This month's new additions include Paddington 2, All the President's Men, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, 2001, Cool Hand Luke, While You Were Sleeping, and more.
by Fred Topel | December 5, 2022 | Comments
TAGGED AS: Crackle, movies, streaming, television, TV, Vudu, YouTube
(Photo by ©Warner Bros.)
[Updated: 12/5/22]
Apps and sites like Crackle, Freevee, Tubi, Vudu, YouTube and now Peacock all have free movies online for you to stream. The only catch: You have to watch ads. On the plus side, while there are commercial interruptions, the movies are not edited for content like they are on broadcast channels. Which means you can still watch uncut movies and with fewer total interruptions than television airings.
And did we mention the movies were free?
Which movies should you watch, though, now that you know where to find them? Rotten Tomatoes did some digging and sorted through the free movie catalogs of Peacock, Vudu, Tubi, Freevee, YouTube, and Crackle to find the 100 best movies available to watch for free right now. These films, all Fresh on the Tomatometer, include Oscar winners, blockbusters, comedy classics, informative documentaries, and family favorites — all available to watch for free.
Check out our list of the Freshest movies to watch free online to find something new without paying rental or subscription fees.
Newly added: All the President’s Men, Apocalypse Now, The Birdcage, The Breakfast Club, Bridge of Spies, Catch Me If You Can, Cool Hand Luke, E.T., The Hurt Locker, Layer Cake, Miracle on 34th St., Paddington 2, Puss in Boots, 2001, Unforgiven, While You Were Sleeping, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
All the President's Men (1976)
Critics Consensus: A taut, solidly acted paean to the benefits of a free press and the dangers of unchecked power, made all the more effective by its origins in real-life events.
Where to Stream: Freevee
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Critics Consensus: Francis Ford Coppola’s haunting, hallucinatory Vietnam War epic is cinema at its most audacious and visionary.
Where to Stream: Tubi
The Birdcage (1996)
Critics Consensus: Mike Nichols wrangles agreeably amusing performances from Robin Williams and Nathan Lane in this fun, if not quite essential, remake of the French comedy La Cage aux Folles.
Where to Stream: Tubi
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Critics Consensus: The Breakfast Club is a warm, insightful, and very funny look into the inner lives of teenagers.
Where to Stream: Freevee
Bridge of Spies (2015)
Critics Consensus: Bridge of Spies finds new life in Hollywood’s classic Cold War espionage thriller formula, thanks to reliably outstanding work from Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Catch Me if You Can (2002)
Critics Consensus: With help from a strong performance by Leonardo DiCaprio as real-life wunderkind con artist Frank Abagnale, Steven Spielberg crafts a film that’s stylish, breezily entertaining, and surprisingly sweet.
Where to Stream: Freevee
Cool Hand Luke (1967)
Critics Consensus: Though hampered by Stuart Rosenberg’s direction, Cool Hand Luke is held aloft by a stellar script and one of Paul Newman’s most indelible performances.
Where to Stream: Tubi
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Critics Consensus: Playing as both an exciting sci-fi adventure and a remarkable portrait of childhood, Steven Spielberg’s touching tale of a homesick alien remains a piece of movie magic for young and old.
Where to Stream: Freevee
The Hurt Locker (2008)
Critics Consensus: A well-acted, intensely shot, action filled war epic, Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker is thus far the best of the recent dramatizations of the Iraq War
Where to Stream: Tubi
Layer Cake (2004)
Critics Consensus: A stylized, electric British crime thriller.
Where to Stream: Freevee
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Critics Consensus: Irrefutable proof that gentle sentimentalism can be the chief ingredient in a wonderful film, Miracle on 34th Street delivers a warm holiday message without resorting to treacle.
Where to Stream: YouTube
Paddington 2 (2017)
Critics Consensus: Paddington 2 honors its star’s rich legacy with a sweet-natured sequel whose adorable visuals are matched by a story perfectly balanced between heartwarming family fare and purely enjoyable all-ages adventure.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Puss in Boots (2011)
Critics Consensus: It isn’t deep or groundbreaking, but what it lacks in profundity, Puss in Boots more than makes up for with an abundance of wit, visual sparkle, and effervescent charm.
Where to Stream: Freevee, YouTube
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Critics Consensus: One of the most influential of all sci-fi films — and one of the most controversial — Stanley Kubrick’s 2001 is a delicate, poetic meditation on the ingenuity — and folly — of mankind.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Unforgiven (1992)
Critics Consensus: As both director and star, Clint Eastwood strips away decades of Hollywood varnish applied to the Wild West, and emerges with a series of harshly eloquent statements about the nature of violence
Where to Stream: Tubi
While You Were Sleeping (1995)
Critics Consensus: While You Were Sleeping is built wholly from familiar ingredients, but assembled with such skill — and with such a charming performance from Sandra Bullock — that it gives formula a good name.
Where to Stream: YouTube
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
Critics Consensus: Who Framed Roger Rabbit is an innovative and entertaining film that features a groundbreaking mix of live action and animation, with a touching and original story to boot.
Where to Stream: YouTube
Blade Runner (1982)
Critics Consensus: Misunderstood when it first hit theaters, the influence of Ridley Scott’s mysterious, neo-noir Blade Runner has deepened with time. A visually remarkable, achingly human sci-fi masterpiece.
Where to Stream: Freevee
Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
Critics Consensus: Visually stunning and narratively satisfying, Blade Runner 2049 deepens and expands its predecessor’s story while standing as an impressive filmmaking achievement in its own right.
Where to Stream: Freevee
The Founder (2016)
Critics Consensus: The Founder puts Michael Keaton’s magnetic performance at the center of a smart, satisfying biopic that traces the rise of one of America’s most influential businessmen — and the birth of one of its most far-reaching industries.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Mad Max (1979)
Critics Consensus: Staging the improbable car stunts and crashes to perfection, director George Miller succeeds completely in bringing the violent, post-apocalyptic world of Mad Max to visceral life.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Purple Rain (1984)
Critics Consensus: Purple Rain makes for undeniably uneven cinema, but it’s held together by its star’s singular charisma — not to mention a slew of classic songs.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Tombstone (1993)
Critics Consensus: If you’re seeking a stylish modern western with a solid story and a well-chosen ensemble cast, Tombstone is your huckleberry.
Where to Stream: YouTube
Casino (1995)
Critics Consensus: Impressive ambition and bravura performances from an outstanding cast help Casino pay off in spite of a familiar narrative that may strike some viewers as a safe bet for director Martin Scorsese.
Where to Stream: Freevee
Eve's Bayou (1997)
Critics Consensus: Eve’s Bayou marks a striking feature debut for director Kasi Lemmons, layering terrific performances and Southern mysticism into a measured meditation on disillusionment and forgiveness.
Where to Stream: Vudu
The Sisters Brothers (2018)
Critics Consensus: The Sisters Brothers rides familiar genre trails in occasionally unexpected ways – a satisfying journey further elevated by its well-matched leading men.
Where to Stream: Vudu
The Town (2010)
Critics Consensus: Tense, smartly written, and wonderfully cast, The Town proves that Ben Affleck has rediscovered his muse — and that he’s a director to be reckoned with.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Critics Consensus: Framed by great work from director Sidney Lumet and fueled by a gripping performance from Al Pacino, Dog Day Afternoon offers a finely detailed snapshot of people in crisis with tension-soaked drama shaded in black humor.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
Critics Consensus: Fried Green Tomatoes‘ tearjerking drama is undeniably manipulative, but in the hands of a skilled cast that includes Jessica Tandy and Kathy Bates, it’s also powerfully effective.
Where to Stream: Freevee
Hidden Figures (2016)
Critics Consensus: In heartwarming, crowd-pleasing fashion, Hidden Figures celebrates overlooked — and crucial — contributions from a pivotal moment in American history.
Where to Stream: Freevee
Match Point (2005)
Critics Consensus: Woody Allen’s sharpest film in years, Match Point is a taut, philosophical thriller about class and infidelity.
Where to Stream: Freevee
1917 (2019)
Critics Consensus: Hard-hitting, immersive, and an impressive technical achievement, 1917 captures the trench warfare of World War I with raw, startling immediacy.
Where to Stream: Freevee
There's Something About Mary (1998)
Critics Consensus: There’s Something About Mary proves that unrelentingly, unabashedly peurile humor doesn’t necessarily come at the expense of a film’s heart.
Where to Stream: Freevee, Tubi
Whiplash (2014)
Critics Consensus: Intense, inspiring, and well-acted, Whiplash is a brilliant sophomore effort from director Damien Chazelle and a riveting vehicle for stars J.K. Simmons and Miles Teller.
Where to Stream: Freevee, Tubi, YouTube
Transamerica (2005)
Critics Consensus: A terrific performance by Felicity Huffman carries this unconventional but touching transgender road movie.
Where to Stream: Tubi, Vudu
Dark Waters (2019)
Critics Consensus: Dark Waters powerfully relays a real-life tale of infuriating malfeasance, honoring the victims and laying blame squarely at the feet of the perpetrators.
Where to Stream: Freevee
The Endless (2017)
Critics Consensus: The Endless benefits from its grounded approach to an increasingly bizarre story, elevated by believable performances by filmmakers Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead.
Where to Stream: Peacock, YouTube
Buffalo 66 (1998)
Critics Consensus: Self-indulgent yet intriguing, Buffalo ’66 marks an auspicious feature debut for writer-director-star Vincent Gallo while showcasing a terrific performance from Christina Ricci.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Drugstore Cowboy (1989)
Critics Consensus: Drugstore Cowboy takes us into a violent, transient world with cool, contemplative style.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Lion (2016)
Critics Consensus: Lion‘s undeniably uplifting story and talented cast make it a moving journey that transcends the typical cliches of its genre.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Man of Tai Chi (2013)
Critics Consensus: It may not be groundbreaking, but Man of Tai Chi represents an agreeably old-fashioned picture for martial arts fans — and a solid debut for first-time director Keanu Reeves.
Where to Stream: Vudu, YouTube
Professor Marston & the Wonder Women (2017)
Critics Consensus: Professor Marston & The Wonder Women winds a lasso of cinematic truth around a fascinating fact-based tale with strong performances from its three stars.
Where to Stream: Vudu
The Last Seduction (1994)
Critics Consensus: Like Body Heat, The Last Seduction updates film noir techniques for a modern era, imbuing this erotic film with ’90s snark.
Where to Stream: Vudu
King of New York (1990)
Critics Consensus: King of New York covers familiar narrative ground with impressive style — and leaves plenty of room for its talented cast to deliver gripping performances.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Day of the Dead (1985)
Critics Consensus: Day of the Dead may arguably be the least haunting entry in George A. Romero’s undead trilogy, but it will give audiences’ plenty to chew on with its shocking gore and scathing view of society.
Where to Stream: Peacock, Tubi
Jeffrey (1995)
Critics Consensus: Jeffrey offends as readily as it amuses, but an outstanding performance from Patrick Stewart keeps it from going completely off the rails.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Meatballs (1979)
Critics Consensus: Meatballs is a summer camp comedy with few surprises, but Bill Murray’s riffing adds a spark that sets it apart from numerous subpar entries in a frequently uninspired genre.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Carol (2015)
Critics Consensus: Shaped by Todd Haynes’ deft direction and powered by a strong cast led by Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, Carol lives up to its groundbreaking source material.
Where to Stream: Tubi
On Golden Pond (1981)
Critics Consensus: Henry Fonda and Katherine Hepburn are a wondrous duo in On Golden Pond, a wistful drama that movingly explores the twilight years of a loving marriage.
Where to Stream: Freevee
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2009)
Critics Consensus: Its graphic violence and sprawling length will prove too much for some viewers to take, but Noomi Rapace’s gripping performance makes The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo an unforgettable viewing experience.
Where to Stream: Tubi
The Girl Who Played With Fire (2009)
Critics Consensus: Noomi Rapace and Michael Nyqvist remain extraordinarily well-suited to their roles, but the second installment in Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy doesn’t pack quite as much punch as the first.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Wind River (2017)
Critics Consensus: Wind River lures viewers into a character-driven mystery with smart writing, a strong cast, and a skillfully rendered setting that delivers the bitter chill promised by its title.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Battleship Potemkin (1925)
Critics Consensus: A technical masterpiece, Battleship Potemkin is Soviet cinema at its finest, and its montage editing techniques remain influential to this day.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Starred Up (2013)
Critics Consensus: Smart, hard-hitting, and queasily realistic, Starred Up is an instant classic of U.K. prison cinema.
Where to Stream: Peacock, Tubi, Vudu
Time Is Illmatic (2014)
Critics Consensus: Comprehensive yet brisk, Nas: Time Is Illmatic offers an absorbing look at a hip-hop classic and the life of the artist who made it.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Short Term 12 (2013)
Critics Consensus: Short Term 12 is an emphatic, revealing drama that pulls audiences into the perspective of neglected youths.
Where to Stream: Vudu, Tubi
Being Evel (2015)
Critics Consensus: Insightful and swiftly paced, Being Evel is an entertaining, well-crafted overview of an unforgettable character.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Critics Consensus: George A. Romero’s debut set the template for the zombie film, and features tight editing, realistic gore, and a sly political undercurrent.
Where to Stream: Vudu, Tubi
Citizenfour (2014)
Critics Consensus: Part real-life thriller, part sobering examination of 21st century civil liberties, Citizenfour transcends ideology to offer riveting, must-see cinema.
Where to Stream: Tubi
For Ahkeem (2017)
Critics Consensus: For Ahkeem uses one young woman’s stirring story to offer a sobering reflection of the lives of many in modern America.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Train to Busan (2016)
Critics Consensus: Train to Busan delivers a thrillingly unique – and purely entertaining – take on the zombie genre, with fully realized characters and plenty of social commentary to underscore the bursts of skillfully staged action.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008)
Critics Consensus: Dear Zachary is a both a touching tribute to a fallen friend and a heart-wrenching account of justice gone astray, skillfully put to film with no emotion spared.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Drug War (2012)
Critics Consensus: A taut, solidly constructed action thriller with uncommon intelligence, Drug War delivers exhilarating set pieces without skimping on sophisticated filmmaking.
Where to Stream: YouTube
Dogtooth (2009)
Critics Consensus: It’ll be too disturbing — and meandering — for some, but Dogtooth is as disturbing and startlingly original as modern filmmaking gets.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Heathers (1989)
Critics Consensus: Dark, cynical, and subversive, Heathers gently applies a chainsaw to the conventions of the high school movie — changing the game for teen comedies to follow.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Re-Animator (1985)
Critics Consensus: Perfectly mixing humor and horror, the only thing more effective than Re-Animator‘s gory scares are its dry, deadpan jokes.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Suspiria (1977)
Critics Consensus: The blood pours freely in Argento’s classic Suspiria, a giallo horror as grandiose and glossy as it is gory.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Holy Motors (2012)
Critics Consensus: Mesmerizingly strange and willfully perverse, Holy Motors offers an unforgettable visual feast alongside a spellbinding — albeit unapologetically challenging — narrative.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Super Size Me (2004)
Critics Consensus: Entertaining doc about the adverse effects of eating fast food.
Where to Stream: Peacock, Vudu
Faults (2014)
Critics Consensus: Faults explores the cult dynamic to fascinating effect, bolstered by an outstanding cast and sharp work from writer-director Riley Stearns.
Where to Stream: Vudu, Tubi
Panic (2000)
Critics Consensus: This quirky little film about a gangster in therapy feels fresh and well-crafted.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Transsiberian (2008)
Critics Consensus: Traditional in form yet effective in execution, this taut thriller updates the “danger on a train” scenario with atmospheric sense.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Turbo Kid (2015)
Critics Consensus: A nostalgic ode to kids’ movies of yesteryear, Turbo Kid eyes the past through an entertaining — albeit surprisingly gory — postmodern lens.
Where to Stream: Peacock, Tubi, Vudu
Ginger Snaps (2000)
Critics Consensus: The strong female cast and biting satire of teenage life makes Ginger Snaps far more memorable than your average werewolf movie — or teen flick.
Where to Stream: Vudu, Tubi
The Messenger (2009)
Critics Consensus: A dark but timely subject is handled deftly by writer/directer Owen Moverman and superbly acted by Woody Harrleson and Ben Foster.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Better Watch Out (2016)
Critics Consensus: Carried by its charismatic young cast, Better Watch Out is an adorably sinister holiday horror film.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Dial M for Murder (1954)
Critics Consensus: Dial M for Murder may be slightly off-peak Hitchcock, but by any other standard, it’s a sophisticated, chillingly sinister thriller — and one that boasts an unforgettable performance from Grace Kelly to boot.
Where to Stream: Tubi
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Critics Consensus: Thanks to a smart script and documentary-style camerawork, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre achieves start-to-finish suspense, making it a classic in low-budget exploitation cinema.
Where to Stream: Freevee, Tubi
Battle Royale (2000)
Critics Consensus: Battle Royale is a controversial and violent parable of adolescence, heightening teenage melodrama with life-or-death stakes.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Bernie (2011)
Critics Consensus: Richard Linklater’s Bernie is a gently told and unexpectedly amusing true-crime comedy that benefits from an impressive performance by Jack Black.
Where to Stream: Freevee, Tubi, Vudu
Roger Dodger (2002)
Critics Consensus: The movie could have benefited from a more experienced director, but a great cast and script overcome any first time jitters the director may have had.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009)
Critics Consensus: Befitting its unorthodox origins, this Bad Lieutenant benefits from Werner Herzog’s typically fearless direction and a delightfully unhinged Nicolas Cage in the title role.
Where to Stream: Tubi, Vudu
We Are What We Are (2013)
Critics Consensus: A compelling story cleverly told, We Are What We Are quenches horror buffs’ thirst for gore while serving up serious-minded filmmaking and solid acting.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Goodnight Mommy (2014)
Critics Consensus: Dark, violent, and drenched in dread, Goodnight Mommy is perfect for extreme horror enthusiasts — or filmgoers who prefer to watch between splayed fingers
Where to Stream: Tubi
The Proposition (2005)
Critics Consensus: Brutal, unflinching, and violent, but thought-provoking and with excellent performances, this Australian western is the one of the best examples of the genre to come along in recent times.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Wendy and Lucy (2008)
Critics Consensus: Michelle Williams gives a heartbreaking performance in Wendy and Lucy, a timely portrait of loneliness and struggle.
Where to Stream: Tubi
I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story (2014)
Critics Consensus: Every bit as good-natured as longtime fans might hope, I Am Big Bird: The Carroll Spinney Story offers heartwarming behind-the-scenes perspective on a cultural icon.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Listen Up Philip (2014)
Critics Consensus: As thought-provoking as it is uncompromising, Listen Up Philip finds writer-director Alex Ross Perry taking a creative step forward while hearkening back to classic neurotic comedies of ’70s cinema.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Nothing but the Truth (2008)
Critics Consensus: A well-crafted political thriller, Nothing But the Truth features a strong cast that helps the real-life drama make an effortless transition to the big screen.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Monster (2003)
Critics Consensus: Charlize Theron gives a searing, deglamorized performance as real life serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster, an intense, disquieting portrait of a profoundly damaged soul.
Where to Stream: Crackle, Tubi, Vudu
Trust (2010)
Critics Consensus: Director David Schwimmer gets some gut-wrenching performances out of his actors but he still lacks the chops to fully ratchet up story tension.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Sleepaway Camp (1983)
Critics Consensus: Sleepaway Camp is a standard teen slasher elevated by occasional moments of John Waters-esque weirdness and a twisted ending.
Where to Stream: Freevee, Tubi
Zero Charisma (2013)
Critics Consensus: Zero Charisma takes a refreshingly empathetic — and often quite funny — look at characters historically marginalized as one-dimensional archetypes.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Phantasm (1979)
Critics Consensus: Phantasm: Remastered adds visual clarity to the first installment in one of horror’s most enduring — and endearingly idiosyncratic — franchises.
Where to Stream: Tubi
Rampart (2011)
Critics Consensus: Rampart sends viewers plummeting into a nihilistic hell of its protagonist’s creation, yet Woody Harrelson’s performance in the central role is too magnetic to dismiss.
Where to Stream: Tubi, Vudu
The Way Back (2010)
Critics Consensus: It isn’t as emotionally involving as it should be, but this Peter Weir epic offers sweeping ambition and strong performances to go with its grand visual spectacle.
Where to Stream: Tubi
The Illusionist (2006)
Critics Consensus: The Illusionist is an engrossing, well-crafted story of mystery, magic and intrigue that is certain to enchant, if not hypnotize, audiences.
Where to Stream: Tubi, Vudu, YouTube
Wish You Were Here (2012)
Critics Consensus: Smart, slick, and thrilling, Wish You Were Here benefits from a compelling mystery at the center of its tightly wound plot, as well as strong performances from a cast that includes Joel Edgerton.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Highlander (1986)
Critics Consensus: People hate Highlander because it’s cheesy, bombastic, and absurd. And people love it for the same reasons.
Where to Stream: Vudu
Afternoon Delight (2013)
Critics Consensus: Afternoon Delight‘s uncertain tone is entertainingly offset by smart dialogue and standout starring work from Kathryn Hahn.