There’s a lot for film fans to get excited about this June, as Pluto TV is bursting with an impressive catalog of blockbuster hits - all for free. That’s because, starting on June 1, Pluto TV is kicking off its “Summer of Cinema” program, featuring a lineup of free fan-favorite films and blockbuster franchises across action, comedy, sci-fi, and more. Through a mix of iconic releases and modern hits, viewers will be spoiled for choice throughout the entire summer season.
Pluto TV puts a twist on the standard streaming model by offering a service without subscription fees. In addition to the wealth of on-demand content viewers can dive into, Pluto TV is also home to hundreds of live channels covering every genre of movies and TV alongside sports, news, and much more - all easily accessible via mobile, desktop, and connected TVs.
The free-to-watch titles coming this June include some of the Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, the epic power of Russell Crowe in Gladiator, or Mark Wahlberg in Four Brothers, there’s no shortage of heart-pounding action to stream this summer. And that’s without mentioning beloved franchise entries like Beverly Hills Cop or J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek reboot, which are just a few highlights Pluto TV viewers can look forward to without spending a dime.
7 Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)
Directed by Brad Bird
Action movie lovers have been excitedly watching Tom Cruise take part in death-defying stunts since the first Mission: Impossible back in 1996. It's a testament to this franchise’s long-lasting appeal that the fourth installment, Ghost Protocol, is one of Ethan Hunt’s most exciting adventures, as Cruise's hero is forced to clear his name after the IMF gets wrongfully implicated in a bombing of the Kremlin. Without any resources to back them up, Ethan and his team must rely on pure skill to complete their toughest mission so far.
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol saw Cruise's action franchise return with a new lease of life after a five-year absence and represented the best of what a big-budget action movie could accomplish. The high-stakes action of Ghost Protocol is made all the more exciting by how ludicrously over-the-top some of its sequences are, highlighting Cruise’s status as the last true movie star of the modern cinematic landscape. With the latest entry in the franchise, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, gaining rave reviews, there has never been a better time to go back and watch Ghost Protocol free on Pluto TV.
6 Transformers: Dark Of The Moon (2011)
Directed by Michael Bay
With impressive 3D shots, outstanding action set pieces, and state-of-the-art special effects, Michael Bay’s Transformers franchise continued to impress with the third installment, Dark of the Moon. Featuring the return of the Autobots' human ally Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf), this adventure saw Optimus Prime and Bumblebee facing off against Megatron and the Decepticons for control over abandoned moon-based technology that could restore Cybertron.
As the then-highest-grossing film in not only the Transformers franchise but Bay’s entire career up to that point, Dark of the Moon marked a financial high point for a series that was action-packed from start to finish. With Dark of the Moon delivering more of the jaw-dropping sci-fi spectacle fans have come to expect from the Transformers series, this is just one example of the kinds of major franchise entries viewers will find for free each month on Pluto TV.
5 Gladiator (2000)
Directed by Ridley Scott
While Ridley Scott’s filmography is packed with classics like Alien, Blade Runner, and Thelma and Louise, it was his epic historical drama Gladiator that finally earned him the Academy Award for Best Picture. With Russell Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius, a Roman general forced into slavery and driven by revenge against the power-hungry emperor who murdered his family, everything from the outstanding set pieces to the thrilling Colosseum fight sequences in this all-time great film hits the mark.
With the long-awaited legacy sequel, Gladiator II, gracing theaters in 2024, plenty of viewers will be excited to relive the original this summer. As the perfect mix of intense action and emotional characterization, Scott's Gladiator proved it was still possible to blow 21st-century audiences away with sprawling history dramas that maintained the same kind of scope and high-stakes as classics like Ben-Hur and Lawrence of Arabia.
4 Boyz N The Hood (1991)
Directed by John Singleton
First-time filmmaker John Singleton knocked it out of the park with his powerful debut film, Boyz n the Hood, in 1991. With a powerful social message that addressed urban crime and street life for disenfranchised communities, this coming-of-age hood drama stars Cuba Gooding Jr. and Ice Cube, and went on to influence subsequent classics like Training Day. With an incredible sense of style and impactful narrative depth, Boyz n the Hood is a clever and socially aware release that never disappoints during a rewatch.
Taking its name from a song by Ice Cube’s fellow NWA member Eazy-E, Boyz n the Hood captured the challenges, pressures, and trials of the young men caught up in neighborhood gangs in South Central Los Angeles. As a thoughtful and intelligent exploration of deeply relevant issues, Singleton received many accolades for the film, including Best Director and Best Original Screenplay at the 64th Academy Awards. This outstanding achievement made Singleton the youngest person and the first Black director to be nominated for Best Director.
3 Indiana Jones And The Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
The adventures of globetrotting archaeologist Indiana Jones kicked off with Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, one of the most beloved movies of all time. This near-perfect adventure not only boasted outstanding action sequences, incredible set pieces, and a knowing sense of humor, but combined that with one of the most enduring movie heroes cinema has ever seen. While Harrison Ford had already carved out an important place in movie history as Han Solo in Star Wars, his role as Indy turned him into one of the greatest action heroes there has ever been.
From being chased by a boulder in the iconic opening sequence to stopping Nazis recovering the long-lost Ark of the Covenant, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark remains one of the most fun films of Steven Spielberg’s entire career. As a must-watch movie for viewers of all ages, anyone who hasn’t seen this piece of cinema history should take advantage of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark streaming free on Pluto TV this June.
2 Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
Directed by Martin Brest
Movie fans can now check out the greatest action comedy of the 1980s, with Beverly Hills Cop coming to Pluto TV free-of-charge this June. As Eddie Murphy’s breakout performance, the story of Axel Foley going rogue and trying to solve the murder of his best friend was a true classic and the inception point of a major franchise. With one of the best synth soundtracks of the 1980s, everything about Beverly Hills Cop remains top-tier.
Equal parts action and comedy, Murphy’s performance paved the way for a new type of hero that was elevated by the improvisational skills he’d gained as a stand-up comedian. The performances, script, and music of Beverly Hills Cop all came together to make a movie that has held up incredibly well in the decades since it was first released. With a cheeky charm and an unstoppable drive for justice, Axel Foley remains one of cinema’s greatest action heroes.
1 Good Burger (1997)
Directed by Brian Robbins
While there have been plenty of great Nickelodeon movies over the years, few can match the enduring appeal of Good Burger. Featuring the comedy duo Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell, Thompson played the teenage high schooler Dexter Reed, forced to get a job at a fast food restaurant to pay for damaging his teacher’s car. With a wacky sense of humor that embraces the sillier side of comedy, Good Burger has not lost any of its appeal, and viewers who were too young the first time around will certainly be won over by its outrageous charm.
As a fun comedy that endured long enough to get an overdue legacy sequel, Good Burger 2, in 2023, the original has become an unlikely cult classic. With plenty of over-the-top juvenile humor and hilarious performances from the stars of Kenan & Kel, 1990s kids will be delighted to go back and rediscover the delicious appeal of Good Burger on Pluto TV this June.