The world's archives

1,345–1,392 of 1,669 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.
Commons The Over-Incubated Baby (1901) - yt 1901 · Short · 1 min Silent film of 1901 directed by Walter R. Booth and produced by Robert W. Paul Commons Akt-Skulpturen (1903) 1903 · Short · 4 min German silent film Commons Loie-fuller- serpentine dans 1905-colored version 1905 · Short · 1 min This is "Loie-fuller- serpentine dans 1905-colored version" Commons Elisabeth Bridge of Budapest in 1906 1906 · Short · 3 min Film footage about the Elisabeth Bridge of Budapest in 1906 Commons Songs-063-There Was a Whale-play full tune 1900 · Short · 1 min The Songs of Father Goose, 1900: There Was a Whale, played from score. Commons Henrettelsen (1903) 1903 · Short · 1 min Fragment of the Danish silent film Capital Punishment. Commons Immigrants landing at Ellis Island 1903 · Short · 2 min Silent short . Commons Pearl and Pumpkin-score-Act3 Sc1 No 22-Entre-play 1905 · Short · 1 min Sheet music published by M. Witmark & Sons, New York, in 1905. Commons Steam Hammer - Westinghouse Works 1904 · Short · 3 min Silent short. Commons Songs-023-Captain Bing-play full tune 1900 · Short · 1 min The Songs of Father Goose, 1900: Captain Bing, played from score. Commons Панаѓур пред црквата „Св. Недела“ во Битола 1905 · Short · 1 min Fair at the "St. Nedela" Church in Bitola Commons Uncle Josh at the moving picture show 1902 · Short · 2 min American silent short. Commons Panorama from Times Building, New York 1905 · Short · 2 min Silent short. Commons Arrival of immigrants, Ellis Island 1906 · Short · 3 min Silent short. Commons Nervy Nat Kisses the Bride (1904) - yt 1904 · Short · 2 min Silent film by Edwin S. Porter Commons Panoramic View Aisle B., Westinghouse Works 1904 · Short · 2 min Silent short Commons Taping Coils, Westinghouse Works 1904 · Short · 2 min Silent short Commons Assembling a Generator, Westinghouse Works 1904 · Short · 3 min {Silent short. Commons Le Bailleur (1907) 1907 · Short · 4 min French silent short film. Commons Westinghouse Air Brake Co. - Westinghouse Works 1904 · Short · 3 min American silent short Commons New York City ghetto fish market 1903 · Short · 3 min Silent short. Commons The Magic Sword (1901) - yt 1901 · Short · 2 min 1901 silent film directed by Walter R. Booth and produced by Robert W. Paul Commons Westinghouse Air Brake Co.- Westinghouse Co. Works (Moulding Scene) 1904 · Short · 3 min Silent short. Commons Westinghouse Air Brake Co, Westinghouse Co. Works (Casting Scene) 1904 · Short · 3 min American short Commons Testing a Rotary, Westinghouse Works 1904 · Short · 3 min Silent short. Commons Les Cartes vivantes (1904) 1904 · Short · 2 min Silent French short Commons Rêve à la lune (1905) 1905 · Short · 6 min Rêve à la lune (1905) Commons Kaiser Wilhelm II in Denmark, 1903 1903 · Short · 2 min Danish silent short film. Commons Une dame vraiment bien (1908) 1908 · Short · 3 min Film muet. Commons Les Cocottes en papier (Segundo de Chomón, 1908) 1908 · Short · 5 min Les cocottes en papier Commons Undressing Extraordinary (1901) - yt 1901 · Short · 3 min 1901 silent film directed by Walter R. Booth and produced by Robert W. Paul Commons L'Equilibre impossible (1902) 1902 · Short · 1 min Silent French short Commons Chrysanthemums (1907) 1907 · Short · 2 min Silent French trick film. Commons Lost a pretty little dog - Cent francs à qui rapportera (1908) 1908 · Short · 3 min French silent short Commons Father Gets in the Game (1908) 1908 · Short · 8 min Father Gets in the Game Commons Champion Athletes at Birmingham (1902) 1902 · Short · 6 min Short documentary film. 1m54s = Arthur Duffey 4m55s = Samuel Symington Jones Commons La Maison tranquille 1900 · Short · 1 min What Is Home Without the Boarder Commons Un prêté pour un rendu (1904) 1904 · Short · 1 min Tit for Tat Commons Where the Breakers Roar (1908) 1908 · Short · 5 min Where the Breakers Roar (1908) Commons The Unfortunate Policeman (1905) - yt 1905 · Short · 3 min Silent film of 1905 produced by Robert W. Paul Commons Tapping a Furnace - Westinghouse Works 1904 · Short · 5 min Silent short Commons Les générations comiques (1909) 1909 · Cartoon · 3 min French silent short. Commons A touching pleading - Émouvante plaidoirie (1905) 1905 · Short · 3 min French silent trick film. Commons The Song of the Shirt (1908) 1908 · Short · 7 min The Song of the Shirt (film) Commons Pour l'étoile S.V.P. (1908) excerpt 1908 · Short · 1 min Fragment of Buncoed Stage Johnnie Commons Welding the Big Ring - Westinghouse Works 1904 · Short · 6 min Silent short Commons Casting a Guide Box - Westinghouse Works 1904 · Short · 5 min American short. Commons Dislocation mystérieuse (1901) 1901 · Short · 1 min Dislocation Extraordinary