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Top 10 Best Free Movies on YouTube

Before you watch another cat video compilation or another slime making tutorial, we have compiled a list of some of the best free movies on YouTube that are sure to offer you hours of entertainment at no cost to you.

That's right. Full-length features that cost you nothing but a few hours of your time. We've done the research and compiled a list of 10 of our favorite flicks.

From horror to teen angst, we've covered the gamut of movie greatness.

What Is YouTube?

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Founded in 2005, YouTube is one of the world’s most popular sites, even though its only purpose is to stream videos that members of the public upload. Anyone with an Internet connection can share videos on YouTube, which is owned by Google, the giant, worldwide tech company headquartered in San Bruno, California. 

YouTube was established by three former PayPal employees—Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim—and the website has taken the world by storm ever since.YouTube earns advertising revenue from Google AdSense,

Most of the videos are free, including our best free movies on YouTube to view, but there are exceptions, including subscription-based premium channels, film rentals, and YouTube Premium, a subscription service offering ad-free access to the website and access to exclusive content made in partnership with existing users.

What Does YouTube Do?

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YouTube allows users to view, upload, share, rate, and comment on videos. People upload 400 hours of content to YouTube each minute (2017). People watch one billion hours of content on YouTube daily.

IT has made stars out of people who post entertaining and or informative content. They earn money based on ad revenue. Justin Bieber was first discovered when a talent scout saw videos of him singing on YouTube.

How Does YouTube Work?

You can create a YouTube account using your Google account. You can take a video and upload it from your phone or computer. If the video is popular, YouTube places ads on your content.

If those ads make YouTube money, you get a small portion of those revenues. You can upload any video you have the rights to and that follow YouTube's terms of service.

How We Reviewed the Top 10 Best Free Movies on YouTube

We selected these best free movies on YouTube based on the entertainment factor, star-power and overall ratings on Rotten Tomatoes. A few are from this century, but most our picks are cinematic classics. Even if you're not a film buff or horror junkie, these films keep getting thumbs up from audiences decades after their release.

Best Free Movies On Youtube: What We Reviewed

  • Battle in Seattle
  • Fists of Fury
  • Charade
  • House on Haunted Hill
  • Night of the Living Dead
  • Last Man on Earth
  • Angels in the Outfield
  • Better Off Dead
  • Nosferatu
  • Metropolis

Battle in Seattle (2008)

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Features

We start our best free movies on YouTube list with Battle in Seattle, starring Woody Harrelson, Channing Tatum, Michelle Rodriguez, Ray Liotta, and André Benjamin follows several fictional characters in the drama done in documentary form.

In 1999, the World Trade Organization (WTO) held its Ministerial Conference in Seattle.

The WTO conference was met with 40,000 protesters who didn’t believe that the WTO’s intentions were genuine

Even though the protest was meant to be peaceful, there were riots, looting, and fighting. Stuart Townsend wrote and directed the 96-minute film. Django (André Benjamin), Sam (Jennifer Carpenter), Jay (Martin Henderson), and Lou (Michelle Rodriguez) are protesters who want to make a difference.

But riots and a state of emergency for the otherwise quiet city put Jim Tobin (Ray Liotta) in the spotlight and cop Dale Anderson (Woody Harrelson) in a panic to protect his pregnant wife, Ella (Charlize Theron). The film is interesting for those who remember the incident and give us a look at earlier acting roles for some of our favorite actors.

PROS

  • All-star cast
  • QInteresting topic
  • Short watch

CONS

  • Too many characters
  • Naïve depiction of what really happened
  • Not enough backstory on WTO

Fist of Fury (1972)

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Features

Bruce Lee stars in his first major role as a martial arts expert who seeks revenge after the murder of his kung fu master. He uncovers a Japanese drug smuggling ring killed his friend. This 107-minute movie is rated R. Lee plays Cheng Chao-an, who travels from China to Thailand.

Although he promised his mother he would never fight again, a drug trafficking operation based in the factory where he works threatens his family.

This movie is classic Bruce Lee and launched him into the world spotlight. It was Hong Kong’s highest grossing film and a blockbuster in the U.S. The film is a great example of Lee’s abilities and charisma that made him an icon. It has a straightforward storyline and amazing fight scenes.

PROS

  • Bruce Lee
  • Good amount of action and story
  • Entertaining

CONS

  • Simplistic plot
  • Better Bruce Lee movies available
  • Slow pace

Charade (1963)

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Features

If you want to see the star power in one of the best free movies on YouTube, and feel a little nostalgic for old Hollywood, Charade is one to watch. Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn could read the phone book and make it a hit.

Luckily Charade is a romantic thriller. It centers on a woman in Paris accused of taking her husband’s fortune.

Stanley Donen directs this Hitchcock style film that runs 115 minutes. Grant plays Peter Joshua, who meets Hepburn, Reggie Lampert, in Paris. Reggie finds out her murdered husband along with a group of men stole $250,000 dollars during the war. Now those accomplices want the money. Reggie goes to Joshua for help, but he confesses that he is the brother of a fourth

PROS

  • Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn
  • Suspenseful plot
  • Hitchcock movie feel

CONS

  • Might be confusing
  • Silly plotline
  • Not thrilling by today’s standards

House on Haunted Hill (1959)

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Who can resist Vincent Price as Frederick Loren in House on Haunted Hill. You may recognize the plot that's been copied in movies and on TV shows for the past 60 years.

The millionaire Loren and his wife invite guests to spend a night in their haunted house. If the guests are still there in the morning, they will receive a lot of money, but nothing is that easy.

As the night goes on, the guests face terrifying events. At 74 minutes, this campy horror movie is a great selection to add to your Halloween festivities.

PROS

  • Classic example of campy horror movie
  • Solid plot
  • Vincent Price

CONS

  • Too campy to be scary
  • William Castle’s influence

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

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Three words: original zombie movie. Yep, that's right among the best free movies on YouTube is George Romero’s debut, an iconic horror movie and independent film that holds up pretty well in today’s time.

The story of a group of people trying to survive with the dead come back to life is familiar.

The black-and-white cinematography works well. Judith O’Dea plays Barbara and Duane Jones is the hero.

They are part of a group of seven people who are trapped in a farmhouse by the rising of the undead. If you love horror films, this is the Shakespeare to the zombie movement. Romero wrote, directed, edited, and acted in the 90-minute film on a budget of $114,000.

PROS

  • The original zombie movie 
  • Good horror movie
  • Documentary style enhances the storyline

CONS

  • Myopic in storyline
  • Flesh-eating and gore
  • Some characters are annoying.

The Last Man on Earth (1964)

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One of the best free movies on YouTube is another Vincent Price film, some would argue his best. Set in Rome, the movie depicts the last human man on Earth who fights against the infected, who are acting like vampires.

Price shines in this movie. Based on Richard Matheson's novel "I Am Legend," this movie was remade as The Omega Man with Charlton Heston in the Vincent Price role.

PROS

  • Vincent Price shines
  • Inspired other horror classics

CONS

  • Can be slow and dull in parts
  • Cheesy special effects
  • Strange overall

Angels in the Outfield (1994)

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A reboot of the 1951 version, the 1994 Angels in the Outfield is the story of Roger (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a foster child whose father makes empty promises to improve as soon as the California Angels wins the pennant.

The team is in last place and Roger prays for a pennant win. Al (Christopher Lloyd) is a real angel who hears his pleas and decides to help the California Angels win the pennant with a team of real angels.

Not thought of as Disney's best cinematic work, Angels in the Outfield is still considered an all-time favorite among baseball fans around the world, The cast includes Danny Glover, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Christopher Lloyd, Tony Danza and even a brief appearance by a young Matthew McConaughey.

PROS

  • Family movie
  • All-star cast
  • Feel-good story

CONS

  • Predictable story
  • Syrupy
  • Bad special effects

Better Off Dead (1985)

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John Cusack’s 1985 teen comedy Better Off Dead has become a cult classic. Back in the day when coming of age movies were in their heyday, this one blended dark with dorks.

Cusak’s angst goes full suicidal after a breakup and bizarre animation sequences make it a strange enough to continue being a film of interest through the years. 

Cusak plays Lane Myer, and Curtis Armstrong plays Lane’s best friend, Charles De Mar. His girlfriend leaves him for a champion skier, but because it’s the 1980s, but Meyer beats his nemesis and it’s funny.

PROS

  • Cult classic
  • John Cusak
  • Entertaining

CONS

  • Strange animated parts
  • Not the best Cusak teen movie
  • Jokes about suicide

Nosferatu (1922)

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Regarded as one of the most influential films in the history of cinema this next film on our best movies to watch on YouTube is a must see.

It’s the silent adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula that German film studio Prana Film made after they could not get the rights to the story. Count Orlok, and his “Nosferatu” bring the haunting vampire tale to life.

PROS

  • Ground zero for horror films
  • Haunting and creepy
  • Part of movie history

CONS

  • Not scary
  • Dull
  • Old

Metropolis (1927)

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Features

Metropolis, Fritz Lang’s 1927 masterpiece, is a forefather of sci-fi and is one of the best free movies on YouTube.

It’s the story of a man of wealth (Gustav Fröhlich), who leaves opulence behind to join oppressed workers in a revolt.

A futuristic look at a city that’s divided with the working class on one side and the city planners on the other. Now considered one of the defining films of last century.

Any film major has probably written a paper on this work. The film’s message, though not widely celebrated when the film debuted, is a relevant commentary on today’s widening socioeconomic gap.

PROS

  • Birth of sci-fi
  • Compelling story
  • Technically advanced for its time

CONS

  • Does not stand the test of time
  • Cinematic techniques boring
  • Too long

The Verdict For The Best Free Movies On Youtube

To crown the best of the best free movies on YouTube would be a simplistic reaction to a complicated list. These Top 10 are a tribute to movie genres, cinematic innovations. If you're looking for horror bests, then we have to call Night of the Living Dead the winner.

It might feel a little too familiar considering The Walking Dead and countless zombie movies that have come out since the 1960s, but watch it. This movie did zombies before zombies were cool. It's also a marvel in budgeting. The low-budget led to innovations, such as the documentary style film.

If you're looking for a movie that's fun and light, then look to Better Off Dead. John Cusak is the ultimate underdog, the nice guy who may not finish first, but he wins. The 1980s produced some of the best teen angst movies of all time, and this one has reached cult classic. So pop some popcorn and put your feet up for some of the best free movies on YouTube.



Last update on 2022-08-04 at 19:11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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