The world's archives

529–576 of 3,392 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 [San Francisco Ironworkers Strike] 1917 · Film · Subtitles San Francisco, California. [?] Ironworkers strike. Includes destruction of streetcar. Internet Archive [Gould can 5423.6] 1912 · Film · Subtitles Unknown footage from Lewis material involving collapsing stairs. (Lewis shot footage of Chinatown, San Francisco, California). Internet Archive Seeing America's Greatest Chinatown: San Francisco (Part II) 1912 · Film · Subtitles Chinatown, San Francisco, California: Captain Lewis was a licensed Chinatown guide; these films represent what was salvaged from a multi-reel film. Chinese… Internet Archive [Gould can 5314 -- Extra.1] 1919 · Film · Subtitles San Francisco's own 363rd Regiment returns to the city / Ferry pulling into the pier / dignitaries on hand including Mayor Rolph / parade up Market Street… Internet Archive Shanghaied (1915) Directed By Charlie Chaplin 1915 · Feature Shanghaied Swedish theatrical poster Directed by Charlie Chaplin Written by Charlie Chaplin Produced by Jess Robbins Starring Charlie Chaplin Edna Purviance… Internet Archive A Woman (1915) Directed By Charlie Chaplin 1915 · Feature A Woman French theatrical poster to A Woman Directed by Charlie Chaplin Written by Charlie Chaplin Produced by Jess Robbins Starring Charlie Chaplin Charles… Internet Archive The Fireman (1916) Directed By Charlie Chaplin 1916 · Feature Directed by Charlie Chaplin Edward Brewer (technical director) Written by Charlie Chaplin (scenario) Vincent Bryan (scenario) Maverick Terrell (scenario)… Internet Archive The Student of Prague 1913 · Feature Internet Archive Hell's Hinges (1916) 1916 · Feature I've been researching newly public domain films from 1929 and earlier, along with other pictures of the era that I find interesting, so I'm uploading the best… Internet Archive Blind Husbands (1919) 1919 · Feature I've been researching newly public domain films from 1929 and earlier, so I'm uploading the best possible copies that I can find. The first film directed by… Internet Archive The Count (1916) Directed By Charlie Chaplin 1916 · Feature Theatrical release poster Directed by Charlie Chaplin Edward Brewer (technical director) Written by Charlie Chaplin (scenario) Vincent Bryan (scenario)… Internet Archive Spartacus 1914 · Feature Internet Archive Making A Living (1914) Directed By Henry Lehrman 1914 · Feature Making a Living (1914) Director: Henry Lehrman Making a Living (also known as Doing His Best, A Busted Johnny, Troubles, and Take My Picture) is the first… Internet Archive The Rink (1916) Directed By Charlie Chaplin 1916 · Feature Theatrical poster to The Rink Directed by Charlie Chaplin Edward Brewer (technical director) Written by Charlie Chaplin (scenario) Vincent Bryan (scenario)… Internet Archive Quo Vadis? 1913 · Feature Internet Archive Gérone, La Venise Espagnole 1912 · Short 1912 Segundo de Chomón Gérone, La Venise Espagnole - Girona, the Spanish Venice Internet Archive [Gould can 5314: Regiment Returns] 1919 · Film · Subtitles San Francisco's own 363rd Regiment returns to the city / Ferry pulling into the pier / dignitaries on hand including Mayor Rolph / parade up Market Street… Internet Archive The Masquerader (1914) Directed By Charlie Chaplin 1914 · Feature The Masquerader Directed by Charlie Chaplin Written by Charlie Chaplin Produced by Mack Sennett Starring Charlie Chaplin Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle Chester… Internet Archive The Patchwork Girl Of Oz (1914) Directed By J. Farrell MacDonald 1914 · Feature The Patchwork Girl of Oz Directed by J. Farrell MacDonald Written by L. Frank Baum Based on The Patchwork Girl of Oz by L. Frank Baum Produced by L. Frank… Internet Archive Caught In The Rain (1914) Directed By Charlie Chaplin 1914 · Feature Caught in the Rain Chaplin in a still from the film Directed by Charlie Chaplin Written by Charlie Chaplin (uncredited) Produced by Mack Sennett Starring… Internet Archive [Mount Tamalpais Gravity Railroad] 1917 · Film · Subtitles Mount Tamalpais, Marin County, California: Mt. Tamalpais Gravity Railroad in operation taken from the cars / views of observation tower on top of mountain and… Internet Archive Madame DuBarry 1919 · Feature Internet Archive The Knockout (1914) 1914 · Feature The Knockout is a 1914 American silent comedy film starring Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle. It also features Charlie Chaplin in a small role, his seventeenth film… Internet Archive The New Janitor (1914) Directed By Charlie Chaplin 1914 · Feature The New Janitor Scene with Dillon and Chaplin Directed by Charlie Chaplin Produced by Mack Sennett Starring Charlie Chaplin Jess Dandy John T. Dillon Al St.… Internet Archive The Floorwalker (1916) 1916 · Feature The Floorwalker is a 1916 American silent comedy film, Charlie Chaplin’s first Mutual Film Corporation film. The film stars Chaplin, in his traditional Tramp… Internet Archive Zweimal gelebt 1912 · Feature Internet Archive Kid Auto Races At Venice (1914) 1914 · Feature Kid Auto Races at Venice (also known as The Pest) is a 1914 American film starring Charles Chaplin. It is the first film in which his "Little Tramp" character… Internet Archive Laughing Gas (1914) Directed By Charlie Chaplin 1914 · Feature Laughing Gas Directed by Charlie Chaplin Produced by Mack Sennett Starring Charlie Chaplin Cinematography Frank D. Williams Edited by Charles Chaplin… Internet Archive The construction of the Panama Canal from 1908 and 1914 in color! Part-1 [AI enhanced & colorized] 1914 · Feature Spectacular (silent) film footage of the construction of the Panama Canal more than a century ago. The film shows the construction of the Miraflores and Gatun… Internet Archive Work 1915 · Feature Internet Archive Wo ist mein Schatz? 1916 · Feature Internet Archive Life in a sod hut in 1918, The Netherlands [HD] 1918 · Feature This film shows a brief glimps of how primitive life was in a hut constructed of turf sods in the province of Drenthe, The Netherlands over a century ago. In… Internet Archive "The Oath And The Man" (1910) director D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer 1910 · Feature This gem is presented by Silent Hall of Fame. Please visit https://silent-hall-of-fame.org/ to support our non-profit mission and the legacy of silent movie… Internet Archive [Gould can 5161.6] 1915 · Film · Subtitles Rumania: Government quits Bucharest as foe closes in. (World War I) Pan over Bucharest, Romania Internet Archive Winsor McCay, the Famous Cartoonist of the N.Y. Herald and His Moving Comics AKA Little Nemo 1911 · Feature Internet Archive Eerie Tales 1919 · Feature Internet Archive A wonderful trip through Shakespeare's land in 1910 in colour! [A.I. enhanced & Colorized] 1910 · Feature Go back more than a century in time on a spectacular trip to see the England that Shakespeare used to know! Visit his favorite haunts like Leamington Spa,… Internet Archive Flema Inglesa 1910 · Short 1910 Segundo de Chomón Flema Inglesa (Fallen Spirit) Internet Archive The Warrior 1917 · Feature Internet Archive A Busy Day (1914) 1914 · Feature A Busy Day is a 1914 short film starring Charlie Chaplin and Mack Swain. Watch on RetroFlix.org: https://retroflix.org/a-busy-day-1914/ Internet Archive [Amateur Film: Ice Harvest, Pocono Manor, 1919] 1919 · Home movie Internet Archive Les vampires 1916 · Feature Internet Archive The Knockout (1914) Directed By Mack Sennett 1914 · Feature The Knockout Theatrical poster Directed by Charles Avery Produced by Mack Sennett Starring Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle Minta Durfee Edgar Kennedy Charlie Chaplin… Internet Archive [Gould can 5365.3: Panama-Pacific International Exposition] 1915 · Film · Subtitles Panama-Pacific International Exposition - WOW (Industrial Workers of the World) Parade / marching units of women / fancy marching / head of organization on… Internet Archive Dough And Dynamite (1914) Directed By Charlie Chaplin 1914 · Feature Dough and Dynamite Theatrical poster Directed by Charlie Chaplin Written by Mack Sennett Produced by Mack Sennett Starring Charlie Chaplin Chester Conklin… Internet Archive Jeux D'Enfants 1913 · Feature Internet Archive Spectacular film of Berlin in 1910 in color! Spektakulärer Film über Berlin in 1910 in Farbe! 1910 · Feature EN: Really spectacular, rare film footage of Berlin more than a century ago in color. The original B&W film has been motion-stabilized, speed corrected,… Internet Archive Shoes 1916 · Feature