The Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) and Hollywood’s Motion Picture Association (MPA) have been on a sustained crack down on digital piracy. This drive has cumulated recently in the shutting down of popular movie and streaming site Fmovies. The site based in Hanoi, Vietnam was launched in 2016.
Fmoviesz.to enjoyed a period of high popularity, reaching 274th globally and 11th in the TV, Movies & Streaming category (SimilarWeb). Fmovies has a history of appearing on the USTR “notorious markets” list from 2017 to 2023.
In collaboration with the Hanoi Police, ACE and MPA shutdown the site in what they called a win for creatives and also viewers.
“The takedown of Fmovies is a stunning victory for casts, crews, writers, directors, studios, and the creative community across the globe,” said Charles Rivkin, Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association and Chairman of ACE. “With the leadership of ACE and the partnership of the Ministry of Public Security and the Hanoi Municipal Police, we are countering criminal activity, defending the safety of audiences, reducing risks posed to tens of millions of consumers, and protecting the rights and livelihoods of creators.”
Notably, there is already another Fmovies site online with a different domain, it is not clear if its associated with the original site. The site, complete with a rich catalog, was registered in 2014 according to WhoIsLookup and was renewed this year in March. However, the orginal fmovies.to remains offline.
Fmovies Associated Sites
ACE termed the syndicate of sites as “the largest pirate streaming operation in the world, comprising Fmovies and numerous other notorious piracy sites.” This network of pirated movie sites associated with Fmovies include, bflixz, flixtorz, movies7, myflixer, and aniwave. The recent takedown included Vidsrc.to, a notorious video hosting service linked to the same group.
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The syndicate responsible for the world’s largest piracy ring, attracted a staggering 374 million monthly visits. In an 18-month period between January 2023 and June 2024, the network claimed more than 6.7 billion visits.
However, the allure of piracy extends beyond cheaper access. These platforms often offer a more extensive catalog of content compared to their legal counterparts. This wider selection is another key reason for piracy’s enduring popularity.
Currently, the streaming industry is fiercely competitive and Hollywood prioritizing financial returns. This has even made legal streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime hike rates and introduce ads. As they look to improve their profit margins, it’s no surprise piracy is taking a hit.
