3 excellent free movies to watch online this weekend (May 9-11)

      The first weekend of May marks the kickoff of the summer movie season. Marvel set the tone with Thunderbolts*, a collaborative adventure featuring a diverse group of antiheroes. Thunderbolts* launched strongly, earning $76 million in its opening weekend domestically. Expectations are that Thunderbolts* will dominate the box office until Memorial Day weekend.

      This weekend introduces several smaller films, including Shadow Force, Friendship, and Fight or Flight. If you prefer to relax at home, you can watch a free movie on a FAST service like Tubi or Pluto TV. Our suggestions for this weekend include a gripping survival thriller, a sports drama, and an action reboot.

      We also offer guides to the top new films to stream, along with recommendations for the best movies on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Max, and Disney+.

      Thirteen Lives (2022)

      Vince Valitutti / MGM

      Ron Howard excels at transforming remarkable true stories into film, as seen with Apollo 13. In 2022, he focused on the harrowing 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue in Thirteen Lives. Twelve young boys and their assistant coach become trapped in the Tham Luang cave after heavy flooding diverts them. With much of the cave submerged, diving becomes the only means to locate the boys.

      The Thai government turns to experienced cave divers Rick Stanton (Viggo Mortensen) and John Volanthen (Colin Farrell) for assistance. Locating the boys is one challenge, but extracting them from the cave is the greater hurdle. If you're seeking hope and inspiration, Thirteen Lives will restore your faith in the resilience of the human spirit.

      Watch Thirteen Lives on Pluto TV.

      Air (2023)

      Amazon Prime

      Michael Jeffrey Jordan is often regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time. Prior to his six championships with the Chicago Bulls and induction into the Hall of Fame, Jordan was the third overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft. Air isn’t focused on Jordan's prowess on the court; rather, it dramatizes Nike's efforts to attract the emerging star to endorse their signature sneakers.

      In the 1980s, Nike was primarily known for its running shoes. Nike's basketball scout Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) aims to change that and persuades CEO Phil Knight (Ben Affleck) to commit all resources to secure Jordan. Winning over Jordan's mother, Deloris (Viola Davis), becomes crucial to their success. While Air consists mainly of discussions in various settings, its exceptional cast and strong screenplay elevate this fresh take on a sports film.

      Stream Air for free on Tubi.

      Tomb Raider (2018)

      Warner Bros. Pictures

      Alicia Vikander took over the role of Lara Croft from Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raider. As a young woman, Lara’s life changed forever after her father, Richard (Dominic West), disappeared. In an effort to settle her family’s estate, Lara discovers a set of instructions from Richard regarding his research into a mythical queen that he wants her to destroy.

      Convinced that her father is still alive, Lara journeys to Hong Kong in search of Richard’s last known location. With the aid of a ship captain (Daniel Wu), Lara braves a fierce storm to reach a hidden island in pursuit of her father. Tomb Raider is an entertaining action-adventure film featuring a dedicated Vikander, who should continue to find success in action roles moving forward.

      Stream Tomb Raider for free on Tubi.