Horror movies have a dedicated fanbase, but they're not the best-represented genre in the film world. Thankfully, through the wonders of the internet, fans of horror flicks can access a wealth of scary content without much work.
Of course, there are plenty of horror movies on services like Netflix, but those require a paid subscription. When you're looking for free scares or just want to laugh at a cheesy old horror movie with friends, here's where you can watch horror movies for free online, legally.
1. CONtv
CONtv, formerly called Viewster before it was acquired by a new company, bills itself as "the digital destination for Comic Con fans." To this end, it features a lot of shows and movies based around comic book content. However, you'll also find a good selection of free horror movies on the ad-supported service.
You can enjoy dozens of horror titles on CONtv, with a good number of them available for free. You don't even have to sign up for an account to watch the free content. Just click the hamburger menu in the top-left, choose Horror, and click the movie you want to watch. You'll see a lock symbol on any movies that require CONtv, the $6.99/month premium service that removes ads.
Many of these films are low-budget, so you've probably never heard of them. But there are a range of decades represented, with films from the 1960s appearing alongside movies released in the last few years. The video quality is great, and the site even offers mobile apps for Android and iOS.
With a brief summary for each movie (including the main actors) and a feature to add movies to your watchlist, CONtv is a solid free horror movie site anytime you need a scary fix.
Available titles include 20 Years After, American Zombie, and Fist of the Vampire.
2. RetroVision
RetroVision is a classic movie and TV website, so its horror movies tend towards older cinema as well. You'll find movies as far back as the 1930s here, while the newest is from 1984.
Therefore, you shouldn't expect to find the latest blockbuster hits on RetroVision. But if you enjoy older movies or just want to make fun of them, you'll like this site. There are several dozen titles to sink your teeth into.
RetroVision only hosts movies that are in the public domain, so everything here is on the up-and-up. Given the age of the films here, there aren't any modern features like subtitles, unfortunately. But since all the horror movies appear on one page, it's easy to search for what you want to watch.
Movies on this site include Moon of the Wolf, The Crimson Ghost, and Don't Look in the Basem*nt.
3. Popcornflix
Popcornflix is one of the best free apps for watching movies, and it's viewable on the web too. It's home to tons of movies, TV shows, and even original content, all of which you can enjoy with ad support.
The Horror page is home to hundreds of scary movies spanning generations. You can start watching any of them in seconds, with no signup to worry about. And in case you prefer to watch on another device, Popcornflix is available on Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku, and Xbox.
Featured films include A Good Marriage, The Caling, and King of the Ants.
4. TubiTV
TubiTV features tons of movies and TV shows, all available for free and supported by ads. The site is a pleasure to use; creating a free account lets you add movies to your queue so you can keep track of what to watch next.
The horror section contains plenty of movies to check out, complete with the rating, year, length, and genres you can see at a glance. Getting lots of horror movies in an attractive package, all for free, is a pretty great setup.
Unlike some of the other sites here, you can set the video quality where available (choosing from 720p or 480p, for example). There are also subtitles on most films, which are customizable per your preferences.
You can watch movies like It Knows, Autoposy, and What Lies Beneath on TubiTV right now.
5. IMDb TV
IMDb TV is a free collection of movies and TV shows available to anyone with a free IMDb account. Like most other legitimate free movie sites, you'll have to sit through some ads while you watch, but everything is in solid quality and has subtitles available.
There's no specific page for horror movies, but if you scroll down to the Chills and Thrills header, you'll find most of them there. The selection changes regularly, so check back often to see what's new.
Current horror movies on IMDb TV include The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Spiders, and Burning Bright.
6. Kings of Horror on YouTube
There are lots of horror movies on YouTube, but many aren't legal and others may disappear over time. If you want to watch legal horror movies on YouTube, your best bet is the Kings of Horror channel.
It has plenty of full horror movies, all of which are legally licensed. Other content includes reviews of horror films and similar. But if you're just here for the movies, there's plenty to enjoy.
Current movies available include No Tell Motel, Blood Rush, and Red Eye.
7. Crackle
Crackle is another favorite for legal free movies. The service has several dozen horror movies that you can enjoy without signing up. However, if you make an account, you can add movies to your watchlist for later.
Mouse over a movie to see its rating, runtime, and year of release, along with a brief summary. Once you click on a movie, the Why it Crackles section gives you a one-line summary of why the site's staff like the movie.
Related: The Best Free TV Shows to Watch on Crackle
While there's a good mix of decades here, many of the films released within the past 20 years or so. That makes it a good choice if you prefer newer movies over classics.
Current horror movies on offer include Hollow, Day of the Dead, and Better Watch Out.
The Best Horror Movie Sites to Enjoy
Now you know where to watch horror movies for free, while sticking to legal content. Whether you prefer new or classic horror movies, and like them cheesy or serious, you don't have to spend a dime to enjoy horror movies on your computer.
For more horror, why not look at some creepy websites next?
Image Credit: lassedesignen/Shutterstock
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