Public Domain Day 2026: Everything Entering the US Public Domain on January 1
On January 1, 2026, every US film, sound recording, and book first published in 1930 enters the public domain — including All Quiet on the Western Front, the first Betty Boop cartoons, and Pluto's debut.
On January 1, 2026, US copyright on every work first published in 1930 expires. For filmmakers, archivists, and YouTube creators, that's a landmark year — Universal's All Quiet on the Western Front becomes free to use, the first Betty Boop and Pluto cartoons enter the public domain, and dozens of pre-Code features become legally remixable.
This is our annual rundown of what's new on Public Domain Day. We'll update it each year with the next wave.
Major films entering the US public domain
- All Quiet on the Western Front — Lewis Milestone's Best Picture winner.
- Anna Christie — Greta Garbo's first sound film ("Garbo talks!").
- Animal Crackers — the second Marx Brothers feature.
- The Big House — MGM's seminal prison drama.
- Hell's Angels — Howard Hughes's aviation epic.
- Morocco — Marlene Dietrich's American debut.
- Min and Bill — Marie Dressler's Oscar-winning vehicle.
Animation: Betty Boop, Pluto, and early sound cartoons
- Dizzy Dishes — Betty Boop's first appearance.
- The Chain Gang — Pluto debuts as "Rover" alongside Mickey Mouse.
- A full slate of 1930 Fleischer, Disney, and Warner shorts.
What this means for creators
From January 1, 2026 you can:
- Stream, sell, or screen these films commercially in the US.
- Use clips, stills, and dialogue in derivative works without licensing.
- Restore, recolor, or remix the original prints.
Watch out for two traps:
- Restorations have fresh copyrights. Use the original 1930 print, not a Criterion or studio restoration with new audio.
- Trademarks are separate. Disney's Pluto trademark and King Features' Betty Boop trademark stay enforceable even when the films go PD.
Verify before you publish
Every year someone uploads a "public domain" film and gets a copyright strike from a licensed restoration. Run a free copyright check on any title before you publish — every report cites the rule applied and the renewal record.
Want a full dossier on a specific film or character? Browse our Public Domain Library of in-depth guides.
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