu also requires registration and is only available to residents in the United States.
Classic Movies on the Internet
The Internet Archive is another good place to watch full-length movies online legally, particularly classics whose copyrights have expired and are in the public domain. Currently topping the Internet Archive’s list of most watched movies is silent masterpiece Nosferatu (1922), horror flick Night of the Living Dead (1968) and the award-winning Escape from Sobibor (1987).
The site also features European films and over 30 documentaries from past editions of the Globians Doc Fest Berlin, a world and culture documentary film festival held annually in August.
Free Online Documentaries
There are rich pickings to be had in the world of free online documentaries. This can partly be attributed to the fact that documentaries have more limited audiences than mainstream movies, and documentary film makers are often simply keen for their work to be seen.
Launched in 2009 at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, IDFA TV streams free online documentaries throughout the year. Eighty-eight documentaries from previous editions of the film festival are currently available, some as recent as 2009, and range from a few minutes up to full-length features.
Also streaming free online documentaries is Freedocumentaries.org. A website set up to "bring thought-provoking, educational, and entertaining documentaries to anyone with a high-speed internet connection", Freedocumentaries.org includes movies that have received widespread media attention, such as Michael Moore’s Sicko, about American healthcare, and Sundance Film Festival Winner Super Size Me, Morgan Spurlock’s journey into the world of fast food.
The free documentaries are conveniently grouped in alphabetical order, as well as by geographical region, topic and categories such as ‘shorts’, ‘newest documentaries’ and ‘most popular’.
Freedocumentaries.org says that it follows all copyright laws and deals with streaming partners who handle copyright issues. Neither IDFA TV nor Freedocumentaries.org require registration to watch movies online, nor do they screen advertisements.
Watching Movies Online Outside the United States
Due to licensing laws, some websites only allow viewers to watch movies online within the United States. The Internet Movie Database, however, lists thousands of full-length movies which can be streamed for free on its website anywhere in the world. The movies may not always be well-known titles, but there is certainly no lack of choice.
More Ways to Watch Movies Online
A growing number of innovative projects are popping up that aim to change fundamentally the way films are financed, produced and distributed. One of these, A Swarm of Angels, was launched in 2006 by British director and creator of onedotzero digital film festival, Mark Hanson. His vision was to fund a £1 million ($1.5 million) movie entirely through individual £25 ($38) internet donations, and to involve donors in the creative and decision-making process in return.
The Unfold, the sci-fi movie-in-progress, will be released under a Creative Commons license, which permits people to freely download and share the finished product. Check A Swarm of Angels’ website for the latest developments.
As the internet evolves and with it user behaviour, other projects are bound to follow that will continue to change the way viewers watch movies online.
Cecily Layzell - Cecily Layzell is a food and travel writer and founder of restaurant review site www.eat-amsterdam.com.
Join the Conversation