9 of the best free movie download sites for 2024 | Digital Trends (2024)

9 of the best free movie download sites for 2024 | Digital Trends (1)

Downloading movies for free from the internet is kind of a gray area. As tempting as it may be, most free movie download sites are super-illegal, and you could get in some trouble if you grab a flick or TV series from one of the many illegitimate free services littering the web.

Contents

  • Netflix
  • Amazon Prime Video
  • Hulu
  • Disney+
  • YouTube
  • Library of Congress
  • PublicDomainMovie.net
  • Internet Archive
  • Mubi

How can you tell which ones are for real? One big sign is the kinds of movies you’ll be able to download. If moviesarefreedude.com (we made that up) is offering the latest Marvel blockbuster for download before it hits VOD platforms, Blu-ray, or DVD, there’s like a 99.9% chance that site is up to no good.

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We don’t want anyone behind bars — or paying heftyfines — for something as simple as watching a flick. So we’ve rounded up the best free movie download sites and corresponding apps that are 100% legit, as well as some of the best streaming services that allow you to download titles for offline viewing.

Netflix

Streaming platforms like Netflix and a handful of other popular streaming services give paying subscribers the ability to download movies and series for offline viewing, but there’s a bit of a caveat: These offline downloads are only “offline” within the platform’s mobile or desktop app, meaning you won’t actually be able to download the movie to your device.

As far as Netflix downloads go, there are a few other limitations to consider. For starters, offline movies and shows are capped at 15 downloads per device per calendar month for ad-supported Netflix plans. Ad-free users can have up to 100 active downloads at a time per device, up to however many devices your plan supports. Certain movies and shows cannot be downloaded, titles will automatically be removed from your downloads after a week or so, and some movies and shows can only be downloaded a specific number of times per year.

Now that we’ve covered all that ground, we can praise Netflix for its amazing selection of movies and shows. You’ll even be able to filter search results for titles that can be downloaded. Once a movie is finished downloading, head to your downloads page in the Netflix app, find the title you want to watch, and select Play.

We also dig some of Netflix’s download automations. When enabled, features like Smart Downloads will automatically add new episodes of shows and recommended content to your download queue. You’ll even be able to adjust the quality of your downloads (but only when using the Netflix app on iOS and Android devices).

Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video has been around for a minute, and if you’re paying $140 annually for this perk-packed membership, you’ll have the ability to download movies and shows for offline viewing. While these aren’t official downloads that can be stored on your PC, in a cloud, or on an SD card, you’ll be able to access downloaded titles without an internet connection by simply heading to the downloads page in the Prime Video app.

Prime Video also lets you download movies and shows you’ve either purchased or rented (Freevee titles excluded), as well as streaming-only selections. Purchased downloads can be stored on up to four devices, while streaming-only downloads are limited to two. Offline downloads must be completed through the Prime Video app, which is available for iOS and Android devices, Windows, and macOS.

Conveniently, Amazon Prime Videowill let you filter searches for movies and shows that can be downloaded. Once you select a film, episode, or entire season, just tap or click the Download button (located below the player window, or next to an episode description).

Hulu

9 of the best free movie download sites for 2024 | Digital Trends (7)

Another of the big streaming platforms, Hulu is a safe and secure service that allows downloads for offline viewing with a number of its plans. This includes 25 active downloads per device on up to five devices. Do keep in mind if you’re an ad-supported Hulu user, the download feature won’t be available. And like Netflix and Prime Video, not all movies and shows can be downloaded. In fact, premium add-on and Live TV on-demand content is completely off limits.

To download a movie or show, you’ll need to be using the Hulu app on an iOS, Android, or Amazon Fire TV device. Tap Downloads from the list of menu options. You can also tap See What’s Downloadable to see what movies and shows can be saved for offline viewing. To download a movie, tap the Download icon on the Details page. To download an episode of a show, tap Episodes, then tap the Download icon next to the episode description.

Unwatched Hulu downloads will automatically be removed from your download queue after 30 days, and you’ll have up to 48 hours to finish a movie or episode once you’ve started it. You’ll also be able to renew certain expired downloads by tapping Downloads > the alert icon (an exclamation point with a circle around it) > Renew Download.

Disney+

9 of the best free movie download sites for 2024 | Digital Trends (8)

The home of all things Mickey Mouse, Boba Fett, and Homer Simpson, Disney+ is another great streaming platform with a download option. But are you ready for the caveats? (Don’t worry, there aren’t too many).

Like Netflix, Prime Video, and Hulu, downloads for offline viewing are not available to Disney+ Basic plan subscribers. You’ll need to have a Disney+ Premium, Disney Bundle Trio Premium, or Legacy Disney Bundle to take advantage of this feature. Oh, and if you’re a Hulu subscriber with a linked standalone plan to Disney+ (or a Disney Bundle subscriber), you’ll also be able to download select Hulu (No Ads) movies and shows for offline viewing.

To download a movie or show you want to watch, you’ll need to be using the Disney+ app on an iOS or Android device. Once you’ve found the title you want to download, tap Download on the Details page to start the download. One thing we love about offline downloads for Disney+ is you can store an unlimited amount of downloaded content, on up to 10 different devices. Just be sure to log in once or twice per month, as downloads will automatically be removed from inactive Disney+ accounts after 30 days.

YouTube

9 of the best free movie download sites for 2024 | Digital Trends (9)

YouTube can be a never-ending rabbit hole of silly pet videos, guitar covers, world news, and pretty much anything else you can think of. Fortunately, the popular Google property lets you download a number of these uploads for offline viewing.

There’s a catch though: You’ll need to be a YouTube Premium subscriber, which costs $14 per month for PC web browsers and the Android version of the YouTube app. If you own an iPhone or iPad, the cost goes up to $19 per month, because YouTube bundles in Apple’s in-app transaction fee.

You can store downloads on up to 10 devices. If you add a new device to your plan, the oldest of your 10 existing devices will be removed. You can perform this swap-out up to four times per year. To begin a download, simply find the movie, show, or user upload you want to watch, then click or tap the Download icon. To view dowloaded content, tap your YouTube profile icon, and select a title from the Downloads dashboard.

You’ll also be able to download movies and shows you’ve purchased or rented from YouTube for offline viewing — without needing a YouTube Premium account. Unfortunately, offline viewing doesn’t extend to YouTube’s free movie collection.

Library of Congress

A bastion of cultural significance, the Library of Congress (LOC), in partnership with the National Film Registry, curates a yearly section of movies that “showcase the range and diversity of American film heritage.” For 2024, the collection only features 18 films, but you couldn’t ask for an easier interface to use.

After selecting one of the films, you’ll be brought to a video player page. Use the playback controls by hovering over the film thumbnail. Credits, release dates, and format info can be found by scrolling down past the player. You’ll also see a small Download dropdown. Click or tap this option to choose between an MP4 or MOV for your export file. Click Go, and the film will open in a new tab.

To save the movie to your computer, right-click, then click Download Video or Download Video As… to choose an export location on your PC. We were able to use the Download dropdown on an iPhone too, but once the film opens in a new tab, there isn’t a way to actually save it to your mobile device.

Library of Congress

PublicDomainMovie.net

We explicitly advise against downloading copyrighted material to a PC or mobile device. So if you’d like to venture away from the big streaming titans like Netflix, Disney+, and YouTube, your best bet for legal free downloads are public domain films. And one of the best sites for this kind of material is PublicDomainMovie.net (PDM).

Unlike most of the other services we’ve mentioned thus far, PDM will actually let you download films directly to your PC. Numerous genre filters take up the top of the home page, with page after page of titles to choose from. If you’re on a PC, click the Download icon to open the video player in a new tab. Then right-click and choose Download Video or Download Video As… to choose a location on your machine.

You can also view movies offline using a smartphone or tablet, even though you won’t be able to save the title directly to your mobile device; just make sure the video player page for the movie you’d like to watch is pre-loaded on your web browser. We tested playback out by enabling Airplane Mode, and we were able to play, pause, rewind, and fast-forward our chosen film.

Perhaps the only drawback with PDM is its curation is limited to older films only. But if you’re a Hollywood Golden Age fan, or discerning arthouse viewer, you’ll be quite pleased with the selections.

PublicDomainMovie.net

Internet Archive

Similar to PublicDomainMovie.net, the Internet Archive site is just what it sounds like: a handsome collection of royalty-free films that you can sort by genre, era, subject, and many other filters. The Internet Archive actually provides public domain films to sites like PublicDomainMovie and similar free-to-download pages.

There are thousands of selections on the Internet Archive, and every film gets its own title page, complete with synopsis, cast and crew credits, and a handy Downloads sub-menu with several file types to choose from. The download process is identical to the PublicDomainMovie site. Choose the file extension you’d like to export with. Once the player opens in a new window, right-click and choose Download Video or Download Video As…

Far more than just a movie trove, you can also download books, music, games, images, and software.

Internet Archive

Mubi

9 of the best free movie download sites for 2024 | Digital Trends (17)

Here’s a unique option for all our indie film lovers, foreign cinema devotees, and arthouse fans. For $11 per month (or $96 annually), a Mubi subscription gives you access to a library of over 800 films. Many of these titles can be downloaded for offline viewing, but you’ll need to be using the Mubi mobile app to do so.

To download a film, simply select the title and tap the Download icon from the Details page (located under the video player). Movies you’ve downloaded will be housed in the Your Offline Films dashboard. Mubi even lets you choose the download quality of these offline films.

If you like dishing out discourse about your cinephile habits, Mubi is more than just a streamer and download hub: It’s a community forum for film lovers, too, so comment, debate, and critique to your heart’s content!

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9 of the best free movie download sites for 2024 | Digital Trends (2024)

FAQs

Which is the best website to download movies for free? ›

The sites we covered, such as PublicDomainMovie.net, The Public Domain Review, and Internet Archive, offer a wide range of free movie downloads from various genres and eras. While some, like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+, require subscriptions, they provide reliable and high-quality content.

How to download full movies? ›

Download videos
  1. Make sure your device is connected to the internet.
  2. Open Google Play Movies & TV .
  3. Tap Library.
  4. Find the movie or TV episode you want to download.
  5. Tap Download .

What are the top 10 movies of 2024? ›

Box Office 2024: Top 10 Movies of the Year
  • Inside Out 2: $533.8m.
  • Dune: Part Two: $282.1 million.
  • Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire: $195.8m.
  • Kung Fu Panda 4: $193.5m.
  • Bad Boys: Ride or Die: $177.3m.
  • Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes: $169.6m.
  • Despicable Me 4: $122.6m – NEW.
  • Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire: $113.1m.

Is 123Movies safe to download from? ›

Is 123Movies dangerous? Yes, 123Movies clone sites are associated with numerous security and privacy risks. In particular, these are malicious ads and pop-ups, spoofed links, and malware-infected download files. On top of that, using such sites is illegal in many regions.

Where can I download free movies online without signing up? ›

10 HD Movie Sites that don't need you to sign up
WebsiteStreaming Quality/Download FormatsPricing
PopcornflixHD-quality streamingFree
Tubi TVHD-quality streamingFree
Airtel XstreamHD-quality, download on mobile devicesFree, Paid
Tubi TVHigh-quality videosFree
7 more rows

Are there safe free movie sites? ›

When it comes to finding a safe website to watch free movies without the need to sign up, there are a few reliable options you can consider. Crackle: This website offers a collection of free, legally obtained movies and TV shows. It does not require any sign-up process, allowing users to watch content immediately.

Which website is best for movies? ›

Here are some of the best free movie websites that you can use to watch movies online in 2023:
  • Hoopla.
  • Amazon Freevee.
  • Tubi.
  • Pluto TV.
  • Popcornflix.
  • IMDb TV.
Jul 1, 2024

How do I download movies from any website? ›

Use an Online Video Downloader
  1. Access the web page where your desired video is embedded.
  2. Copy the URL of the video you want to download.
  3. Access the video downloader.
  4. Paste the URL of your desired video.
  5. Tap the download button below the box where you've posted the URL.
  6. It will start validating the given URL.
Mar 12, 2024

How to watch movies offline for free? ›

Using the Google Play Movies & TV app
  1. Open the Google Play Movies & TV app.
  2. Browse or search for the movie or TV show you need to download.
  3. Tap the “Download” icon (a downward-pointing arrow with a line under it).
  4. Select the video fine (SD or HD) and tap the “Download” button.
  5. The film or TV show will start downloading.
Jul 8, 2024

How do I download full movies from Chrome? ›

Go to the site where you want to download a file. Touch and hold what you want to download, then tap Download link or Download image. On some video and audio files, tap Download .

What is the #1 movie right now in 2024? ›

Top Grossing Movies of 2024
RankMovieGenre
1Inside Out 2Adventure
2Dune: Part TwoAction
3Despicable Me 4Adventure
4Godzilla x Kong: The New Em…Action
64 more rows

What is the #1 movie in the world? ›

All Time Worldwide Box Office
RankYearMovie
12009Avatar
22019Avengers: Endgame
32022Avatar: The Way of Water
41997Titanic
76 more rows

Which movie has the highest rating in 2024? ›

Top 50 Best Films of 2024
  • Wolfs. 2024. ...
  • Smile 2. 2024. ...
  • Terrifier 3. 2024. ...
  • Red One. 20241h 42mPG-13. ...
  • Venom: The Last Dance. 2024. ...
  • The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. 20242h 10m. ...
  • Gladiator II. 2024. ...
  • Mufasa: The Lion King. 2024.

Can you download on 123Movies? ›

Is The Best Streaming Content source, Watch And Download Movies In Hd Quality 1080p 720p, And 460p You Can Download Any Movie Only More Than 300MB HD Quality 123 Movies App Combines The Best Streaming Content From 123Movies App For Android (Tamilmv cloud, Gomvies, YesMovies,123Movies, And Fmovies) Sources.

Is it OK to download movies for free? ›

YES, it is illegal to download any kind of movie even the old movies because torrent sites do not have the permission from production companies to distribute these movies or to make them available for streaming. Downloading any movie which is copyrighted is illegal even if you argue that it's only for personal use.

Can I download movies to watch offline? ›

Once your movie is downloaded, it will indicate it is Saved Offline. You can now watch the movie offline on your mobile device without an active internet connection. If you are unable to play your downloaded movie, try setting your device to Airplane mode or turn off Wi-Fi and/or cellular data.

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