How & Where to Watch Sleepy Hollow for Free in 2024: Tim Burton’s Headless Horseman Movie
Tim Burton is known for his fantasy-horror-romance movies, and 'Sleepy Hollow' (1999) is another masterful mash-up. His take on the story of the Headless Horseman stars Johnny Depp as Ichabod Crane and differs from the original tale. Here’s how and where to watch 'Sleepy Hollow' online.
Written by Sandra Pattison (Editor)
Reviewed by Samuel Chapman (Editor)
Facts checked by Jasna Mishevska (Lead Fact-Checking Editor)
Last Updated: 2024-02-08T13:27:00+00:00
All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.
Key Takeaways: Where to Watch Sleepy Hollow
- ‘Sleepy Hollow’ (1999) is available on Max in the U.S., Paramount Plus in Germany and Stan in Australia.
- If you want to watch it for free, both Stan and Paramount Plus offer a free trial.
- If you’re outside of those countries, you can use a VPN to watch the movie. We suggest using ExpressVPN.
Not available in your country?
Watch Sleepy Hollow now on Stan
Status checked 2024/04/26:
It’s been over 20 years since Johnny Depp starred as Ichabod Crane in the hit movie ‘Sleepy Hollow’. The Tim Burton fantasy-horror movie, loosely based on the classic story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving, is a Halloween classic that holds up to this day. Keep reading to learn how and where to watch ‘Sleepy Hollow’ online.
There are plenty of ways to buy or rent Burton movies such as ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas,’ but not so many options for only streaming it. We’ll point you to all your choices within this article and even show you how you can stream ‘Sleepy Hollow’ for free on Stan by using its free trial.
Keep in mind that streaming options are limited to certain regions. If you try to access a service that’s not available where you’re located, you’ll be stopped by geoblocks. Don’t worry, though. A virtual private network (VPN) can get you past these blocks. We recommend using the best overall VPN, ExpressVPN, which you can try out yourself using the 30-day money-back guarantee.
Where to Watch Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Although there aren’t a ton of places to stream the 1999 Tim Burton movie ‘Sleepy Hollow’, there are thankfully at least a few reliable sources.
If you’re in the U.S., you can stream ‘Sleepy Hollow’ on DirecTV Stream or Max (formerly HBO Max). This also includes via the Max add-on that’s available on Amazon Prime Video and Hulu.
Outside of the U.S., we found ‘Sleepy Hollow’ on Paramount+ in Germany and Stan in Australia, both of which offer a free trial. If you’re not in the U.S., Germany or Australia, you can use a VPN to access any of these platforms. You can also rent or purchase the movie on Google Play, Apple TV or YouTube.
Is Sleepy Hollow on Netflix?
Unfortunately, we didn’t find ‘Sleepy Hollow’ in any Netflix libraries. Netflix’s content varies in different countries, and libraries change regularly. We don’t know for sure if the Headless Horseman will ever ride onto a Netflix platform, so it’s a good idea to check different Netflix libraries yourself.
How to Unblock Netflix U.S. and Other Libraries
Accessing other countries’ Netflix libraries is a breeze as long as you have a decent Netflix VPN. When you connect to a VPN server in a different country, you’re able to access the content available there, including that country’s Netflix library. You can check multiple Netflix regions by connecting to servers in different countries and logging into your Netflix account.
How to Watch Sleepy Hollow Free With a VPN
In this section, we’ll show you how to stream ‘Sleepy Hollow’ for free by signing up for a free trial with Stan in Australia. You can do the same with Paramount Plus in Germany — just change the steps where needed. We’ve used ExpressVPN for this example.
- Sign Up for a VPN
Sign up for a VPN like ExpressVPN, which comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Install the VPN App
Download and install the VPN app on the device on which you want to stream. Open the app and log in to your account.
- Connect to a Server in Australia
Open ExpressVPN’s server list by clicking the three dots by the country name. Use the search bar or browse the list to find an Australian server. Then, click on the server to connect. If it doesn’t connect right away, click the big power button.
- Sign Up for a Stan Free Trial
Go to the Stan website and sign up for a free trial. An Australian postcode is required, but you can easily find one using Google. You can’t sign up using a non-Australian debit card, but PayPal works fine no matter what country it’s registered in.
- Start Streaming Sleepy Hollow
Search for ‘Sleepy Hollow’ and start streaming it on Stan. If you don’t want to pay for the service after the trial ends, make sure to set a reminder to cancel your account once you’ve finished watching the movie.
The Best VPNs to Stream Sleepy Hollow
If you’re not in a country that has ‘Sleepy Hollow’, you need a VPN that can easily bypass geoblocks and access the service that you want. Fast speeds and plenty of servers are also important. Let’s get into our recommendations, starting with our favorite pick, ExpressVPN.
1. ExpressVPN
Pros:
- Fast streaming speeds
- Servers in 94 countries
- Unlocks all streaming apps
Cons:
- Expensive plans
ExpressVPN is usually our first pick when it comes to streaming shows and movies. That’s because it’s fast, has servers in 94 countries and can easily unblock any streaming service.
It has easy-to-use apps that can be installed on most device types. If you have a streaming device that doesn’t support a VPN app, such as a Roku, ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer will allow you to unblock content and services without the need for the full app. Just keep in mind that using MediaStreamer will mean your connection is unencrypted.
ExpressVPN is an expensive service, but opting for the annual plan will save you some money in the long run. It’s well worth the money, but you can see for yourself by using the 30-day money-back guarantee to test it. See our ExpressVPN review for more information.
- Unlimited GB
- 8
- Yes
2. NordVPN
Pros:
- Fastest VPN speeds
- Thousands of servers
- Interactive server map
Cons:
- Poor server map on mobile
- High latency on distant servers
NordVPN is a more affordable option for streaming. Signing up for two years costs less than $4 per month. We know that sounds like a long time, but there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you have time to make sure you like it. For that cost, you get servers in 60 countries, the fastest average speeds and the ability to unblock streaming services.
Its app is secure, easy to use and includes a neat server map that you can drag around and connect to a server with a single click. However, while it’s good on a desktop, it can be a struggle to keep track of where you are on a smaller mobile screen. NordVPN also has a built-in ad blocker, which does a good job of bypassing video ads. Read our NordVPN review for more.
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 6
- Yes
3. Proton VPN
Pros:
- Free unlimited data plan
- Accesses streaming services
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Paid plans are pricey
Our last recommendation is Proton VPN, a free option you can use to stream ‘Sleepy Hollow’ on Max in the U.S. While we don’t usually recommend free VPNs due to security and privacy concerns, Proton VPN is a premium VPN that has a free version. With that, you get unlimited data and the use of servers in the U.S., the Netherlands and Japan.
Proton VPN can get into streaming services and its speeds are decent, though its free servers can get overloaded. The paid plan provides access to more servers if you need them, but it’s not the cheapest option. Read our Proton VPN review for more or try the full version with the 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Unlimited GB
- 1
- Yes
- Unlimited GB
- 5
- Yes
Sleepy Hollow Cast, Characters & Plot (No Spoilers)
There have been many adaptations of the tale of the Headless Horseman over the years, but Tim Burton’s ‘Sleepy Hollow’ is one of the most popular. The 1999 horror film, set in 1799, follows New York City police constable Ichabod Crane as he is sent to Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of decapitations in the rural New York village.
The villagers believe that the offender is none other than the Headless Horseman, a spirit out of local legend, but Ichabod thinks the suggestion is nonsense. He’s a man of science and believes that a proper criminal investigation will unearth the real culprit.
Tim Burton’s portrayal of Ichabod Crane paints an intelligent, quirky character, who’s also nervous, easily frightened and far from hero-worthy. The movie cleverly mixes horror, mystery, fantasy and drama.
| Character | Performer |
|---|---|
| ‘Ichabod Crane’ | Johnny Depp |
| ‘Headless Horseman’ | Christopher Walken |
| ‘Katrina Van Tassel’ | Christina Ricci |
| ‘Lady Van Tassel’ | Miranda Richardson |
| ‘Baltus Van Tassel’ | Michael Gambon |
| ‘Lady Crane’ | Lisa Marie |
| ‘Brom Van Brunt’ | Casper Van Dien |
| ‘Young Masbath’ | Marc Pickering |
| ‘Jonathan Masbath’ | Mark Spalding |
| ‘Killian’ | Steven Waddington |
| ‘Beth Killian’ | Claire Skinner |
| ‘Sarah’ | Jessica Oyelowo |
| ‘Burgomaster’ | Christopher Lee |
| ‘Doctor Lancaster’ | Ian McDiarmid |
| ‘High Constable’ | Alun Armstrong |
| ‘Reverend Steenwyck’ | Jeffrey Jones |
| ‘Magistrate Philipse’ | Richard Griffiths |
| ‘Notary Hardenbrook’ | Michael Gough |
What Is the Sleepy Hollow Series?
Just to make sure we’re on the same page, this article isn’t about the 2013 TV series of the same name. The ‘Sleepy Hollow’ series ran for four seasons, from 2013 to 2017, presenting a more modern addition to the Headless Horseman story.
The show imagines that the little village of Sleepy Hollow has grown into a thriving city. Ichabod Crane is resurrected two and a half centuries after his death and befriends Abbie Mills, a detective who witnessed supernatural events in her childhood.
The Headless Horseman is resurrected along with Ichabod Crane, and his murderous rampage is soon wreaking havoc on the city. Crane has to solve a mystery that dates back to the time of the founding fathers. He and Abbie work together to stop the Headless Horseman and an impending apocalypse.
The series starred Tom Mison as Ichabod Crane and Nicole Beharie as Abbie. Other actors and actresses include John Noble, Lyndie Greenwood, Rachel Melvin and John Cho. If you want to watch the series, you can find it on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney Plus in other countries.
Final Thoughts
If you’re after a fantasy horror with a hint of mystery this Halloween, ‘Sleepy Hollow’ (1999) is worthy of any Halloween movie list. The Headless Horseman movie is gory, scary and has a bit of humor.
If you’re not in a country where ‘Sleepy Hollow’ is available, you can use a VPN to stream it. We recommend using ExpressVPN, and its 30-day money-back guarantee means you can try it risk-free.
For more movie or series titles, head to our streaming archives page, or check out our guide on where to watch ‘Halloween‘ movie series in order.
Which service will you stream ‘Sleepy Hollow’ on? Will you need a VPN to access it? If so, which VPN will you use? What’s your favorite version of the Headless Horseman tale? Let us know in the comment section and, as always, thank you for reading.
FAQ: Stream Sleepy Hollow Online
‘Sleepy Hollow’ (1999) is available on Max in the U.S., Stan in Australia and Paramount+ in Germany.
Unfortunately, there are no free options for watching ‘Sleepy Hollow’. However, you can get a free trial of Stan (Australia) or Paramount Plus (Germany) and watch it for free that way.
No, the horror movie ‘Sleepy Hollow’ (1999) is not available on Hulu. However, you can get the Max add-on and watch it there. You can also watch the 2013 ‘Sleepy Hollow’ TV series on Hulu.