Top-tier films shouldn't cost the earth. Freely has you sorted whatever the mood, from proper giggles and nail-biting thrillers to family hits and reimagined classics. The best bit? Every single one is completely free!
Stuck for choice? We’ve done the heavy lifting by hand-picking the very best movies streaming right now. Sit back and enjoy.
Back to Black (2024)
Stream on BBC iPlayer
Few modern voices burned as brightly or as briefly as Amy Winehouse, and Back to Black sets out to capture the fire behind the music. The 2024 biopic traces her journey from sharp-tongued North London newcomer to global superstar, anchored by a striking performance from Marisa Abela, who brings both swagger and fragility to the role.
Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, the film leans into the grit as much as the glamour. Jack O’Connell crackles with dangerous charm as Blake Fielder-Civil, while Eddie Marsan and Lesley Manville offer grounding, lived-in performances as Amy’s parents. Steeped in jazz, soul and emotional bruises, Back to Black explores the intoxicating pull of love, creativity and fame, and the steep price they can demand.
Fans of music biopics like Control or Walk the Line should put this straight to the top of their watchlist.
Bridesmaids (2011)
Stream on ITVX
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 🍅89%
Weddings rarely run smoothly, but Bridesmaids turns pre-wedding chaos into comedy gold. This riotous 2011 hit follows best mate Annie as her life unravels in spectacular fashion while she tries to hold it together as maid of honour. Kristen Wiig is gloriously unfiltered at the centre of the storm, balancing big laughs with bruised pride and relatable heartbreak, while Maya Rudolph brings warmth and calm as the bride caught in the crossfire.
Backed by a fearless ensemble, the film fires on all cylinders. Melissa McCarthy steals scenes with scene-crushing confidence, Rose Byrne is deliciously passive-aggressive as the too-perfect rival bridesmaid, and Jon Hamm adds deadpan charm to the romantic chaos.
Sharp and surprisingly heartfelt, Bridesmaids redefined the modern comedy with its blend of crude laughs and emotional honesty.
A must-watch for fans of The Hangover or anyone who likes their rom-coms loud, messy and laugh-out-loud funny.
L.A. Confidential (1997)
Stream now on Channel 4
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 🍅99%
Step into the sun-bleached shadows of 1950s Hollywood with L.A. Confidential, a razor-sharp crime thriller that peels back the glamour to expose the rot underneath. Set in a city where corruption is currency and violence wears a smile, the film follows three very different LAPD detectives as their paths collide amid murder, scandal and tabloid sleaze. Russell Crowe brings coiled menace as tough enforcer Bud White, Guy Pearce is all buttoned-up intensity as straight-arrow Ed Exley, and Kim Basinger smoulders as a starlet playing a dangerous game.
Stylish, cynical and relentlessly gripping, LA Confidential is noir done right, packed with crackling dialogue, brutal twists and a slow-burn tension that never lets up. It is a smart, grown-up thriller that rewards attention and lingers long after the final frame.
Watch this if you like slick neo-noirs with bite, such as Chinatown or The Departed.
Kinky Boots (2005)
Stream now on 5
Sashaaay awaaaay from expectations and strut into the feel-good heart of Kinky Boots, a 2005 British crowd-pleaser that proves a little glamour can save the day. Inspired by a true story, this joyful comedy follows Charlie, a struggling shoe factory owner who finds an unlikely lifeline in fabulous footwear designed for drag queens. Chiwetel Ejiofor shines with warmth and charisma as Lola, a performer with killer heels and even stronger convictions, while Joel Edgerton brings grounded charm as a man learning to walk a very different path.
Funny and full of heart, Kinky Boots blends workplace comedy with a celebration of self-expression and acceptance. With sharp humour, standout performances and a message that still hits home, it is a film that knows the power of standing tall and owning who you are.
Add this to your watchlist if you love feel-good British comedies like Billy Elliot or Calendar Girls.
Priscilla (2023)
Stream on BBC iPlayer
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 🍅84%
You might find yourself falling in love, carefully and completely, with Priscilla, Sofia Coppola’s intimate 2023 take on one of pop culture’s most mythologised romances. Told from Priscilla Presley’s point of view, the film strips away the rhinestones to focus on a young woman navigating devotion, isolation and growing up in the long shadow of a legend. Cailee Spaeny is quietly captivating as Priscilla, charting her journey with restraint and emotional clarity.
Opposite her, the man of the moment, Jacob Elordi offers a controlled, moody take on Elvis Presley, all charm and unease behind the famous smile. Softly lit and deliberately paced, Priscilla favours mood over spectacle, capturing the ache of first love and the cost of living inside someone else’s dream.
Watch this if you like introspective biopics with a romantic edge, such as Jackie or Marie Antoinette.
Parasite (2019)
Stream on ITVX
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 🍅99%
Creep inside the pristine walls of a wealthy Seoul household and watch the tension quietly boil over in Parasite, Bong Joon-ho’s wickedly sharp 2019 thriller. What starts as a sly comedy about a cash-strapped family conning their way into comfortable jobs soon twists into something far darker and far more explosive. Song Kang-ho is superb as the quick-thinking patriarch, anchoring a cast that moves effortlessly between humour, suspense and outright shock.
Smart and thoroughly unpredictable, Parasite skewers class inequality with surgical precision while keeping you guessing at every turn. Its impact was seismic, becoming the first foreign language film to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards and rewriting the rules of what global cinema could achieve.
Essential viewing for fans of boundary-pushing thrillers like Oldboy or Burning.
Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
Stream now on Channel 4
Just a spoonful of nostalgia helps the magic go round in Mary Poppins Returns, a joyful return to Cherry Tree Lane that knows exactly how to tug at the heartstrings. Set decades after the original, the film finds the Banks children all grown up and in need of a little wonder once again. Emily Blunt is practically perfect as the iconic nanny, bringing her own crisp charm and twinkly authority to a role beloved by generations.
She is joined by Lin-Manuel Miranda, all smiles and tap shoes as the optimistic lamplighter Jack, while Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer add warmth as the adult Banks siblings facing hard times. Bursting with toe-tapping songs, colourful set pieces and that unmistakable Disney sparkle, Mary Poppins Returns is a comforting, crowd-pleasing musical that believes in kindness, imagination and a bit of everyday magic.
A lovely pick for fans of classic family musicals like Paddington 2 or Matilda the Musical.
The Hunger Games (2012)
Stream on BBC iPlayer
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 🍅84%
May the odds be ever in your favour as you step into the brutal, electrifying world of The Hunger Games, a dystopian blockbuster that turned teen sci-fi into a full-blown phenomenon. Set in the ruthless nation of Panem, the story drops teenagers into a televised fight to the death where survival is entertainment and rebellion simmers beneath the surface. Jennifer Lawrence is instantly iconic as Katniss Everdeen, all steel nerves and quiet defiance at the heart of the chaos.
Backed by a strong ensemble, Josh Hutcherson brings loyalty and tenderness as Peeta, while Elizabeth Banks adds glossy menace as the ever-smiling Capitol escort Effie Trinket. The Hunger Games blends action spectacle with sharp social commentary on power, control and media manipulation.
A must-see if you're into dystopian thrillers like Divergent or Battle Royale.
Fans of The Hunger Games saga can watch all the movies from the original trilogy for freeeee on BBC iPlayer!
La La Land (2017)
Stream now on ITVX
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 🍅91%
Long before it became forever linked to the most awwwkward Oscars moment in history, La La Land was already dancing its way into modern movie legend. Damien Chazelle’s sun-soaked 2016 musical spins a love story about big dreams and bigger compromises in Los Angeles, where ambition sparkles as brightly as the city lights. Emma Stone is luminous as aspiring actress Mia, while Ryan Gosling brings old-school charm and jazz devotion as struggling musician Sebastian.
Bursting with colour, swooning melodies and romantic yearning, La La Land blends classic Hollywood musical flair with a bittersweet, contemporary edge. It famously won Best Picture in error at the Academy Awards before the trophy was snatched back in real time, but the mix-up only cemented its place in film history. Hopeful yet heart-breaking, this is a musical that knows dreams do not always come easy.
Watch this if you love modern musicals with heart, such as Moulin Rouge! or A Star Is Born.
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
Stream now on Channel 4
Family break-ups rarely come with latex masks and fake accents, but Mrs. Doubtfire turns heartbreak into high comedy with unforgettable results. The 1993 classic stars Robin Williams in one of his most legendary and enduring roles as Daniel Hillard, a devoted dad who disguises himself as a no-nonsense British nanny to stay close to his children. It is a performance that shows off his lightning-fast humour while letting genuine warmth and vulnerability shine through.
The supporting cast keeps the laughs grounded. Sally Field brings emotional heft as Daniel’s exhausted ex-wife, Pierce Brosnan is perfectly smug as the too-good-to-be-true new boyfriend, and Harvey Fierstein steals scenes as Daniel’s flamboyant and endlessly supportive brother. Big-hearted and endlessly quotable, Mrs. Doubtfire remains a comedy that still hits the spot!
A must-watch for fans of classic family comedies or anyone who loves a laugh with real emotional pull.
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