With the shuttering of FilmStruck final November and an uncertain future ahead for Fandor, it’s been a tough stretch for discerning film followers on the lookout for one thing past Bird Box. And whereas there are actually some worthwhile choices available on Netflix (The Other Side of the Wind, Happy as Lazzaro, Roma) and Hulu (Annihilation, Support the Girls, Skate Kitchen), there’s loads of high quality viewing out there even for the penny-pinchers amongst us.

Over the vacations I dug into a number of of the outstanding free (usually ad-supported) streaming providers to seek for diamonds within the tough. Many of those websites are overflowing with sometimes-endearing schlock (Cruel Intentions 2 on Crackle, starring Amy Adams), which may make for a enjoyable night time with pals, however should you’re on the lookout for one thing with a contact extra inventive worth, listed here are some free choices. All of those providers have apps out there on quite a few gadgets.

Tubi

Tubi has leapt out as some of the numerous platforms within the free area, and would possibly take the prize for essentially the most high quality content material by way of international and award-winning movies. Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Shoplifters gained the Palme d’Or at Cannes final 12 months, and his movie I Wish is offered right here, as are Burning director Lee Chang-dong’s Oasis, Poetry, Peppermint Candy, and A Brand New Life.

Director Panos Cosmatos made waves final 12 months with the Nicolas Cage comedian nightmare Mandy, and his similarly-dark Beyond the Black Rainbow has made it to Tubi, together with the equally-disturbing (for very completely different causes) Dark Horse by Todd Solondz. There’s additionally just a few classics sprinkled in, just like the fast-talking newspaper comedy His Girl Friday and the recently-resurgent noir Detour.

Vudu

Vudu is Wal-Mart’s rental platform, which additionally hosts an intensive, rotating collection of free movies. Currently of observe are the Spike Jonze/Charlie Kaufman collaboration Adaptation, which is notable on many ranges, not the least of which is seeing Tilda Swinton play essentially the most “normal” character of her profession. There’s additionally the Zapata western A Bullet for the General, starring Klaus Kinski (extra on him later), and the 1998 German artwork home sensation Run Lola Run. And for Richard Linklater completists on the market, it’s the one place to freely stream his little-loved however actually curious SubUrbia.

Shout Factory TV

Shout Factory TV is perhaps essentially the most curious of all of the platforms, as they don’t even need you to create an account, and the movies run uninterrupted. MST3K followers are doubtless already acquainted with the service, however there’s so much past dangerous sci-fi right here, together with the entirety of Shout Factory’s Werner Herzog field set, which options his classics Fitzcarraldo and Aguirre, the Wrath of God. There’s additionally the Gene Hackman conspiracy thriller The Domino Principle and the wild The Stunt Man, starring Peter O’Toole as an eccentric movie director in search of authenticity.

Crackle

Crackle was one of many first platforms within the free film area, however fell off my radar when its focus turned to Joe Dirt 2 and Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. But after stopping by lately to revel within the agonizing delights of the aforementioned Cruel Intentions 2, just a few nuggets revealed themselves to be lingering on the Sony-backed service. They have the primary 4 movies within the Alien franchise, which aren’t streaming wherever else, in addition to the underrated and unnerving The Exorcist 3. There’s additionally a small however devoted core of followers who will loudly defend Ang Lee’s Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk from 2017, and it’s the one free website to stream Ryan Gosling’s explosive efficiency in Drive.