Nowadays, people can easily watch any kind of movie by sitting in their homes due to the emergence of several online streaming services. However, students can’t access movie websites in most schools because of security protocols. But don’t panic, there are some other free movie websites not blocked by the school filters.
In this article, we will suggest 10 credible free movie streaming sites that are probably available while you are in school. Moreover, we’ll also give parents some guidelines that will allow them to provide a safe and enjoyable movie-watching experience for their kids. So, keep reading!
Why do schools block some movie sites?
Have you ever gone to find a movie at school but many websites are blocked? If yes, then keep in mind that you are not alone. It is common for students to face the same challenge. Although it might seem like an issue, schools indeed have some sensible reasons for doing this. So, let me shed some light on why they restrict some movie sites!
1. For content control and safety concerns
Some movie sites might have inappropriate ads or other harmful material that is unsafe for you. Therefore, some schools help protect students from risky content by blocking certain sites.
2. For managing bandwidth usage
Streaming movies consumes bandwidth, which could lead to slow internet access in schools that rely on it for other school Internet activities. By restricting most sites, your school ensures the internet is available to students and teachers for other educational purposes.
3. To reduce kids’ distractions
Let’s be honest, movies are a huge distraction! You can lose a great deal of lessons in school due to movies. Your school blocks these links so students can maximize their efforts while studying and learning.
4. To prevent legal and copyright issues
Browsing pirated movie sites is incredibly irresponsible and unwarranted. By preventing access to these sites, schools are teaching students how to manage web content responsibly. It also avoids possible copyright legal issues.
Always remember! A school will mostly block anything irrelevant, but it will not hesitate to respond positively to anything beneficial.
Watch with no worries. Protection from the classroom to anywhere with parental controls.
10 Best free movie websites not blocked by school
Let us take a look at some free movie websites that are not blocked at school and understand why they are considered safe or what features parents need to know.
YouTube Movies (Free Section)
YouTube Movies has a wide range of movies that you can watch for free in the free section.
Why it’s trustworthy and accessible:
- YouTube is Google’s product, making it one of the most trusted streaming platforms.
- In a 2022 poll, 93% of teachers said that they use YouTube videos as a tool for teaching in class.
Features parents should know:
- Advertisements: Movies are ad-supported which has increased by 70% since 2020 by the Interactive Advertising Bureau. So, parents must have to monitor their kids watching.
- Parental controls: Parent-controlled YouTube mode restricts kids from watching unsuitable material. Therefore, helping parents oversee what children view.
Tubi TV
Tubi TV is one of the very few completely free and legal streaming services providing myriad films and TV shows. Good news: It is not included in the list of blocked movie websites for school.
Why it is trustworthy and accessible:
- Tubi TV manages to serve its users legally by aggregating content from various major studios like MGM and Paramount.
- In 2023, a Digital TV Research report noted that Tubi and other Ad-supported Video-on-demand services have gained immense popularity, increasing by 36% each year. Its legal status has made Tubi well-accepted in various school environments.
Features parents should know:
- Content variety: Tubi features both content suitable for children and mature-themed content. Tubi’s data showed that nearly half of their user base consumes family content which means that parents might need to consider moderation in regard to their children’s watching habits.
- No account needed: You have the option to watch without signing up for an account, but having an account makes the service better by offering personalized suggestions.
Popcornflix
Popcornflix has a wide library of all sorts of films, including movies of different genres and age groups ranging from kids’ movies to action movies.
Why it’s trustworthy and accessible:
- Popcornflix has all its content legally licensed. A survey conducted in 2021 showed that more than three-quarters, 76%, of people use Popcormflix to legally stream content.
- Documentaries and other educational films can easily be found and used in the classrooms on popcornflix.
Features parents should know:
- Commercial: You will have to sit through ads during playback. For your information, Streaming services are often include ads as a Monetisation strategy.
- Monitoring content: Parents should assist their children in understanding grading systems plus any other content that may not be appropriate.
Vudu (US)
Alongside the paid movies section, Vudu makes some movies available for free through the Movies On Us section.
Why it’s trustworthy and accessible:
- Vudu is a reputable service as per a 2022 survey, 72% of respondents who usually rent or stream movies and shows on Vudu said they trust the service.
- Vudu is known for having very useful and informative films that are frequently used in school.
Features parents should know:
- An account is Mandatory: Accessing the free section requires an account.
- Interruption from Advertisements: Keep in mind that free movies tend to be disrupted by ads promising to promote other brands. An industry report found that 63 percent of consumers are comfortable watching ads over free content.
IMDb TV
IMDb TV, a subsidiary of Amazon, is a completely free service for its users that offers countless genres of movies and TV shows.
Why it is trustworthy and accessible:
- The credibility of IMDb TV as a source of streaming content is high due to the fact that it is part of Amazon. The services of Amazon Prime Video is used by more than 200 million subscribers which speaks of the trust people have in the company.
- Due to its content quality, a number of schools incorporate IMDb TV into their learning schedules.
Features parents should know:
- Film commercials: As in the case of most free platforms, viewers of IMDb TV have to put up with adverts. Based on a recent survey, 57% of free streaming services offer a greater variety of content by including adverts.
- Monitoring content: Parents are advised to check rated films and titles provided to make sure their children are mature enough for the content.
Crackle
Sony is the parent company of Crackle, so they have the resources to create original programming such as new movies and television episodes.
Why it is trustworthy and accessible:
- Sony acquired Crackle’s free service and now boasts a collection of both licensed blockbuster films and shows as well as original productions.
- In addition to movies and series, Crackle has a wide selection of educational documentaries which makes it suitable for classroom use.
Features parents should know:
- Ad-supported: As with many platforms, the free Crackle account has advertisements.
- Content mix: There is a substantial variety of genres and different types of content. A survey conducted in 2022 revealed that 48% of Crackle’s user base receives mixed video content, be it movies or TV series. In that case, parents will need to help select the suitable content.
Pluto TV
This service is different from the others in that it combines live TV and movies with no charge, amazing!
Why it is trustworthy and accessible:
- The owner of Viacom CBS makes certain that outdated content will not be violated with regulations guarantees. When surveyed in 2021, Pluto TV was amongst the top 10 most-watched ad-supported streaming services in the US.
- Pluto TV offers special learning content, making it valuable to educational institutions.
Features parents should know:
- Live and on-demand TV: Both live channels and on-demand movies are accessible. A report never seen before revealed this year that 37% of Pluto TV users watch live television while also consuming on-demand content.
- Parental controls: There is a wide range of available content which means parents will need to be careful of what children are watching.
Kanopy
Facilities, Libraries, and Educational institutions have access to movies free of charge at Kanopy.
Why it’s trustworthy and accessible:
- Kanopy collaborates with public libraries to grant access to educational films. By 2023, Kanopy had well over 4,000 libraries, which greatly increased availability.
- With a focus on education, Kanopy is offered by a lot of schools and more than a third of U.S. universities have subscribed to the platform for their students.
Features parents should know:
- Library Card Required: In order to access Kanopy, you must have a library card.
- More Documentaries: Kanopy features many educational documentaries and independent films. Aside from being a great educational resource, Kanopy also boasts a large catalog of children’s movies.
The Roku Channel
Without the need for a Roku device, The Roku channel provides movies and TV shows free of charge.
Why it’s trustworthy and accessible:
- The Roku channel is safe and legal. With Roku and Amazon backing the Roku Channel, it is a legitimate source. Trust is further built with Roku’s 2022 report of over 60 million users logging in and around 30% claiming to be active participants.
- Due to the educational and family-friendly content on The Roku Channel, many schools give access to it.
Features parents should know:
- Ad-supported: Although ads run during free movies, studies show that 58% of consumers prefer streaming services that offer free, ad-supported content rather than paid ones.
- Content ratings: Parents can keep track of the available ratings for the movies so they can check if it is appropriate for their kids.
YouTube Kids
When it comes to missing platform targets, especially concerning children, YouTube has now addressed the matter by launching YouTube Kids, which is filled with age-relevant material children can watch.
Why it’s trustworthy and accessible:
- Only suitable content is hosted on the site, thus making it safe for children.
- Schools use it as a fun teaching tool and YouTube Kids is included in it.
Features parents should know:
- Child limitations: With the filters, parents can set limitation boundaries, restricting what their children can access.
- Reduced advertising: YouTube Kids communicates commercials less than the main YouTube platform and the commercials shown are not as straightforward.
- Activity watching: Parents are capable of overseeing their children’s actions on the platform and therefore, they are able to ensure that their children are using the appropriate content.
What to look for when selecting unblocked free movie websites?
Instead of just blocking some film sites daily, teach your children how to choose safe and legal platforms to enjoy cinematic art and entertainment.
- Check for Ads
Even though the most popular free websites have advertising clutter, you should try avoiding ones that are overly disruptive.
- Verify if the platform is legal
You have to check that they have legitimate licenses to serve content. Platforms such as Tubi TV and YouTube Movies are completely safe.
- Look for parental control features
You can also block inappropriate material on carefully monitored sites with parental controls. According to Common Sense Media, 74% of parents deploy these measures to shield their children when they are online.
- Find a mix of fun and educational content
Pick safe platforms like Kanopy and IMDB TV, which pair good movies with educational material.
Tips for parents to ensure safe movie-watching
In this era, we all want our children to enjoy their movie time and ensure they’re watching suitable content. To make this possible, here are a few tips.
1. Check the search and viewing history
Always make sure that your children’s search and viewing records are age-suitable by periodically checking them. Some apps, such as YouTube and IMDb TV, allow parents to view the history records of their children.
2. Set timer limits for movie-watching
Without a doubt, you should set boundaries on how many hours children will sit and watch movies. The American Academy of Pediatrics published that there shouldn’t be more than 2 hours of recreational screen time for children, as this will help achieve a healthy range of activities. Otherwise, your kids may become screen addicted and it may also affect their health or studies.
3. Talk to kids about what they’re watching
Parents can often have conversations about those popular films’ themes or sensitive content with their children. This process allows for a deepening of the parent-child relationship and a greater understanding of the child’s preferences and inner thoughts. Before allowing them to watch some films beyond the age limit, parents should be well informed about the content and review to avoid exposure to inappropriate content, assisting them to choose wisely.
4. Use streaming safety features
Parents need to set up restrictions not just on computers but also on streaming services. Services like Netflix that have a children’s profile only allow access to movies and shows that are suitable for the child’s age.
5. Set up parental controls on kids’ phones or iPad
Lastly, I would recommend you use third-party parental control software to have maximum control of your kid’s online activities. When we talk about ensuring kids’ digital safety, the very first name that comes to our mind is FlashGet Kids, a reliable, all-in-one tool. Let’s explore its features!
+ Screen mirroring: Owing to this feature, you can see live what type of content your kids are watching on free movie-unblocked websites.
+ Keyword detection: This feature allows you to set keywords related to inappropriate content. If your kids browse content containing these keywords, you will be notified in real-time.
+ Screen time: FlashGet Kids also enables you to restrict certain apps or websites during specific times. This will help you to make a balance between offline and online activities.
+ App blocker: As free websites are ad-supported, there is a chance that your kids may download harmful apps. But owing to this feature, you can forbid the use of newly installed apps.
+ Activity reports: You will also get detailed reports on which apps or websites are accessed by your kids and for how long.
Final words
In a nutshell, school has blocked certain movie and entertainment websites not only for security purposes but also to make sure that their students fully concentrate on their studies. However, there are many unblocked movie websites that you can freely use in schools.
But, most of these are ads-supported as discussed earlier, so you must be cautious while selecting any of the free movie streaming sites. Don’t worry! You can go for the FlashGet Kids app to ensure a safe digital experience.
