So… are the free movies on YouTube actually good?

Everybody loves free things, especially if they were once expensive. Free movies are one of them. Luckily for us, YouTube has many free films which are available to all users. But what’s the quality of these movies, and are they even worth your time? 

To have a holistic rating, several factors will be considered, including its comedic value, its realistic nature (depending on the film), its ability to make an emotional connection with its audience, and most importantly, if it’s enjoyable to watch.

Legally Blonde (Comedy): 8/10 

Poster for Legally Blonde

Photo: Movie poster for "Legally Blonde." Photo courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.

Movie poster for "Legally Blonde." Photo courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.

“Legally Blonde,” which was released in 2001, is a nostalgic movie that successfully makes an audience laugh while delivering the strong message that anything is possible as long as you put your mind to it. Although unrealistic, the movie depicts the comedic journey of Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) as she is dumped by her boyfriend, Warner (Matthew Davis), and realizes that she isn’t defined by his expectations through her enrollment at Harvard Law School. 

I love this movie because it transcends the stereotypes of sororities and nerds, emphasizing the fact that many social boundaries put into place can be overcome through hard work. Reese Witherspoon is a perfect fit for this movie, blending into the stereotypical “dumb blonde” but also being able to portray how determined Elle is in Harvard Law, making a reasonable timeline that flows smoothly. 

In addition, Elle’s conversations with Paulette Bonafonté (Jennifer Coolidge) are hilarious and heartwarming, adding a personal touch to the story as we find out about Paulette’s dog and her recently divorced husband. Many of the funniest scenes in “Legally Blonde” involve interactions between Elle and Paulette, and Paulette’s relationship with the delivery man is a satisfying ending for many. 

All in all, this movie is definitely a fun watch and includes a lot of hilarious moments. If you’re looking to laugh, or even some inspiration from Elle, definitely give this movie a try!

Wonder: 8/10 

“Wonder” is one of the more recent movies that are featured in YouTube’s free movie archive, as it was released in 2017 after the success of R.J. Palacio’s book. The movie depicts the journey of August “Auggie” Pullman (Jacob Tremblay) through middle school as he navigates the social structures and biases of middle schoolers. His medical condition makes his appearance much more unique, leading him to have difficulties fitting in and trouble adjusting to middle school.

The movie itself is pretty good and follows a lot of the book’s plot line. The movie portrayed big moments through its lighting and angles, especially during the high school play, in which Auggie’s sister Olivia stars in after a last-minute substitution. The intricate decisions made by the director allow the audience to understand what the characters are going through. 

However, I felt like the movie was missing something from the book. In particular, Miranda’s (Danielle Rose Russell) backstory in the book, as well as her complicated friendship between Olivia (who Miranda became distant with during high school after she dyed her hair), made me realize the importance of Miranda’s character. Miranda’s self-comparison with Olivia is not as emphasized as it was in the book, and doesn’t explain her decisions throughout the course of the film as well. I would’ve like more clarification on this relationship, as I feel like Miranda’s character is often overshadowed by Auggie’s story. 

The movie does a great job of discussing the intricate and complex relationships between family members and friends, as well as the internal biases that every human has. Specifically, I loved the conversations between Jack (Noah Jupe), who reluctantly became friends with Auggie because of his mother, and Auggie at the start of the movie, especially compared to the other conversations that Auggie has with his other classmates. Jack, through his conversations with Auggie, is finally able to understand that Auggie was a normal kid with a unique appearance, and it was really heartwarming to see. Auggie can show his personality and be a regular middle schooler with Jack, as opposed to being outcasted by the other students simply due to his appearance. 

“Wonder” is a touching movie, especially for younger audiences still in school. For older audiences, Wonder gives a nostalgic factor as they reminisce about their experiences in social settings during their middle and high-school years. It’s definitely a movie (and a book) that families should consider watching! 

Trump: The Art Of The Insult: 6.5/10 

One relatively unknown part of the YouTube free movies archive is their documentary section. Documentaries are quite diverse, and some of them are even quite humorous. “Trump: The Art Of The Insult,” which was released in 2018, is a newly-added 96-minute compilation of the funniest and most entertaining moments of past and current president Donald Trump. 

The documentary is truly one-of-its-kind, as there is no commentary, and instead, it is simply filled with clips of Donald Trump making commentary throughout his political campaign. It’s quite hilarious, given that this compilation was created in 2018, which is before a lot of controversial events centered around Trump occurred. The director, Joel Gilbert, is extremely successful at demonstrating Trump’s political success using his method of communication.  

When I first started watching this documentary, I was quite confused as to where it started, and how each clip tied into another. I would have liked to have some context for each clip, describing the situations. However, the compilation is a fun laugh and gives some insight into our future president. Depending on what you’re planning to get from this documentary, this could be a complete hit or a complete miss. I would give it a 6.5/10.

Coneheads: 5/10 

There are also some very absurd and slightly campy movies in the Youtube free movies archive. “Coneheads” is a 1993 movie, based on a Saturday Night Live television show sketch. Eli Turnbull (David Spade), an Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) agent, investigates the main family for illegal immigration in an attempt to gain a promotion. You will either love or hate “Coneheads,” depending on how funny you think nonsensical things are. 

The plot itself is quite lackluster. I wished that there was more depth and complexity to the story, and it seemed that the film needed more time to explain some main plot points. For example, there were several instances in which there is a time jump, and the film needed more time to explain the social pressures that Connie Conehead, the child of Beldar (Dan Aykroyd) and Prymatt Conehead (Jane Curtin), had to go through as a person who had two completely contrasting cultures. The dating scenes between Connie Conehead and Ronnie (Bill Murray) didn’t really amount to anything, and the parental pressure from Connie's parents felt like the directors were trying to check off a box. 

Nonetheless, I really did like the way they portrayed the immigration topic, which is still an important debate today. The movie offers a new perspective of immigrants, and the usage of cone-shaped heads, as well as the family's odd behaviors, emphasizes how they didn’t quite fit in. However, the majority of people they encountered often accepted their differences, except for the employees of the INS. It’s quite interesting to see the difference between those that actually attempted to understand the family in contrast to those that vilified them. The film is extremely relevant to today’s discussion, and highlights the responsibility of native-born citizens to realize the stories that immigrants have and attempt to understand them.

So… How are free YouTube movies? 

With the low cost of $0, there are definitely iconic and entertaining movies that you can watch from YouTube. YouTube also changes up some of the movies from their archives over time, so users will always have something to watch. Many of the movies are enjoyable, and I would recommend you take some time out of your day to watch some! 

It is important to note that some movies in this article may not be available on YouTube for free right now, as YouTube rotates its archive from time to time. Don’t be sad that a particular movie isn’t on the platform, though, because YouTube will probably make the movie available again sometime in the future.