The Internet may have forced the the music industry to undergo massive changes, but a handful of companies are stepping in to brace the film industry for the coming change. It’s simple: offer top quality streaming for free or minimal cost with little advertising and the experience is much more appealing than illegal downloads. And as more and more indy film distributions companies close, it looks like the Internet is becoming more and more the source for Indy distribution. While Hulu has recently scored another huge with Disney, as well as NBC and FOX, it’s not the only site out there for film. Bookmark these sites and start finding a TON of new films daily.
If you love documentaries, head over to SnagFilms, which specializes in anything from rock legends to politics to sports. All of the films are free to watch, and you can even snag them to place elsewhere on the Web.
The Auteurs is for the film junkie who is looking for more of a cinematic community than Facebook has to offer. Follow friends to find out what they’re watching, and then download your own films, straight from the festivals. Some films are free, while others are available for a $5 download.
Like the name suggests, Babelgum specializes in cinema from around the world. So if your curiosity has gotten the better of you, head over to Babelgum and start browsing free films. The site even hosts an online film festival, complete with a full jury which gives out more than $125,000 in cash prizes.
Joost has an amazing selection of films: global, independent, documentaries, comedies and more. And if you’re frequently found browsing the Classics section for Cary Grant, Shirley Temple, or Charlie Chaplin, Joost is the site for you.
These are just a few that I have come across on the Internet, do you have any favorite movie streaming sites that I didn’t list here? Let me know!