There are plenty of reasons why cinephiles and movie buffs have ditched movie theaters in the current era. Besides the prices of movie tickets, snacking, and parking, one of the main reasons is the Internet and the on-demand competition that comes with it. And, of course, today’s (incredibly strong) selection of free movie apps is another reason.
If you thought free apps were only available for Android, think again. Apple’s iOS also offers free movie apps that’ll put hundreds of your favorite films at your fingertips. You can also stream TV shows straight from your device and catch up on the go. With that said, here are our top picks for the best free movie apps for iPhone in 2021.
1. Popcornflix
Popcornflix is an on-demand, free movie app that allows you to watch movies with a ton of options in a variety of genres from drama, action, thriller, horror, and more. While you may not find the latest Hollywood blockbusters in its catalog, you will find some classics and low-key gems in there.
A section is included in the app for new arrivals, Popcornflix originals, and the most popular movies. A few featured movies scroll across the main page, and you can browse through the app’s content library by genre. If your kids want to watch cartoons from their iPhones, Popcornflix also offers a separate app just for them.
Stream Popcornflix via a free iOS app or your web browser, but be ready for the ads, though these are usually relatively short.
2. Crackle
Before Sony acquired and renamed this movie app Crackle, the service operated as Grouper and had been around for quite some time. It offers many free movie options with captions and supports many different platforms and web browsers. Also included is a backlog of TV shows in different genres.
Crackle’s interface is easy to use and offers a smooth streaming experience across all its videos. Plus, you don’t need to sign in to watch TV shows or movies unless you really want to. Creating an account does have some benefits, such as building your list of favorites.
You’ll get full-length, uncut movies with new films being continuously added, but brace yourself for intermittent ads. And lastly, we’d like to praise Crackle’s effort of producing original content, which is yet another reason why this truly is one of the best free movie apps for iPhone.
3. Filmrise
Filmrise is in the business of distributing movies and TV shows. With that said, it doesn’t come as a surprise to know that it also offers a free movie streaming app for iOS. You can download it and stream its content without ever signing up.
There’s plenty to like about this app. First and foremost, all of its content comes in HD, and it’s available on iPhones, iPads, and Apple TVs. It may not have the latest blockbusters, but its library should keep you very busy for a long time to come. It offers both movies and TV shows, comes with a modern interface, and doesn’t serve overly annoying ads.
In terms of some of the notable titles you’ll find here, we recommend checking out The Iceman, Blitz, and Monster. And when it comes to TV shows, you’ll find Midsomer Murders, Forensic Files, The Last Place on Earth, and more.
4. Tubi
Tubi is an easy-to-use movie app that offers an excellent combination of genres, with featured films scrolling across at the top of the app. Once you select a movie to watch, you’ll be directed to the description page. You’ll find details, such as the movie’s release date, genre, rating, and duration.
The service offers decent high-streaming quality with ads, which aren’t overly annoying. On top of that, you’ll find a massive selection of exciting movies here, such as Annie, Apocalypto, American Hustle, The Call, Gods of Egypt, and plenty more. And yes, Tubi offers TV shows as well.
Overall, we highly recommend this very polished movie streaming app. It has a fantastic interface, comes with an often-updated library, and plenty to watch. Try it out – you won’t regret it.
5. Pluto TV
While most apps offer both movies and TV shows, Pluto TV leans toward offering TV-like content. That’s how the application began, acting as a new-age replacement for traditional cable television.
However, you should know that this versatile service can be used to watch movies for free, including live TV and streaming on-demand movies. You’ll find channels categorized by different topics and areas of interest, such as news, movies, or sports, with Web content curated from live television platforms like CNBC and Bloomberg.
Available genres include drama, horror, and action, but you can check the recently added and popular movie lists to see what’s trending or what’s new on the app. However, not all movies are available in every region, and you can’t re-watch a film unless it’s on-demand.
6. YouTube
Some of you may be surprised to see YouTube among the best free movie apps for iPhone. However, YouTube is much more than just funny videos. For example, the “Movies & Shows” channel offers a wealth of available content free of charge.
There are hundreds of movies and TV shows, such as The Lincoln Lawyer, Starsky & Hutch, Let Me In, Million Dollar Baby, Hart’s War, and many others. You’ll find an endless source of entertainment here. It’s true that YouTube ads can be annoying at times (especially if they come one after another), but we have no major remarks here.
Considering this is a Google-owned product, you can expect YouTube’s selection of free movies and TV shows to only grow in time.
7. Vudu
This popular, free content-streaming app gives you the option to buy movies or watch for free with occasional ads. When it comes to free movies, Vudu has a rich library updated every week, with something for everyone.
From classics to the latest box office hits, many high-quality movies are available, with new films added often. At this moment, some of the most popular titles are Centurion, A Good Marriage, Rubber, The Mummy, High-Rise, Intruders, and more.
Once you open Vudu, you will see a massive selection of B-list movies, which the app is doing an excellent job promoting. However, spending some time diving into Vudu’s library will most certainly pay off, as you’ll find a selection of award-winning (and must-watch) films.
8. Kanopy
We’ll end our list of the best free movie apps for iPhone with something very special. Kanopy truly is a free-of-charge movie-streaming app, and it comes with an excellent selection of content. However, also know that you need a library card or university login to access Kanopy.
We are sure that many of you are already members of public libraries andor students. With that said, you can cut your monthly expenses and take advantage of Kanopy. Before you do so, make sure to check your eligibility if you’re a library member, or if you’re a student.
You should also know that Kanopy comes without ads, which is a rare thing to see. And when it comes to its content, you can watch movies such as Moonlight, Memento, Lady Bird, Hereditary, The Miseducation of Cameron Post, Donnie Darko, and more.
Conclusion
With this list of the best free movie apps for iPhone in 2021, we are more than sure you’ll find something interesting. Don’t forget to let us know your pick(s). And if you wish to explore this topic even further, check out the best sites to stream movie legally.
Isaac is a freelance writer with over a decade of experience covering the latest technological innovations. Mainly focused on Apple-related software and hardware systems, his aspiration is to explore all the ways today’s digital world intertwines with our everyday life.
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