In the age of fractured streaming services and rising subscription costs, it is easy to forget that a treasure trove of cinema history is available to everyone entirely for free. These are Public Domain films, meaning their copyrights have expired or were never properly registered.
Because they belong to the public, they are legal to download, share, and stream.
From silent masterpieces to golden age comedies and cult horror classics, here are the top 10 public domain movies you need to watch.
1. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
IMDb Rating: ★ 7.8/10
Genre: Horror
Director: George A. Romero
Why it’s free: Due to a tragic error by the distributor, the copyright notice was accidentally removed when the title was changed from Night of the Flesh Eaters to Night of the Living Dead.
Why watch it: This is the film that invented the modern zombie. Before 1968, zombies were voodoo-controlled minions; Romero turned them into flesh-eating ghouls. It is a masterclass in tension, shot on a shoestring budget in black and white, featuring a shocking social commentary that remains relevant today.
2. Metropolis (1927)
IMDb Rating: ★ 8.3/10
Genre: Sci-Fi / Drama
Director: Fritz Lang
Why it’s free: Published before 1929, the copyright has expired in the United States.
Why watch it: Metropolis is the grandfather of all science fiction cinema. Its Art Deco aesthetic, massive practical sets, and the iconic “Robot Maria” have influenced everything from Star Wars to Blade Runner. It is a visual spectacle about a futuristic city sharply divided between the wealthy thinkers in the skyscrapers and the workers toiling underground.
3. His Girl Friday (1940)
IMDb Rating: ★ 7.8/10
Genre: Screwball Comedy
Director: Howard Hawks
Why it’s free: The copyright was not renewed in 1968.
Why watch it: If you want to see Cary Grant at his most charming and Rosalind Russell at her sharpest, this is the film. Famous for having the fastest overlapping dialogue in film history, this newsroom comedy moves at a breakneck pace. It is hilarious, witty, and features a chemistry between the leads that Hollywood has been trying to replicate ever since.
4. The General (1926)
IMDb Rating: ★ 8.2/10
Genre: Action / Comedy
Director: Buster Keaton & Clyde Bruckman
Why it’s free: Copyright expired (Pre-1929).
Why watch it: Buster Keaton did his own stunts, and in The General, those stunts involved moving trains. This film contains the single most expensive shot in silent film history (a real train crashing into a river). It is a perfect blend of physical comedy and genuine high-stakes action that CGI simply cannot match.
5. Charade (1963)
IMDb Rating: ★ 7.8/10
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Director: Stanley Donen
Why it’s free: Universal Pictures omitted the copyright notice on the film’s release prints.
Why watch it: Often called “The best Hitchcock movie that Hitchcock never made,” this film stars Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. It is a stylish, twisty thriller set in Paris involving stolen money and secret identities. It balances suspense with romance perfectly, and the star power on display is undeniable.
6. Nosferatu (1922)
IMDb Rating: ★ 7.9/10
Genre: Horror
Director: F.W. Murnau
Why it’s free: Copyright expired.
Why watch it: This is an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula (the estate actually sued to have all copies destroyed, but a few survived). Max Schreck’s performance as Count Orlok is far more terrifying than the suave vampires we see today. With his rat-like features and stiff movements, he is the stuff of nightmares.
7. House on Haunted Hill (1959)
IMDb Rating: ★ 6.8/10
Genre: Horror
Director: William Castle
Why it’s free: The copyright was not renewed.
Why watch it: It’s the ultimate “spooky fun” movie. Vincent Price plays an eccentric millionaire who offers five strangers $10,000 each if they can survive a night in his haunted mansion. It is campy, atmospheric, and features one of Vincent Price’s most enjoyable performances.
8. The Stranger (1946)
IMDb Rating: ★ 7.3/10
Genre: Film Noir
Director: Orson Welles
Why it’s free: The copyright was not renewed.
Why watch it: Orson Welles (of Citizen Kane fame) directs and stars as a fugitive Nazi war criminal hiding out as a professor in a sleepy Connecticut town. He is hunted by a relentless investigator (Edward G. Robinson). It is a tense, shadowy cat-and-mouse game with a spectacular finale.
9. Carnival of Souls (1962)
IMDb Rating: ★ 7.1/10
Genre: Psychological Horror
Director: Herk Harvey
Why it’s free: The copyright notice was omitted on the theatrical prints.
Why watch it: This low-budget independent film has a dreamlike, eerie atmosphere that inspired David Lynch and George A. Romero. The story follows a church organist who survives a drag racing accident, only to be haunted by a pale, ghastly figure. It is a cult classic that feels like a long episode of The Twilight Zone.
10. Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959)
IMDb Rating: ★ 3.9/10
Genre: Sci-Fi
Director: Ed Wood
Why it’s free: The copyright was not renewed.
Why watch it: Sometimes you need a good laugh. Often cited as the “Worst Movie Ever Made,” Plan 9 is a fascinating disaster. From visible boom mics to paper-plate flying saucers and nonsensical dialogue, it is unintentionally hilarious and oddly charming. It is a must-watch for fans of “so-bad-it’s-good” cinema.
