Documentary from the world's archives

2,161–2,208 of 6,832 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. Nothing is left out for being sexual: sexual content and nudity are for adults, placed by what the archive files a film as, never by a word of its title alone (The Naked City is a police film). A film filed as pornography is listed for adults without its picture and plays nowhere yet, as the law where it would play asks for a proof of age this site does not have. A sexual depiction of a child, drawn ones too, is listed nowhere.

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 content, pornography, nudity and nudism, striptease, sexual themes (such as the old "sex hygiene" films), gore, surgery, slaughter, beheadings, atrocity footage.
Internet Archive Lumière et compagnie - Lumière et compagnie (1995, Documentary) 720p_trailer Commercial About this movie Title: Lumière et compagnie | Lumière et compagnie (1995, Documentary) Directed by: Youssef Chahine, Theodoros Angelopoulos, Abbas… Internet Archive Naissance Des Pieuvres ( 2007) Trailer Filme LGBT Commercial Durante as férias de verão, um triângulo amoroso se forma entre três adolescentes, que fica difícil, pois cada uma deseja o amor da outra.… Internet Archive Liquid Off the Throne of Shiva (1999) — Commercial VHS 1999 · Commercial Commercially produced VHS tape digitized for preservation. Liquid Off the Throne of Shiva (1999). Written, produced, and directed by Scott Lindgren; Executive… Internet Archive [Vintage VHS] Packers: 1996 Super Bowl XXXI Champions Documentary 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 Heidi Fleiss: Hollywood Madam 1995 · Commercial A documentary crew from the BBC arrives in L.A. intent on interviewing Heidi Fleiss, a year after her arrest for running a brothel but before her trial.… Internet Archive Chihuly: River of Glass 1999 · Documentary Documentary about glass blowing artist Chihuly. Internet Archive The Driven Man (1992 UK VHS) Documentary This is the Full VHS Tape of The Driven Man as it was Released in 1992! Enjoy! Internet Archive The Steam Era No.1: Trains To Tenterden VHS Documentary Part of the Steam Era VHS tapes. Volume 1 takes a look at the history and restoration of the Kent and East Sussex Railway from the early 60s to the mid 80s. Internet Archive [Vintage VHS] Great American Rail Journeys: Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Documentary 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 Astronomia: Inizia il Viaggio nell'universo 1991 · Documentary 3rd Episode of the Astronomia series from Fabbri Video OCR Analysis: astronomia-inizia-il-viaggio-nell'universo_cover_back.png: ~ASTRONOMIA —— INIZIA IL… Internet Archive Elvis At The Movies (2002 UK VHS) Documentary This is the Full VHS Tape of Elvis at the Movies as it was Released in 2002! Enjoy! Internet Archive Does TV Kill? 1995 · Documentary A probing examination of what is known about TV's effect on people, especially children. Through interviews with experts and the use of surveillance cameras… Internet Archive 100 Years: A Visual History of the Dodgers (1990) — Commercial VHS 1990 · Commercial Commercially produced VHS tape digitized for preservation. Official 100th anniversary video of the Los Angeles Dodgers, covering the franchise's first 100… Internet Archive Astronomia: In Viaggio Verso il Futuro 1991 · Documentary 19th episode of the Astronomia series by Fabbri Video OCR Analysis: astronomia-in-viaggio-verso-il-futuro_cover_back.png: nn ee a ted ASTRONOMIA IN VIAGGIO… Internet Archive Attack On The Pacific Documentary 1986 · Documentary A documentary of the war against Japan in the Pacific, with the U.S. Navy against seemingly impossible odds. Includes battle scenes from Midway and the Coral… Internet Archive Messengers of Destiny UFO Documentary 1992 · Commercial A 1992 documentary examining UFO phenomena and contact experiences, incorporating footage of disaster and rescue operations as part of its broader narrative… Internet Archive [Vintage VHS] The Revolutionary War (Part 1) Documentary 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 [Vintage VHS] Vietnam War with Walter Cronkite: 4, Dateline Saigon; Fire From The Sky Documentary 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 It’s a Revolution Mother [1969] - Trailer 1969 · Commercial This documentary depicts the wild swinging youth scene of the turbulent 60's, with in-depth footage of hippies doing a protest march against the Vietnam war… Internet Archive [Vintage VHS] NFL: The Greatest Moments In Chicago Sports History Documentary 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 VAMPIRA trailer Commercial · 1 min A made for DVD documentary on the '50s late-night TV hostess, Maila Murmi, who is mostly remembered for her appearance in Ed Wood's "Plan 9 From Outer Space." Internet Archive [Vintage VHS] Legends of Comedy: 3, TV Comedy Classics, The '50s and '60s Documentary 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 Adventure in Glen Canyon LAKE POWELL - John Wesley Powell CANYON GEOLOGIST [VHS] Documentary Youtube upload: https://youtu.be/cQgGl5DMzLA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------… Internet Archive Astronomia: Increspature dello Spazio-Tempo. Le Onde del Futuro 1997 · Documentary 31st Episode of the Astronomia series by Fabbri Video. OCR Analysis: astronomia-increspature-dello-spazio-tempo.-le-onde-del-futuro_cover_back.png:… Internet Archive Guns of Beretta – American Rifleman Video Collection: Tales of the Gun 2001 · Commercial A documentary on the history of Beretta firearms, part of the American Rifleman Video Collection's Tales of the Gun series. The program covers the storied… Internet Archive UFO Chronicles 1999: Alien 1999 · Commercial A documentary exploration of UFO encounters and alien phenomena, released in 1999 as part of the UFO Chronicles series. Internet Archive [Vintage VHS] The Story Of A Game: 1, The Early Years Documentary 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 Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts - Official First Look Teaser Trailer 2021 · Commercial Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts, the HBO Max retrospective special, will reunite Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, and other… Internet Archive AS I LAY DYING | Ghesseh bar yad ast (2025 - Short - Documentary) 720p trailer Commercial About this movie Title: AS I LAY DYING | Ghesseh bar yad ast (2025 | Short | Documentary) Directed by: Pegah Ahangarani, Mohammad Reza Farzad Date of birth:… Internet Archive 30 Years of National Geographic Specials 1994 · Commercial A retrospective celebrating 30 years of National Geographic television specials, featuring highlights from the series' landmark wildlife and nature… Internet Archive Icebreaker to the North Pole Promo A&E 1996-05-22 1996 · Documentary This video clip is a promotion for the A&E special 'Icebreaker to the North Pole'. It showcases a 3,000-mile trek to the top of the world and the examination… Internet Archive Astronomia: Nettuno: Il Pianeta Azzurro 1997 · Documentary 32nd Episode of the Astronomia series by Fabbri Video. OCR Analysis: astronomia-nettuno-il-pianeta-azzurro_cover_back.png: ae ee axe ee ” . t = - : tats ra ae… Internet Archive Поговорим О Странностях Любви (А. Герцен - Н. Захарьина) (2003) (VHSRip, MPG) 2003 · Documentary Авторская программа Эльдара Рязанова производства телекомпании Ren-TV, 2003 г. VHS-копия с исходника. Internet Archive [Vintage VHS] The Story Of A Game: 2, Showtime Documentary 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 Astronomia: Il Sole: la nostra Stella madre 1997 · Documentary 4th Episode of the Astronomia series from Fabbri Video. OCR Analysis: astronomia-il-sole-la-nostra-stella-madre_cover_back.png: ASTRONOMIA IL SOLE: LA NOSTRA… Internet Archive Astronomia: Segnali dall'Universo 1997 · Documentary 11th episode of the Astronomia series by Fabbri Video. OCR Analysis: astronomia-segnali-dall'universo_cover_back.png: ene NE Te cn NER te Se Re a MRE SERRE… Internet Archive POV 1988 · Commercial POV is a Public Broadcasting Service public television series which features independent nonfiction films. POV is an initialism for point of view. POV is the… Internet Archive Orações Para Bobby ( 2009) Trailer Filme LGBT Commercial Verdadeira história de Mary Griffith, defensora dos direitos dos gays, cujo filho adolescente suicidou-se devido à sua intolerância religiosa. Baseado no… Internet Archive Astronomia: Big Bang. La grande Esplosione 1997 · Documentary 15th episode of the Astronomia series by Fabbri Video OCR Analysis: astronomia-big-bang.-la-grande-esplosione_cover_back.png: 'BIG BANG. LA GRANDE ESPLOSIONE… Internet Archive Richard Morecroft Goes Wild: Ice Shelf (missing start - 2003) 2003 · Documentary Recording of "Richard Morecroft Goes Wild" from ABC TV. Douglas Thost documentary on Antarctica called "Ice Shelf". Missing just the first minute or two… Internet Archive Stalin Documentary Part 2 WCNY PBS TV Broadcast (VHS Rip) 1990 · Documentary Documentary on Joseph Stalin, produced in 1990. Part 2 of 3 parts. WCNY Syracuse, New York, PBS live TV Broadcast Not sure the date of the broadcast, guessing… Internet Archive The 1940s House Volume 2 (2000 UK VHS) Documentary This is the Full VHS Tape of The 1940s House Volume 2 as it was Released in 2000! Enjoy! Internet Archive GAC Backstory: Kenny Rogers (RIP) VHS Rip Documentary GAC Backstory: Kenny Rogers (RIP) VHS Rip Internet Archive African Documentary 2004 · Documentary African Documentary Internet Archive Hawk Watch - A Video Guide To Eastern Raptors 1998 · Documentary · Subtitles Instructional guide to identifying hawks. 1998 Richard K. Walton & Greg Dodge Internet Archive Prehistoric Planet: Official Trailer 2 (2022) Sir David Attenborough 2022 · Commercial The new Apple TV+ five-night event documentary series Prehistoric Planet, from executive producers Jon Favreau and Mike Gunton, and BBC Studios Natural… Internet Archive The Alpinist - Official Trailer (2021) 2021 · Commercial Check out the trailer for the climbing documentary, The Alpinist, featuring the solo climber, Marc-André Leclerc. Marc-André Leclerc climbs alone, far from… Internet Archive Pathfinder Mission To Mars VHS tapes Documentary This is a two pack of VHS tapes about the NASA Pathfinder mission: Race to Mars The NASA Briefings