It is refreshing to remember that not everything on the internet requires a subscription or is filled with advertisements. On WikiFlix, a Netflix-inspired archive of public domain films, you can watch movies like “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Nosferatu” completely free. You do not even need to create an account.
A project of Wikipedia’s volunteer community, WikiFlix hosts over four thousand movies sourced from Wikimedia Commons, the Internet Archive, and YouTube. These films have entered the public domain, meaning they are free to share and distribute, usually because their copyright has lapsed or never existed. While most films on WikiFlix are from a bygone era, it is fun to imagine what a streaming service would have looked like in the past.
WikiFlix itself is not new, but it recently gained attention through a TikTok video by Annie Rauwerda, the creator behind the “Depths of Wikipedia” accounts. The platform can introduce you to historic films like “Wings,” the first movie to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, but it also contains many hidden gems. As Rauwerda notes, there is a unique pleasure in watching something few others are seeing, with the potential to discover something remarkable.
The WikiFlix homepage prioritizes movies that have numerous links on their Wikipedia pages, as these tend to be more popular or interesting. There is also a degree of curation. The community maintains a blacklist to ensure viewers do not unexpectedly encounter historical propaganda films, as the platform is focused more on entertainment than education.
While the content may not be as immediately binge-worthy as modern series, it is worth exploring. You could watch a Soviet musical inspired by Cinderella, a silent film about swashbuckling pirates, or a Japanese post-apocalyptic movie featuring an actor who somehow played for both the Boston Celtics and the Chicago Cubs. You can always return to your usual shows another time.