Internet Archive differs from similar websites that offer free online movies because while you can find full-length films, documentaries, and classic shorts, there are also rare gems like recorded commercials and video game footage.
Something else you can do at Internet Archive is download free movies. It’s 100 percent legal to not only stream these films but also save them so you can watch them offline on any of your devices.
Internet Archive’s Free Streaming Movies
This site’s movies are organized in collections. Some of them include Animation & Cartoons, The VHS Vault, Vlogs, Short Format Films and, of course, Movies.
Along the left side of the page are all the filtering options. This lets you find titles by hundreds of topics/subjects, collection, creator, year, language, and more.
There are millions of videos at Internet Archive and new ones are added often, so you can stay current with an RSS feed or visit the web page directly and sort the free movies by Date Added.
Although this isn’t the best place to find movie trailers, you can also uncover trailers for older movies here.
Free Streaming TV Shows at Internet Archive
The TV shows here are unique because while there are recorded shows, it also includes commercials and government proceedings, something you won’t find on most streaming sites.
The majority of the “normal” TV shows are found here the Classic TV section, but there’s also TV Ads, Classic TV Commercials, Saturday Night Live, Children’s Television Programs, and several categories dedicated to various politicians.
Just like with the free movies, the public domain TV shows can be filtered by year, language, and other criteria.
Download links are available for TV shows so you can view them offline as well.
Downloading Movies and Shows
Once you’re on a streaming page, downloading is as simple as finding the DOWNLOAD OPTIONS section. Once there, pick from one of the file formats. Most videos are available in the MP4, MPEG, and OGV formats, as well as through a TORRENT file.
Video Quality
Video quality varies because anyone can upload movies here. However, most of them are completely watchable.
Videos you’ve download from Internet Archive can be converted to a different video file format if you need it to be in a specific format for a certain device or software program.
The Internet Archive Mobile App
Unfortunately, there isn’t an official app for watching videos from Internet Archive. The only official app from the company is for a different part of their website that has nothing to do with video streaming.
However, there are plenty of other streaming services that let you access their free movie collections on the go.
Benefits of Registering
Registering isn’t necessary to view the videos movies at Internet Archive.
However, to upload videos, write reviews, engage in the forum, or bookmark your favorite videos, you do need to make a user account. You can register for a free account using your email address and a username. Or, use the Google button on that page for fast signup.
Where Internet Archive Gets Its Movies
Videos can be uploaded by any user who creates an account. The assumption is that the uploader has the right to share the movie.
Internet Archive has the right to remove any movie that doesn’t comply with their rules, so it’s understood that the movies hosted on their website is free for the public to view and download.
Where to Watch Modern Movies for Free
Unfortunately, this website isn’t the best option if you’re looking for modern films because it consists mainly of public domain videos, most of which are older movies. While there are thousands of videos listed for the current year, most of the movies are a decade behind or older, and aren’t the movies some people are looking for.
Alternative sources for high-quality, newer films that are still 100% free include Vudu, Tubi, The Roku Channel, Crackle, Freevee, and Kanopy.
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