Top free legal movies that you can download

Martin Brinkmann
Jan 12, 2013
Updated • Jun 3, 2019
Music and Video, Video
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When it comes to movies on the Internet, the media focus seems to be on illegal downloads or streaming services. What is being ignored largely is that the Internet is also host to a growing number of free movies that you can download to your PC. While you won't find the latest blockbusters on offer, you may be surprised as to what you can download for free.

One of the best locations for classic movies is archive.org's movies archive. It is mainly covering the period from 1920 to 1960 and even though that is a time long gone it does not mean that the movies are not enjoyable anymore. You can't compare the majority with modern movies, which are faster and more action orientated, and if you are looking for these kind of movies you do need to look elsewhere. But if you are interested in interesting plots or film history you will find hundreds of hours of entertainment on the site.

free classic movie downloads

Without further ado, here is the list of classic free legal movies that you can download right now.

Classic movies

Little Lord Fauntleroy (1936) - Based on the 19th century novel of the same name. A story about an American boy who will be the last Earl of Dorincour when his grandfather dies.

Last of the Mohicans (1920) - The very first film adoption of James Cooper's epic novel of the same name. It is a silent movie but still, a classic.

Rescue from Gilligan's Island - If you have watched the TV show Gilligan's Island you may be interested in this follow in where the inhabitants of the island manage to escape from the island.

Scrooge - Based on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and its first film adoption.

All 15 Dick Tracy chapters - The complete Dick Tracy serial by Republic Pictures which runs for more than 4 hours.

The Phantom of the Opera (1925) - Another silent movie based on the novel by French writer Gaston Leroux first published in 1909.

House on Haunted Hill - A movie about a man inviting five strangers to a house offering them $10,000 if they can stay the night in the house.

Night of the Living Dead - A black and white horror film by George Romero that has entered the public domain due to an error.

His Girl Friday - A comedy starring Carry Grant and Rosalind Russel. Russel plays a reporter who wants to get out of the news business and away from here former husband Grant who plays the news publisher. Before she finally gets away she is asked to investigate one final news sensation.

Plan 9 from Outer Space - According to many one of the worst movies ever made even though it is not in IMDB's bottom 100.

Quicksand - A film with Mickey Rooney where he borrows $20 from a cash register only to find himself in a chain of events that quickly get out of control.

Impact - The attempt to have a wealthy business man killed goes wrong but he uses the opportunity to make it look like it succeeded to start a new life.

Too late for Tears - A couple receives a satchel full of money that is not intended for them. While she wants to keep it, he wants to hand it over to the authorities. And so the story unfolds.

Utopia - The very first film that Laurel and Hardy made together.

Charlie Chaplin Festival - Four Charlie Chaplin short films: The Adventurer, The Cure, Easy Street and The Immigrant.

Suddenly - A Film Noir movie with Frank Sinatra and Sterling Hayden about three assassins that hold a family hostage while they are waiting for their target.

The Stranger - A cat and mouse game between a member of the Allied War Crimes Commission and a Nazi who as assumed a false identity. With Orson Welles.

D.O.A. - About a poisoned man's quest to find out who poisoned him.

The man who cheated himself - About a police officer who is tasked to investigate the crime by his lover and his rookie partner who is determined to solve the crime.

The Saint Louis Bank Robbery - Stars Steve McQueen. It is a heist movie based on an actual crime.

Please Murder Me - A lawyer defends the wife of his best friend who is accused of murdering him.

top movie downloads

Fear in the Night - A man dreams he murdered someone, wakes up to find out that this may not have been a dream after all.

Beat the Devil - With Humphrey Bogart and Jennifer Jones. About four crooks and a couple on their way to Africa from Italy to buy land loaded with uranium.

Three Stooges - Four The Three Stooges episodes: Disorder In The Court, Brideless Groom, Sing A Song Of Six Pants, Malice In The Palace.

Find more

The site is a bit hard to navigate. While you can use the search on top, you can only really make use of it if you know the name of the movie you are looking for. If you are not, you need to browse the various folders and subfolders made available in the Video category of Archive.org.

Here are two entry points to get you started:

  • Feature Films - Here you find Comedy , Film Noir, Sci-Fi and Horror movies.
  • Collectie Filmcollectief - Sounds Dutch, seems to be a collection of films. You find a couple of interesting movies here.

Have a movie that you found on the site that you are particularly interested in? Let me know about it in the comments.

Summary
Top free legal movies that you can download
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Top free legal movies that you can download
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Don't want to spend money on subscription-based services like Netflix? These classic movies are all legally free to watch on the Internet!
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Ghacks Technology News
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Comments

  1. Sleeping said on January 15, 2013 at 9:45 pm
    Reply

    Just a little correction: Utopia is the very last Oliver and Hardy’s film, not the first :)

    Unfortunately it hasn’t been one of their best for sure…

    1. Sleeping said on June 18, 2014 at 5:50 pm
      Reply

      After more than a year I found this post one more time looking for good old movies to watch, so I’m watching D.O.A. ;)

      Please correct the mistake about Utopia :)

  2. Doc said on January 13, 2013 at 11:55 pm
    Reply

    “To late for Tears” *Too* – too big, too small, two O’s. #typo

    1. Martin Brinkmann said on January 14, 2013 at 12:16 am
      Reply

      Thanks, corrected.

  3. Transcontinental said on January 12, 2013 at 4:40 pm
    Reply

    So do I, and many others. In photography as well, by the way.

  4. Transcontinental said on January 12, 2013 at 11:28 am
    Reply

    Splendid. Another path to emotion, another tempo. Memories or discoveries.
    Thanks a lot for all those gold links.

    1. Martin Brinkmann said on January 12, 2013 at 11:28 am
      Reply

      I often find myself enjoying black and white movies more than movies produced nowadays.

  5. llorc said on January 12, 2013 at 10:33 am
    Reply

    Very nice Tip !
    A lot of pearls….and a free download !

  6. Leland said on January 12, 2013 at 8:11 am
    Reply

    Great listing of classic movies. Also take a look at http://www.bigfiveglories.com/classic-movies/tag/all-classic-movies/ to find many more you can stream to your computer. It is great to see these old classics being made available for everyone to enjoy. Thanks.

  7. www.cyberkey.in said on January 12, 2013 at 8:05 am
    Reply

    I love classic movie !! thnx !!!

  8. Oliver said on January 12, 2013 at 4:48 am
    Reply

    More of the same (List of 40) :-

    http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:%20/2010/08/11/top-40-best-free-legal-movies-you-can-download-right-now/

    (and yes, that space is meant to be there, apparently)

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