Free streaming services are offering a wide variety of movies this month that may have been overlooked, fallen through the cracks, or simply not given their due.
To determine the best movies you’ve never seen that you can stream for free, 24/7 Tempo developed an index using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of early October 2023, weighting all ratings equally. We considered only movies with between 10,000 and 50,000 audience reviews on either IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes that are streaming on either Tubi, Amazon Freevee Plex, Pluto TV, or Crackle, and ruled out documentaries. Data on streaming availability, also current as of early October, comes from the streaming guide Reelgood. Directorial credits are from IMDb.
These films might not make all-time great lists, but they do enjoy high Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer scores, and 12 of them have won Academy Awards. (They’re not necessarily free, but here’s a list of Best Picture nominees and winners you can stream right now)
“Reds” and “On Golden Pond” are two multiple Oscar winners on our list. “Reds” was the magnum opus of Warren Beatty, who directed, co-wrote, and starred in the story of American journalists who witnessed the Russian Revolution in 1917. Beatty won a Best Director and shared a Best Writing Academy Award. “Magnum” also describes the movie’s running time — 195 minutes, the longest of any film on the list.
“On Golden Pond,” about unresolved family troubles, won three Oscars, including a Best Actor statue for Henry Fonda — his only one — in his final film. Katharine Hepburn took home her record fourth Best Actress Academy Award for the same movie.
Speaking of final bows, John Huston’s anti-Western “The Misfits” featured the last movie performances of celluloid legends Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe. (For more conventional examples of the genre, see this list of the best Westerns you probably haven’t seen.)
Burt Lancaster appears in three films on the list, including two of the top 10, and John Frankenheimer either directed or co-directed three, the most of any director.
Here is a list of the best movies you’ve never seen — that you can stream for free:
50. Dead Ringers (1988)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (07 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (10,000 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 84% (44 reviews)
- Directed by: David Cronenberg
- Streaming on: Tubi, Pluto TV
49. Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005)
Source: Courtesy of IFC Films
Source: Courtesy of IFC Films
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (07 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (46,691 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 82% (120 reviews)
- Directed by: Miranda July
- Streaming on: Tubi
48. Birdy (1984)
Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures
Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (07 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (8,291 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (29 reviews)
- Directed by: Alan Parker
- Streaming on: Pluto TV
47. Sophie’s Choice (1982)
Source: Courtesy of Associated Film Distribution
Source: Courtesy of Associated Film Distribution
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (08 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (21,561 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 78% (41 reviews)
- Directed by: Alan J. Pakula
- Streaming on: Tubi, Amazon Freevee, Plex, Pluto TV, Crackle
46. Tender Mercies (1983)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (07 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (3,622 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 84% (25 reviews)
- Directed by: Bruce Beresford
- Streaming on: Tubi, Amazon Freevee
45. The Last Seduction (1994)
Source: Courtesy of October Films
Source: Courtesy of October Films
- IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (07 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 76% (6,503 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (51 reviews)
- Directed by: John Dahl
- Streaming on: Tubi, Amazon Freevee, Plex, Pluto TV
44. Jason and the Argonauts (1963)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (07 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (22,769 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (45 reviews)
- Directed by: Don Chaffey
- Streaming on: Tubi
43. Blue Jay (2016)
Source: Courtesy of The Orchard
Source: Courtesy of The Orchard
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (07 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 77% (2,427 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (32 reviews)
- Directed by: Alex Lehmann
- Streaming on: Tubi
42. The Red Violin (1998)
Source: Courtesy of Odeon Films
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Odeon Films
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (08 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (34,971 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 74% (42 reviews)
- Directed by: François Girard
- Streaming on: Amazon Freevee, Pluto TV
41. Becket (1964)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (08 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (5,616 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 76% (25 reviews)
- Directed by: Peter Glenville
- Streaming on: Tubi, Amazon Freevee, Plex, Pluto TV
40. Shadow (2018)
Source: Courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment
Source: Courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment
- IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (07 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (467 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (103 reviews)
- Directed by: Yimou Zhang
- Streaming on: Tubi, Amazon Freevee, Plex, Pluto TV, Crackle
39. 84 Charing Cross Road (1987)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (07 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (5,149 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (15 reviews)
- Directed by: David Hugh Jones
- Streaming on: Tubi
38. Red Cliff (2008)
Source: Courtesy of Batrax Entertainment
Source: Courtesy of Batrax Entertainment
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (07 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 78% (22,595 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (117 reviews)
- Directed by: John Woo
- Streaming on: Tubi, Plex, Pluto TV
37. Reds (1981)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (07 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (9,006 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (45 reviews)
- Directed by: Warren Beatty
- Streaming on: Pluto TV
36. The Madness of King George (1994)
Source: Courtesy of The Samuel Goldwyn Company
Source: Courtesy of The Samuel Goldwyn Company
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (07 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (8,380 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (44 reviews)
- Directed by: Nicholas Hytner
- Streaming on: Tubi, Pluto TV
35. Duma (2005)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (07 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (20,949 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (61 reviews)
- Directed by: Carroll Ballard
- Streaming on: Tubi
34. Fateless (2005)
Source: Sean Gallup / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
Source: Sean Gallup / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (07 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (14,051 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (65 reviews)
- Directed by: Lajos Koltai
- Streaming on: Tubi, Amazon Freevee, Plex
33. The Misfits (1961)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (07 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 78% (9,424 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (30 reviews)
- Directed by: John Huston
- Streaming on: Pluto TV
32. 24 Hour Party People (2002)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corporation
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corporation
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (07 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (25,000 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (99 reviews)
- Directed by: Michael Winterbottom
- Streaming on: Tubi, Pluto TV
31. House of Games (1987)
Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (07 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (6,511 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (27 reviews)
- Directed by: David Mamet
- Streaming on: Tubi, Pluto TV
30. The Man in the Moon (1991)
Source: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer / Moviepix via Getty Images
Source: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer / Moviepix via Getty Images
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (07 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (33,343 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (20 reviews)
- Directed by: Robert Mulligan
- Streaming on: Tubi, Pluto TV
29. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (08 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (5,460 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (20 reviews)
- Directed by: Martin Ritt
- Streaming on: Pluto TV
28. The Fortune Cookie (1966)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (07 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (4,687 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (26 reviews)
- Directed by: Billy Wilder
- Streaming on: Tubi, Amazon Freevee, Pluto TV
27. Salvador (1986)
Source: Courtesy of Hemdale
Source: Courtesy of Hemdale
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (07 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (8,547 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (27 reviews)
- Directed by: Oliver Stone
- Streaming on: Tubi, Pluto TV
26. Hope and Glory (1987)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (07 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (5,815 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (21 reviews)
- Directed by: John Boorman
- Streaming on: Tubi
25. Hair (1979)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (08 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (29,946 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (24 reviews)
- Directed by: Milos Forman
- Streaming on: Tubi, Amazon Freevee, Pluto TV
24. Mosul (2019)
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
N/A
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
- IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (07 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 99% (1,657 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (6 reviews)
- Directed by: Matthew Michael Carnahan
- Streaming on: Tubi, Amazon Freevee, Plex, Pluto TV
23. Big Night (1996)
Source: Courtesy of The Samuel Goldwyn Company
Source: Courtesy of The Samuel Goldwyn Company
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (07 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (8,199 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (56 reviews)
- Directed by: Stanley Tucci, Campbell Scott
- Streaming on: Pluto TV
22. Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015)
Source: Courtesy of Lions Gate Films
Source: Courtesy of Lions Gate Films
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (07 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (22,745 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (170 reviews)
- Directed by: Richard Starzak, Mark Burton
- Streaming on: Pluto TV
21. The Bear (1988)
Source: Courtesy of Disney Channel
Source: Courtesy of Disney Channel
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (08 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (8,894 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (15 reviews)
- Directed by: Jean-Jacques Annaud
- Streaming on: Tubi, Amazon Freevee, Pluto TV
20. Seconds (1966)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (08 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (4,496 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (35 reviews)
- Directed by: John Frankenheimer
- Streaming on: Pluto TV
19. Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
Source: Courtesy of Miramax
Source: Courtesy of Miramax
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (07 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (17,034 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (58 reviews)
- Directed by: Woody Allen
- Streaming on: Tubi, Amazon Freevee, Plex, Crackle
18. Birdman of Alcatraz (1962)
Source: United Artists / Moviepix via Getty Images
Source: United Artists / Moviepix via Getty Images
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (08 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (7,851 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (23 reviews)
- Directed by: John Frankenheimer
- Streaming on: Tubi, Pluto TV
17. Of Mice and Men (1992)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (08 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (47,889 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (29 reviews)
- Directed by: Gary Sinise
- Streaming on: Tubi, Pluto TV
16. Shane (1953)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (08 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (15,575 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (36 reviews)
- Directed by: George Stevens
- Streaming on: Pluto TV
15. Johnny Guitar (1954)
Source: Courtesy of Republic Pictures (I)
Source: Courtesy of Republic Pictures (I)
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (08 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (3,605 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (46 reviews)
- Directed by: Nicholas Ray
- Streaming on: Pluto TV
14. The Secret of NIMH (1982)
Source: Courtesy of MGM/UA Entertainment Company
Source: Courtesy of MGM/UA Entertainment Company
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (08 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (5,082 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (28 reviews)
- Directed by: Don Bluth
- Streaming on: Tubi, Amazon Freevee, Pluto TV
13. A Shot in the Dark (1964)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (08 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (17,976 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (31 reviews)
- Directed by: Blake Edwards
- Streaming on: Tubi, Pluto TV
12. On Golden Pond (1981)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (08 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (20,585 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (43 reviews)
- Directed by: Mark Rydell
- Streaming on: Tubi, Amazon Freevee, Plex, Pluto TV, Crackle
11. Eat Drink Man Woman (1994)
Source: Courtesy of The Samuel Goldwyn Company
Source: Courtesy of The Samuel Goldwyn Company
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (08 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (10,000 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (50 reviews)
- Directed by: Ang Lee
- Streaming on: Tubi, Pluto TV
10. The Sweet Hereafter (1997)
Source: Courtesy of Fine Line Features
Source: Courtesy of Fine Line Features
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (08 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (11,680 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (60 reviews)
- Directed by: Atom Egoyan
- Streaming on: Amazon Freevee
9. The Swimmer (1968)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (08 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (3,124 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (23 reviews)
- Directed by: Frank Perry
- Streaming on: Tubi
8. The Wedding Banquet (1993)
Source: Courtesy of The Samuel Goldwyn Company
Source: Courtesy of The Samuel Goldwyn Company
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (08 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (1,685 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (28 reviews)
- Directed by: Ang Lee
- Streaming on: Tubi, Pluto TV
7. The Train (1964)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (08 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (4,310 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (15 reviews)
- Directed by: John Frankenheimer, Arthur Penn
- Streaming on: Tubi, Pluto TV
6. Fail Safe (1964)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (08 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (7,162 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (27 reviews)
- Directed by: Sidney Lumet
- Streaming on: Tubi
5. Inherit the Wind (1960)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (08 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (9,656 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (26 reviews)
- Directed by: Stanley Kramer
- Streaming on: Tubi, Pluto TV
4. The Miracle Worker (1962)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (08 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (8,844 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (25 reviews)
- Directed by: Arthur Penn
- Streaming on: Tubi, Pluto TV
3. Love and Death (1975)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (08 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (19,082 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (21 reviews)
- Directed by: Woody Allen
- Streaming on: Tubi, Amazon Freevee
2. The Big Country (1958)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (08 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (5,532 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (11 reviews)
- Directed by: William Wyler
- Streaming on: Pluto TV
1. Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (08 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (6,974 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (53 reviews)
- Directed by: Alexander Mackendrick
- Streaming on: Tubi, Amazon Freevee, Pluto TV