Streaming is now the thing of today when it comes to entertainment. No more waiting for downloads or struggling to look for files on a computer or phone. For a long time, 123Movies and a number of risky alternative sites were essentially the hot places to watch free movies and shows. They are fast, easy, and have almost everything. But it came with serious baggage: legal questions, the threat of viruses, and countless pop-ups.
With time people said “Bye 123Movies (thank God),” as easy-to-use and legal streaming platforms are actually easier to find than ever. So, let’s go straight to the details: how and why 123Movies is not available anymore, the legal and safer online streaming sites to use in its place, and how to watch your favorite movies and shows freely in the coming 2025.
What happened to 123Movies?
123Movies is not the safe thing when it comes to a streaming website. It was founded in 2015, and within a short time, it was among the most popular streaming sites for shows and series worldwide. The appeal? The convenience of free movies and TV shows, knowing that all of it is one click away. No account. No fees. Just pure entertainment.
However, this was at the expense of copyright infringement. Governments and copyright owners were also looking for ways to respond. By 2018, pressure mounted. The site was closed after the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) labeled 123Movies as “the most popular illegal streaming site in the world.”
That was it; the domain 123Movies was no longer there. However, clones and copycat sites emerged almost immediately on the internet. But all these piracy streaming sites may be packed with scams, malware, and worse. Skip to the present, and employing these fakes is as good as playing Russian roulette on the World Wide Web.
Enjoy legal alternatives to 123Movies with extra protection from FlashGet Kids.
12 sites like 123Movies but for safe and free streaming
If you’re fed up with buffering, low-quality ads, and the probability of getting targeted by malware, you will enjoy these legal streaming options. Here is elaborated information about 12 free online streaming sites better than 123Movies, that guarantee safety, versatility, and convenience; those alternatives are easily accessible on mobile devices. Thus, watch your favorite shows anytime, anywhere you want.
1. Crackle
Crackle is the ideal pick when you’re looking for movie streaming sites for free. It is known to provide its patrons with quality picture content in movies and TV shows. Crackle is entertainment that people can trust; Sony Pictures owns it.
Why it’s worth your time: With cult movies, the latest film hits, and in-house productions, Crackle provides a rich range of films.
Features:
- 100% free with ad support
- Appealing genres are available in one or more other countries.
- No account is necessary to watch
The catch: The ads can be a bit much. But hey, you are watching them legally and at the same time, without even having to pay one cent.
2. Tubi TV
Tubi TV is loved by fans for the simple reason that it has a lot of content for the users. It just keeps adding new movies and shows for its users in almost any genre you could imagine.
Standout features:
- No subscription needed
- It represents a “Not on Netflix” feature so that people can find movies that have rarely been seen.
- Simple programs like animations, family movies
Why people love it: Tubi has many titles and comprises many subgenres, a new title being added every day. It also supports pretty much everything: TVs, tablet computers, smartphones, and game consoles.
Pro tip: Create an account to save your titles in a separate list so you won’t have to type them in again and again.
3. Pluto TV
Pluto TV is good for those who like live stuff, as it offers more than 250 live channels and a large number of programs that have been added to the catalog.
What makes it unique:
- Live channels are those in the news, sports, reality shows and special movie zones.
- Instant streaming programs and films are well arranged to ensure easy searching for customers.
- Mobile compatible with a sleek application look and feel
Why families love it: Some programs are especially for children. This means that children can spend equal measure hours entertained without the consequences of what they are watching.
Heads up: As with most web-based free services, it’s backed by advertisements.
4. Peacock (Free Tier)
Alongside its paid version, it offers a fairly robust selection of content. Like, the free movie streaming plan is quite versatile, but people can get even more with the paid features.
Features:
- So many of them received NBC shows and films, with the likes of the office.
- Live sports and news.
- Appeals to the young audience and the adult clientele of the service.
Why it’s worth considering: Peacock provides a robust streaming service at a relatively low cost while being user-friendly. As you will have noticed, it is an especially good option for people interested in network TV content.
5. Popcornflix
Popcornflix provides its users with movies and shows that can be viewed comfortably under the popcorn and cushions. Some slots have an odd beat which includes indie movies, underrated movies, and popular TV shows.
What to expect:
- No registration is required for watching; begin streaming immediately.
- To keep user engagement and attract more traffic, the platform decided to focus on indie films and other content that are not as popular.
- Regularly updated catalog
Downsides: It is not as extensive as other similar platforms, but it is an excellent site to search for gems that may be hidden online.
6. Hoopla
Hoopla is amazing for anyone who has a subscription card. It lets you lease digital media, which comprises films, programs, records, and books. It could be best described as the phenomenon of your traditional library moving to the world of the internet.
Key features:
- Ad-free experience
- Offline downloads available
- Great for families since it contains lots of children’s programming.
Why it’s special: Incidentally, it has been observed that free media like Hoopla has no ads. Digital Libraries are places that don’t cost anything to get into – all you need is your subscription card for hours of fun.
7. Kanopy
Kanopy is a source for people who are looking for documentaries, independent films, or informative material.
What stands out:
- Some of these you can access for free if you have a login through your library or university.
- Credible, theoretically stimulating articles
- Comes with a special segment for children.
Why people choose it: The feature that makes Kanopy different is that the platform emphasizes bringing more educational stuff and fewer popular shows.
8. IMDb TV
IMDb TV of Amazon is a strong blend of Amazon’s unlimited e-commerce service and a good collection of free movies and TV shows.
What’s great about it:
- By using Amazon Prime Video or Fire TV devices
- A nice selection of new releases and all-time best-sellers
- Includes special behind the scene content and trivia straight from IMDb
The downside: Again, the interruptions, which are in the form of adverts, can be really long and frequent.
9. Vudu (Free Section)
Costs are seen more in the rental and purchase categories, but the application also has the movies on US catalog with advertising.
Why it’s awesome:
- Pride themselves on one of the best streaming quality among all the free streaming sites (say what? 4K!).
- Genres: There’s everything from family entertainment to action films.
- Easy-to-use interface
Pro tip: There is always a chance to find something interesting, as Vudu’s free movies section seems to include popular movies, even if they are the latest.
10. The Roku Channel
Even if you have no Roku player, you can watch the Roku Channel. It has access to many content forms, including live shows, movies, and TV series.
Why it’s a hit:
- Clear segmentation of movies and shows for kids and families.
- A curtain of mix between older content and the newly produced ones
- Live TV Channels for Videos, News Channels, Entertainment Channels, etc.
Why families use it: The Roku Channel offers a Kids section with the Shows and Movies appropriate for children.
11. YouTube
Surprise! Content on YouTube is not just a repository for tutorials and cat videos. Its movie section is primarily superb and filled with great content. More interesting and educational videos for little ones are available on YouTube Kids.
Why it’s still relevant:
- Global availability
- No registration required
- Great for finding hard-to-access niche content
Pro tip: Look for official movie channels such as Paramount Vault to get more choices.
12. PBS Kids
Parents with young children will find PBS Kids an absolute Godsend. It’s informative and enjoyable and doesn’t present any risk to children in any way.
What’s great about it:
- Web access or mobile application is also available freely.
- Lessons to follow but no ads that disrupt your child’s favorite programs.
- Includes viewable favorites, including Sesame Street and Arthur.
Parents trust it: Through its special webpage, PBS Kids provides only appropriate and entertaining programs that do not cause any doubt as to their suitability.
Why people search for 123Movies alternatives
Why do people in 2024 still search for legal alternatives to 123movies? Believe it or not, demand cannot be filled in this age of streaming services. Here’s why users keep searching:
- Cost: Subscription services are one of the most expensive because streaming services add costs quickly. Collectively, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max’s subscriptions cost about $50 per month or even more. Well, that’s a lot for casual viewers.
- Convenience: In fact, there is hardly anything complicated in legal platforms since they are easy to use and quite friendly. Moreover, the paid services don’t have all the movies you wish to watch. Some are niche movies and international titles, which are usually absent, thereby keeping people searching elsewhere.
- Better Options for Families: It’s likely that paid platforms could not have included adequate material for kids. So, parents have to find other safer sites to replace illegal 123movies. Two such sites include Tubi, which is a free site, and PBS Kids.
In sum, users seek excellent quality streaming with no risk to their safety or their pocket. Free and also legal sources meet these needs perfectly, as pointed out above.
Tips for safe streaming and avoiding harmful sites like 123Movies
Since online movie streaming is enjoyable, it shouldn’t be a source of stress. Here’s how to ensure you’re watching experience safely:
Stick to official platforms
Many internet sites share prohibited materials with no charges, but all of them are dangerous. For these reasons, they receive unwanted calls, viruses, malware, phishing scams, and even possible legal ramifications. All of these aren’t worth the trouble. Stick to legal means such as Tubi or Crackle and not any of those streaming apps out there.
Use trusted browsers
In addition to making sure that you browse the above legal sites with reliable sources, you should also make sure that your browser/search engine is safe. Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Bing are popular web browsers with built-in capabilities to block risky websites. Activate all these safety measures to avoid exposure to dangerous links in your device.
Install antivirus software
A good antivirus program is your initial protection system that should not be compromised. It can scan and prevent unauthorized files from affecting the device on which it is installed.
Don’t click suspicious links
Do not ever click the pop-ups or the buttons that say download now. Most of them are deceptions for users to fall into. There are still a lot of URLs with the 123Movies domain name, and these similar sites often attract users to click through. There is no guarantee that there are no Trojan horses or viruses.
Use parental control tools
Children can easily end up on dangerous sites without their knowledge. Some solutions, such as FlashGet Kids, enable you to monitor and manage how and when your kids use their phones. This app is like the one-stop fix to all of your worries as a parent. Like, you can block apps, restrict sites, manage screen time, and keep track of your kid’s location in real-time with FlashGet Kids. The best part? All of these features are accessible remotely, and you won’t have to nag your child for their mobile device to check up on them.
Stay informed
New technologies emerge, and so does the risk associated with their use or application. It is always easier to manage what you know. Otherwise, new stuff can lead you to a lot of trouble.
These tips will allow you to watch content safely and anonymously with a program that does not involve illegitimate streaming like some dubious websites.
Conclusion
The story of 123Movies is quite fast. It was just basically simple entertainment in the paradise of no money spent. However, this negative of malware and phishing attempts far outweighed the positives. Fortunately, we can now get many other lawful and secure options to fulfill our streaming wants.
No more illegitimate websites and viruses. Only use trustworthy resources, try the safe alternative sites of 123Movies provided above for free, and watch your shows and movies to your heart’s content!
