What Happened to SnagFilms?

SnagFilms was a website that offered thousands of free films and even some free TV shows. Ted Leonsis launched the service in 2008, but it was shut down in 2020. Below is a bit more information on what SnagFilms used to offer and why they shut down the site.

If you're looking for an alternative, you have loads of options. See our Best Places to Watch Free Movies Online list for some sites that are like Snagfilms, or jump down to the bottom of this page for specific examples.

What Was SnagFilms?

SnagFilms let you stream movies and TV shows directly from their site. It was all ad-supported, so there wasn't a premium account you needed to stream the titles, nor did you have to rent anything.

You could browse through genres like Award-Winning, Crime, Documentary, Animation, Biography, Comedy, Sports, Kids & Family, Politics, Thrillers, etc. There were also collections of movies—like Before They Were Stars, Athletes & Their Triumphs, History Lessons, and Youth & Education—so that you could find films that followed a similar theme.

SnagFilms was able to offer free documentaries through its partners, which included PBS, National Geographic, and filmmaker submissions.

Why Did SnagFilms Shut Down?

Most companies shut down due to lack of funds, and that seems to be the case with SnagFilms.

In April 2020, the company removed all the pages from their website, and the company's CEO left a simple explanation:

It has always been a difficult business proposition, and with the current economic crisis, an impossible one for us to continue. With deep regret, we have shut down the SnagFilms service, and by the end of May will be wrapping up our relationships with the filmmakers, production companies and other content owners we have been honored to serve for more than a decade.

Are SnagFilms' Movies Still Available?

Sometimes, when a movie website shuts down, you can still find its films elsewhere. This is not the case for SnagFilms. While there is a SnagFilms YouTube channel, it no longer has any movies.

SnagFilms Alternatives

There are several free movie sites that you can use instead of SnagFilms. Many are like it in that they have high-quality films and are accessible through a website, mobile movie app, streaming devices like Roku, smart TVs, etc.

Crackle is one example. There are similar genres for drama movies and comedies, and the site frequently adds new content. Here's more on Crackle for all the details.

Some other SnagFilms alternatives we recommend are Fandango at Home, Tubi, and Freevee.

If you enjoyed watching SnagFilms on YouTube, you'll be pleased to know you can still watch free movies on YouTube (totally legally).