Best Movies on Tubi to Watch Right Now

Though free-to-use streamers have a stigma of low quality attached to them, this idea couldn’t be any farther from the truth. Tubi in particular has built up a significant repertoire of quality films from all corners of the globe, spanning film’s brief but expansive history. Everything from classic films from the silent era to more recent blockbusters are all here for you to enjoy. But, seeing as how Tubi’s library is composed of hundreds upon hundreds of unique titles, where should you start?

We’ve found it useful to narrow down Tubi’s collection into a much more digestible format. Here are our picks for a few of the best movies you can stream on Tubi right now. You’ll be surprised at what this free streaming service has to offer.

Updated on Jan. 30th, 2024, by Soniya Hinduja: This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.

14 Knives Out (2019)

An outstanding murder mystery written and directed by Rian Johnson, Knives Out centers around an acclaimed crime novelist Harlan Thrombey, who is found dead in his mansion right after his 85th birthday. Famed private detective Benoit Blanc is mysteriously hired to investigate the case. While the police wave it off as suicide, Blanc refuses to believe it. The more he mingles with the sprawling and dysfunctional Thrombey family, the more suspicious he grows. From entitled heirs to unassuming household servants, each member of the family is as absurd as they are clever, but eventually, Blanc manages to sniff out the killer.

A Pitch Perfect Murder Mystery

Knives Out is filled with razor-sharp humor, red herrings, and unbelievable plot twists. Which is basically what makes a whodunit interesting and rewatchable. With the movie, Johnson pays homage to classic genre tropes and Agatha Christie. As new clues and missed details come to the surface through the precise deductions made by Daniel Craig’s suave and charming detective, the film becomes more and more delicious and entertaining. Plus, it satirizes the rich and privileged — the perfect cherry on top.

13 The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)

Barry Keoghan may be rising to fame now with Saltburn, but the actor has showcased his versatility and range in films before. The Killing of a Sacred Deer sees him as an awkward and mysterious teen. He is paired with Colin Ferrell’s Steven Murphy, a cardiothoracic surgeon who takes Martin out to dinner one evening, following which the latter inserts himself into his home and family and states that “something terrible will happen” to the Murphy family. As members of the family experience increasingly disturbing circumstances, Steven discovers that Martin holds mysteries beyond his comprehension.

Classic Lanthimos Weirdness

Director Yorgos Lanthimos’ deeply unsettling psychological thriller, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, fakes its sincere and serene domesticity like no other. The movie is not only a horror but also a close inspection of a dysfunctional brood shaken to the core by an outsider, who exposes the cold secrets behind their hidden facades. Farrell and Keoghan are accompanied by Nicole Kidman and the trio delivers profoundly unnerving performances as the terrifying twists and turns engulf them and the whole audience.

12 Suspiria (1977)

Few horror movies are so visually arresting that you forget you’re watching its events play out from the other side of the screen. Suspiria is an Italian supernatural horror that follows Suzy, an American ballet dancer who is accepted into a prestigious dance academy in Germany. The night she arrives at her destination, there is a storm encasing the academy walls. She watches a fellow student being chased by something and dying in gruesome ways. Suzy soon realizes that the academy harbors sinister secrets.

A Visually Stunning Horror Classic

Even though there have been remakes and sequels, the original Suspiria stands the test of time as a hypnotic masterpiece. Under the direction of Dario Argento, the movie conjures up a dreamscape that is filled with sinister forces and graphic deaths. The movie is also lauded for being insanely entertaining regardless of its nightmarish scenes, terrifying music, and unexpected jump scares. Suspiria stars Jessica Harper in the lead role, and her beauty and appeal draw us into the narrative and leave a lasting imprint. Even decades later, the film’s visceral visuals remain unparalleled.

11 The Apartment (1960)

Billy Wilder’s iconic romantic comedy from the ‘60s is still as timeless as ever. It centers around C.C. “Bud” Baxter, a clerk who lends his apartment to slick-talking executives to use for their extramarital affairs with hopes that being on good terms will advance his career at the insurance firm. However, when he falls for the elevator operator and discovers that she’s also the mistress of his boss, complications arise. Lastly, Bud is forced to choose between ambition and love.

A Delightful Old Hollywood Rom-Com

With The Apartment, Wilder created one of cinema’s most memorable romantic dramas. His Midas touch on the script and the direction, which is all about the corporate drudgery and the longing to escape the hellhole of minimum wage jobs regardless of how soulless it is to climb the ladder of ambition, is laced with as much pathos as with humor. The cast – Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, and more – brighten the premises with their wit and relatability. Every frame pulses with the 9-to-5 work scenario we’re all well aware of, and the movie finds its gleeful and tender moments.

10 Requiem for a Dream (2000)

This unforgettable psychological drama directed by Darren Aronofsky chronicles four lives of individuals in a sweltering summer in Brooklyn as they fall prey to heroin and its inescapable pull. Sara Goldfarb is a widow obsessed with losing weight so she gets addicted to pills. Her son Harry, also an addict, drifts away from college and his habits are supported by his girlfriend and her ex-boyfriend. As the four fall deeper into the world of delusion and paranoia, their days spiral into extremes that only appear harrowing on camera.

A Grimy and Tragic Tale od Addiction

Starring Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, and Marlon Wayans, Requiem of a Dream is an adaptation of Hubert Selby Jr.’s 1978 novel of the same name. Much like its source material, the film taps raw nerves of not just drugs or addiction in general, but an individual soul’s disintegration and descent into loneliness when they chase their dreams too hard. Visually poetic and with a haunting score composed by Clint Mansell, the movie is a mirror that reflects society’s grim corners.

9 Mandy (2018)

Mandy made for a nice change of pace for Nicolas Cage’s direct-to-video era. Like the others, it had a low budget and wasn’t tailored for a large audience, but in the case of Mandy, that’s less because it’s poorly written and shot and more because it’s a unique adventure that could prove to be an acquired taste for some. The plot follows Red, a man whose girlfriend is kidnapped by a cult, only to reject the cult leader’s advances and get killed. Now, bloodied and bruised by the cult, Red goes out to get his revenge.

A Wacky and Dramatic Revenge Flick

For those who can get on the movie’s wavelength, it’s an absolute blast. Not to mention, it’s Cage’s best performance in years, with him diving into the unhinged thing in a way that doesn’t distract from the progression of the narrative or the believability of the characters.

8 12 Angry Men (1957)

12 Angry Men is a searing legal drama directed by the legendary Sidney Lumet. It centers around a stifling jury room, which kind of transforms into a theater of debate when a teenager is accused of murdering his father. What starts as an open-and-shut case soon begins to crack the conscience of the jury members as they question their morals and prejudices. While one juror rallies they reexamine the case to learn the truth, he appears not alone but united.

A Classic for a Reason

The entire film is shot in a courtroom in New York City, which creates a claustrophobic setting. What could have just been a dull movie about people talking in rooms is instead dramatic and electric. Paired with human caveats and powerful performances, the movie’s message about judgment and the consideration of faces remains as crisp today as it did 65 years ago.

7 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

The movie that altered the course for independent cinema, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre begins with five unsuspecting teens driving to an isolated house for a night of chill and calm. But when they run out of gas on their way to Sally and Franklin’s grandfather’s, the teens decide to stumble on foot to the location, not knowing that they are about to become a butcher’s next cut of meat.

A Gruesome and Influential Horror Story

Directed by Tobe Hooper, the movie becomes a bloody, disgusting, and vivid symphony that forever changed the horror genre for devoted fans. It not only makes us terrified of Leatherface, the chainsaw-wielding killer but also leaves us transfixed by his sheer and bone-chilling violence. Rarely do low-budget horror films achieve cult status, but this one sure deserves a spot as the scariest movies ever made.

6 Threads (1984)

Threads is not your typical horror film. Focusing on the threat of nuclear war, this made-for-television film frames itself as a documentary, focusing on the many different people living in the city of Sheffield. When an escalating conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union quickly turns into a nuclear exchange, Sheffield finds itself caught in the crossfire when the city is bombarded with nuclear radiation. Now on the brink of a nuclear winter, how will those in Sheffield survive?

Horrifyingly Close to Home

Aside from being one of the most bleak horror films ever made, Threads also works as a terrifying example of what a real nuclear war would look like. By presenting itself as a documentary, personal narratives are eschewed in favor of showcasing every little terrifying scenario that the bombs could result in. In doing this, Threads serves as one of the most effective anti-war films in history, showing us exactly what will happen when mutually assured destruction is an inevitability.

5 Train to Busan (2016)

Zombie Horrors are always fun to watch, and while there have been several realistic and unrealistic portrayals of the undead in cinema over decades, this South Korean thriller beats them all with its heart-rending storytelling and fantastic gore. Train to Busan begins with a workaholic father, Seok-woo, taking his daughter to Busan on her birthday, so they can spend the day with her mother.

A Modern Zombie Classic

But while they board a train, Seoul has been overrun by zombies that emerged out of a viral outbreak. When one infected man gets on the train, pure chaos ensues as the passengers scramble for survival. Director Yeon Sang-ho crafts a heart-in-mouth thriller where even strangers join together and fight the living dead. Gong Yoo is also incredible as a father who prioritizes rescuing his daughter.

4 Metropolis (1927)

1927’s Metropolis is one of the most influential science fiction films ever. Directed by Fritz Lang, Metropolis depicts a futuristic dystopia where a pair of people from opposing social classes attempt to bridge the widening gap between the titular city’s rich and poor. It was revolutionary for being one of the first feature-length science-fiction films ever made, with its elaborate set designs, extravagant costumes, and inspired story influencing the genre for decades afterward.

Sci-Fi History at Your Fingertips

Despite being developed during the silent film era, Metropolis is still a sight to behold. Though the original full-length cut of the film has been lost to time, almost half a dozen official attempts to remaster the footage have been circulating ever since the 1970s. Of course, if you want to experience Metropolis for the first time, you can also do it completely for free on Tubi.

3 At Eternity’s Gate (2018)

Have you ever thought that Willem Dafoe looks like Vincent van Gogh? Someone else has, leading to his casting in the 2018 biographical film At Eternity’s Gate. We follow van Gogh in his later years, with the weight of an emotionally fraught life still resting heavily on his shoulders. As he continues to paint his last recorded works, he attempts to find what little solace he can before his untimely passing.

The Role of Van Gogh Was Made for Dafoe

Most of At Eternity’s Gate’s praise is aimed squarely at Willem Dafoe’s unique performance, as his depiction of this tortured artist is one to behold. Combined with some stellar cinematography filmed on-location in France, this gripping drama will show you a side of this impressionist painter that you’ve never seen before.

2 In the Heat of the Night (1967)

In the Heat of the Night was originally released in 1967, and it’s easily one of the best mystery films from that decade. Sidney Poitier stars as Philadelphia homicide detective Virgil Tibbs, a man whose involvement in a Mississippi murder case starts with him being mistaken as the culprit. Despite this blunder, Tibbs is eventually convinced to assist with the investigation. Even with reluctant police chief Bill Gillespie (Rod Steiger) at his side, Tibbs will have to overcome a wave of resentment from the local townsfolk to solve the case.

Tense and Tightly Wound

In the Heat of the Night saw significant praise from numerous critics, with renowned filmmaker Akira Kurosawa citing it as one of his favorite films. Its themes of racial unity give its characters some real depth and complexity. Combine that with a thrilling mystery, and you have what is considered to be one of the best dramas of the 1960s.

1 Ghost World (2001)

2001’s Ghost World walked so that Scott Pilgrim vs. the World could run. Thora Birch and Scarlett Johansson co-star in this comedic adaptation of the titular comic series, playing a pair of teenage outsiders growing apart after a romantic interest starts to divide their attention. That romantic interest just so happens to be Seymour, who is played by Steve Buscemi. Though it wasn’t a huge hit at the box office, it succeeded in bringing Daniel Clowes’ brilliant comic series to life on the big screen, cementing itself as a cult-classic comedy for years to come.

Essential Viewing from the Coming-of-Age Genre

Though it’s billed as a comedy, Ghost World does introduce some darker elements throughout its brief runtime. Its ambiguous ending has seen several morbid interpretations since its release. The movie examines the nature of friendship through a teenager’s mindset, and it gives each of our main characters a surprising amount of depth despite their caustic first impressions. It’s a brilliant film that deserves your attention.