29 free movies hit Plex in May — here are the best ones

A phone with the Plex logo in front of an out-of-focus background of movie posters
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

The free movies catalogue on Plex is one of the service's best features we don't talk about enough. While Plex gained notoriety by offering users the ability to create media servers, its own collection of ad-supported movies and TV shows is a big reason to boot up every so often and poke around.

And, now, we've got a great set of reasons to set a reminder for May 1, as Plex will gain 27 more free movies on that day (with two more coming later in the month). Unsurprisingly, some of these films aren't the strongest offerings, but the good news is that this list is actually stacked with critically-beloved flicks.

This is partially due to what appears to be a deal made with Plex and independent powerhouse A24. The best films from the distributor and production company hitting Plex in the coming weeks include Zola, Moonlight  (which will only be available for 11 days), The Farewell and C'mon C'mon. 

My personal favorite from the list (also an A24 movie) is Minari, which stars Steven Yeun (Beef, The Walking Dead) as Jacob, a father and husband who moved his Korean American family to Arkansas in search of success. It's an incredibly touching movie about the difficulties that families face when not everyone is sure that the overall plan for their future is strong.

Another A24 movie that you might love is the perplexing and peculiar The Green Knight. While it's definitely not for everyone, this adaptation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is hypnotic and ethereal. 

The full list below is enough reason for us to consider adding Plex to our list of the best free streaming services. Much like Pluto TV and The Roku Channel, Plex offers up tons of movies, TV shows and linear channels for you to watch without paying.

Here's the full list of free movies added to Plex in May (and movies that are leaving this month):

Every new free movie coming to Plex in May 2023

Bolded entries are Tom's Guide picks

  • After Yang
  • Arbitrage
  • Arrival
  • C'mon C'mon
  • Cube
  • Cube 2
  • Dedication
  • Filth (starts 5/5)
  • Gloria Bell
  • Meet the Spartans
  • Minari
  • Moonlight (starts 5/21 - ends 5/31)
  • Mr. Church
  • One For The Money
  • Open Water
  • Rhapsody Of Love
  • Romeo And Juliet (the 2013 version, not the 1996 version from Baz Luhrmann)
  • Stir Of Echoes
  • The Big Wedding
  • The Blackcoat's Daughter (starts 5/18 - ends 5/31)
  • The Farewell
  • The Green Knight
  • The Humans
  • The Last Black Man In San Francisco
  • The Perks Of Being A Wallflower
  • The Power Of One
  • The Reader
  • We Summon The Darkness
  • Zola

Movies leaving Plex in May

  • The Cookout
  • Empire Records
  • House Of The Rising Sun
  • The King Of Comedy
  • Man on Fire (1987)
  • Man Up
  • Meatballs
  • Sommersby
  • Stonewall
  • Waves
  • Wrong Turn

How to watch Plex online

Plex, which has apps for nearly every single kind of device, also makes its free ad-supported movies available on its website

That said, Plex has apps on most of the best streaming devices. Those include Amazon Fire TV devices and Roku devices. It's also on Apple TV, iOS and Android.

More from Tom's Guide

Henry T. Casey
Managing Editor (Entertainment, Streaming)

Henry is a managing editor at Tom’s Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past seven years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.