The popular movie-review website Rotten Tomatoes has released their pick of the 100 best movies to watch online for free, and they are all available on streaming services found on Roku. All of the Rotten Tomato recommendations can be streamed through Crackle, IMDB TV (available on Roku in the Prime Video app), Tubi, Vudu, and/or YouTube.
Rotten Tomatoes is a film and television review-aggregation website that was launched in 1998 by a group of University of California, Berkeley, students and has since grown into one of the top 500 most-visited websites in the U.S. as ranked by Alexa. Currently owned by Flixster, which is now part of Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes collects online reviews from writers who are certified members of various writing guilds or film critic-associations and calculates the percentage of positive reviews [1]. A film is considered "fresh" if 60% or more of the reviews are positive.
Below are Rotten Tomatoes' ten highest-rated movies available for free on Roku. The "Where to Stream" links take you that movie on each streaming service's website, but you can use your Roku's search function or go directly to the streaming services' Roku apps to find the titles on Roku. Some movies are available for free on other services like Pluto TV and The Roku Channel.
The Last Picture Show (1971) | |
Critics Consensus: Making excellent use of its period and setting, Peter Bogdanovich’s small town coming-of-age story is a sad but moving classic filled with impressive performances. Where to Stream: Crackle |
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Nas: Time Is Illmatic (2014) | |
Critics Consensus: Comprehensive yet brisk, Nas: Time Is Illmatic offers an absorbing look at a hip-hop classic and the life of the artist who made it. |
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Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015) | |
Critics Consensus: Warm, funny, and brilliantly animated, Shaun the Sheep is yet another stop-motion jewel in Aardman’s family-friendly crown. Where to Stream: Tubi |
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The Conversation (1974) | |
Critics Consensus: This tense, paranoid thriller presents Francis Ford Coppola at his finest — and makes some remarkably advanced arguments about technology’s role in society that still resonate today. Where to Stream: Crackle |
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Dr. Strangelove Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) | |
Critics Consensus: Stanley Kubrick’s brilliant Cold War satire remains as funny and razor-sharp today as it was in 1964. Where to Stream: Crackle |
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Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) | |
Critics Consensus: One of the best political allegories of the 1950s, Invasion of the Body Snatchers is an efficient, chilling blend of sci-fi and horror. Where to Stream: Crackle |
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It Happened One Night (1934) - Freshness - 98% | |
Critics Consensus: Capturing its stars and director at their finest, It Happened One Night remains unsurpassed by the countless romantic comedies it has inspired. Where to Stream: Crackle |
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Lawrence of Arabia (1962) | |
Critics Consensus: The epic of all epics, Lawrence of Arabia cements director David Lean’s status in the filmmaking pantheon with nearly four hours of grand scope, brilliant performances, and beautiful cinematography. Where to Stream: Crackle |
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On the Waterfront (1954) | |
Critics Consensus: With his electrifying performance in Elia Kazan’s thought-provoking, expertly constructed melodrama, Marlon Brando redefined the possibilities of acting for film and helped permanently alter the cinematic landscape. Where to Stream: Crackle | |
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) | |
Critics Consensus: A landmark Sergio Leone spaghetti western masterpiece featuring a classic Morricone score. Where to Stream: Crackle |
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The full list of all 100 fresh movies is available on RottenTomatoes.com
