With so many streaming services clamouring for our attention, as well as our direct debits, it is easy to think that the only way to watch films at home is by setting up a monthly payment of £6.99 to Netflix, Disney+, Prime, or even Paramount+.
As we have previously reported, there is a completely free and completely legal alternative to these paid-for services where you can watch blockbuster films and TV for nothing at all - FreeVee.
Owned by Amazon, this is an ad-supported streaming service that has everything from Gordon Ramsay's 'Hell's Kitchen' to Sacha Baron Cohen's bawdy 'Bruno' (2009) with no upfront cost or monthly subscription.
Even though it is free, there are loads of great high-quality films and documentaries available to stream on FreeVee, including Oscar-winning Still Alice'(2014) and Tim Burton's acclaimed Big Fish (2003).
Below are the highest-rated films on FreeVee that you can stream for free, right now.
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Children of Men (2006)
Set in a dystopian future where the fertility rate has dropped to zero, Alfonso Cuaron's Oscar-nominated Children of Men explores the power of faith and hope, in a world that has completely lost both. As society breaks down, the British government has turned to viciously persecuting refugees to distract the population from their looming disaster - making Children of Men a film that has not lost its critical edge in the 16 years since its release.
At release the film was recognised for its achievements in screenwriting, cinematography and artistic direction, with Clive Owen's portrayal of the depressed bureaucrat protagonist Theo on his path to redemption also receiving critical praise. Critics graded Cuaron's 2006 dystopia as "fresh" on Rotten Tomatoes, with a critically-acclaimed 92 per cent approval rating.
You couldn't put it better than online reviewer Garrett, who said : "Children of Men's grounded and completely fleshed out backdrop sets this unique dystopian future apart from the herd from the get-go and never lets up.
"The evocation of the human spirit is palpable without an ounce of cheesiness. A brilliant and memorable experience."
Dope (2015)
The story of an over-achieving student with a passion for 90s hip hop who gets embroiled in a dark web drug-selling scheme, with standout performances from the young lead Shameik Moore and modern hip hop star ASAP Rocky, this film is a FreeVee must-watch.
Despite having all the hallmarks of the tired teen drama genre, Dope's real-world insight and well-written characters draw the plot into a tension-ridden whodunnit with a great deal to say about race, drugs, and the modern condition - with plenty of old-school hip hop beats along the way.
All of the film's drug-running and gangster hi-jinx take place within the frame of Moore's character trying to escape his poor neighbourhood by getting into Harvard, but being drawn ever-back to the activities of the area he calls home. At one point, poignantly declaring: "So, why do I want to attend Harvard? If I was white, would you even have to ask me that question?"
While Dope flew under a lot of people's radar, on release The Guardian gave the film a 5/5 and called the film "revolutionary", while online review site Rotten Tomatoes certified the film as "fresh" - with an 88 per cent approval rating.
Donnie Darko (2001)
The cult hit that both launched the career of Jake Gyllenhaal and Tears for Fears' cover of Mad World to number one, Donnie Darko follows the disturbed titular character as his mental health deteriorates, after a jet engine falls out of the sky onto his house.
Establishing the film's fever dream like qualities, Gyllenhaal's character survives because he was sleepwalking in a local golf course. As he deteriorates, Donnie begins to hallucinate and follow the dark instructions of strange rabbit-like figure.
Equal parts shocking and thoughtful, Donnie Darko's eerie stylistic performances and cinematography are often compared to other cult hits like Twin Peaks and American Beauty.
This 2001 film is considered a critics' favourite, with an 86 per cent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and frequent re-reviews by nostalgic critics.
If you want to understand this film's lasting cult status, this is what a five-star review lauds Donnie Darko for: "Weird and even nonsense, but loveable. Shocking soundtrack too."
