You’re reading The Queue Maxim's Streaming Guide. Subscribe to receive the most recent updates from the industry, film and television suggestions, and much more. in your mailbox each week .
With the The economy appears somewhat uncertain at the moment. As streaming services continue to increase their rates, numerous individuals might consider reducing their entertainment expenses. The simplest approach? Opting for a free streaming platform to fulfill your movie and television requirements.
As I've discussed earlier in The Queue , major streaming services such as Netflix and Max have progressively diminished their value propositions by increasing prices and reducing their movie and television show catalogs—making free options increasingly attractive.
If ads aren’t an issue for you, there’s a vast array of free movie and TV streaming platforms available. Even Chick-fil-A has launched its own streaming platform. for some reason.
To me, there are two free services that tower over the competition: Tubi and Pluto TV. However, I will also point out three additional options worthy of consideration—two of which do not run advertisements.
Tubi
Total Titles: 51,147
Boasting over 50,000 films and television series, this platform offers the most extensive catalog for streaming content. by far is part of Tubi, the free, advertisement-supported television (FAST) streaming platform that belongs to FOX.
Many of the movies and TV shows available on Tubi are low-budget trash , which can certainly be enjoyable. However, if you're looking for high-quality content, Tubi's recommendation system adapts rapidly and presents you with Academy Award-winning titles such as "Fargo" and "The Pianist," along with beloved television series like "Columbo" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
Check out Tubi here.
Pluto TV
Total Titles: 13,121
Pluto TV was once my go-to choice for FAST services until it lost the rights to its round-the-clock "Jeopardy" channel. However, as a service owned by Paramount, it boasts an extensive collection of movies and television series. In terms of user experience and browsing simplicity, Pluto TV is roughly equivalent to Tubi.
-
The top films currently available on Netflix as of April 2025
-
All the new movies and TV shows streaming in April
-
5 essential movies and TV series you should stream immediately
As Paramount finalizes its deal with Skydance, the company might introduce additional programs owned by ViacomCBS—such as those from CBS, Showtime, Comedy Central, MTV, and others—to Pluto TV down the line.
Take a look at Pluto TV over here.
The Roku Channel
Total titles: 22,854
If your television set is smart, there’s a high probability it utilizes the Roku operating system readily available directly from your TV’s main menu, the Roku Channel boasts an extensive selection along with several exclusive Roku original productions you can’t catch elsewhere.
Roku secures the third position on this list due to its less user-friendly channel navigation compared to Tubi and Pluto TV, along with frequent use of misleading practices. You might click on a series such as "Yellowjackets" only to discover that just one episode is accessible without cost.
Check out The Roku Channel here .
Hoopla and Kanopy
Total Titles: 23,779 (Hoopla), and 11,247 (Kanopy)
The final entries on this list, Hoopla and Kanopy, stand out as they do not provide live channels or advertisements. Access to these platforms requires a (free) library card.
After linking them to your library card, both Hoopla and Kanopy provide access to numerous movies and television series available on demand.
Hoopla usually offers a more extensive collection of mainstream movies, whereas Kanopy features some hard-to-find treasures. The other evening, I decided to look around. Jacques Tati’s 1967 satirical film "Playtime," And the sole location where it could be accessed without cost was Kanopy. For enthusiasts of BBC programs, both Kanopy and Hoopla offer an abundance of these series.
The sole limitation with Kanopy and Hoopla is that your local library needs to cover a licensing fee once a title reaches a specific checkout threshold. led some libraries to terminate their collaboration with the firms.
Check out Hoopla and Kanopy here.
Play or Pass: The Val Kilmer Special
Do you have a series you simply can't get enough of? Send me an email with all the details at kevin.slane@Massima , and your suggestion might be included in a subsequent edition of The Queue.
Hit play on these new movies and series: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
“Top Secret!” ( Pluto TV ): The fantastic actor Val Kilmer died on April 1 at the age of 65. , concluding a career that was just as erratic and unorthodox as his character. Kilmer possessed movie star charisma but seldom took on the role of a typical leading man. His cinematic start came with "Top Secret!"—a spoof from the directors Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker—where he portrayed a rockstar akin to Elvis who transforms into a covert operative for the government. fully committing to the ZAZ silliness .
“Top Gun” ( Prime Video and Paramount+ ): In Tony Scott’s "Top Gun," Kilmer plays the antagonistic counterpart to Tom Cruise’s cavalier pilot, Maverick. However, they share similar traits and manage to maintain a mutual admiration despite their rivalry, which involves dogfighting maneuvers, socializing with women, and exchanging witty remarks.
“Tombstone” ( Hulu ): Featuring the most iconic line of Kilmer’s career (a trajectory that would later serve as the title of his memoir In "Tombstone," Val Kilmer played Doc Holliday, a loyal friend to Wyatt Earp (played by Kurt Russell) and his brothers, who strive to cleanse their Wild West town of lawless outlaws. It’s ironic that although Kilmer wasn’t nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Holliday, he did receive recognition with a nod for “Most Desirable Male” at the MTV Movie Awards, which highlights how Hollywood often undervalues his talents.
“Val” ( Prime Video ): When production for this documentary on Kilmer commenced, the actor's vocal cords were irreparably harmed due to throat cancer.Narrated through Kilmer’s own words by his son, Jack, "Val" delves into the health issues and professional hurdles he encountered. It also provides an honest examination of what led to his reputation as a "troublesome" figure during the height of his fame.
End Credits
That wraps up this edition of The Queue If you're a fan, please think about suggesting this newsletter to your acquaintances.
See you all next time, happy streaming adventures!
— Kevin
The post 5 Streaming Services You Should Be Utilizing for Free appeared first on Massima .