WikiFlix: What Netflix Would’ve Been Like 100 Years Ago

It’s a refreshing reminder that not everything on the internet needs to be subscription-based or come with ads. On WikiFlix, a Netflix-inspired archive of public domain films, you can watch iconic movies like It’s a Wonderful Life and Nosferatu for free — no account required. Sounds crazy, right?

WikiFlix, a project developed by Wikipedia’s volunteer community, hosts over four thousand movies from Wikimedia Commons, the Internet Archive, and YouTube. These films have entered the public domain, meaning they are free to share and distribute, typically because their copyright has expired or never existed. While many of the films on WikiFlix are classic, vintage films, imagine what Netflix would’ve looked like 100 years ago with this kind of content.

Though WikiFlix isn’t a new platform, it’s catching attention, especially after a TikTok by Annie Rauwerda, the creator of the “Depths of Wikipedia” accounts, brought it into the spotlight.

@depthsofwikipedia

Your favorite website should be wikiflix.toolforge.org !!!!!! ♬ original sound - annie rauwerda

While WikiFlix introduces viewers to historic films like Wings, the first movie to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, it also showcases lesser-known films. As Rauwerda says in her TikTok, “Sometimes I really like watching things that I know nobody else is watching, because what if I discover something crazy?”

The site’s homepage features movies with numerous sitelinks on their Wikipedia pages, indicating popularity or cultural significance. There’s also a curated blacklist maintained by the WikiFlix community to prevent viewers from encountering inappropriate films, such as Nazi propaganda, even though those might be suitable in an educational context.

WikiFlix may not offer the binge-worthy content of Stranger Things, but it’s an entertaining way to explore forgotten cinematic gems. Whether you’re interested in a Soviet musical inspired by Cinderella, a silent film about swashbuckling pirates, or a Japanese post-apocalyptic film that features a player who somehow played for both the Boston Celtics and the Chicago Cubs, WikiFlix has a unique library to discover.

So, why not take a break from Love is Blind and dive into a new world of classic film on WikiFlix?