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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →FMovies was taken down in Hanoi on August 29, 2024. The operation targeted the FMovies piracy network, its associated domains, and a related video-hosting service. ACE called it the world’s largest pirate streaming operation, while later DOJ records confirmed convictions and sentences connected to the case in April 2025.
The FMovies piracy network was taken down in Hanoi on August 29, 2024. Vietnamese authorities worked with the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) and the Ministry of Public Security to disrupt what ACE described as the world’s largest pirate streaming operation. The network included FMovies and related sites such as Bflixz, Flixtorz, Movies7, MyFlixer, and Aniwave.
The shutdown was a major enforcement action, but it did not mean that online movie piracy ended. It targeted a large, interconnected operation and its supporting infrastructure; replacement domains and other piracy services can still emerge.
What happened to FMovies?
According to ACE, Hanoi Police and Vietnamese national authorities dismantled the FMovies syndicate after an investigation into an operation that had reportedly been running since 2016. The action affected both the public-facing websites used to browse and stream titles and a related video-hosting service called Vidsrc.to.
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ACE identified Phan Thanh Cong as the alleged organizer and Nguyen Tuan Anh as an alleged accomplice. Vietnamese investigative reporting said the network was connected to nearly 50,000 films, including works owned or distributed by studios represented by the Motion Picture Association. Investigators also alleged that the operators made hundreds of thousands of dollars from advertising and related activity. Those operational details should be understood as allegations reported by Vietnamese authorities, rather than as independently established facts unless tied to a court finding.
The legal case continued after the websites were taken down. The U.S. Department of Justice says that, in April 2025, two individuals were convicted and sentenced in connection with operating FMovies. DOJ describes the prosecution as the first Vietnamese criminal copyright case to proceed to trial under the country’s 2018 criminal copyright law.
How large was the FMovies operation?
ACE reported that the syndicate’s domains received more than 6.7 billion visits between January 2023 and June 2024. It also reported nearly 374 million visits in a single month at peak scale.
ACE cited SimilarWeb data indicating that Fmoviesz.to reached the global top 280 websites across all categories during its 2023 peak and ranked 11th in the television, film, and streaming category. These figures explain why ACE called the network the “world’s largest pirate streaming operation.”
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That description should be attributed to ACE rather than treated as an independently verified ranking of every form of piracy. The available figures demonstrate extraordinary traffic and a substantial international network, but they do not prove that the operation was larger than every torrent ecosystem, illicit IPTV provider, private file-sharing network, or regional piracy service.
Why Vidsrc.to made the takedown bigger than a domain seizure
FMovies was not simply one website with one catalog. ACE said that Vidsrc.to was a video-hosting provider operated by the same suspects. The service supplied video infrastructure to hundreds of additional dedicated piracy sites.
That infrastructure connection helps explain the significance of the August 2024 action. Taking down a consumer-facing catalog site can remove one destination from search results, while disrupting a hosting component can affect many sites that depend on it. In this case, the operation appears to have targeted both the storefront and part of the supply chain behind the streams.
However, the takedown does not establish that every downstream site became permanently unreachable everywhere. Piracy networks can change domains, providers, branding, and technical infrastructure. The defensible conclusion is that the known FMovies network was severely disrupted—not that all of its possible successors, mirrors, or unrelated piracy services disappeared.
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The international investigation
The case crossed national boundaries. The alleged operators were based in Vietnam, the sites served viewers around the world, and the copyrighted movies and television programs came from international rightsholders.
ACE worked with Hanoi Police and Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security. U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Justice’s International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property program were also identified as partners in the broader enforcement effort. DOJ says that sustained ICHIP engagement with Vietnam helped support the takedown and prosecution.
The separate dates matter:
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2016 | The operation was reportedly established. |
| January 2023–June 2024 | ACE reported more than 6.7 billion visits across the syndicate’s domains. |
| August 29, 2024 | Hanoi authorities and international partners announced the takedown. |
| April 2025 | DOJ reported that two individuals were convicted and sentenced in connection with operating FMovies. |
Why users should avoid FMovies mirror sites
ACE presented the enforcement action as a consumer-safety measure as well as a copyright case, saying that it reduced risks to tens of millions of users. That does not mean every person who visited FMovies was infected, defrauded, or otherwise harmed. The available evidence supports a more careful warning: unauthorized streaming ecosystems can expose users to deceptive advertisements, aggressive redirects, unwanted downloads, fake browser alerts, and unofficial applications.
After a prominent piracy site disappears, copycat domains often present themselves as the “new” or “official” replacement. Treat claims that a mirror is safe, unchanged, or endorsed by the original operators with skepticism. Do not install an app or browser extension merely because a streaming page says it is required, and do not download a media player from an unfamiliar pop-up.
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If you visited a questionable mirror, close the page, remove any download you did not intentionally install, review recently installed browser extensions and applications, and run the security checks provided by your operating system or security software. If you entered a password or payment information, change the password through the legitimate service and monitor the relevant account.
Where can viewers watch movies and TV legally?
The safest replacement for an unauthorized streaming site is not another mirror. It is an authorized service available in your country. Options can include paid subscriptions, rental or purchase stores, and free ad-supported services. Availability changes by territory and by title, and a subscription to one service does not guarantee access to a particular film or series.
For viewers who want a simple way to use supported services on a television, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is one legal streaming-device option. Amazon’s Fire TV documentation lists supported applications including Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Pluto TV, and Tubi, although app availability, subscriptions, and regional access vary. The device provides access to supported apps; it does not provide automatic access to every title or make unauthorized sources legitimate.
Before subscribing, check the official service or a reputable legal availability guide for the specific title you want to watch. Licensing can differ between countries and can change over time.
Is the FMovies network really “dead”?
The original August 2024 takedown was real and significant, and the later convictions and sentences marked an additional legal milestone. But “dead” is too broad if it means that all piracy connected to the people, domains, technology, or audience vanished permanently.
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- Compact without compromises: Our sleek design won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, and it even powers from your TV alone, plugging into the back and staying out of sight. No wall outlet, no extra cords, no clutter.
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote. Use your voice to quickly search, play entertainment, and more.
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A more accurate description is that the FMovies syndicate was dismantled or disrupted by a coordinated international enforcement action. Its reported scale, the involvement of Vidsrc.to, and the subsequent prosecution make the case unusually important. They also show why shutting down a large piracy network is different from eliminating online copyright infringement altogether.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was FMovies shut down?
The FMovies network was taken down on August 29, 2024, in an operation involving Hanoi Police, Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security, ACE, and international partners. The action targeted FMovies, related domains, and the associated Vidsrc.to hosting service.
How big was the FMovies piracy network?
ACE reported more than 6.7 billion visits across the syndicate’s domains from January 2023 through June 2024 and nearly 374 million visits in one month at peak scale. ACE called it the world’s largest pirate streaming operation, although that comparison should be attributed and does not cover every form of piracy.
Did the FMovies shutdown end online piracy?
No. The takedown disrupted a major network, but it did not eliminate online piracy or guarantee that every possible mirror and replacement domain would remain offline permanently.
What happened to the people behind FMovies?
Two individuals were convicted and sentenced in April 2025 in connection with operating FMovies, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The convictions were a later legal milestone, separate from the August 2024 website takedown.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: FMovies and its associated streaming network were taken down in Hanoi on August 29, 2024, after an international investigation. ACE reported billions of visits and described the operation as the world’s largest pirate streaming network; two people were later convicted and sentenced in April 2025. The action disrupted a major piracy infrastructure, but it did not end online piracy. Avoid mirror sites and use authorized streaming services instead.
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