Aside from watching movies in the theatre, you have the option of renting a video and watching it in the privacy of your home. Though movie rentals are still a popular option, the latest buzz is downloading movies from the internet.

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

One 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 gain access to sneak previews of the movies, copy the film and  put them on websites. In fact, these movies reach people faster than they do in theaters.

Film companies stand to lose, and it is no surprise 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.