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Our fast-paced lifestyle leaves us with little time to unwind. Cinema lets us forget our worries and step into a different world, at least for a few hours, giving us a much-needed escape from our hectic lives. However, we do not always have the luxury of going to a theatre and watch a story unfold on a large screen, with surround sound.
So, we turn to the internet, trying various permutation and combinations of keywords like 'movies', 'hd movies', 'latest bollywood movies', 'watch movies online' and 'hd movies download', in the hope that Google redirects us to a website where we can watch the latest releases online.
If we do not get the desired results, we try different variations like 'bollywood movies download', 'latest movies', 'hindi movies online', 'latest hindi movies', 'free hd movies online', 'bollywood movies 2018' and more.
Chances are that you will be shown links containing illegally uploaded and pirated content, which comes with a high risk of virus attacks. So where and how do you legally watch the latest films online?
Well, the search ends here. Here is a list of websites where you can watch the latest releases online, that too in HD.
1. YouTube
If you are looking for the latest films to watch online for free, YouTube is one of your best options. From old films to the latest ones, the variety is unbelievable.
Just in case you are not a fan of online streaming, you can download the film too. A simple Google search will redirect you to a gazillion YouTube video downloaders, and you can kiss buffering goodbye.
After a one-month free trial, you can choose the subscription plan that suits you - Basic (Rs 500), Standard (Rs 650) and Premium (Rs 800). While Netflix boasts of films like Dangal, Baahubali and Pink, what sets it apart from the rest is its original programming. From Lust Stories to Sacred Games, you will get access to quality content that is exclusive to Netflix.
With an annual subscription fee of Rs 999, Amazon Prime is a cheaper option than Netflix. Latest additions to the streaming service include Raazi, 102 Not Out and Blackmail. Like Netflix, Amazon Prime also creates home-grown content like Breathe, Inside Edge and Laakhon Mein Ek.
One of the rare services that lets you stream films for free, Hotstar is a godsend. They also have a premium subscription, though, which comes with access to select films, TV shows and live sports including cricket, Premier League, F1, tennis and more. The annual subscription fee for a Hotstar Premium account is Rs 999. Alternatively, you can pay a monthly fee of Rs 199.
The digital arm of Viacom 18, Voot is a completely free online streaming service that not only lets you watch films, but also catch up on your favourite television series, from Naagin to Bigg Boss to MTV Roadies Xtreme.
With a limited selection available for free, Eros Now has two options for paid subscribers. Eros Now Plus (Rs 49 per month) and Eros Now Premium (Rs 99 per month). Apart from films, you can also watch music videos and TV shows. As of December 31, 2017, the service reportedly had five million paid subscribers worldwide.
Hungama Play lets you watch the first ten minutes of a film for free before giving you the option to subscribe and play the entire film. You can either opt for the unlimited subscription plan (Rs 249 per month) or pay per film (rent for three days costs Rs 60).
Hooq , which is jointly owned by jointly owned by Sony Pictures, Warner Bros and Singapore's Singtel, allows you to stream, download and enjoy thousands of films and TV series at Rs 89 per month. However, some of the newer titles in the library can only be rented at Rs 59 per film.
A movie on demand service owned by Reliance Entertainment, BigFLIX charges Rs 50 per month and Rs 500 per year for a premium subscription. The service provides ad-free and HD content in nine regional languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Bengali and Tamil.
Spuul offers a number of films in Hindi as well as regional languages. You can not only stream but also download films. Their premium ad-free subscription comes for Rs 150 per month or Rs 1500 per year.