There are numerous options in downloading and/or watching movies online. First off, like music downloading, downloading movies online usually meant doing something illegal. Currently, there are numerous places to download or watch movies online. The illegal choices are still available, remember, but the legal movie sites are picking up steam. This information will concentrate on the legal websites to watch and/or download movies.

There are a variety of options around. Each site offers their own pricing model, selection, movie formats, and user experience.

You can find 2 main pricing models that the internet movie download sites use – monthly subscriptions and per download pricing.

Sites which provide monthly subscriptions give unlimited downloads, for a flat monthly cost. CinemaNow, Netflix, and Vongo operate under investigate this site model.

Another major pricing model, per download pricing, is precisely what it sounds like. There will be a fee for each movie download. Amazon Unbox and iTunes operate this way.

Unless you are not planning on watching very many movies in a month, the flat monthly fee will be the way to go. Additionally, there are some movies that can be accessible for free from each of the services and various free trials are available to try them out.

The selection varies from service to service. New releases are hit or miss. Movies appear to be available on DVD and for rental just before being readily available for download. CinemaNow seems to get the films more quickly than the others. iTunes selection will be the most limited of the key services.

The predominant file format for the download services is Windows Media Video files (.WMV). iTunes will be the obvious exception, which offers files as MPEG-4s.

Each service requires you to download their software in order to download and watch movies. Each interface will be different, but its really a matter of personal preference. Vongo and CinemaNow each have good interfaces.