More people are ditching cable and turning to streaming websites. 123Movies (new name now is GoMovies and GoStream) is one of the most popular sites, due to its vast selection of titles.
You can find movies that were recently in theaters. However, these streaming sites require caution, as many of them are illegal and may infect your computer with malware.
The following 123Movies and GoStream.site review should help answer any questions that you have about this streaming site.
Update – GoStream.site Review:
123Movies changed name to GoMovies and their latest domain name online is GoStream.site. Some other domain names you can find online for this website is Gomovies123, 123movies4u, movies123.email etc.
Although on the surface GoStream.site looks ok, you must know that almost all streaming sites online that allow you to watch films for free are NOT LEGAL.
That’s why 123Movies has been hunted down by authorities and has been forced to change hosting providers and names so many times.
If you ask my opinion, I wouldn’t risk it by watching movies from such websites. Although in my opinion you as the end-user might get away with getting sued, the biggest risk is to get infected with malware, virus, ransomware etc.
Also, people have reported that they sometimes get pop-up messages to enter their credit card information etc, which means someone is trying to steal your financial information or personal data.
The rest of the article discusses the original 123Movies website and all the information below applies to the newer Gostream site as well.
Read till the end of this page to find out about the best alternatives to 123Movies / Gostream that are safe and legal to watch TV and films.
What is 123Movies?
To put it simply, 123Movies is a video streaming site that allows users to stream pirated movies. There are hundreds of similar sites out there.
In fact, 123Movies is part of a network of dozens of clone websites. Currently their domain is 123movies.la but that is likely to change as well.
123Movies and other streaming sites provide visitors with a large catalog of titles, including new releases. You do not need to login or create an account. You simply click on the title that you want to watch and begin streaming on your computer or internet-connected device.
You can find most movies and television shows on 123Movies. Besides new blockbuster films that have just recently appeared in theaters, you can find titles from other popular streaming sites, such as Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu.
Due to the variety of content, 123Movies has become one of the most popular streaming sites. You can watch movies from the browser on your computer, tablet, or smartphone.
There is also a 123Movies app for Roku and Kodu devices. However, there are still a few details that you should consider before visiting the website or installing the app.
Is 123Movies Legal?
In most of the Western world, displaying content that was not obtained through the proper licenses is illegal.
However, 123Movies and similar streaming sites often operate in other parts of the world. They are often based out of countries that do not have strict anti-piracy or copyright laws.
123Movies also uses a solution that helps them circumvent the law in certain countries. Instead of hosting the pirated content on their website, they link to the pirated content. When you click on a movie, the content is streamed from a secure cyber locker or another online source.
There is no disputing the fact that 123Movies is not legal in the United States. They do not purchase licenses for the content that they offer on their websites, regardless of the fact that they do not host the content themselves.
Fortunately, there are still some legal and safe video streaming sites online nowadays (free as well) which you can still use. They might not have the latest popular movies and shows but at least will not get you into trouble (have a look at the end of this article for our recommended free streaming websites).
Is 123Movies Safe?
Is 123Movies safe for you to visit and stream movies? Simply put, NO. There are many reports from users that this site often distributes malware and viruses. This applies to both the website and the mobile app.
There are also many clone sites that look very much like 123Movies. These fake sites are created solely to distribute malware and should be avoided. The viruses and malware are typically sent to your computer through JavaScript contained on the website or via ads from the website.
If you do choose to visit the site, you should ensure that your device is protected with a quality anti-virus program and firewall.
Because these types of websites make money by displaying ads (usually low quality and untrusted ads), the risk to users comes from these ads as well.
There is a security threat called “malvertising” whereby hackers use ads to inject malicious code to visitors of websites.
This means that even if the owners of 123 Movies do not have an intention to harm their visitors, however the low trust ads displayed on the site from external parties can still harm users by infecting them with malware or even redirecting them to other malicious sites.
What Happened to the Original 123Movies.to Streaming Site?
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) worked with officials in Vietnam to shut down the original 123Movies. While the original website shut down, many other websites have since appeared.
It is hard to keep track of which of these sites is the official 123Movies. The official site often changes its domain name to remain active.
As these sites get taken down, new ones are instantly created to infect computers with viruses. The clone sites are just as illegal as the original site, and they are more likely to contain malware or viruses.
Should You Watch Movies on 123Movies?
123Movies has attracted millions of visitors over the years. This does not mean that the website is legal or safe. While 123Movies does not host the content themselves, the content that you find on this streaming website is illegally obtained.
There is also a major risk that your computer or device could become infected with a virus or malware after spending time on 123Movies or any of the fake clone websites.
There are dozens of legal streaming sites that allow you to stream video for free or for a small monthly fee. These sites may not offer the same selection of titles as 123Movies, but they are legal and less likely to infect your computer with a virus.
What is 123movies Called Now?
Since 123movies was shut down because of several legal lawsuits, it was renamed to Gomovies (with new domains such as gomovies.to and gomovies.is. These domains were also shut down because, just like 123movies, they were offering streaming movies illegally.
Best Free Alternatives to 123 Movies
- SONY Crackle: One of the oldest and most trusted film sites. It supports watching movies on different devices such as your Android phone, Roku, Xbox, Playstation, iPhone etc. The site gets most of their movies from Sony Pictures.
- Popcornflix: Another free and popular site. Some of the movies are older and non-popular but there are some pretty good film options which are ad-supported. If you don’t mind seeing a few ads, then Popcornflix is a great option (when watching regular TV you are fed with advertisements anyway!!). The site mostly gets their films from Screen Media Ventures.
- Yidio: Another free and legal site which is supported by advertisements. You can find full episodes, full TV shows, complete series etc.
- Snagfilms: Another website supported by commercials. There are over 2000 movies and TV shows on this site.
- Tubi TV: This is available only in USA. It is considered as Netflix alternative, although it doesn’t have such a broad selection of film options. It is supported by commercials but it is completely free. You can access it through a browser, mobile apps, in Roku, Amazon fire TV etc.
- More Options Here.
Hah, my father uses this instead of a buying a monthly subscription to Netflix, all because it’s freeeeeeeeee……
Yeah I understand that watching movies for free is cool but please consider the legal implications and also the security risk you are running into (for your computer and data).
most of netflix stuff is shit. ofcourse people will use it, not everyone can afford subrscriptions to stuff like this or go to the movies everytime something good is out, or pay 30 bucks for a stupid dvd..
my commuter was trashed from this website!
Thanks for your comment. Yes, there is a huge risk to get infected with virus or ransomware from such illegal sites.
I watched on gostream for longer than a year and still I don’t have any malware or viruses I just sometimes get inappropriate adds but I just simply ignore it.
Thanks for your comment. Maybe you have a good antivirus then 🙂
This site used to be okay, but it is one giant Trojan virus now. Thank god i have excellent anti-virus now, and it won’t even let me open it. I highly recommend not using it, as it’s obvious the owner doesn’t even care, as it’s not difficult to force uploaded video’s to be scanned.
Yes I know, that’s why in this article I tried to warn people about these “free” websites which hide malware behind them.
I stupidly got a ransomeware from 123 movies just a few days ago and a friend of mine is helping me to clean up my laptop.
I am genuinely scared.
It was the first time I’ve ever gone to 123 movies.
The day that I “discovered” the site I also looked at it here on this phone so even though I don’t have any pop-ups coming up I am concerned that I might have gotten some malware or viruses here, as well, and simply don’t know about it.
I ran CCleaner and Malware bytes is running right now.
I’m trying to see if there is anything else I can or should do to ensure this phone’s safety.
Yes, I will stay clear of 123movies from now on as well as any of the other free movie sites.
It’s just not worth it.
Hi Mike,
I’m sorry to hear that you got ransomware from 123movies. That’s why I’ve written this article to warn people.
Malwarebytes is good for scanning your device. Also, have a look at bitdefender and avast as they are two of the best free antivirus software out there.
I don’t think you got ransomware on your phone though since this kind of malware usually attacks desktop computers instead of phones.
I’ve used free sites for almost three years, and I have never got a single problem. There have been a few ads but ignoring them is the best thing to do.
You must have a very good antivirus as well because many malware are served over advertisements nowadays.
Since installing a malware blocker, I’ve had no more ghastly tabs and windows popping up and freezing or crashing my laptop. Phone is well protected too after installing Blokada as it’s always updated. I’m not entirely against ads, because I whitelist various sites, but I do draw the line at over the top invasive and aggressive advertising.
Stunniing! I have found my correct anser> So, thanks to you.
The trouble with these movie sites with ads is lots of them are full of viruses. I use Streamflix(dot)pro because although you have to sign up for a free account they dont have any ads, and movies are fast too!
Good
The latest movie updates the quality is very _ good
very simple and fun to watch a movie with a fast and good quality,
this site presents the best films
Someone once told me that streaming the movie was legal, but uploading it was illegal.
This made me think that streaming the movies was legal, and that I couldn’t get into trouble doing it.
However after reading this article, I’m not so sure…
Could you clarify if it is illegal for me, the person watching, to stream pirate movies?
I got into streaming a while back but I don’t want to get into any trouble for it…. 🙁
The following is not legal advice but the main trouble is on the owner of the streaming service and not the actual viewers. This however depends on the country jurisdiction that you live in. In some countries it might be illegal for the viewers as well.
You don’t get viruses using android as much as using a computer these sites will never cease a bit like dominoes one goes down two goes so use on a tablet android rather than a pc to avoid viruses
does anyone know movies you can watch free movies?
Good
Thank You Very much for this online movie streaming website
If you don’t have a clue how to set up your pc you have no business on any of these sites point blank…
the free movies to stream online is not a bad deal. movies should be made free, yes of course the actors needs to be paid but why do the people have to pay hearty amount just to watch their favorite movie at home the DVD price is ridiculous and plus the newest movie does not come online in apps. All [] greedy people trying to rip common people. [] even if they are selling your information they do it we all know but what about the big companies breaching into every personell securities and selling it with having consent of yours by clicking the tick button to chow that you are not robot.
Free movie
I am from America, but I have been living abroad in Korea and China for eleven years. I started using free movie sites to binge watch mostly American TV series and movies. And it helps me to keep up to date with the culture and new words that are in use that weren’t around when I left to work abroad in 2008. I have been watching for about six years on sites like Putlockers, 123 Movies, Yes Movies, and there are a number more. I watched the entire Game of Thrones, Supernatural, Vikings, and most Marvel movies, just to name a few. Sometimes a little buffering time is needed, whereas Chinese sites that play western movies play instantly, but these free movie sites are invaluable to me, as they are the most convenient way to watch movies. And no one’s heard of Netflix over here. I never once got any virus or randsomware on my computer, however I did get randsomeware the first time I used my work laptop during lunch to watch a show. There weren’t any files of value, but all of them were ruined. I think the virus protection on it was minimal, if there was any at all. It wasn’t even using a licensed version of Windows. So while not 100% safe, my home computer never had any problems. I use an add blocker in Edge, and I don’t even get redirected to other sites anymore.
I actually like that it is the MPAA gets so worked up over these sites. They make obsene amounts of money off movies and soundtracks and then charge $20 for a DVD of a movie a person will probably watch once. And then you have cable companies charging high prices for cable service. If they charged more reasonable prices to consumers years after movies were released and profits made, I might care more about people infringing on their copyrights. A lot of people, living hand to mouth, couldn’t afford to see a movie at the box office or buy them when they were released. Netflix is a much more reasonably priced service from what I hear. I don’t know how the selection is. But I just don’t have any sympathy for the MPAA. If it is a moral issue to some people, I would say don’t watch it. For me, these sites are a Godsend.
I love 123 movie
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it is a really good app
beautiful site i like it
cant play movies here
So any website I visit can infect my computer with a malware of virus? If I’m not downloading anything or agreeing to anything how can it do that?
Adam,
There is a security attack known as “drive by attack” (https://encyclopedia.kaspersky.com/glossary/drive-by-attack/) which can infect your computer with malware or redirect your browser (silently) to another website and install malware (without you doing any action).
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