The world's archives

1–48 of 7,267 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 Lost World 1925 · Feature · Subtitles The first film adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic novel about a land where prehistoric creatures still roam.You can find more information… Internet Archive The Iron Mask 1929 · Feature · Subtitles A swashbuckling Alexandre Dumas adventure featuring Douglas Fairbanks. You can find more information regarding this film on its IMDb page . Internet Archive The Phantom of the Opera 1925 · Feature · 1 h 46 min At the Opera of Paris, a mysterious phantom threatens a famous lyric singer, Carlotta and thus forces her to give up her role (Marguerite in Faust) for… Internet Archive Mark of Zorro 1920 · Feature · Subtitles Mark of Zorro was the transition between Douglas Fairbanks' early career as a brash all-American hero and the lavish 1920s costume adventures. Internet Archive Bronenosets Potyomkin (Battleship Potemkin) 1925 · Feature · 1 h 13 min Considered one of the most important films in the history of silent pictures, as well as possibly Eisenstein's greatest work, Battleship Potemkin brought… Internet Archive Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (A Symphony of Horror) 1922 · Short · 1 min This is the most complete version available (just over 93 minutes) as this movie was demanded by Bram Stokers widow to be destroyed after winning 2 lawsuits… Internet Archive Last of the Mohicans 1920 · Feature · 1 h 11 min · Subtitles First film adaptation from the James Fenimore Cooper novel of the same name. This film also features one of Boris Karloff's earliest film appearances in a… Internet Archive The General 1927 · Feature · 1 h 15 min Union solders have stolen The General, a Confederate train manned by Johnnie Gray, who was unable to enlist in the Confederate army because he is needed as an… Internet Archive The Goat 1921 · Short · 27 min Dumb luck sets some policemen on his trail -- after a series of innovative escapes, he gets mistaken for a murderer with a price on his head, which means the… Internet Archive The Ten Commandments / Blu-ray / x264 / MKV / 720p / Commentary 1923 · Feature The first part tells the story of Moses leading the Jews from Egypt to the Promised Land, his receipt of the tablets and the worship of the golden calf. The… Internet Archive Arthur Conan Doyle 1927 · Short · 10 min · Subtitles A 1927 Fox newsreal interview with the author and spiritualist, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He speaks about his greatest literary creation, Sherlock Holmes, and… Internet Archive Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 1920 · Feature John Barrymore stars in the renowned silent adaptation of the Robert Louis Stevenson classic about a Victorian scientist who turns himself into a murderous… Internet Archive West of Hot Dog 1924 · Short · 30 min Silent western starring Stan Laurel before he teamed up with Oliver Hardy. Note : This movie can only be viewed properly using the VLC player. You can… Internet Archive Haxan 1922 · Feature Häxan (Haxan) is a 1922 film, more information here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A4xan Source for this video: http://www.publicdomaintorrents.com/nshowmo… Internet Archive Robin Hood 1922 · Feature 1922 (public domain) silent version of the classic, with Douglas Fairbanks, Alan Hale and many others. Visit the IMDB page for this movie. Internet Archive Thief of Bagdad 1924 · Feature · 2 h 19 min Original (and therefore public domain) version of this classic. Does not contain any of the "additional" footage, interviews, new music or other… Internet Archive The Last of the Mohicans 1920 · Feature · Subtitles Adaptation of James Fenimore Cooper novel about the American frontier during the French and Indian War. Internet Archive Steamboat Bill Jr. 1928 · Feature · 1 h 9 min Steamboat Bill, Jr. is the story of a naive, college-educated dandy who must prove himself to his working-class father, a hot-headed riverboat captain, while… Internet Archive The General (complete & clearer) (1926) 1926 · Feature · 1 h 18 min A great Buster Keaton silent movie. In 1862, after spies steal his locomotive, "The General", he wages a one-man battle to recover it. The copies previously… Internet Archive The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1923 · Feature · 1 h 40 min Early adaptation of the novel by Victor Hugo starring Lon Chaney. You can find out more about this movie on its IMDB page . Internet Archive Ask Dad 1929 · Short · 22 min · Subtitles Comedic short starring Edward Everett Horton. You can find more information regarding this film on its IMDb page . Internet Archive Chelovek s kinoapparatom (Man With A Movie Camera) 1929 · Feature · 1 h 8 min Dziga Vertov's Man With A Movie Camera is considered one of the most innovative and influential films of the silent era. Startlingly modern, this film… Internet Archive The Sheik 1921 · Feature · 1 h 26 min Legendary Valentino picture. Valentino stars as an Arabian who falls in love with an English woman in this classic silent picture. Visit the IMDB page here. Internet Archive Nosferatu_DVD_quality 1922 · Feature NOTE: THIS FILM IS SEPARATED INTO FOUR FILES Nosferatu, up elsewhere on archive.org, this is the highest resolution version up so far, a direct DVD rip,… Internet Archive Arizona Days 1928 · Feature · 53 min Bob Custer, cowboy star of the 1920s and '30s, fights rustlers and saves the heroine from a Fate Worse Than Death in this typical B western from the last days… Internet Archive Mud and Sand 1922 · Short · 40 min 'Mud and Sand' is a satire on the Rudolph Valentino Classic Blood and Sand .. Stan Laurel plays the Bullfighter (Rubharb Vaseline) who wants to make it to the… Internet Archive Buster Keaton's "Cops" (1922) 1922 · 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 The Ace of Hearts 1921 · Feature · 1 h 14 min From IMDb : A secret society holds a meeting to determine what to do about a powerful and dangerous man whom they have been studying closely for the past… Internet Archive Steamboat Bill, Jr. 1928 · Feature · 1 h 9 min Steamboat Bill, Jr. is the story of a naive, college-educated dandy who must prove himself to his working-class father, a hot-headed riverboat captain, while… Internet Archive The Phantom of the Opera 1925 · Feature · 1 h 46 min A mad, disfigured composer seeks love with a lovely young opera singer. - IMDB Description Internet Archive The Electric House 1922 · Short · 19 min The Electric House starts with Buster's graduation ceremony as the first of his comic misfortunes, including a mix-up of diplomas so Buster receives a diploma… Internet Archive One Week 1920 · Short · 22 min Buster and Sybil exit a chapel as newlyweds. Among the gifts is a portable house you easily put together in one week Internet Archive Thundering Thompson 1929 · Feature · 53 min A principaled marshal gets involved in a battle between local ranch owners and an old shepherd in this typical B western from the last days of the silent era. Internet Archive The Nut 1921 · Feature · 1 h 14 min From IMDb : Eccentric inventor Charlie Jackson tries to interest wealthy investors in his girlfriend's plan to help children from poor neighborhoods. Stars:… Internet Archive Lady Windermere's Fan 1925 · Feature · 1 h 26 min Mrs Erlynne (Irene Rich), the mother of Lady Windermere (May McAvoy) - her daughter does not know about her - wants to be introduced in society, so that she… Internet Archive Blood And Sand 1922 · Short · 26 min · Subtitles Features Rudolph Valentino in Ibanez's classic romantic tragedy about the rise and fall of a matador. This is a digest version, part of the "Silents Please"… Internet Archive Never Weaken 1921 · Short · 28 min From Wikipedia: Never Weaken is a 1921 silent comedy film starring Harold Lloyd and directed by Fred Newmeyer. It was Lloyd's last short film, running to… Internet Archive Glorifying the American Girl 1929 · Feature · 1 h 34 min From the Wikipedia entry for "Glorifying the American Girl": "Glorifying the American Girl is a 1929 musical comedy film produced by Florenz Ziegfeld that… Internet Archive Big News 1929 · Feature · 1 h 6 min A early talkie from Pathé, this crime drama starred relative newcomers Robert Armstrong and a very young Carole Lombard, the title credits still spelling her… Internet Archive The General 1927 · Feature · 1 h 45 min Taken from IMDB : When Union spies steal an engineer's beloved locomotive, he pursues it single handedly and straight through enemy lines. Internet Archive The Golem 1920 · Feature Classic story of a creature made of clay that comes to life and causes havok. Silent film starring Paul Wegener. Unrestored print, public domain. Internet Archive One Week 1920 · Short · 19 min Taken from IMDB : Buster and Sybil exit a chapel as newlyweds. Among the gifts is a portable house you easily put together in one week Internet Archive Fall of the House of Usher 1928 · Short · 12 min Psychadelic at times, this unusual and memorable movie version of Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher" has some creative details, and although it is one of… Internet Archive High Voltage 1929 · Feature · 1 h 3 min A busload of passengers gets stranded in a snowstorm and take refuge in an abandoned church, where they run into a mysterious man who may be on the run from… Internet Archive Cops 1922 · Short · 18 min A series of mishaps manages to make a young man get chased by a big city's entire police force Internet Archive Manslaughter 1922 · Feature · 1 h 39 min From IMDb : Society girl and thrill-seeker Lydia causes the death of a motorcycle policeman, and is prosecuted by her fiancé, Daniel, who describes in lurid… Internet Archive Tol'able David 1921 · Feature · 1 h 33 min Silent (no soundtrack) From the Wikipedia entry for "Tol'able David": "Tol'able David is a 1921 American silent film based on the Joseph Hergesheimer short… Internet Archive Little Annie Rooney 1925 · Feature · 1 h 35 min A tough slum girl, Annabelle 'Little Annie' Rooney (Mary Pickford), faces a crisis of the heart when the boy she loves (William Haines) is accused of shooting…