5 Ways to Stream Free Movies & TV Without Netflix or Amazon

You probably already know that you can watch some movies and television shows free on Youtube. But I'll bet you didn't know that there are a lot of other sites you can stream shows for free. Of course, even those these sites are perfectly legal, Netflix and Amazon don't want you to know about them. They certainly don't want me to tell you about them out here on the world wide interwebs!

For safety's sake, after I tell you about them I'm going to need to burn this post in the fireplace, change my identity, and move to Belize. They'll never take me alive!!

1. Shout Factory TV

Shout Factory TV's bread and butter is episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000. However, they have lots of other good content too like Twilight Zone, It's Garry Shandling's Show, Home Movies, and even some movies like Stagecoach starring John Wayne.

Special equipment: A browser and a device connected to the web
Cost: Free
Ad supported: Yes

2. Crackle

Take a time machine back to the 90s when Seinfeld was in its heyday and you'll be in Crackle's wheelhouse. They feature a decent array of not-too-old but not-yet-classic movies like The Fisher King, Air Force One, and Hitch. Crackle also has some original programming like the series Sports Jeopardy! and Chosen.

Special equipment: A browser and a device connected to the web
Cost: Free
Ad supported: Yes

3. Popcornflix

At first glance, Popcornflix looks like it might be a parody site -- one of its banner ads is for a film called Forty Shades of Blue starring Rip Torn -- but that's because most of these films are either B-movies or titles from lesser-known indie studios. Movies include Jack and the Beanstalk, Meet Bill, and Afghan Luke. There's a fair amount of content from Nat Geo as well.

Special equipment: A browser and a device connected to the web
Cost: Free
Ad supported: Yes

4. Watch TCM

Watch TCM is just another way of saying "Turner Classic Movies online." It's really that simple: they offer their entire classic film schedule online for you to watch for free. You can choose from watching a live feed from either the West Coast schedule or the East Coast schedule -- and you can watch any movie aired in the last 7 days on demand for free.

Special equipment: A browser and a device connected to the web
Cost: Free
Ad supported: No ads

5. Internet Archive Movies

The Internet Archive is quite simply the Granddaddy of All Streaming Movie Channels. (Apologies to the Rose Bowl Committee.) You're not going to find every movie you search for (copyrights, yada yada) but you can stream anything from horror films like Night of the Living Dead to Charlie Chaplin movies.

Special equipment: A browser and a PC or Mac
Cost: Free
Ad supported: No ads

Check out our reviews of Amazon Instant, Netflix, and other streaming television services here.