How Do You Stream Movies? 10 Best Ways to Watch Your Favorites

Renting movies from Blockbuster is a thing of the past, and more and more people are ditching their cable subscription, allowing movie streaming services to become a part of our everyday life.

There has been some controversy over streaming movies online. It can invite viruses to infect your computer and even be illegal. So how do you stream movies legally and safely?

You may have to pay for a subscription or sit through ads, but it sure beats getting a fine or infecting your computer with a virus. It’s important to stay away from illegal download sites to protect yourself.

So read on to learn ten safe and legal ways to stream your favorite movies.

1. Netflix

The granddaddy of them all, Netflix is the most popular movie streaming service available today. With monthly subscription plans ranging from $8.99 to $ 15.99, you’ll have access to many movies and TV shows in HD, high-quality format.

There are no ads on Netflix; after a while, it will learn what you like and suggest what to watch next. They still offer a DVD borrowing service along with Netflix’s streaming service. The DVD exchange allows you to watch even more movies than what’s readily available to stream.

Sure, Netflix costs money, but it is great if you’re looking for alternatives to sites like The Pirate Bay and Putlocker Movies.

2. HBO Max

If you love HBO Movies, this is the only place you can get them.

With subscriptions starting at $15.99 a month, you’ll be able to watch their content compiled from HBO and Warner Media. And when you finish your movie list, you’ll have to check out the HBO series Game of Thrones. Seriously. Do it.

3. Disney+

The newest contender to enter the streaming service battle, Disney+ is a must-have. There is surely something for everyone when compiling content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic. This will probably be the kid’s favorite, so it’s not to be overlooked. You can never have too many subscriptions, right?

4. Internet Archive

The Internet Archive is a free online library containing millions of books, movies, music, software, and more. It truly is a wonderful site and a great resource for media in the public domain.

This site won’t have the latest feature films but a ton of old classics like the Wizard of Oz and Night of the Living Dead. The Internet Archive can only be accessed through an internet browser but can be cast to a TV through services like Google Chromecast.

5. Kanopy

Kanopy is the best free streaming service for fans of independent and artsy films. They host some of the finest from the Criterion Collection and some of the most awarded indie films of today. You’ll need your library card or college email address to access the site.

Kanopy’s selection of movies is known to change from time to time, so watch your top picks before they disappear.

6. IMDb TV

IMDb TV is an ad-supported streaming service that can be accessed through IMDb or Amazon Fire products. You’ll need an account with IMDb or Amazon to log in. However, you can watch movies on IMDb without ads if you have Amazon Prime. This is a great way to watch critically acclaimed movies for free.

7. Popcornflix

This is perhaps the best free site for comedies, thrillers, and mainstream movie lovers. Popcornflix hosts a large selection of many different genres and will allow you to view them all in exchange for playing ads while watching. You can download the app on Roku, Apple TV, Xbox, or Google Play or watch it from your web browser.

8. Sony Crackle

Streaming movies on Sony Crackle is free; you don’t even need to create an account to use it. It is ad-supported, so like Popcornflix, you will have to sit through ads to view the film.

Crackle hosts both movies and TV shows, along with some original content. It has some great picks in the action and thriller genres and some older TV shows that are hard to find on other streaming services. If you’re a fan of those styles, then sitting through the ads will be worth it.

If you create an account, you’ll be able to save your favorite movies and pick up playback where you left off if you change devices.

9. Hoopla

Like Kanopy, streaming movies on Hoopla requires a library card. First, check to see if your library has partnered with Hoopla. The services will allow you to borrow all digital media, including movies. Once you borrow it, you have 72 hours to watch it.

Your library will determine how many movies you can borrow each month. One of the cool things about Hoopla’s mobile app is that it has a download feature for offline viewing.

10. Vudu

Vudu is Walmarts video service that is primarily a platform for purchasing movies and TV episodes. They recently expanded their free-to-watch movie section, which is supported by ads.

Vudu offers a solid selection of movie titles, both modern and older. The selection changes monthly on Vudu, but they do a good job of reporting how long a film will be available. Vudu is available on smart TVs, gaming consoles, smartphones and tablets, streaming devices, and your internet browser. All you have to do is create a Vudu account to get started.

So, How Do You Stream Movies?

With tons of movies available over many different streaming services, you’ll surely be able to watch everything you want. You may have to use more than one service to get your fill, but that’s OK!

Now you are the expert. So the next time a friend asks, “How do you stream movies?” you’ll know right where to guide them.

Check out some of our other posts for more info like this!


Carla Gayou
Carla Gayou

Carla is a high performing marketing professional with 5+ years of experience driving growth of in a variety of corporate and entrepreneurial environments. Strong command of digital operations with exposure to influencer marketing strategy, branding, analytics, SEO/SEM, customer success, content development, and social media Core expertise lies in managing end-to-end campaigns, creating memorable content, and facilitating improved conversion rates to enhance e-commerce operations. Adept in ensuring alignment with organizational goals, facilitating streamlined operations, and leveraging a data driven strategy used to make insightful marketing decisions.

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