Whether you're preparing for a long flight or staying in area with limited Internet access, downloading movies on a Mac is a great way to enjoy offline entertainment. However, download capability from platforms like Netflix is rather restricted on Mac computers. So what are the best workarounds? Below is a comprehensive guide covering trusted tools and legal methods to help you safely and efficiently download movies on your Macbook, iMac and other macOS devices.
A dedicated video downloader can help you download movies from various websites like YouTube, and save the downloaded movies on your Mac permanently.
Cisdem Video Converter is a one-stop video download and conversion solution for Mac, supporting over 1000 sites including popular free streaming platforms such as Tubi, YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, Twitter (X), Dailymotion, VK, TikTok, and so on.
Benefits:
Free Download macOS 10.13 or later
This app allows you to download several videos for free to try it out. It's very easy to use with an intuitive interface. Below are detailed steps to download movies on Mac with Cisdem Video Converter, using YouTube as an example.
As a 5-in-1 video toolkit, Cisdem Video Converter can also help you better manage the downloaded movies with its built-in video converter, editor, and compressor.
For instance, if the movie won't play on your device, simply convert it to a more compatible format, e.g. MP4 H.264 & AAC.
Operation: Switch to the first tab of Cisdem, and add downloaded movies to the interface. Next, click Start button to convert them to the preset MP4 format, alternatively, select another format or device profile from the format selection menu.
Verdict: Cisdem Video Converter ranked the top 1 in this guide as it provides more flexibility and affordability than streaming services, and is also much safer than torrent sites. For more downoader options for Mac, check Top 10 Video Downlaoders for Mac.
Some streaming media services allow users to download movies to Macs for offline viewing within the app, such as the Apple TV app and the Amazon Prime Video. The downloaded subscription and rental movies will expire after a period of time (usually 30 days or 48 hours), but you should be able to keep purchased videos for as long as you want.
The Apple TV app comes preinstalled on all modern Mac computers. While it may not compete in terms of quantity, it provides high quality (up to 1080P) movies for download on Mac.
Click Settings from the TV menu, and click Playback. Then choose a Download Option, such as "Fast downloads" or "Most Compatible SD".
Similar to Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video also allows you to download subscriptions, rentals and purchases through its official App for macOS. It offers a huge library of movies and TV series as well as Amazon originals, but not all are available for download.
To download movies from Amazon Prime Video on Mac:
No. Netflix does not allow content downloads on macOS or Windows PC now, and doesn’t even have a dedicated app for Mac, the same as Disney+ and Hulu. It only provides offline mode on phones, tablets, or TVs.
There are unconventional workarounds if you insist, though success is not guaranteed.
If you’re using an Apple Silicon Mac, you can install the Netflix iOS app via an emulator software such as PlayCover. You can enjoy all the features on Netflix app for iOS including the functionality to download movies. The speed may be slow.
Netflix.com uses DRM protection to prevent screen recording of any video or sound. To bypass the restriction, try using a third-party recorder and turn off hardware acceleration of your browser.
Justwatch.com provides information on the availability of every movie or TV show you want to watch, covering every streaming service in a list. Just go to the website and search for the movie you want, and discover where to watch for free, where to get best quality and price, and so on.
Torrenting lets you download movies ripped and shared by others for free. But too many torrent websites have fake links, ads, and malware that can expose your Mac to risks, so do use with caution.
1. Install a torrent client for Mac.
A dedicated torrent client is required to download files through torrent network. My recommendation for Mac is Transmission, which is open-source and easy to use with a simple interface. Go to its official website https://transmissionbt.com/ to download and install it.
2. Go to yts or other movie torrent website and search for the movie you want. Download the movie torrent file with preferred resolution and format.
3. Launch Transmission and open the torrent file with it. If you copied the magnet link instead, hit Command+U to open the torrent link.
4. Choose a storage folder and start downloading the movie to your Mac hard drive.
I hope this guide is helpful for your movie downloading needs on Mac. Leave a comment below if you wish to discuss more questions.
Emily is a girl who loves to review various multimedia software. She enjoys exploring cutting edge technology and writing how-to guides. Hopefully her articles will help you solve your audio, video, DVD and Blu-ray issues.
