The Best Free Streaming Services in Australia
Ammonite is available on ABC IView
As concerns grow about older films disappearing from streaming services, prices continuing to inflate and tightening household budgets, it can be easy to feel that it’s getting harder and harder to legally watch movies online. Luckily, there are a range of local & international streaming platforms that are offering great films for free in Australia. So before you lock yourself into another subscription, it might be worth checking out these options.
If you want to go directly to any films pictured, you click on the images.
Tubi
Whoopi Goldberg in The Long Walk Home (1990)
If you have bought a new smart TV since 2019, chances are Tubi probably already comes installed. Complete with everything from a diverse range of low budget horror films to the original Mr. Bean series, Tubi truly has something for everyone in the family. A noteworthy highlight of the catalogue is over 30 seasons of The Joy of Painting With Bob Ross.
Brollie
Heath Ledger in Two Hands (1999)
Brollie has a great curated catalogue of Australian and arthouse classics, many of which are unavailable anywhere else on the web. It also the online home for a wealth of DVD extras. Viewers are be able to access Brollie through the app store on most platforms and in their browser at www.brollie.com.au
SBS on Demand
Rowan McNamara & Marissa Gibson in Samson & Delilah (2009)
During the transition to digital streaming, SBS’ has maintained its place as a go-to for arthouse and international cinema. Their library has over 15,000+ hours of videos, with everything from Scorsese Classics to contemporary hits like Triangle of Sadness.
ABC iview
Gwyneth Paltrow & Michael Douglas in A Perfect Murder (1998)
No ABC IView is not just for catching up on the latest episodes of Bluey, it also has a constantly rotating collection of classic films. If there isn’t something that interests you right now, chances are that next week there will be. While it does now unfortunately require a free account to use, it is accessible on pretty much all platforms.
Youtube
Sushi: The Global Catch (2011)
Long gone are the days of watching films on Youtube and having to track down the missing part 11 of 14. Distributors like Kino Lorber have now uploaded full films that are available worldwide on the platform, with a range of both fictional and documentary films available.
Kanopy
Grace Kelly and Anthony Dawson in Dial M for Murder (1954)
Kanopy is a free streaming services provided as a perk by many libraries across Australia. Their curated collection of award winning features and documentary titles will vary depending on which institution is providing you access. Check if you are eligible here.
Plex
Toshirô Mifune and Takashi Shimura in Stray Dog (1949)
Originally known for their personal media servers, Plex has expanded their operations in recent years to include a range of free films and television programming. Their library includes classics like Labyrinth and Fist of Fury.
