The Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) and Hollywood’s Motion Picture Association (MPA) have intensified their efforts against digital piracy, culminating in the shutdown of the popular movie and streaming site Fmovies. The site, based in Hanoi, Vietnam, was launched in 2016 and quickly gained massive popularity. At its peak, Fmovies was ranked 274th globally and 11th in the TV, Movies & Streaming category by SimilarWeb.
Fmovies has consistently appeared on the U.S. Trade Representative’s “notorious markets” list from 2017 to 2023 due to its significant role in digital piracy. The recent takedown was executed in collaboration with the Hanoi Police, which ACE and MPA hailed as a significant victory for the global creative community.
Charles Rivkin, Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association and Chairman of ACE, stated, “The takedown of Fmovies is a stunning victory for casts, crews, writers, directors, studios, and the creative community across the globe. 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.”
Despite the shutdown of the original Fmovies site, another site using a different domain has already surfaced online. It is unclear if this new site is associated with the original Fmovies. The alternative domain, registered in 2014 and renewed in March 2024, hosts a rich catalog of content, but the original fmovies.to site remains offline.
Fmovies-Associated Sites and the Larger Piracy Network
ACE has described the Fmovies network as “the largest pirate streaming operation in the world,” consisting of Fmovies and numerous other piracy sites. These associated sites include bflixz, flixtorz, movies7, myflixer, and aniwave. The recent takedown also targeted Vidsrc.to, a notorious video hosting service linked to the same group.
This piracy network, responsible for what is considered the world’s largest piracy ring, attracted a staggering 374 million monthly visits. Between January 2023 and June 2024, the network claimed more than 6.7 billion visits.
The continued appeal of piracy is not solely due to cost but also because these platforms often provide a more extensive catalog of content than legal streaming services. This broader selection is a significant reason for the enduring popularity of piracy.
As the streaming industry becomes increasingly competitive, with Hollywood prioritizing financial returns, legal platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime have increased rates and introduced ads. In their quest to boost profit margins, piracy operations like Fmovies have come under intense scrutiny and enforcement actions.
