Fans of free online streaming hit a brick wall last week when popular movie streaming site Popcorn Time was shut down. While it offered a legal alternative in Butter, several sites have already started jostling for the top spot that Popcorn Time has left behind.

Popcorn Time has experienced several difficulties in the past but it has always bounced back, thanks to its numerous forks. But now it seems the streaming service, which has been known as the "Netflix for Piracy," has been shut down for good as PopcornTime.io is now offline as well.

Popcorn Time's troubles started in the last two weeks of October, when most of its developers and engineers left in fear that a new VPN service would lead to lawsuits. While the programmers left behind tried to keep the site running, it turned out to be a losing battle as the main Popcorn Time site was eventually shuttered. Other forks might still be up but it's reportedly not as safe or malware-free as the original.

However, Popcorn Time's spin-off – Butter - is offering the same service but without "the parts that made people wary."

In order to avoid the problems that the illegal streaming of BitTorrent films caused, Butter is looking to utilize sources that host open content. The site is also looking to connect with independent film makers who are looking for an avenue to show their works.

Of course, it didn't take long for other sites to start muscling in on the void that Popcorn Time has left behind. The "Inquisitr" has even enumerated ten such alternatives.

However, one site with a similar domain, popcorn-time.se, seems bent on continuing Popcorn Time's work and claims that the Popcorn Time service will never be taken down.

Another alternative that users can look into to get their streaming fix is Streamio, which was previously known as Cinematic. Like Popcorn Time, the site also uses the Peerflix engine and is also a click-and-play streaming site.

Popcorn Time's run might have ended, but it's doubtful that the essence of this free video streaming service will truly disappear.