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TorrentFreak recently published a list of the most pirated movies over BitTorrent of all time and apparently, what we watch in theaters is what we like to pirate off the Internet. All of the most popular movies have been illegally downloaded a gazillion times.
Here’s the list, which dates back to early 2006:
1. Avatar (21 million downloads)
2. The Dark Knight (19 million downloads)
3. Transformers (19 million downloads)
4. Inception (18 million downloads)
5. The Hangover (17 million downloads)
6. Star Trek (16 million downloads)
7. Kick-Ass (15 million downloads)
8. The Departed (14 million downloads)
9. The Incredible Hulk (14 million downloads)
10. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (14 million downloads)
Any surprises? Kick-Ass obviously doesn’t hold a candle to the rest of the movies in terms of Blockbuster power, so there’s one. The Incredible Hulk being a top 10 pirated movie surprises me since they had another Hulk that everyone pretended didn’t exist. Other than that though, the formula is quite simple: Sci-Fi Comic Book Gun movies starring Leonardo DiCaprio. [TorrentFreak]
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The only film there that I have torrented was the Dark Knight. Which I then bought on Blu Ray when it came out anyway.
I saw Transformers and Avatar at the cinema. I bought At Worlds End, The Incredible Hulk and the Dark Knight when they released on Blu Ray. I watched Star Trek, Kick Ass and Inception when they were eventually shown on Sky Movies. And the first time I saw the Hangover was on a plane whilst I was travelling to the States a few years ago.
The only film above which I haven’t paid to see (in some form or another) was the Departed, which my ex lent me on DVD.
I’m sure you were all thrilled to read that little story.
If frightens me slightly that an obviously sane sensible individual bought At World’s End, apart from the first POTC every sequel has been complete nonsense.
The films should really be called “The Tales of Jack Sparrow” rather than the PotC
Hahaha, I had the other two so I thought it was only fair to complete the set. Which will probably mean buying that Stranger Tides one. I’ve not heard many good things about it…
Actually preferred that to the other two sequels, At World’s End was just purely awful!!
I got to say I’ve watched most of those films legally, cinema, dvd, or TV. But I’ve also downloaded and watched most of them before or after that event, which means if you make a good film sooner or later you will take some money from me, so stop your moaning and get off my back you bunch of greedy bastards.
Here here! I second your sentments wholeheartedly.
Agreed. I have the choice with modern technology to devour content how, where and when I want it.
If you stick to the same archaic business models and don’t provide consumers with the same choice legally they have illegally, don’t go crying when you see them breaking the law.
It makes me smile knowing that I own 7 of them on Blu ray and plan on owning 2 of the others when I can.
I buy all my music and blu rays, It makes me happy.
Why is everyone rushing to try and clear their name of illegal downloads?
‘i bought this after i downloaded it’
‘ive never downloaded anything’
‘i own this many dvd’s’
‘i always support the movie companies’
I call bullshit on all of you.
Paramount isnt going to read this comment section for a list of dodgy torrenters to track down. Nor by lying about your download habits will you suddenly be guilt free.
Surely by definition, a Gizmodo reader is a tech savvy, out to get what ever tech and new shit they can get for free in a stupidly expensive, corporate company run, fleece the public for everything you can world genre of person?
Or is that just me?
Whats a torrent by the way?
Well I can’t speak for everyone else, but none of what I said was bullshit. And I’m certainly not trying to deny that I’ve downloaded a shit load of music in my time. I’d say about 70% of my music collection was obtained through torrents. I don’t feel guilty though, so the idea that I said what I did to absolve my conscience is silly. That said, I don’t normally torrent that many movies. Purely because I don’t have the patience to wait for them. Music is so much quicker to download.
While we are on the topic of downloading. I downloaded the Game of Thrones series yesterday. Unfortunately it’s all in .avi format, which iTunes doesn’t like. Does anybody know of a good (free) video converter to change .avi files to something iTunes friendly? All the ones I’ve found either require payment or leave a watermark on the video.
Try Freemake video converter. I use it to convert video for my android but it does a whole heap of other stuff. Really user friendly and a great interface. and its free of course. No illegal stuff neccessary.
Cheers for that. It converted all of the files with no issues at all. I’m very impressed. If we ever meet (at one of those promised star commenter events perchance) than I shall gladly buy you a beer as thanks!
Equally why does everyone else rush to justify their reasons for illegally downloading movies?
In answer to your question though it’s because some of us actually don’t download stuff and we don’t want our names associated with it in any way.
I used to do it (probably more than most) but I realised 2 years ago that I’m actually not entitled to something just because I want it and that downloading movies and music didn’t fit in with my faith and my personal ethics. So I deleted everything I had archived and stopped doing it.
I use Spotify for music and sky/xbox live for movies and TV shows and I still have enough money to live my life (and did even as a student).
Personally I can’t find a single reason to argue that it is ethically right to download movies or music so I don’t do it.
I actually agree with you. In fact, completely agree with you. The first comment was meant tongue in cheek of course but i just found it strange that people felt immediately obliged to clear themselves of wrong doing. This usually insinuates guilt of some sort.
You mean to say that two people just agreed on the internet! should I call the press
And I think you might be right in some cases it probably is guilt but like I said some people like me just genuinely don’t want to be associated with it.
For me it’s availability; if I miss a film I want to see at the cinema, I have to wait upteen months to buy/rent it later. Add the regional releases that can be months apart at times and it gets even more ridiculous.
I have the choice in a few mouse clicks to get that movie in that time window…
My point wasn’t to be proud of what I’ve done both illegally or legally, but to state that at some point I’ve paid to watch a film I enjoyed. The profits of media corps grow each year as they moan about how much money they are losing from downloads, without actually acknowledging the truth being that since illegal downloads started their business has grown. Nor does it help to get me a refund on a film like Bladrunner. I have had VHS, DVD, Blu Ray copies of that film, soundtrack in various forms also, books scripts, plus much online reading and content.
The point is if you make good content that I like then you will get my money time and time again, if you don’t then your children deserve to starve. And I don’t think anyone that worked on that list of films is having trouble paying the bills like I am at the moment.
These people seem to forget that the only person that I give a shit about is me – I really, really don’t care.
“10. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (14 million downloads)”
Nice to see that even pirates get pirated.
What would be amazing is if it were actual Pirates pirating the pirate film!! You know to get some ideas on general pirating, and walking the plank and rum drinking etc.
I think that people would have a lot less of a problem with Video/Game/Music Piracy if the people doing it were REAL pirates (in the Long John Silver sense). Of course it would also make it easier for the police to catch then as it’s hard to run with a wooden leg and they would be somewhat conspicuous in a line-up.
I illegally downloaded 4 of these, also pretty much watched them all at the cinema (thanks to Cineworld and it’s Unlimited card of joy!!) and own 9 of them on Blu/HD-DVD (I know I know, but you can’t argue with £3 a film and 2 for a fiver deals at the end… oh and it was better than Blu Ray so there!!).
Can you guess which one I don’t own and have no desire to ever own, seeing it once was enough…
I know that pirating is stupid, but sometimes when it’s so much easier it’s natural that people will do it. It’s becoming better with on-demand services (LoveFilm) and digital rentals but there’s still a little way to go before most people will be convinced. Obviously, there’s always going to be people that would rather torrent than pay for a movie but the reason that I stopped downloading is simply because it’s getting simpler.
The only movie I’ve torrented recently is the Social Network and that’s because at the time it was only available to buy (very expensively) rather than to rent and seeing as I only wanted to watch it once, as with most films, I got it off the internet in no time.
I don’t know the details of why companies are resisting offering their films on services like LoveFilm, but if this had a decent selection I would be all over it like a rash and would probably never download another movie. I think companies need to employ the use of a few more carrots rather than just a big legal stick that’s currently showing to be pretty ineffective.