How to Watch Movies on the Internet

Family films are available instantly online.

Watching movies online has never been easier than it is these days. If you have a fast Internet connection you can access films of all kinds through a number of sites. Some of these offer movies for free, as long as you're willing to sit through an ad or two. Others are accessible through subscription or offer film downloads for a fee. All make watching movies on the Internet inexpensive and easy.

Instructions

1. Seek out websites that offer movies for free. Use them with care, however. Some sites, like SurfTheChannel (surfthechannel.com), are merely indexes that link your computer to movie-offering websites. These have been known to distribute computer viruses and malware. Other sites, like Hulu (hulu.com), are supported by ads and allow you to view copyrighted films.

2. Pay to download a movie you want to see through an online content service. One of the best known of these is the iTunes store (apple.com/itunes/charts/movies). Through iTunes you can either buy an electronic copy of the movie or rent it for a limited time. The fees are about what you would pay to buy or rent a movie at a bricks-and-mortar store. Blockbuster (blockbuster.com/download) offers similar on-demand films.

3. Subscribe to a service that streams movies, TV shows and other video content to your computer or cable television. Companies like Netflix (netflix.com) offer monthly subscription plans that allow you to view an unlimited number of movies each month.

Tips & Warnings

• Of course you can always use services such as Youtube to watch movies that are shorter or not commercially released. I have had a lot of fun browsing through these.

• Check the Resources section below for more sites that allow you to download your favorite movies.

References

• "The Internet for Dummies"; John R. Levine, et al.; 2010