Yes, 123movies (and its many mirror or clone sites) is illegal in Australia because it facilitates access to copyrighted material without authorisation.
For users, simply viewing an authorised stream is fine. Accessing unlicensed streams is risky because temporary copies can still involve copyright use and providers are increasingly targeted by enforcement.
In summary, if you privately watch a stream, as of now there would be no criminal charges that could be brought upon you. Where you get in trouble criminally is when you download the content or play it in public.
If you simply want to know “Is 123Movies safe?”, then the answer is no. In these 123Movies mirror sites, there are often a lot of fake ads and pop-ups, and these contents may also take you to some malicious links or software, which can infect your device with viruses, lead to data leakage and so on.
You can watch movies online for free in Australia legally through ad-supported services like ABC iview, SBS On Demand, 7plus, 9Now, Tubi, and Plex, plus library-linked platforms like Kanopy, offering a variety of films, classics, and new releases without subscriptions, just by looking in the right places.
Yes, Tubi is legal in Australia and has been available there since 2019 as a 100% free, ad-supported streaming service, offering thousands of licensed movies and shows with no subscription costs, making it a legitimate and safe option for Australian viewers.
Where to watch The Hidden
It's a Crime. We know that services like Netflix are not free, and we try to help our readers to save money, but we cannot recommend any of the popular free movie streaming sites as they are illegal and sometimes dangerous. Feel free to check out the other free options we explored in this article.
After using 123Movies for about eight months now, I've come to appreciate its quirks and advantages. Unlike Netflix or Disney+, which often serve up the same mainstream hits on repeat, this site feels alive with variety—like discovering an old record store where every corner holds something unexpected.
The safest free movie websites are legitimate, ad-supported platforms like Tubi, Pluto TV, Freevee, Crackle, Plex, and Popcornflix, which offer licensed content without malware risks, unlike unofficial sites that can harbor viruses. For ad-free options with specific libraries, consider Kanopy (for library/student access) or even YouTube's free movie sections. Always stick to official apps and websites to avoid scams and harmful downloads.
IP addresses are public and can be easily tracked. Because pirated software cannot be updated, this opens the system to attack through the use of vulnerabilities.
It's clear that FMovies may infect your device with viruses, they have been known to hide malware in fake pop up ads.
The scope of piracy today is staggering. Illegal streaming now accounts for over 96% of all TV and film piracy activities globally, with pirated video content generating over 230 billion views each year.
It's not illegal to visit the dark web in Australia. But you can face criminal charges if you use the dark web to engage in illegal activity, such as the sale or purchase of illegal firearms, drugs, pornography, stolen passwords, hacked credit card account numbers, or other illicit items.
You can be fined, jailed, blacklisted by ISPs, or have your computer confiscated if caught streaming movies online from unlicensed platforms. You can also risk your online privacy and security. Why? First, using an illegal streaming site is a violation of copyright law.
Mass surveillance in Australia takes place in several network media, including telephone, internet, and other communications networks, financial systems, vehicle and transit networks, international travel, utilities, and government schemes and services including those asking citizens to report on themselves or other ...
123movies asks for a VPN because it's an unofficial, copyright-infringing site that faces blocks and legal crackdowns, requiring users to use a VPN to bypass geographic restrictions and hide their activity from authorities and ISPs. More importantly, these sites are loaded with malicious ads, pop-ups, and potential malware, making a VPN (and ad-blocker) crucial for security to mask your IP and encrypt your connection from cyber threats and phishing attempts.
As with anything that relies on illegal streaming, there is always a risk involved when downloading content from 123movies or similar websites. Not only are you breaking the law, but you also run the risk of downloading malware or viruses onto your device.
Yes, numerous copycat and mirror sites using the 123Movies name still exist and work in 2025, but the original site shut down in 2018; these clones constantly change domains, often host malware, and present significant security risks, with some users finding working alternatives through sites like Yarrlist and Reddit communities.
Engaging with illegal streaming sites can lead not only to fines but also potential criminal charges depending on where you live. In many countries, copyright laws protect content creators from unauthorized distribution or reproduction of their work.
Illicit links and streams to pirated film/TV & sports content are made available throughout the web without the copyright holder's permission, most commonly on social media sites like Facebook, YouTube, X and Tiktok, and increasingly so via AI chatbots.
Is Popcornflix Safe to Use? Popcornflix is a legitimate, legal streaming platform, operating with content that is properly licensed and monetized through ads.
Australia offers a great selection of free streaming services, primarily from local broadcasters like ABC iview, SBS On Demand, 7plus, 9Now, and 10Play, plus ad-supported global platforms like Tubi, Plex, and library-linked services such as Kanopy (movies/docs) and Beamafilm, providing everything from local shows and news to international films, documentaries, and niche content without subscription fees, just ads or library access.
Parents Need to Know
The setting's claustrophobic feel and the story's slow, tense build-up keep viewers in the dark (literally) for much of the movie, and intense peril and jump scares are frequent. Violence only occurs in the last third of the film; there are deaths and some blood, but minimal gore overall.
Whether "Home" (the 2015 DreamWorks movie) is leaving Netflix depends on the specific month and region, but often titles leave due to expiring licenses, with lists for January and February 2026 showing many films departing, though "Home" isn't prominently listed in recent announcements, so checking your local Netflix app for a "Last day to watch" message is best for confirmation.