Documentary from the world's archives
1,249–1,296 of 6,270 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 Ones | Films for young children by name: nursery rhymes, lullabies, preschool. |
|---|---|
| Kids | Cartoons and animation, children's and family films, and educational films, unless they deal with war, propaganda, crime, horror or drugs, or carry racial caricature. |
| Tweens | Documentaries, science, nature and space, classic comedies, newsreels, commercials and lectures. |
| Teens | Everything else, including anything we cannot tell about; war, crime, horror and westerns go no lower. |
| Adult | Sexual themes (such as the old "sex hygiene" films), gore, surgery, slaughter, atrocity footage. |
Internet Archive
The Secret Life Of Barbie
A one-hour consideration of the public and private life of the world's most famous doll. This was an ABC special, originally aired as part of ABC News…
Internet Archive
Britney Spears - Star Baby Scrapbook [1999 VHS]
Documentary produced independently in the '90s about Britney Spears' humble beginnings.
Internet Archive
Russia: The Missing Years, Railways of Russia (1992)
DESCRIPTION This British documentary, part of the "Russia: The Missing Years" series, was produced in 1992. It tracks the development of the Russian railway…
Internet Archive
" HOLIDAY DOWN UNDER -- OUTBACK " 1960s AUSTRALIA TRAVEL DOCUMENTARY ALICE SPRINGS ULURU 5687
This 1960s travel documentary produced by Lund & Lund and narrated by Hugh McIntosh follows a tourist bus that takes its passengers to some of the sights in…
Internet Archive
Philip Johnson: Diary of an Eccentric Architect (1996) [VHS]
YouTube upload: https://youtu.be/HVgknGB0_GM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------…
Internet Archive
Night Flight - David Bowie & Dr. Demento (W.O.C.)
An edition of the late night programming block Night Flight, featuring the documentary "Ricochet," about David Bowie's trip to Japan; some David Bowie music…
Internet Archive
Titanic A&E Home Video Documentary Part I
She was the pride of the White Star Line. Nicknamed "The Wonder Ship" and the "Millionaire's Special" the ST Titanic's size and luxury were unprecedented. So…
Internet Archive
Walking With Beasts The Complete Series Tape One (2001 UK VHS)
This is the Full VHS Tape of Walking With Beasts The Complete Series Tape One as it was Released in 2001! Enjoy!
Internet Archive
VHS 1999 movies how the west was won midnight express battle of midway documentary AMC
VHS recording from 1999 of movies from TV channels 1) 20 august 1999 how the west was won 2) midnight express 3) the assignment 4) 13 october 1999 the battle…
Internet Archive
The Making of Soulman (new)
Documentary of the making of the film, "Soulman"
Internet Archive
NHK Documentary Tokyo Miracle City Anime Captivating The World Frame By Frame K 19g 4ty 8
A docu from NHK, you can watch it for free on https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/ondemand/video/4001376/
Internet Archive
Circus World Museum: Where Circus History Comes to Life (1994)
Circus World Museum: Where Circus History Comes to Life (McConnell-Simmons and Company, Inc., 1994) Director: Brian McConnell Written by: John H. McConnell…
Internet Archive
THE SECRETS OF THE BACK TO THE FUTURE TRILOGY VHS RIP
he Secrets of the Back to the Future Trilogy is a behind‑the‑scenes documentary featurette produced by Universal Studios to accompany the VHS release of the…
Internet Archive
[Vintage VHS] Battlefield: The Battle of Midway
Transferred from tape using the RF method. Videos processed with vhs-decode and hifi-decode. See: https://github.com/oyvindln/vhs-decode File types included…
Internet Archive
The Albanians of Rrogam
Faced with a harsh climate and poor soil, the Rrogamis, inhabitants of a northern Albanian alpine valley, survive now as in the past by keeping sheep and…
Internet Archive
Mummies and the Wonders of Ancient Egypt: Great Pyramids (1996 VHS)
From the VHS cover: This truly original investigation finally unlocks the secrets of the Pyramids. With the help of computer reconstructions and the world's…
Internet Archive
How BERSERK Made Me The Artist I Am Today THANK YOU Kentaro Miura
The BERSERK Series has Inspired sooooo many Things in the Dark Fantasy Genre...So Let's Talk about it SOCIALS IG - https://www.instagram.com/thetimothybowen/…
Internet Archive
The Lion Hunters (1965)
Shot on the border between Niger and Mali over a period of seven years, THE LION HUNTERS is Jean Rouch's documentation of the lion hunt performed by the gow…
Internet Archive
48 Hours- May 21, 1998 (Sinatra His Way)
As a final tribute to Frank Sinatra, who had departed from this world a week prior to this episode, CBS News provided an exclusive look back at the legendary…
Internet Archive
The Official History Of Manchester United UK VHS 1988 Video
A documentary on the history of Manchester United from 1878 to 1988. Narrated by late sports commentator John Motson. Production Date: 12/08/1988 Available in…
Internet Archive
” GEMINI VII AND GEMINI VI QUICK LOOK ” 1965 NASA GEMINI PROGRAM DOCUMENTARY (SILENT) 6214
This film is a silent version of a NASA "Quick Look" documentary about the Gemini Program. The Gemini Program had four main goals: to test an astronaut’s…
Internet Archive
23 Envelope Documentary [4 AD, 1985]
A BBC produced documentary on the design partnership of designer Vaughan Oliver and photographer Nigel Grierson and their work for the record label 4AD, where…
Internet Archive
Red Flower — Filmic Walk | Philadelphia in the Rain
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — August 3 This continuous filmic walk documents Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the rain on August 3 2026. I arrived from New York…
Internet Archive
The Prodigal Son. : The Life and Work of Sergei Prokofiev
This revealing and evocative drama-documentary was commissioned from the young and highly regarded Russian film maker Andrei Nekrasov. He uses a cast of fine…
Internet Archive
Talkin' Headz The Metalheadz Documentary (1998)
Various – Talkin' Headz (The Metalheadz Documentary) Label: Manga Entertainment Ltd – MANL 1012 - Palm Pictures – MANL 1012 Format: VHS Country: UK…
Internet Archive
Eating Disorders: When Food Hurts (1996)
Recovering anorexics and bulimics, together with a therapist specializing in eating disorders, discuss their own experiences of confronting these conditions.…
Internet Archive
2002.00.00 - TechTV - Screen Savers - WHYY - Mark Twain - TechTV - Screen Savers, Tech Live
Digitized By: Windsinger Video size: 720x480 FPS: 59.94 Run Time: 04:06:58 Medium Type: VHS With Some Commercials Another tape from the My Family™ collection.…
Internet Archive
Remembering Pearl Harbor: The Story of the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial (c. 2001)
Remembering Pearl Harbor: The Story of The USS Arizona Memorial (Panorama International Productions, c. 2001) Running Time: 1 Hour, 12 Minutes A Panorama…
Internet Archive
2003.06.03 - History - Unconventional Warfare, True Story of Blackhawk Down - TechTV - Call for Help, Tech Live, Screen Savers
Digitized By: Windsinger Video size: 720x480 FPS: 59.94 Run Time: 04:56:59 Medium Type: VHS With Commercials Another tape from the My Family™ collection. June…
Internet Archive
Australia the Beautiful ★ Study the Wildlife of this Unique Land - With MKV
Australia the Beautiful ★ Study the Wildlife of this Unique Land - With MKV . _ . I found the original DVD source materials here:…
Internet Archive
Travels in Europe with Rick Steves - Normandy, Belgium & Luxembourg (1993) [VHS]
YouTube upload: https://youtu.be/R5Wf_zZYTZw -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------…
Internet Archive
Mummies and the Wonders of Ancient Egypt: Hieroglyphs (1996 VHS)
From the VHS cover: Their name means "sacred carvings," and the hieroglyphs of the Egyptians were more than just colorful creations – they were powerful…
Internet Archive
[Vintage VHS] Battlefield: The Battle of Britain
Transferred from tape using the RF method. Videos processed with vhs-decode and hifi-decode. See: https://github.com/oyvindln/vhs-decode File types included…
Internet Archive
Footnotes—The Classics of Ballet with Frank Augustyn, Vol. 6
Footnotes — The Classics of Ballet with Frank Augustyn, Vol 6 The Male Dancer and Gala Excerpts Host: Frank Augustyn Directed by Derek Diorio (Kultur) Running…
Internet Archive
The Crocodile Hunter Diaries (with Steve Irwin) - xx/xx/200x | Animal Planet USA
PT 🇧🇷: Gravação em VHS digitalizada e postada por mim, de um episódio de The Crocodile Hunter Diaries, estrelado por Steve Irwin (descanse em paz), exibido no…
Internet Archive
My Heart, Your Heart (1985)
A discussion of heart attacks and the danger they pose. Recorded from the Wisconsin Educational Television Network.
Internet Archive
Ancient Prophecies 2: Countdown To Doomsday (1994)
Title: Ancient Prophecies 2: Countdown to Doomsday Year: 1994 Source: VHS Description: Hosted by David McCallum, "Ancient Prophecies 2: Countdown to Doomsday"…
Internet Archive
Christopher Lee ' Ghosts! A Journey Into The Paranormal' ( 1991) Full Paranormal VHS Documentary HD
Rare 1991 VHS documentary on Ghosts narrated by late Hammer Horror and Tim Burton actor Sir Christopher Lee. John Burcombe (Self - Janet Hodgson (Enfield…
Commons
Around the Corner (1937) 24fps selection
How the automobile differential allows a vehicle to turn a corner while keeping the wheels from skidding. Reverse telecine & introduction edited out.
Internet Archive
Opening and Closing to Pearl Harbor - 60th Anniversary Commemorative Edition 2001 VHS (Widescreen Version, Both Tapes)
You can't please everyone, especially if your name is Michael Bay. "Pearl Harbor" is a 2001 romantic war drama retelling the attack on the titular naval base…
Internet Archive
Star Trek - 25th Anniversary Documentary (1991) Full Video
http://thedukemitchell.uk/ for more weird videos plus strange film nights in London. Full VHS version of the Star Trek 25th Anniversary video from 1991.
Internet Archive
This Is Elvis (1981) VHSRip
Taken from a VHS Recording
Internet Archive
The Long Search: Islam (1977)
It is said in Islam that every child is born Muslim by nature: he has the belief in his heart of one God. Over 400 million people profess Islam, and its…
Internet Archive
Tina Turner: Going Home
Cable TV broadcast of this Tina Turner documentary, featuring interviews with Tina, Ike, and many others; plus live performance clips. VHS digitized to…
Internet Archive
Ghosts & Legends of Western Maryland (1985 VHS)
A documentary about ghosts and legends in the Washington County, Maryland area. This video is being shared unofficially for archival and educational purposes,…
Internet Archive
Bigfoot: First sasquatch footage shot by the controversial Ivan Marx.
Bigfoot: Ivan Marx first film of a sasquatch. The first sasquatch footage shot by the controversial Ivan Marx.
Internet Archive
American Mullet
Finally a film that answers the question: what do people with Mullets love about their short-long look? Party in the Back Productions: a Jennifer Arnold Film,…
Internet Archive
Tongs Chinese Crime Organizations Part 1 Original Gangs Of San Francisco ( Documentary Series)
Tongs in San Francisco (CA Chinese mafia in 1850s-1890s) bore a large role in Northern California after thousands of Chinese expatriates settled in the second…