List Rules The best films whose copyrights have expired. Includes all films made before 1923 and films that failed to renew copyright
The best free movies in the public domain number among some of the best movies of all time, and since their copyrights have lapsed, they are free to watch, distribute, and remake. Many of these free films in the public domain were once high-grossing, Academy Award-winning movies that have since become open to public use. Classic movies like The Wizard of Oz, Metropolis, and Metropolis are now part of the general public experience.
What is the best film in the public domain? What Oscar winning films are now free to use? What are the greatest films whose copyrights have lapsed? Vote on the movies you think are the best available in the public domain. If you know of a movie that is now free to public use and not here on this list of the best films in the public domain, make sure to add it and vote it up so others can have a chance to find their new favorite movie in the public domain.
list ordered by
1
379 126
Night of the Living DeadGeorge A. Romero, Duane Jones, Bill Hinzman Night of the Living Dead is a 1968 American independent zombie horror film directed by George A. Romero, starring Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea and Karl Hardman. It premiered on October 1, 1968, and ...more
2
143 36
The Phantom of the OperaLon Chaney, Norman Kerry, Mary Philbin The Phantom of the Opera is a 1925 American silent horror film adaptation of Gaston Leroux's 1910 novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra, directed by Rupert Julian and starring Lon Chaney, Sr. ...more
3
179 43
His Girl FridayCary Grant, Rosalind Russell, Ralph Bellamy His Girl Friday is a 1940 American screwball comedy film directed by Howard Hawks, from an adaptation by Charles Lederer, Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur of the play The Front Page by Hecht and ...more
4
151 52
The Last Man on EarthVincent Price, Giacomo Rossi-Stuart, Umberto Raho The Last Man on Earth is a 1964 science fiction horror film based on the Richard Matheson 1954 novel I Am Legend. The film was directed by Ubaldo Ragona and Sidney Salkow, and stars Vincent ...more
5
161 43
CharadeAudrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, James Coburn Charade is a 1963 Technicolor American romantic comedy/mystery film directed by Stanley Donen, written by Peter Stone and Marc Behm, and starring Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. The cast also ...more
6
108 35
The Hunchback of Notre DameLon Chaney, Ernest Torrence, Raymond Hatton The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a 1923 American film starring Lon Chaney, directed by Wallace Worsley, and produced by Carl Laemmle and Irving Thalberg. The supporting cast includes Patsy Ruth ...more
7
143 61
The Little Shop of HorrorsJack Nicholson, Dick Miller, Mel Welles The Little Shop of Horrors is a 1960 American comedy horror film directed by Roger Corman. Written by Charles B. Griffith, the film is a farce about an inadequate florist's assistant who ...more
8
126 44
The Gold RushCharlie Chaplin, Mack Swain, Georgia Hale The Gold Rush is a 1925 American silent comedy film written, produced, and directed by Charlie Chaplin. The film also stars Chaplin in his Little Tramp persona, Georgia Hale, Mack Swain, Tom ...more
9
104 52
McLintock!John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Stefanie Powers McLintock! is a 1963 comedy Western directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and starring John Wayne, with co-stars including Maureen O'Hara, Yvonne De Carlo, and Wayne's son Patrick Wayne. The film, ...more
10
96 38
Carnival of SoulsReza Badiyi, Herk Harvey, Candace Hilligoss Carnival of Souls is a 1962 independent horror film starring Candace Hilligoss. Produced and directed by Herk Harvey for an estimated $33,000, the film did not gain widespread attention when ...more
11
82 31
The GeneralBoris Karloff, Mike Donlin, Glen Cavender The General is a 1926 American silent comedy film released by United Artists. Inspired by the Great Locomotive Chase, which happened in 1862, the film stars Buster Keaton who co-directed it with ...more
12
82 32
D.O.A.Edmond O'Brien, Beverly Garland, Neville Brand D.O.A., a film noir drama film directed by Rudolph Maté, is considered a classic of the genre. The frantically paced plot revolves around a doomed man's quest to find out who has poisoned ...more
Meet John DoeBarbara Stanwyck, Gary Cooper, Walter Brennan Meet John Doe is a 1941 American comedy drama film directed and produced by Frank Capra, and starring Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck. The film is about a "grassroots" political ...more
14
55 29
The Little PrincessMary Pickford, ZaSu Pitts, Theodore Roberts The Little Princess is a 1917 American silent film directed by Marshall Neilan based upon the novel A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett. This version is notable for having been adapted ...more
15
60 30
A Farewell to ArmsGary Cooper, Helen Hayes, Adolphe Menjou A Farewell to Arms is a 1932 American romance drama film directed by Frank Borzage and starring Helen Hayes, Gary Cooper, and Adolphe Menjou. Based on the 1929 semi-autobiographical novel A ...more
16
61 31
Road to BaliBob Hope, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby Road to Bali is a 1952 American comedy film directed by Hal Walker and starring Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and Dorothy Lamour. Released by Paramount Pictures on November 1, 1952, the film is the ...more
17
60 31
Popeye the Sailor Meets Sindbad the SailorMae Questel, Jack Mercer, Gus Wickie Popeye the Sailor Meets Sindbad the Sailor is a two-reel animated cartoon short subject in the Popeye Color Feature series, produced in Technicolor and released to theatres on November 27, 1936 ...more
Dementia 13Patrick Magee, William Campbell, Luana Anders Dementia 13 is a 1963 horror-thriller released by American International Pictures, starring William Campbell, Patrick Magee, and Luana Anders. The film was written and directed by Francis Ford ...more
19
52 28
White ZombieBela Lugosi, Clarence Muse, Madge Bellamy White Zombie is a 1932 American independent Pre-Code horror film directed and produced by brothers Victor Halperin and Edward Halperin. The screenplay by Garnett Weston, based on The Magic ...more
Angel and the BadmanJohn Wayne, Gail Russell, Harry Carey Angel and the Badman is a 1947 American Western film written and directed by James Edward Grant and starring John Wayne, Gail Russell, Harry Carey and Bruce Cabot. The film is about an injured ...more
22
37 17
DetourAnn Savage, Tom Neal, Tim Ryan Detour is a 1945 film noir thriller that stars Tom Neal and Ann Savage. The film was adapted by Martin Goldsmith and Martin Mooney from Goldsmith's novel of the same name and was directed by ...more
Reefer MadnessDave O'Brien, Carleton Young, Harry Harvey Jr. Reefer Madness is a 1936–1939 American propaganda exploitation drama film revolving around the melodramatic events that ensue when high school students are lured by pushers to try marijuana—from ...more
24
44 28
A Star Is BornJanet Gaynor, Fredric March, Adolphe Menjou A Star Is Born is a 1937 Technicolor romantic drama film produced by David O. Selznick and directed by William A. Wellman, with a script by Wellman, Robert Carson, Dorothy Parker and Alan ...more
25
41 26
My Favorite BrunettePeter Lorre, Dorothy Lamour, Lon Chaney My Favorite Brunette is a 1947 American romantic comedy film directed by Elliott Nugent and starring Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour. Written by Edmund Beloin and Jack Rose, the film is about a baby ...more
26
38 27
Disorder in the CourtLarry Fine, Moe Howard, Curly Howard Disorder in the Court is the 15th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.
27
37 27
The Brain That Wouldn't DieMarilyn Hanold, Eddie Carmel, Jason Evers The Brain That Wouldn't Die is a 1962 American science-fiction/horror film directed by Joseph Green and written by Green and Rex Carlton. The film was completed in 1959 under the working title ...more
Little Lord FauntleroyMickey Rooney, Dolores Costello, C. Aubrey Smith Little Lord Fauntleroy is a 1936 drama film based on the 1886 novel of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The film stars Freddie Bartholomew, Dolores Costello, and C. Aubrey Smith. The ...more
29
34 26
Father's Little DividendElizabeth Taylor, Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett Father's Little Dividend is a 1951 comedy film directed by Vincente Minnelli and starring Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett, and Elizabeth Taylor. The movie is the sequel to Father of the Bride. ...more
30
31 23
Nothing SacredCarole Lombard, Hattie McDaniel, Margaret Hamilton Nothing Sacred is a 1937 Technicolor screwball comedy film directed by William A. Wellman, produced by David O. Selznick, and starring Carole Lombard and Fredric March. with a supporting cast ...more
31
23 25
The TerrorJack Nicholson, Boris Karloff, Dick Miller The Terror is a low budget American horror film produced and directed by Roger Corman about a French soldier who finds a mysterious woman who turns out to be a ghost. It is famous for being ...more
32
31 26
Topper ReturnsJoan Blondell, Carole Landis, Roland Young Topper Returns is the third and final entry in the initial series of films inspired by the novels of Thorne Smith. It followed Topper and Topper Takes a Trip. As in the prior movies, Roland ...more
Gulliver's TravelsPinto Colvig, Jack Mercer, Lanny Ross Gulliver's Travels is a 1939 American cel-animated Technicolor feature film, directed by Dave Fleischer and produced by Max Fleischer for Fleischer Studios. The film was released on December 22, ...more
34
19 13
The Strange Love of Martha IversKirk Douglas, Barbara Stanwyck, Judith Anderson The Strange Love of Martha Ivers is a black-and-white film noir released in the United States in 1946, starring Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin, Lizabeth Scott and featuring Kirk Douglas in his ...more
35
32 37
Manos: The Hands of FateHarold P. Warren, William Bryan Jennings, Jackey Neyman Jones Manos: The Hands of Fate is a 1966 American low budget horror film written, directed, produced by, and starring Harold P. Warren. It is widely recognized to be one of the worst films ever made. ...more
36
30 27
Popeye the Sailor Meets Ali Baba's Forty ThievesMae Questel, Jack Mercer, Gus Wickie Popeye the Sailor Meets Ali Baba's Forty Thieves is a two-reel animated cartoon short subject in the Popeye Color Feature series, produced in Technicolor and released to theatres on November 26, ...more
37
16 11
Malice in the PalaceLarry Fine, Moe Howard, Curly Howard Malice in the Palace is the 117th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.
Bowery at MidnightBela Lugosi, Dave O'Brien, J. Farrell MacDonald Bowery at Midnight is a horror film starring Bela Lugosi. Lugosi plays a psychology professor by day who, secretly and under an assumed name, runs a Bowery soup kitchen by night called the ...more
39
30 28
Africa ScreamsLou Costello, Shemp Howard, Hillary Brooke Africa Screams is a 1949 American adventure comedy film starring Abbott and Costello and directed by Charles Barton that parodied the safari genre. The title is a play on the title of the 1930 ...more
40
20 16
Royal WeddingFred Astaire, Keenan Wynn, Jane Powell Royal Wedding is a 1951 MGM musical comedy film starring Fred Astaire and Jane Powell, with music by Burton Lane and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner. The film was directed by Stanley Donen; it was his ...more
41
21 20
Sing a Song of Six PantsLarry Fine, Moe Howard, Curly Howard Sing a Song of Six Pants is the 102nd short subject starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.
42
18 17
The Last Time I Saw ParisElizabeth Taylor, Roger Moore, Eva Gabor The Last Time I Saw Paris is a 1954 romantic drama made by MGM. It is loosely based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story "Babylon Revisited." It was directed by Richard Brooks, ...more
Why We FightGore Vidal, Richard Perle, Graydon Carter Why We Fight, directed by Eugene Jarecki, is a 2005 documentary film about the military–industrial complex. The title refers to the World War II-era eponymous propaganda movies commissioned by ...more
44
20 21
AlgiersHedy Lamarr, Charles Boyer, Gene Lockhart Algiers is a 1938 American drama film directed by John Cromwell and starring Charles Boyer, Sigrid Gurie, and Hedy Lamarr. Written by John Howard Lawson, the film is about a notorious French ...more
45
17 18
Abraham LincolnWalter Huston, Una Merkel, Hobart Bosworth Returning to the historic era of his greatest success, Griffith paid homage to the sixteenth President in this moving drama starring Walter Huston. Focusing on Lincoln’s personal tragedies, as ...more
46
18 20
ManiacPhyllis Diller, Horace B. Carpenter, William Woods Maniac, also known as Sex Maniac, is a 1934 black-and-white exploitation/horror film, directed by Dwain Esper and written by Hildegarde Stadie, Esper's wife, as a loose adaptation of the Edgar ...more
47
17 19
Indestructible ManLon Chaney, Jr., Max Showalter Indestructible Man is an American black-and-white science fiction film, an original screenplay by Vy Russell and Sue Dwiggins for producer-director Jack Pollexfen and starring Lon Chaney, Jr.. ...more
48
17 25
Teenagers From Outer Space (1959)Tom Graeff, Thomas Lockyer, King Moody Director starring . Aliens in jump suits want to use Earth as a breeding ground for Gargons, which are yabbies that grow to ginogorous proportions! But the young rebel alien Derek hates this ...more
49
22 32
Santa Claus Conquers the MartiansPia Zadora, Bill McCutcheon, Ned Wertimer Santa Claus Conquers the Martians is a 1964 science fiction comedy film that regularly appears on lists of the worst films ever made. It is regularly featured in the "bottom 100" list ...more
50
11 14
The Amazing Mr. XRichard Carlson, Lynn Bari, Virginia Gregg The Amazing Mr. X, also known as The Spiritualist, is a film noir directed by Bernard Vorhaus with cinematography by John Alton. Like Nightmare Alley, this film tells the story of a phony ...more
