Landing on Movies Torrents - Page 1 was a sensory overload in the best way possible. Unlike the sterile interfaces of today’s legal streaming services, ET’s front page was raw, chaotic, and efficient.
You were greeted by:
The text you shared is a header from ExtraTorrent , which was once one of the most prominent torrent indexing websites in the world. Here is the brief history of its sudden end: The Voluntary Shutdown May 17, 2017
, ExtraTorrent abruptly ceased all operations. Visitors were met with a simple, stark message:
"ExtraTorrent has shut down permanently... We permanently erase all data. Stay away from fake ExtraTorrent websites and clones." Why it Closed
The exact reason for the shutdown was never officially detailed by its operator, known as . However, several factors likely contributed: Legal Pressure:
The shutdown followed high-profile arrests and site seizures, such as that of the owner of KickAssTorrents (Artem Vaulin) just a year prior. Domain Issues:
In the months leading up to the closure, the site’s main domain had been suspended by its registrar, forcing it to rely on mirrors. Release Groups: Along with the site, its famous internal release group, , also retired. Beware of Clones
Shortly after the official site went offline, several "mirrors" like extratorrent.cd
appeared. Most of these were identified by security experts as dangerous clones
or "skins" for other databases (like The Pirate Bay) that often contained malicious software. Landing on Movies Torrents - Page 1 was
As of 2026, there are no "official" versions of ExtraTorrent left, as the original database was completely wiped by its creators upon closing.
ExtraTorrent.cc permanently shut down in May 2017, with all original data wiped by its operator, making any currently active sites unofficial clones or mirrors. While some proxies like ext.to remain accessible in 2026, many imitations pose security risks, leading users to alternatives such as The Pirate Bay, 1337x, and YTS. For more information, visit the Wikipedia entry on ExtraTorrent. ExtraTorrent Shuts Down For Good - Digit e-Magazine
The original ExtraTorrent.cc voluntarily and permanently shut down on May 17, 2017. At the time, it was the world’s second-largest torrent site after The Pirate Bay. Current Status (April 2026)
The Original is Dead: The official site administrator, known as SaM, wiped all data and left a farewell message stating the site would not return.
Beware of Clones: Any site currently using the ExtraTorrent name (such as those with .cd, .st, or .ch extensions) is a unofficial clone or mirror.
Security Risks: Many modern ExtraTorrent clones have been reported to bundle downloads with malware and redirect users to fraudulent or malicious websites. Why Did it Shut Down?
While no official reason was given beyond SaM's "It's time we say goodbye" message, the shutdown followed a period of intense legal pressure on major torrent sites. This included:
Legal Crackdowns: The arrest of the owner of KickAssTorrents (Artem Vaulin) just months prior created a chilling effect in the industry.
Domain Issues: Registrar Subreg.cz had previously locked the site's main domain following court orders.
Targeting Infrastructure: Authorities increasingly targeted release groups; ExtraTorrent’s in-house group, ETRG, was also disbanded during the shutdown. Safer Alternatives Which of these would you prefer
If you are looking for verified content or open-source software, established alternatives include:
I can’t help create or promote content that facilitates copyright infringement (including making or distributing torrent site content). If you’d like, I can instead:
Which of these would you prefer?
Paper Title: The Rise and Fall of ExtraTorrent: A Case Study in BitTorrent Systems and Digital Piracy I. Introduction
Direct Answer/Thesis: ExtraTorrent (ET), founded in 2006, was once the world’s second-largest BitTorrent index, playing a pivotal role in the global distribution of digital media until its sudden voluntary closure in May 2017.
The BitTorrent Protocol: Unlike traditional downloads, BitTorrent uses a peer-to-peer (P2P) "swarm" system where files are split into pieces and shared among users simultaneously, reducing the load on a single server.
Research Focus: This paper examines ExtraTorrent’s operational history, its impact on the film industry, and the legal pressures that eventually led to its demise. II. The Evolution of ExtraTorrent (2006–2017)
Founding and Growth: Launched by an administrator known as "SaM," ExtraTorrent filled the vacuum left by the decline of early giants like Mininova.
Community and Release Groups: ExtraTorrent was unique for hosting dedicated release groups like ETRG, Ettv, and Ethd, which provided high-quality encodes of movies and TV shows.
Global Ranking: At its peak, it was the 291st most visited website globally according to Alexa rankings. III. Technical Infrastructure: The BitTorrent System That was the jackpot
Index vs. Tracker: ExtraTorrent served as an index—a searchable directory of magnet links and .torrent files—rather than hosting the actual copyrighted content itself.
Efficiency: The P2P protocol allowed for the rapid distribution of multi-gigabyte files (like 4K movies), which currently accounts for a significant portion of all global internet traffic. IV. Legal Challenges and Permanent Shutdown
The "Cat and Mouse" Game: Like many torrent sites, ET faced constant domain seizures and registrar suspensions (e.g., losing its .com and .cc domains periodically).
The 2017 Closure: On May 17, 2017, ExtraTorrent went offline permanently. The site’s homepage was replaced with a message stating all data had been erased and warning users to stay away from fake mirrors.
Motivations for Shutdown: While no official reason was given, it is widely believed that increasing legal pressure from organizations like the MPAA and RIAA, following the arrest of the KickassTorrents (KAT) owner, influenced the decision. ExtraTorrent Joins Kickass Torrents in Permanent Shutdown
ExtraTorrent rose to become the world's second-largest BitTorrent index by 2016, lauded for its active community and verified content. Following a voluntary shutdown in May 2017 to avoid legal repercussions, the site's creators permanently erased all data, rendering subsequent "official" revivals illegitimate. Read the full story at
The website mentioned, ExtraTorrent.cc, was indeed one of the most popular torrent sites on the internet, often used for sharing and downloading various types of content, including movies. However, as of my last update, the site has been shut down.
Movies have always been a significant part of the content shared through torrent systems. These systems, also known as peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, allow users to share files with each other directly. Here's a detailed overview of how torrent systems work and their impact on the movie industry:
On Page 1 of the movie section, you learned the economics of bandwidth. A healthy torrent had a green bar stretching far to the right. The numbers told the story:
That was the jackpot. A ratio like that meant you could download a 2GB 1080p rip of Interstellar in roughly eight minutes on a decent connection. If the seeds were low and leeches high, you’d be stuck at 87% for three days—a rite of passage for any torrent user.
While platforms like ExtraTorrent.cc provided access to a vast array of content, they also raised significant legal and ethical concerns. Many of the torrents available on such sites often involved copyrighted material being shared without permission. This led to a cat-and-mouse game between content creators/distributors and those hosting or using torrent sites. The legality of torrenting itself is a gray area; it is the act of sharing copyrighted material without permission that is illegal in many jurisdictions.
The website was designed to facilitate easy navigation and search functionality. Users could browse through various categories or use the search bar to find specific movies or content. Each torrent listing provided details such as the file size, number of seeders and leechers (users uploading and downloading the file, respectively), and the number of peers (total users currently downloading or uploading the file).