Broadband Guide

Watching movies online

Updated: Tuesday 14 February, 2012

By Anthony Hill

Watching TV online is a hugely popular way for telly fans to see their favourite shows, whenever they want. The likes of BBC iPlayer have now been incorporated into the viewing habits of millions of broadband users.

When it comes to watching movies online, finding legitimate websites which boast the films you want to see can be tricky. The internet is home to a lot of pirated films, which are best avoided, not least because many websites that claim to be streaming the latest Hollywood blockbuster for free are simply hosts for computer viruses and other malware.

However, if you know where to look, there are plenty of places to stream great movies instantly.

It is worth remembering that to watch a film online you will need a fast, reliable broadband connection and a suitable download allowance.

How to watch films online

The easiest way to watch a movie on the internet is to visit one of the many on-demand websites and simply choose what you want to see. A number of sites provide content completely free of charge while others require a one-off payment for each film you watch, or a monthly subscription.

Most on-demand films can only be “streamed”, or watched, while you are connected to the internet, so you may experience gaps or loading screens if your broadband isn’t fast enough or your network is busy, such as in the evenings. Some websites let you download movies to watch later, making connection speed less of an issue.

The main differences between streaming and downloading movies are:

Streaming - This means playing a video clip instantly. You won’t have to wait for the content to download before watching, but if your broadband speed isn’t fast enough there could be annoying pauses. Streaming uses just as much data as downloading, so make sure you have a suitable download allowance to avoid incurring extra costs.

Downloading - If you’re planning ahead for something to watch later on, some websites allow you to download a film rather than streaming it. This means it is saved on your computer’s hard drive, and is useful for anyone whose broadband is too slow to seamlessly play movies online. Again, unless you have unlimited broadband, it is important to make sure you don’t exceed your download limit.

Top tip - Install our free Broadband Download Monitor to keep an eye on your downloads, and set alarms to make sure you never exceed your monthly limit.

Video: How to download movies online

Where to watch movies online

LOVEFiLM - Alongside its popular mail order service - where subscribers get film rentals through the post and return the discs after watching them to receive another batch - LOVEFiLM, which is owned by e-retailer Amazon and now has over two million users, also offers LOVEFiLM Instant. Using the LOVEFiLM Player, users can stream over 5,000 movies and TV shows online via a PC, internet-connected TV, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 or iPad (as long as the required free app has been downloaded). Users can either make one-off payments to view individual titles or take out a LOVEFiLM Instant subscription for £4.99 a month, which offers unlimited access.

Netflix - Internet TV and film subscription service Netflix was launched in the US four years ago, but has only just been made available in the UK and Ireland. For £5.99 a month in the UK, or €6.99 (£5.85) a month in Ireland, you can watch a wide range of local and international TV programmes and movies via internet-connected devices such as smart TVs, games consoles, Blu-ray players, tablets and smartphones - or simply watch on your computer instead. The service helps you discover new films by asking you to rate those you’ve already seen. These ratings are then paired with those of other users and used to recommend films that are likely to be the sort of thing you’re into. Netflix can also be integrated with your Facebook account so you can see what your friends are watching and vice versa.

iTunes - Possibly the world’s best-known digital entertainment outlet, Apple’s iTunes Store enables you to buy movies or “rent” them - where the downloaded video file expires after a set number of days. Apple’s library features thousands of releases from every major studio and films that can be purchased in standard or high-definition (SD or HD) to watch on a computer, iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Some movies come with iTunes Extras, such as interviews, trailers and photos, just like the special features on a DVD or Blu-ray. While the iTunes Store is immensely popular, it is rarely the cheapest option for downloads.

Film4oD - It looks and feels a lot like Channel 4’s television on-demand website 4oD, but unlike the free catch-up service, Film4oD charges a set fee for each movie you choose to watch. The selection of films is good - though not as broad as with LOVEFiLM - but the site itself is very easy to use and gives you the choice to watch on or offline. Most of the movies cost between £2.99 and £3.99 to watch.

BBC iPlayer - Accessible on a range of mobile and tablet devices, as well as computers and some games consoles, the BBC iPlayer is a simple way to enjoy the last seven days of BBC TV and radio programmes. It also allows you to watch any movies that have been screened in the past week on channels such as BBC One and BBC Two. The best thing about the iPlayer is that all content can be viewed completely free of charge, but remember you will need a TV licence if you plan to watch anything live as it is broadcast.

YouTube - Previously available in the US and Canada only, YouTube launched its film streaming service in the UK late last year. Running alongside the Google-owned site’s video-sharing function, the movie catalogue includes classics such as Casablanca and Reservoir Dogs, as well as far more recent releases. Most films cost between £2.49 and £3.49 to rent and YouTube gives you 48 hours to watch them once you’ve paid.

Virgin Media - If you’re a Virgin Media (www.Virginmedia.com) broadband customer and you also take Virgin Media television, you may be familiar with its TV On Demand service. The company’s movie rental website has a very similar style and layout, but is available to anyone with an internet connection, regardless of whether they’re a Virgin Media customer. New releases usually cost £3.99 to rent, but there is no option to download - films can only be streamed online, so you’ll need a fast connection and suitable data allowance to avoid running into trouble.

Sky Go - Just like the Virgin Media service, Sky (www.Sky.com) offers its digital satellite customers a place to watch programmes and movies from their TV package online at no extra cost. Sky Go allows Sky customers that subscribe to the Sky Movies pack to access four live Sky Movie channels plus over 500 movies on-demand via their PC or Mac at no extra cost. Even if you’re not a Sky TV customer, you can still get access to Sky Movies without making a long-term commitment with a Sky Go monthly ticket.

blinkbox - For anyone more interested in independent films or world cinema, blinkbox provides a wide selection of alternative titles to rent or buy. It also boasts some of most affordable prices of any website dedicated to watching movies online. Recent releases can cost as little as £1.99 and there are also nearly 1,000 titles that can be viewed for free.

What movies you can watch online

While the selection of films to watch online at first appears very broad, there are still many titles - both classics and new releases - which are as yet unavailable. Recent findings from the Open Rights Group showed that, excluding iTunes, only 27% of the BAFTA best film award-winning films from 1960 to 2011 are actually online to rent or purchase. The research also highlighted issues with pricing, with digital movie downloads often costing the same - or just slightly less - than a physical DVD copy of the same film.

The table below gives a snapshot of the movies each service offers:

Correct at time of publication

TV licensing and watching films online

Generally speaking, you do not need a TV licence to use catch-up television services or watch movies online. You only need a licence when you watch or record content at the same time as it is being broadcast or otherwise distributed to the public. This means you will be breaking the law if you view something using the “Watch Live” option on BBC iPlayer, for instance, but watching films you have bought or rented online does not require you to pay a licence fee.