The web has revolutionized the world in more ways than one. Beginning as a virtual storehouse of all information, it progressed to provide other services like downloading free movies online songs, music videos and films.

Other than watching movies within the theatre, you've got the option of renting a video and watching it within the privacy of your home. Even though movie rentals will still be a popular option, the latest buzz is downloading movies from the net.

The pattern of downloading movies on the web has become so popular that a website has claimed that at least three billion movies, video songs and clips were downloaded in only one month. The claim may or might not be an exaggeration, but it definitely points to the increasing popularity of downloading movies.

A proven way to download a movie is the file swapping method. This works in the same way as sharing music files. The process is, for the most part, illegal. Those involved get access to sneak previews of the movies, copy the film and put them on web pages. In reality, these movies reach people faster than they do in theaters.

Film companies stand to lose, and it's not surprising that they have tried to take legal recourse to find a solution.

In a bid to stop this menace, movie companies are trying to save the day by offering movies for free downloading. For this, customers need to pay a fee and watch the movie within twenty-four hours or the files become inaccessible.