The world's archives

2,641–2,688 of 8,179 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 SOME OF UNCLE SAM"S WORKSHOPS [U.S. POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT AND BUREAU OF PRINTING AND ENGRAVING] 1920 · Educational SOME OF UNCLE SAM"S WORKSHOPS [U.S. POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT AND BUREAU OF PRINTING AND ENGRAVING] Produced: 1920 Description The original catalog description… Internet Archive BEES--HOW THEY LIVE AND WORK 1921 · Educational BEES--HOW THEY LIVE AND WORK Produced: 1921 Description Shows the life cycle, the social organization, and the honey producing processes of bees. Bees are… Internet Archive CLEAR TO THE BOTTOM 1921 · Educational CLEAR TO THE BOTTOM 1921 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “No Klondike gold rush marked the… Internet Archive FORD AGE,THE [FORD INDUSTRIAL AND MANUFACTURING ACTIVITIES] 1923 · Educational FORD AGE,THE [FORD INDUSTRIAL AND MANUFACTURING ACTIVITIES] Produced: 1923 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company… Internet Archive Little Bo Peep: Wool Processing and Manufacturing Uses / Parade 1920 · Educational Little Bo Peep: Wool Processing and Manufacturing Uses / Parade Produced: 1920 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company… Internet Archive GREAT LAKES-1, THE 1925 · Educational GREAT LAKES-1, THE Produced: 1925 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “The Great Lakes are ‘The… Internet Archive Civil War Period 1920 · Educational Civil War Period Produced: 1920 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “The Civil War presents the… Internet Archive HOF 089 1928 Hoover 1928 · Home movie Ellwood F. Hoffmann (1885-1966) Home Movie Collection Ellwood Hoffmann dropped out of school in 6th grade and went to work sweeping the floors at a hosiery… Internet Archive CHMHOF 159 1926 Our House Biddle Family 1926 · Home movie Ellwood F. Hoffmann (1885-1966) Home Movie Collection Ellwood Hoffmann dropped out of school in 6th grade and went to work sweeping the floors at a hosiery… Internet Archive Men In Stone Arch and On Beach / Henry Ford With Old Cars and Steam Engine 1920 · Educational Men In Stone Arch and On Beach / Henry Ford With Old Cars and Steam Engine Produced: 1920 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford… Internet Archive ROADS FOR ALL AMERICA 1926 · Educational ROADS FOR ALL AMERICA Produced: 1926 Description Documents the South American tour of the Pan American Highway Commission. Reel 1, the Commissioners depart… Internet Archive Safety Last! (1923) 1923 · Film The comic genius of silent star Harold Lloyd is eternal. Chaplin is the sweet innocent, Keaton the stoic outsider, but Lloyd—the modern guy striving for… Internet Archive Heavy Construction Machinery / International Police Convention, New York City / Heavy Construction Machinery 1921 · Educational Heavy Construction Machinery / International Police Convention, New York City / Heavy Construction Machinery Produced: 1921 Description The original catalog… Internet Archive CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS 1920 · Educational CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS Produced: 1920 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “This picture is loaned… Internet Archive CITY OF MEXICO 1,2 1925 · Educational CITY OF MEXICO 1,2 Produced: 1925 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “Mexico City was a… Internet Archive Ford Exhibit / Presidents of the United States / Branding Cattle / Children at Play / Washington, D.C. 1925 · Educational Ford Exhibit / Presidents of the United States / Branding Cattle / Children at Play / Washington, D.C. Produced: 1925 Description The original catalog… Internet Archive GREAT LAKES 1, THE 1924 · Educational GREAT LAKES 1, THE Produced: 1924 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “The Great Lakes are ‘The… Internet Archive MIXED ASPHALT PAVEMENTS 1928 · Educational MIXED ASPHALT PAVEMENTS Produced: 1928 Description Shows the construction of asphaltic concrete and sheet asphalt roads. Asphaltic concrete is made by mixing… Internet Archive Impressions of the Holy Land (1280x1024) 1926 · Short · 4 min This is a 9,5mm Pathex Motion Picture Film, digitized by www.cinepro.nl. This short film is digitized, digital restaurated and edited by us and when this was… Internet Archive DAY AT THE MERRILL-PALMER SCHOOL,A. [DETROIT] [PART 10] 1927 · Educational DAY AT THE MERRILL-PALMER SCHOOL,A. [DETROIT] [PART 10] 1927 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows:… Internet Archive LANDMARKS OF EARLY EXPLORATIONS AND SETTLEMENTS IN NORTH AMERICA 1921 · Educational LANDMARKS OF EARLY EXPLORATIONS AND SETTLEMENTS IN NORTH AMERICA Produced: 1921 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor… Internet Archive Social Diseases in Men 1920 · Film · Subtitles Contains animation. Music track is not synced to picture. Venereal disease, Ophthalmia, etc. Challenging imagery. Internet Archive [THOMAS A. EDISON AT GENERAL ELECTRIC] 1923 · Educational [THOMAS A. EDISON AT GENERAL ELECTRIC] 1923 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “Thomas A.… Internet Archive CHMHOF 128 1929 Bridesburg 1929 · Home movie Ellwood F. Hoffmann (1885-1966) Home Movie Collection Ellwood Hoffmann dropped out of school in 6th grade and went to work sweeping the floors at a hosiery… Internet Archive The Docks of New York (1928) Docas de Nova York 1928 · Feature A blue-collar worker on New York's depressed waterfront finds his life changed after he saves a woman attempting suicide. Internet Archive [SCENES IN SOUTH WEST UNITED STATES] 1920 · Educational [SCENES IN SOUTH WEST UNITED STATES] Produced: 1920 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: Old… Internet Archive HONEY BEE,THE 1920 · Educational HONEY BEE,THE Produced: 1920 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “The story of the honey bee is… Internet Archive CHMHOF 170 1927 28 Wash DC Atlantic City 1928 · Home movie Ellwood F. Hoffmann (1885-1966) Home Movie Collection Ellwood Hoffmann dropped out of school in 6th grade and went to work sweeping the floors at a hosiery… Internet Archive Disney - UK VHS and DVD Collection 1922 · Film Share the magic of Disney on VHS and DVD! Internet Archive JUST `WRITE' [MAKING FOUNTAIN PENS] 1920 · Educational JUST `WRITE' [MAKING FOUNTAIN PENS] Produced: 1920 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “In… Internet Archive CUT AND DRIED:THE LUMBER INDUSTRY 1920 · Educational CUT AND DRIED:THE LUMBER INDUSTRY Produced: 1920 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “A lumber… Internet Archive Romeo and Juliet 1926 · Educational Romeo and Juliet Produced: 1926 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: This film was produced in… Internet Archive FORD WAY OF MINING COAL,THE 1923 · Educational FORD WAY OF MINING COAL,THE Produced: 1923 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: Coal chute… Internet Archive BOSTON AND VICINITY 1920 · Educational BOSTON AND VICINITY Produced: 1920 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: Landmarks of the American… Internet Archive HORN FLIES--PESTS OF CATTLE 1920 · Educational HORN FLIES--PESTS OF CATTLE Produced: 1920 Description Shows life cycle of the horn fly and effects of the insect's ravages on cattle. Prescribes methods of… Internet Archive Shell Fish / Baltimore, Maryland / Washington, D.C. / Baltimore, Maryland / Safety Education 1921 · Educational Shell Fish / Baltimore, Maryland / Washington, D.C. / Baltimore, Maryland / Safety Education Produced: 1921 Description The original catalog description… Internet Archive FOR MEXICO 1921 · Educational FOR MEXICO Produced: 1921 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “The city of Nogales, Arizona,… Internet Archive Helping Negroes to Become Better Farmers and Homemakers 1921 · Educational Helping Negroes to Become Better Farmers and Homemakers Produced: 1921 Description This film contains the following: In reel 1, Black and white agents of the… Internet Archive ROMANCE OF MAKING A MODERN MAGAZINE,THE [DEARBORN INDEPENDENT ADVERTISEMENT] [PART 1] 1926 · Commercial ROMANCE OF MAKING A MODERN MAGAZINE,THE [DEARBORN INDEPENDENT ADVERTISEMENT] [PART 1] Produced: 1926 Description The original catalog description provided by… Internet Archive Mexico City / Pasteurizing Milk and Meat Packing 1920 · Educational Mexico City / Pasteurizing Milk and Meat Packing Produced: 1920 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as… Internet Archive Impressions of the Holy Land (720x576) 1926 · Short · 4 min This is a 9,5mm Pathex Motion Picture Film, digitized by www.cinepro.nl. This short film is digitized, digital restaurated and edited by us and when this was… Internet Archive SHE'S WILD 1921 · Educational SHE'S WILD Produced: 1921 Description Shows a rodeo at Bozeman, Mont., in the Gallatin National Forest. Includes shots of cowboys bull-dogging and roping… Internet Archive FAMOUS FACES 1928 · Educational FAMOUS FACES Produced: 1928 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “The only man who can walk --… Internet Archive LANDMARKS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION 1920 · Educational LANDMARKS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION Produced: 1920 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows:… Internet Archive HOF 019 1928 Vitacolor 1928 · Home movie Ellwood F. Hoffmann (1885-1966) Home Movie Collection Ellwood Hoffmann dropped out of school in 6th grade and went to work sweeping the floors at a hosiery… Internet Archive BABIES OF WILD ANIMALS 1923 · Educational BABIES OF WILD ANIMALS 1923 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “The babies of wild animals hide… Internet Archive Detroit, Toledo, and Ironton Railroad 1922 · Educational Detroit, Toledo, and Ironton Railroad Covers: August 21, 1922–August 24, 1922 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company… Internet Archive LUNCH DETECTIVE,THE 1927 · Educational LUNCH DETECTIVE,THE 1927 Description The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: Animated cartoon of Hobo and dog…