There are numerous options in downloading and/or watching movies online. First off, like music downloading, downloading movies online usually meant doing something illegal. Currently, there are many places to download or watch movies online. The illegal options are still available, as always, but the legal movie sites are picking up steam. This information will focus on the legal online sites to watch and/or download movies.

There are plenty of options around. Each site offers their very own pricing model, selection, movie formats, and user experience.

There are actually 2 main pricing models that the online movie download sites use - monthly subscriptions and per download pricing.

Sites that offer monthly subscriptions give unlimited downloads, for a flat monthly cost. CinemaNow, Netflix, and Vongo operate under this model.

The other major pricing model, per download pricing, is exactly what it sounds like. There will be a fee for each movie download. Amazon Unbox and iTunes operate this way.

Unless you are not planning on watching very many movies in a month, the flat monthly fee will be the way to go. Additionally there are some movies that will be available for free from each of the services and various free trials will be accessible to try them out.

The selection varies from service to service. New releases are hit or miss. Movies seem to be available on DVD and then for rental prior to being accessible for download. CinemaNow seems to get the movies more quickly than the others. iTunes selection will be the most limited of the key services.

The predominant file format for the download services is Windows Media Video files (.WMV). iTunes is the obvious exception, which offers files as MPEG-4s.

Each service requires you to download their software so that you can download and watch movies. Each interface will be different, but its really a matter of personal preference. Vongo and CinemaNow each have good interfaces.