Warner Bros Entertainment is bringing its content to YouTube in an effort to leverage its film catalog for digital advertising revenue. Since early 2025, the company has released 31 films on the Warner Bros-owned YouTube channels, all available for free. The titles are varied and cover different genres, with some films going back decades, such as “Mutiny on the Bounty” with Marlon Brando, “The Adventures of Pluto Nash” with Eddie Murphy, and “Oh, God!” with George Burns. The most viewed of the group is “Mr. Nice Guy,” the 1997 action comedy starring Jackie Chan, which has surpassed 16 million views since WB made it available on YouTube on Jan. 1. The films that Warner Bros. will make available on YouTube are categorized as “Warner Bros. Classics,” so as to make it easier for users to find them.
The Warner Bros playlist on YouTube reads a message, “Watch your favorite complete movies here from Warner Bros Entertainment!” “All your favorite legendary characters are here, including Jackie Chan, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine O’Hara, Tarzan, Liam Neeson, Julia Roberts, Eugene Levy, and more! Keep an eye out for more free feature films right here.”
WB has also cut deals to license content on Roku and Tubi, two free advertising-supported platforms. These agreements involve licensing 2,000 hours of content, including popular titles like “Westworld”, “Raised by Wolves”, “Legendary”, “FBoy Island”, “The Nevers”, “Finding Magic Mike”, “Head of the Class”, and “The Time Traveler’s Wife”.
What’s more, none of the free streaming films on YouTube are currently available on Max, Warner Bros., or Discovery’s subscription on-demand streaming service. This enhances the likelihood that viewers will seek them out on YouTube. The move has been met with mixed reactions, as it provides free access to some beloved films but also includes a fair amount of ads during viewing.
By uploading classic movies to YouTube, Warner Bros. stands to gain several benefits: revenue from ads and increased visibility that can introduce classic and lesser-known titles to a new audience, potentially boosting interest in Warner Bros.’ other offerings. Overall, it’s a strategic move that leverages YouTube’s vast user base and ad-supported model to benefit Warner Bros. financially and in terms of audience engagement.
