The world's archives

913–960 of 1,846 films, free to watch, from the world's open archives.

Where these films come from, and who sees what

Every film here plays from the archive that keeps it: the Internet Archive, Wikimedia Commons, the NASA Image and Video Library, the Library of Congress and Open Images (the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision). Nothing is copied to this site. Each film's page names its archive, links to its page there, and states its licence or status as the archive does.

Archive films carry no age ratings, so each is placed from the collections it sits in and the subjects the archive gives it, cautiously. Sexual content and nudity are left out altogether.

Little OnesFilms for young children by name: nursery rhymes, lullabies, preschool.
KidsCartoons and animation, children's and family films, and educational films, unless they deal with war, propaganda, crime, horror or drugs, or carry racial caricature.
TweensDocumentaries, science, nature and space, classic comedies, newsreels, commercials and lectures.
TeensEverything else, including anything we cannot tell about; war, crime, horror and westerns go no lower.
AdultSexual themes (such as the old "sex hygiene" films), gore, surgery, slaughter, atrocity footage.
Internet Archive The Great Local Derby: Accrington v Church Cricket Match 1902 · Feature Internet Archive Trial Marriages 1907 · Feature Internet Archive A Race for a Monkey 1909 · Feature Internet Archive Burnley v Manchester United 1902 · Feature Internet Archive Pendlebury Colliery 1901 · Feature Internet Archive Fireman Rescuing Men and Women 1901 · Feature Internet Archive Sheffield United v Bury 1902 · Feature Internet Archive Torpedo Flotilla Visit to Manchester 1901 · Feature Internet Archive Promenade du dragon à Cholon 1902 · Feature Internet Archive Danse indienne 1902 · Feature Internet Archive Diving Lucy 1904 · Feature Internet Archive Exercises de lances 1903 · Feature Internet Archive Duo (1900) Directed By Marguerite Vrignault 1900 · Feature Duo (1900) Director: Marguerite Vrignault Singing “La Chanson du tambour-major” Internet Archive Starting a Skyscraper 1902 · Feature Internet Archive Preston Egg Rolling 1901 · Feature Internet Archive Enfants annamites ramassant des sapèques devant la Pagode des Dames 1902 · Feature Internet Archive Dewsbury v Manningham 1902 · Feature Internet Archive Photographing a Country Couple 1901 · Feature Internet Archive Le char funèbre 1902 · Feature Internet Archive The Georgetown Loop (Colorado) 1903 · Feature Internet Archive Manchester Band of Hope Procession 1901 · Feature Internet Archive Nice: Panorama sur la ligne de Baulieu à Monaco 1901 · Feature Internet Archive Nice: Sa Majesté Carnaval et le char des Limonadiers 1901 · Feature Internet Archive Special March Past of St. Joseph's Scholars and Special Parade of St. Matthew's Pupils, Blackburn 1905 · Feature Internet Archive Morecambe Church Lads' Parade at Drill 1901 · Feature Internet Archive M. le Président de la République sur la Jetée Promenade 1902 · Feature Internet Archive Retour du Cortège après le Couronnement: Le Roi 1903 · Feature Internet Archive Panoramic View of the Golden Gate 1902 · Feature Internet Archive The Great Train Robbery 1903 · Educational The Great Train Robbery Produced: 1903 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: [part 1]… Internet Archive Fleur De L’ame (1900) Directed By Marguerite Vrignault 1900 · Feature Fleur de l’ame (1900) Director: Marguerite Vrignault Internet Archive 1900-1909 1900 · Cartoon Public domain cartoons of 1900-1909. Work in progress. Corrections on copyright status welcome. Internet Archive The Unappreciated Joke 1903 · Short A very short silent comedy from Edison's studios. Internet Archive Safety briefing from CHC Helikopter Service 1900 · Short · 5 min This is a safety briefing from CHC Helikopter Service, especially for offshore personel who is making flight with helicopters to drillingstations at sea. This… Internet Archive Fransch Heertje zonder pantalon aan het strand te Zandvoort 1905 · Short · 4 min Willy Mullens werkte eerst als levende kanonskogel op de Haagse kermis maar toen na een ongelukkig voorval (Willy werd knock-out geslagen door een kangoeroe)… Internet Archive An introduction to offshore safety 1900 · Short · 18 min An introduction to offshore safety, made for people working offshore on drilling-platforms, for example. Technical coordinator: Ray Street Editor: Bob Rootes… Internet Archive Stop that noise! 1900 · Short · 22 min Stop that noise! A Health & Safety information film about noise, made by B.S.(T.E.S.) Ltd. Video Unit Internet Archive How to Shut Up a Quarrelsome Wife 1902 · Educational How to Shut Up a Quarrelsome Wife Covers: ca. 1902–ca. 1903 https://catalog.archives.gov/id/5780 Internet Archive Helicopty Safety 1900 · Short · 26 min Exxon Company USA - Helicopter Safety Instructions Unfortunately this video is black and white and we don't know why. We will replace it with a color-version… Internet Archive (INDIA.) 1900 · Educational (INDIA.) Produced: 1900 Description Shown without subtitles, miscellaneous scenes of life and activities in India. Contains several sequences of market… Internet Archive JAPAN, EGYPT, ETC 1900 · Educational JAPAN, EGYPT, ETC Produced: 1900 Description Shows unrelated sequences without subtitles. Part 1 shows a Japanese flower market and groups of children at a… Internet Archive Chicks Made to Order 1902 · Educational Chicks Made to Order Covers: ca. 1902–ca. 1903 Description This film depicts Katheryn Osterman breaking an egg into a plate. As the content reaches the plate,… Internet Archive PB2Y-3 LANDS AND CRASHES (Photographed in 1943); DESTROYER USS COLE BEING REFUELD AT SEA (Photographed in 1940); GERMAN DIRIGIBLE (HINDENBURG) EXPLODES AND BURNS AT LAKEHURST, NEW JERSEY… 1906 · Educational PB2Y-3 LANDS AND CRASHES (Photographed in 1943); DESTROYER USS COLE BEING REFUELD AT SEA (Photographed in 1940); GERMAN DIRIGIBLE (HINDENBURG) EXPLODES AND… Internet Archive JAPANESE SCENES 1900 · Educational JAPANESE SCENES Produced: 1900 Description Summary: Shows, without subtitles, various activities in Japan: A man uses a long pole to navigate his small boat… Internet Archive OLYMPIC GAMES, ETC 1900 · Educational OLYMPIC GAMES, ETC Produced: 1900 Description Shows unrelated sequences without subtitles. Part 1: Dignitaries arrive at the stadium for the Olympic Games.… Internet Archive Shut Up: American Mutoscope and Biograph Film 1902 · Educational Shut Up: American Mutoscope and Biograph Film Produced: 1902 https://catalog.archives.gov/id/5779 Internet Archive Robinson Crusoe ( 1902) Directed By Georges Méliès 1902 · Feature Robinson Crusoe (1902) 'Les Aventures de Robinson Crusoé' Director: Georges Méliès Robinson Crusoe (French: Les aventures de Robinson Crusoë) is a 1902 French… Internet Archive INDIA 1900 · Educational INDIA Produced: 1900 Description Shows, without subtitles, scenes in an Indian city. Consists mostly of panoramic views of street scenes showing market… Internet Archive VENICE, ROME, JAPAN, ETC 1900 · Educational VENICE, ROME, JAPAN, ETC Produced: 1900 Description Shows unrelated sequences without subtitles. Parts 1 & 3 show scenes along the canals of Venice. Part 2…