Free and Low-Cost Ways to Watch Movies Online

Who doesn’t love a cosy movie night at home?
Whether you’re nestling down with the family in front of a new Disney release or peeking out from behind the cushions at the latest horror, movie nights are a great way to spend an evening.
However, there’s nothing more disheartening than deciding on a film to watch and then finding out that it’s not available on the streaming service you subscribe to, or that it is available, but at an extra cost.

Where can you watch movies online in the UK?
Is there any way to find free movie sites?
What are the best streaming services for free films?

Lights, camera, action… Little Loans looks into free and low-cost ways to watch movies online.

The most watched movies of all time

Let’s get started with some interesting film facts for all the movie mega-buffs out there! According to IMDb, the 10 most watched movies of all time are:

1. Titanic
2. E.T.
3. The Wizard of Oz
4. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
5. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
6. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
7. Terminator 2: Judgment Day
8. The Lion King
9. The Godfather
10. The Jesus Film

Has your favourite made the list?

How to watch movies online for free

• Selected your film for the evening? Googling ‘where to watch [FILM NAME]’ will bring up some of the platforms the movie is available on, as well as revealing the price for each. Be aware that not every streaming service is captured in the results, so you may need to do a bit of digging to get the best value for your money.


• If you have a TV licence, you can catch films both live and on catch-up across an array of channels, such as BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and Channel 4. If you’re watching on demand, you’ll usually have to set-up an account. This is generally free, but additional features, such as advert skipping, could come at a cost. At our time of writing in September 2024, Channel 4 had a catalogue of available films, including Babe, Dr Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat, American Pie, and The Inbetweeners Movie. In addition to this, a random selection of titles available through BBC iPlayer included Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, Captain Phillips, King Kong, and Shaun the Sheep.


• If you have Freeview HD or a Freeview Play recorder, you can record films, save them in your personal library, and watch them time and time again, free of charge.


• Looking for some free, festive film inspiration? You can guarantee that Channel 5 will be showing a brilliant assortment of cheery and cheesy Christmas movies pretty much every day throughout December!


• Freevee is a free streaming service with adverts, powered by Amazon. In order to use Freevee, you’ll just need to create an Amazon account or sign in with your existing credentials. Freevee comes readily installed on Amazon Fire Sticks.


• Some streaming services offer free trials. If you know that a movie you’re dying to watch is due to be released on a particular platform, you could make use of the free trial period, watch your film, and then cancel your subscription before the standard fee has kicked in. You should take the time to carefully read through the terms and conditions of your contract to make sure you won’t be hit with any charges or cancellation fees.


• Think carefully when choosing your streaming service. Some, such as Amazon Prime, will charge additional costs to rent or buy certain films on top of your monthly subscription fees. On the other hand, services like Netflix and Disney+ offer inclusive packages, and all titles in their libraries can be accessed without extra payment.

Do I need a TV licence?

With so many different streaming services and packages available, it can be difficult to know whether you need a TV licence.
If you don’t watch live TV or BBC iPlayer, you may not need a TV licence, but it’s always best to double check. You can find out more on the official TV Licencing site.
Remember, a TV licence applies to streaming on ALL devices, including mobile phones, tablets, and laptops.

You could be fined if you fail to pay for a TV licence when you need one.
If you don’t pay the fine, a court could take further action against you.

Is it cheaper to watch films at home or at the cinema?

This will depend on a number of factors, including the streaming service(s) you subscribe to, and how long you’re prepared to wait to see the film.
Brand new movies are unlikely to be available to stream without charge, even if you pay a monthly subscription fee for the platform.

Let’s take a look at a 2024 box office hit as an example. Disney’s long-awaited sequel, Inside Out 2, was released in UK cinemas on June 14, 2024, and is due to be added to Disney+ on September 25. Disney+ subscribers will be able to enjoy the film as part of their package at no extra cost; however, those wanting to catch the movie before its Disney+ drop will need to pay £13.99 on either YouTube or Amazon Prime .*

In today’s world, £13.99 might feel a bit steep for a film, but it could still work out cheaper than forking out for a cinema trip, and once you’ve bought the film, you can watch it again and again.
In 2023, the average cost of a cinema ticket in the UK was £7.92. If you’re a family of four, you could be looking at a total average spend of £31.68, and this is before you’ve factored in food and drink.

If you can wait a couple of months, new releases should reduce in price and may even be added to platforms such as Netflix, which don’t require additional payments on top of subscription fees.

Low-cost movie snacks to enjoy at home

Bring the cinema experience to your living room with our top picks of affordable snacks.

1. Popcorn. Large bags of both sweet and salted popcorn can be bought from Aldi for 99p each. Looking for a more authentic experience? Buy a packet of microwavable popcorn and DIY it for just £1.29.

2. Home-made nachos. All you need is a bag of tortilla chips, generous dollops of guacamole, salsa, and sour cream, and a sprinkle of cheese. Pop in the oven or air fryer until the cheese has melted.

3. Pick and mix. There’s no need to pay over the odds for a sugar fix – simply buy a couple of bags of different sweets (some supermarkets offer deals such as 3 bags for £1), combine them in a big bowl, and tuck in!

4. A healthier alternative to takeaway pizza. Using a white or wholemeal wrap as a base, add tomato puree, cheese, and toppings of your choice, then heat in the microwave for 60-90 seconds.

*Prices correct as of September 13, 2024.