10 Incredible Movies You Can Watch For Free With Your Library Card
Kanopy lets you stream award winning movies, documentaries, and classics for free with a library card. Here are 10 must watch films available now.
If you are not using Kanopy yet, you are missing out on one of the best streaming libraries available today. Kanopy partners with public libraries and universities to give cardholders free access to a deep catalog of acclaimed films, documentaries, and international cinema. There are no ads, no subscription fees, and no hidden catches. All you need is a valid library card or university login.
Recently Kanopy announced its list of most watched movies and TV shows of 2025, giving viewers a look at what’s been resonating most with audiences this year.
Here are ten incredible movies from those lists that you can stream right now for free on Kanopy. And don’t forget to check out their entire catalog for even more!
1. Anatomy of a Fall (2023)
Synopsis:
After a man is found dead outside a remote mountain home, his wife becomes the prime suspect. What follows is a tense courtroom drama that slowly peels back the layers of a complicated marriage.
Why Watch:
This is a smart, gripping film that thrives on ambiguity. It trusts the audience to sit with uncertainty rather than handing out easy answers, making it one of the most compelling dramas of the decade so far.
2. Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
Synopsis:
A socially awkward businessman struggles with anger, loneliness, and unexpected romance when he meets a woman who challenges his carefully controlled world.
Why Watch:
Adam Sandler delivers one of his best performances here, and Paul Thomas Anderson turns a strange love story into something deeply emotional and visually inventive.
3. Spotlight (2015)
Synopsis:
Based on true events, a team of investigative journalists at The Boston Globe uncovers widespread abuse within the Catholic Church and the systemic efforts to conceal it.
Why Watch:
This is journalism as suspense filmmaking. It is grounded, methodical, and powerful, showing how persistence and truth can challenge institutions that rely on silence.
4. Joan Baez: I Am Noise (2023)
Synopsis:
This documentary explores the life, activism, and inner world of folk music icon Joan Baez, drawing from personal recordings, journals, and archival footage.
Why Watch:
Rather than a standard career retrospective, this film feels intimate and reflective. It captures the emotional cost of being a public voice during times of political and cultural upheaval.
5. Lynch/Oz (2022)
Synopsis:
A series of essays examines how The Wizard of Oz shaped David Lynch’s films, themes, and surreal storytelling approach.
Why Watch:
This is a great tribute to the visionary filmmakers we lost this year and a fascinating look at Lynch’s cinematic influences. It blends appreciation with insight, making it especially rewarding for cinephiles.
6. Possession (1981)
Synopsis:
A couple’s marriage disintegrates in Cold War era Berlin, spiraling into psychological horror and disturbing imagery.
Why Watch:
This is not an easy film, but it is unforgettable. It blends raw emotional performance with genre elements in a way that still feels shocking and original decades later.
7. Parasite (2019)
Synopsis:
A struggling family slowly infiltrates the household of a wealthy couple, setting off a chain of events that turns dark and unpredictable.
Why Watch:
This film won Best Picture at the Academy Awards and stands as a masterclass in social satire and suspense. Bong Joon-ho’s storytelling balances humor, tension, and sharp social critique in a way that continues to influence cinema.
8. Perfect Days (2023)
Synopsis:
A quiet Tokyo toilet cleaner lives a simple, structured life, finding meaning in routine, music, and small moments of beauty.
Why Watch:
This film is meditative and deeply human. It reminds you that fulfillment does not always come from ambition or change, but from presence and appreciation.
9. The Worst Person in the World (2021)
Synopsis:
Over several years, a young woman navigates relationships, career choices, and the fear of choosing the wrong path in life.
Why Watch:
Honest, funny, and emotionally sharp, this film captures modern adulthood with rare clarity. It feels personal without being self indulgent.
10. Anora (2024)
Synopsis:
A Brooklyn sex worker impulsively marries the son of a Russian oligarch, triggering a chaotic collision between fantasy and reality.
Why Watch:
Anora won Best Picture at the Oscars, joining Parasite as a best picture winner that has reached widespread acclaim. Its blend of heart, humor, and social observation makes it one of the standout films of the year.
Kanopy’s most watched films of 2025 highlight what makes the service special. It is a place where international cinema, award winners, documentaries, and classics all coexist without a paywall or non-stop ads. If you have a library card, you already have access to one of the best streaming collections available.
That is a great list of films! All are worth checking out.