Hundreds of movies are released each year throughout the world. Films that often open to either box office success or critical acclaim. While we usually intend to see these movies when they arrive in theatres, our life circumstances often don’t permit it. This is where streaming services come in, allowing us to view at our own pace.
Today, there are many options for where you can stream your movies – more than 200 – with Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Apple TV+ being the more popular choices. But these are not free, and if you want to catch up on films you may have missed, it can cost a significant amount.
Free streaming services may not be as commonly used, but they too offer a wide variety of films – from cult classics, blockbuster hits, and highly rated flicks to hidden gems, and underrated and overlooked movies. There is something for every taste among these free offerings waiting to be discovered or revisited.
To find the must-see movies you probably missed, available for free streaming, 24/7 Tempo compiled data from IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, and Reelgood. We considered films with between 10,000-50,000 audience reviews on IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes, that are available on Tubi, Amazon Freevee, Plex, Pluto TV, or Crackle. Documentaries were excluded. The audience and critic ratings were then averaged to develop an index to rank the films. The data is current as of early October 2023.
While these overlooked films may not appear on lists of the greatest movies ever made, they are still held in high critical regard, with 12 even having won prestigious Academy Awards. One anti-Western even features the last movie performances of motion-picture icons Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe. (To opt for more standard films of the genre, check out this list of the best Westerns you probably haven’t seen.)
Here is a list of the best movies you may have never seen — that you can now stream for free:
50. Dead Ringers (1988)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free on: Pluto TV
47. Sophie’s Choice (1982)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (08 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (21,561 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 78% (41 reviews)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free on: Tubi
42. The Red Violin (1998)
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate Films
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate Films
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (08 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (34,971 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 74% (42 reviews)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free on: Pluto TV
32. 24 Hour Party People (2002)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corporation (MGM)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corporation (MGM)
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (07 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (25,000 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (99 reviews)
- Streaming for free on: Tubi, Pluto TV
31. House of Games (1987)
Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures
N/A
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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free on: Tubi, Amazon Freevee, Pluto TV
24. Mosul (2019)
Source: Courtesy of 101 Studios
Source: Courtesy of 101 Studios
- IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (07 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 99% (1,657 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (6 reviews)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free on: Pluto TV
19. Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
Source: Courtesy of Miramax
N/A
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)
- Streaming for free on: Tubi, Amazon Freevee, Plex, Crackle
18. Birdman of Alcatraz (1962)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (08 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (7,851 reviews)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (23 reviews)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free on: Tubi, Pluto TV
16. Shane (1953)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
N/A
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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free on: Tubi, Pluto TV
10. The Sweet Hereafter (1997)
Source: Courtesy of Fine Line Features
N/A
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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free on: Tubi, Pluto TV
4. The Miracle Worker (1962)
Source: courtesy of United Artists
Anne Bancroft, Patty Duke in The Miracle Worker (1962)
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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free 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)
- Streaming for free on: Tubi, Amazon Freevee, Pluto TV