diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index cd8856828..7c6301325 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -237,6 +237,8 @@ Alternatively, refer to the [developer instructions](#developer-instructions) fo
                                      characters, and avoid "&" and spaces in
                                      filenames
     -w, --no-overwrites              Do not overwrite files
+    --yes-overwrites                 Overwrite all video and metadata files.
+                                     This option includes --no-continue.
     -c, --continue                   Force resume of partially downloaded files.
                                      By default, youtube-dl will resume
                                      downloads if possible.
diff --git a/devscripts/run_tests.sh b/devscripts/run_tests.sh
index dd37a80f5..353d21cf3 100755
--- a/devscripts/run_tests.sh
+++ b/devscripts/run_tests.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
 # Keep this list in sync with the `offlinetest` target in Makefile
-DOWNLOAD_TESTS="age_restriction|download|iqiyi_sdk_interpreter|socks|subtitles|write_annotations|youtube_lists|youtube_signature"
+DOWNLOAD_TESTS="age_restriction|download|iqiyi_sdk_interpreter|overwrites|socks|subtitles|write_annotations|youtube_lists|youtube_signature"
 
 test_set=""
 multiprocess_args=""
diff --git a/test/test_overwrites.py b/test/test_overwrites.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0705d276d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test_overwrites.py
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
+import os
+from os.path import join
+import subprocess
+import sys
+import unittest
+sys.path.insert(0, os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))))
+
+from test.helper import try_rm
+
+
+root_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
+download_file = join(root_dir, 'test.webm')
+
+
+class TestOverwrites(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        # create an empty file
+        open(download_file, 'a').close()
+
+    def test_default_overwrites(self):
+        outp = subprocess.Popen(
+            [
+                sys.executable, 'youtube_dl/__main__.py',
+                '-o', 'test.webm',
+                'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNQXAC9IVRw'
+            ], cwd=root_dir, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
+        sout, serr = outp.communicate()
+        self.assertTrue(b'has already been downloaded' in sout)
+        # if the file has no content, it has not been redownloaded
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.getsize(download_file) < 1)
+
+    def test_yes_overwrites(self):
+        outp = subprocess.Popen(
+            [
+                sys.executable, 'youtube_dl/__main__.py', '--yes-overwrites',
+                '-o', 'test.webm',
+                'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNQXAC9IVRw'
+            ], cwd=root_dir, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
+        sout, serr = outp.communicate()
+        self.assertTrue(b'has already been downloaded' not in sout)
+        # if the file has no content, it has not been redownloaded
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.getsize(download_file) > 1)
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        try_rm(join(root_dir, 'test.webm'))
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    unittest.main()
diff --git a/youtube_dl/YoutubeDL.py b/youtube_dl/YoutubeDL.py
index 19370f62b..f804c2f38 100755
--- a/youtube_dl/YoutubeDL.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/YoutubeDL.py
@@ -166,6 +166,7 @@ class YoutubeDL(object):
     restrictfilenames: Do not allow "&" and spaces in file names
     ignoreerrors:      Do not stop on download errors.
     force_generic_extractor: Force downloader to use the generic extractor
+    overwrites:        Overwrite all video and metadata files.
     nooverwrites:      Prevent overwriting files.
     playliststart:     Playlist item to start at.
     playlistend:       Playlist item to end at.
@@ -631,6 +632,13 @@ class YoutubeDL(object):
         except UnicodeEncodeError:
             self.to_screen('[download] The file has already been downloaded')
 
+    def report_file_delete(self, file_name):
+        """Report that existing file will be deleted."""
+        try:
+            self.to_screen('Deleting already existent file %s' % file_name)
+        except UnicodeEncodeError:
+            self.to_screen('Deleting already existent file')
+
     def prepare_filename(self, info_dict):
         """Generate the output filename."""
         try:
@@ -1903,11 +1911,15 @@ class YoutubeDL(object):
                             'Requested formats are incompatible for merge and will be merged into mkv.')
                     # Ensure filename always has a correct extension for successful merge
                     filename = '%s.%s' % (filename_wo_ext, info_dict['ext'])
-                    if os.path.exists(encodeFilename(filename)):
+                    file_exists = os.path.exists(encodeFilename(filename))
+                    if not self.params.get('overwrites', False) and file_exists:
                         self.to_screen(
                             '[download] %s has already been downloaded and '
                             'merged' % filename)
                     else:
+                        if file_exists:
+                            self.report_file_delete(filename)
+                            os.remove(encodeFilename(filename))
                         for f in requested_formats:
                             new_info = dict(info_dict)
                             new_info.update(f)
@@ -1922,6 +1934,11 @@ class YoutubeDL(object):
                         info_dict['__postprocessors'] = postprocessors
                         info_dict['__files_to_merge'] = downloaded
                 else:
+                    # Delete existing file with --yes-overwrites
+                    if self.params.get('overwrites', False):
+                        if os.path.exists(encodeFilename(filename)):
+                            self.report_file_delete(filename)
+                            os.remove(encodeFilename(filename))
                     # Just a single file
                     success = dl(filename, info_dict)
             except (compat_urllib_error.URLError, compat_http_client.HTTPException, socket.error) as err:
diff --git a/youtube_dl/__init__.py b/youtube_dl/__init__.py
index 9a659fc65..42bbdfdb8 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/__init__.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/__init__.py
@@ -174,6 +174,11 @@ def _real_main(argv=None):
         opts.max_sleep_interval = opts.sleep_interval
     if opts.ap_mso and opts.ap_mso not in MSO_INFO:
         parser.error('Unsupported TV Provider, use --ap-list-mso to get a list of supported TV Providers')
+    if opts.overwrites:
+        if opts.nooverwrites:
+            parser.error('--yes-overwrites conflicts with --no-overwrites')
+        # --yes-overwrites implies --no-continue
+        opts.continue_dl = False
 
     def parse_retries(retries):
         if retries in ('inf', 'infinite'):
@@ -347,6 +352,7 @@ def _real_main(argv=None):
         'force_generic_extractor': opts.force_generic_extractor,
         'ratelimit': opts.ratelimit,
         'nooverwrites': opts.nooverwrites,
+        'overwrites': opts.overwrites,
         'retries': opts.retries,
         'fragment_retries': opts.fragment_retries,
         'skip_unavailable_fragments': opts.skip_unavailable_fragments,
diff --git a/youtube_dl/options.py b/youtube_dl/options.py
index 6d5ac62b3..ed91edeea 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/options.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/options.py
@@ -717,6 +717,10 @@ def parseOpts(overrideArguments=None):
         '-w', '--no-overwrites',
         action='store_true', dest='nooverwrites', default=False,
         help='Do not overwrite files')
+    filesystem.add_option(
+        '--yes-overwrites',
+        action='store_true', dest='overwrites', default=False,
+        help='Overwrite all video and metadata files. This option includes --no-continue.')
     filesystem.add_option(
         '-c', '--continue',
         action='store_true', dest='continue_dl', default=True,