Is it haram to download pirated movies or software?

Yes, according to most contemporary scholars. Movies, music, games and software belong to the people who made them, and downloading them without permission is taking what isn't yours. The good news: there are plenty of free and legal alternatives, so you rarely have to choose between your faith and your entertainment.

Creative work counts as property

In classical Islamic law, property mostly meant physical things. But most contemporary scholars agree that rights over creative and technical work also have real value and deserve protection. In 1988, the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, a scholarly body of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, declared that rights such as authorship and invention are protected in Islamic law and may not be violated.

So a film, an album or a piece of software is someone's property, even though you can copy it in seconds.

Why piracy is a problem

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَأْكُلُوٓا۟ أَمْوَٰلَكُم بَيْنَكُم بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ إِلَّآ أَن تَكُونَ تِجَـٰرَةً عَن تَرَاضٍ مِّنكُمْ "O you who have believed, do not consume one another's wealth unjustly but only [in lawful] business by mutual consent." Quran 4:29

The key words are "by mutual consent." When you pay for a film or a license, the owner agrees to the deal. When you pirate it, they don't. In his farewell sermon, the Prophet ﷺ said that your blood, your property and your honor are sacred to one another (Sahih al-Bukhari 67).

Common excuses don't change this:

"It's a huge company": their property is still theirs, whatever their size.
"Everyone does it": popularity doesn't make something halal.
"I wouldn't have bought it anyway": then the honest choice is to go without, or find a free legal version.

Is there any disagreement?

A minority of scholars take a more lenient view, especially for personal use when there is no legal way to get something. But the clear majority view today is to avoid piracy. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Leave what makes you doubt for what doesn't" (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2518). With so many legal options available, the safer path is easy to take.

Halal alternatives

Your public library: many lend books, e-books, audiobooks, films and music for free, often through an app.
Free, legal streaming: some services offer films and shows with ads, with the rights holders' permission.
Open-source software: free programs exist for office work, photo editing, video and even whole operating systems.
Free tiers and discounts: student pricing, free versions and seasonal sales make paid tools much cheaper.
Public domain works: older books, films and music that are free to use.

What about files you already have?

If you pirated things before becoming Muslim or before you knew better, don't panic. Repent, delete what you can, and buy or legally replace what you actually use. See Do I have to pay back money I stole before becoming Muslim? For related questions, see Is it haram to share my Netflix password?

Key points

Most scholars treat creative and software rights as protected property.
Piracy uses someone's property without consent.
A lenient minority view exists, but avoiding doubt is safer.
Libraries, free services and open-source tools are halal options.

Tip: Before downloading anything, ask: "Did the owner agree to give me this?" If you're not sure, look for the same thing at your library or as open-source software first.