A war film that won the Best Picture Oscar is now available to watch for free through three streaming services. Braveheart is a 1995 American epic historical war drama film directed and produced by Mel Gibson.
Gibson also stars as Scottish warrior William Wallace who leads his countrymen in a rebellion to free his homeland in the First War of Scottish Independence against King Edward I of England. Braveheart was a critical and commercial success, receiving praise for its battle scenes, production design, musical score, and acting performances.
The film garnered numerous awards, including the Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Makeup, and Best Sound Editing.
It was also nominated for four Golden Globes and seven Baftas. In 2010, the Independent Film & Television Alliance selected Braveheart as one of the 30 Most Significant Independent Films of the last 30 years.
On Rotten Tomatoes, 76% critics’ reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.2/10. The website’s consensus reads: “Distractingly violent and historically dodgy, Mel Gibson’s Braveheart justifies its epic length by delivering enough sweeping action, drama, and romance to match its ambition.”
It even improved tourism: A report found that the “Braveheart effect” earned Scotland £7 million to £15 million in 1996. The report also led to various national organisations encouraging international film productions to take place in Scotland.
Braveheart was previously available for rent from streaming services, but now, 30 years after its release, it is available for free on many of them.
Disney Plus, Channel 4, and Prime Video all have it available to view, according to JustWatch UK. It can be rented for £3.49 on Apple TV, the Sky Store, and the Microsoft Store.