There’s nothing better than a good movie night at home – especially if you’re trying to save money by skipping pricey nights out. With an enormous variety of films available to watch for free on Freeview Play, we’ve collated our top picks for finding the right flick to suit your mood.
Movies on Freeview Play
If you’re not sure where to start, your first destination should be channel 100 on your Freeview Play TV, or the Freeview Play app, where you can access all our on-demand players and Search and Recommendations features.
Then, head to Categories > Movies. This is where you’ll find all the top releases across a range of on-demand players in one place, including BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, My5, Great! Player and more. You can also browse each channel player separately if you prefer or check out Freeview Play’s Recommendations feature for top picks by genre and what’s trending, or search for specific titles.
Free movies on Great! Player
Great! Player > Films
Great! Player, a new on-demand service by the network made up by GREAT! Movies, GREAT! Action, GREAT! Christmas, GREAT! Romance and GREAT! TV, has launched on Freeview Play With a selection of star-studded Hollywood movies, fast-paced action films, love stories and nostalgic series, viewers can catch-up on missed content or dive into a catalogue featuring hundreds of hours of specially curated content from the popular GREAT! Network TV channels anytime they like, for free.
Free movies on BBC iPlayer
BBC iPlayer> Categories > Films
BBC iPlayer holds an eclectic mix of films, from sparkling Hollywood comedies to gritty budget Brit-flicks with lots of heart. It’s a great place to find classic films from the golden age of cinema, too, with black and white dramas, technicolour musicals, and retro horror.
As the home of CBBC and CBeebies, there’s a great selection of kids’ films to keep youngsters entertained on rainy afternoons.
How long each movie is available to watch varies, with newer films generally staying on BBC iPlayer for at least 30 days after being uploaded to the platform – many of the classic films, however, are available for over a year. It’s also worth bearing in mind that BBC iPlayer is the only free platform that offers ad-free viewing as it’s paid for by your television license fee; although some of the platforms mentioned below have paid-for subscription tiers that allow you to watch ad-free.
Free movies on ITVX
ITVX > Films
ITVX is home to a huge number of free movies, and like BBC iPlayer, there’s a wide variety of genres to choose from. You’ll find plenty of classic British comedies such as the Carry On series, as well as historical dramas and edge-of-your-seat thrillers.
Some films are aimed at children and families, though kids will likely find more content in ITVX’s ‘Children’ section. As with TV shows, some movies are exclusive to ITVX Premium, which starts at £59.99/per year – though there’s lots of free content to keep you entertained if you’re not ready to commit to a subscription.
Free movies on Channel 4
Channel 4 > Categories > Film or Channel 4 > Featured collections > Film 4
If irreverent dark comedies, foreign films, and outsider cinema is your thing, Channel 4 is a great place to start your movie search.
As the home of Film4, you’ll also find movies backed by Film4 Productions, such as Four Lions, 24 Hour Party People, and The Inbetweeners Movie, alongside experimental and short films collated by the platform to champion diverse voices.
As with BBC iPlayer and ITVX, there’s a good vintage cinema collection.
Free movies on My5
My5 > Browse > Movies
My5 is the best place to find made-for-TV movies, especially if you’re keen on murder mysteries, thrillers, and Western epics – and come the holidays, there are usually plenty of festive Christmas films to enjoy.
Like BBC iPlayer, the length of time films are available to stream for varies, and the collection changes frequently, so it’s worth checking back every now and then to see what’s new.
Free movies on CBS Catch-up Channels UK
CBS Catch-up Channels UK > Movies
Are you deep into sci-fi, horror, and wartime thrillers? CBS Catch-up Channels UK is the right player for you to find your next movie obsession. Most of the films currently available come from Legend, so you can expect lots of fantasy and action, making CBS Catch-up Channels UK a fantastic place to start if you have a specific genre in mind.
Free movies on STV Player
STV Player > Categories > Movies
If you’re in Scotland, you can enjoy a host of great movies on STV Player, ranging from true crime dramatizations to kitsch Christmas romcoms. You’ll need to sign up for an STV Player account to watch – and you’ll also need to provide a postcode that proves you live in one of the channel’s licensed regions.
How to find free live movies from the Freeview TV guide
You don’t have to rely on on-demand players alone if you’re looking for a great film to watch for free. Plenty of Freeview channels air movies live throughout the week, and you’ll often find network premieres of new films broadcast live so you can be the first to tune in to the latest releases.
Look out for movies on BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three, BBC Four, ITV1, ITV2, ITV4, Channel 4, E4, Channel 5, 5 Action, 5 Star, 5 USA, and 5 Select – the larger channels are especially worth checking during Bank Holidays.
There are a few channels that air films more regularly, such as 4Film, Great! Movies, Great! Action, Great! Romance, TalkingPicturesTV, and Legend. In any case, be sure to check out the Freeview TV Guide ahead of your next movie night.
*Channel availability subject to geographic location and coverage. Aerial upgrade and/or receiver may be required. A minimum broadband speed of 2Mbps is required to watch catch up and on demand services – this will count towards any monthly broadband data allowance. Service and player availability may differ between products and some services and players may not be included. Extra costs apply for additional 3rd party services.
