It’s easy to stream your savings away on subscriptions to Netflix, Max, Peacock, Prime Video, and other paid streaming platforms, but if you’re on a budget, you can save your dollars and sign up for accounts on free streaming services. Services like Pluto TV, Tubi, The Roku Channel, and Amazon Freevee require nothing more than your email address to get started, and Kanopy only asks for your local library card info. Once you’re in, these platforms allow you to watch anything in their content library on demand and completely free of charge—though you should be prepared to sit through a few ads on all of the services except Kanopy.To save you some time and trouble, we have hand-picked the best movies from each platform. Everything in this list is available on the first of the month unless otherwise noted.
The Best Free Streaming Services
Hamlet (Kanopy)
This Hamlet retelling stars Ethan Hawke and instead of making him the prince of Denmark, he’s a filmmaker in New York burdened by running the production company Denmark Corp. after the death of his father. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Tubi)
Michelle Yeoh has returned to prominence since her Oscar-winning role in Everything Everywhere All at Once, but the first time she stunned the wider world with her martial arts skills and acting ability was in this film. Amelie (Freevee)
If you can’t spend springtime in Paris, you can do the next best thing and watch Amelie. Amelie dedicates her life to the happiness of others, while she ignores her own. It’s been 20 years since its original release, which has prompted the director Jean-Pierre Jeunet to reflect on it in interviews. The Lake House (Roku)
This remake of a South Korean film has more than a touch of magical realism about it. Sandra Bullock rents a lake house in 2006 where she strikes up a correspondence via its mailbox with Keanu Reeves who is living in 2004. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Tubi)
The wallflower in question gets a new perspective on life when he makes two friends who help him move past trauma. The movie was written and directed by the author of the book it’s based on, Stephen Chbosky.School of Rock (Pluto TV)
Jack Black would probably make an excellent teacher in real life if he was called on to be one unexpectedly, as he is in School of Rock. Here he goes from bar band guitarist to prep school music teacher. The Donut King (Kanopy)
As the donut king of California, Cambodian immigrant Ted Ngoy who owned a chain of donut shops was an American success story until he discovered gambling. This documentary uses a mix of live footage and animation to tell his story and to help him change its ending.
Recommended by Our Editors
The Terminator (Pluto TV)
Skynet is not as unbelievable now as it was in 1984 when this movie was released, giving us unforgettable catchphrases and the acting of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Earth Girls Are Easy (Kanopy)
Three aliens covered in primary-color fuzz find dating success in 1980s Los Angeles after shedding their skin. John Wick, John Wick: Chapter 2, and John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (Tubi)
John Wick, John Wick: Chapter 2, and John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum are all available to stream on Tubi. John Wick: Chapter 4 is not on there but with the money you save by streaming for free, you can rent it on Prime Video. Rush Hour (Roku)
This is where Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker began their action-comedy pairing, as a Hong Kong inspector and an LAPD detective who have to find a Chinese diplomat’s kidnapped daughter.
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