These Classic Characters Are Now in the Public Domain

In legal terms, all artistic productions such as films, music, and literature produced in the U.S. are shielded by copyright law. However, this copyright protection eventually ends, at which point these works become part of the “public domain.” This implies that individuals are allowed to distribute or even build upon these original creations, without requiring permission from the creator (or more practically, the creator’s heirs).

Each January 1st marks a special occasion I eagerly anticipate: Public Domain Day. On this day, a wealth of creative works such as films, books, songs, and more, originally published or released in the same year (1929, in this case), enter the public domain. This means they are now freely accessible to anyone who desires them! The law allows you to replicate these works, distribute them, or even create your own interpretations of them. It’s a wonderful celebration of creativity and knowledge, made available for all.

2021 saw a variety of new works joining the public domain, such as Oscar-winning films, early masterpieces from legendary filmmakers, additional Mickey Mouse cartoons (with “Steamboat Willie” having entered the public domain last year), and two iconic comic book and comic strip characters that hold a significant place in the medium’s history.

Here are ten of the most notable additions to the public domain in 2025.

Famous Works Entering the Public Domain in 2025

Blackmail

Alfred Hitchcock kick-started his directing journey during the era of silent films, yet “Blackmail” marked his debut in sound features. Although it initially started as a silent production, both silent and sound versions are available to watch. Regardless of the version you choose, “Blackmail” showcases numerous themes and characteristics that Hitchcock carried throughout his career, making it a crucial milestone in his early phase.

The Broadway Melody

In 1929, the film that took home the Best Picture award at the Academy Awards was “The Broadway Melody,” a lively early sound musical helmed by Harry Beaumont. Starring Anita Page, this movie included enduring classics like “You Were Meant for Me” and its title track. The film was an enormous success in 1929, leading Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to create a series of musicals based on it, including “The Broadway Melody of 1936,” “1938,” and “1940,” which followed over the subsequent years.

The Cocoanuts

The Marx Brothers – Groucho, Chico, Harpo, and initially Zeppo – were some of the most beloved comedy figures during the early sound film era. Having perfected their act in vaudeville and on Broadway, The Cocoanuts was their debut movie production as a team.

Or, more casually:

The Marx Brothers – Groucho, Chico, Harpo, and Zeppo for the initial years – were among the most famous comedians during the early sound film period. They refined their act in vaudeville and on Broadway, with The Cocoanuts being their first joint project on the big screen.

A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway

Known as a masterpiece of 20th-century literature, Ernest Hemingway’s story about an American doctor during World War I was hugely popular and has been made into numerous films on several occasions.

The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett

Back in the autumn of 1929, a gripping tale of intrigue and mystery that would eventually become the classic 1941 movie “The Maltese Falcon” was first serialized in the pages of the Black Mask magazine. As a cinephile captivated by film noir, I can attest to its influence on this genre – an influence that’s still palpable today. The novel behind this cinematic masterpiece is one of the cornerstones of hard-boiled detective fiction, penned by the inimitable Dashiell Hammett.

Mickey Mouse Shorts

Although Mickey Mouse’s initial short film is already public property, he graced movie theaters in 1929, implying that numerous other Mickey-related films have now entered the public domain too. This includes “The Karnival Kid,” which was the ninth Mickey cartoon and the first one where Mickey actually spoke. Notably, his inaugural words – uttered not by Walt Disney but by composer Carl Stalling – were “Hot dogs! Hot dogs!

Popeye

As a fanatic admirer, I’d like to share an interesting fact about the iconic sailor man, Popeye. He first graced the pages of comics back in 1929, making him technically eligible for the public domain. However, it’s essential to note that characters like Popeye, who underwent transformations throughout their long-running appearances, have only their earliest versions fall into the public domain. For instance, Popeye didn’t start munching on spinach until 1931; so, if you’re planning to create your own Popeye comic strip, beware of legal pitfalls by ensuring your version doesn’t indulge in leafy green vegetables, or you might find yourself facing some protective lawyers.

“Singin’ in the Rain”

Although the classic movie musical “Singin’ in the Rain” wasn’t released into public domain until much later, in 1952, the song “Singin’ in the Rain” was penned by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown many years prior. Therefore, you are free to create your own rendition, maybe even mimicking a scene with you spinning on a lamppost!

The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner

Initially, William Faulkner’s “The Sound and the Fury” didn’t make an instant splash when published in 1929. However, within a few years, critical attention started to be drawn towards it. By the time the book, which delves into three decades of a Mississippi family’s life, entered the public domain in 2025, it had earned recognition as one of the greatest American novels ever penned.

Tintin

Despite Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson never producing a second Adventures of Tintin movie, drawn from the popular comic series by Belgian artist Hergé, it’s technically possible for someone else to create a Tintin film. However, similar to the adaptation of Popeye, any potential version would be limited to the earliest story, “Tintin in the Land of the Soviets,” which was first published in 1929 in the Belgian newspaper Le Vingtième Siècle.

As a cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that you can now enjoy more films from the past, as some have recently entered the public domain. Duke University has highlighted that around 1929 works have become public this year, but what I’m about to showcase are just a few of the most significant pieces on their list.

20 Comic Book Movies You Forgot Existed

Superman and the Mole Men (1951)

The initial portrayal of Superman on the big screen wasn’t Richard Donner’s 1978 blockbuster with Christopher Reeve as the Man of Steel. Instead, it was George Reeves, Television’s first Clark Kent, who played Superman for the first time in a movie. This film, often overlooked, essentially served as a trial run for his “The Adventures of Superman” TV series. Contrary to what you might expect from a Superman movie, this one didn’t involve Superman fighting the Mole Men (minor spoiler alert for an almost-forgotten 70-year-old film). In fact, Superman was there to safeguard the Mole Men from an enraged mob of small-town folks who mistakenly believed these Earth-dwellers from beneath the surface were “monsters” due to their peculiar appearance.

Tales From the Crypt (1972)

Approximately two decades before HBO’s dark character, the Cryptkeeper, gained popularity (pre-Sopranos era), the same eerie EC Comics series spawned a British horror anthology known as “Tales From the Crypt.” Joan Collins and Peter Cushing led the cast of this horror film, which was split into five segments based on different issues of “Tales From the Crypt” and its companion publication, “The Vault of Horror.” (A second anthology movie titled “The Vault of Horror” was released in 1973.)

The Spirit (1987)

Frank Miller’s movie adaptation of “Spirit,” modeled on Will Eisner’s classic comic strip, is relatively unknown. Compared to it, The Dark Knight stands out as a beacon. In contrast, the Spirit’s first film adaptation, an obscure TV movie that premiered on ABC in 1987 and starred Sam Jones, who was famously Flash Gordon in the 1980 film based on the pulp hero, received even less attention. This version of The Spirit was intended as a trial run for a full-fledged TV series, but it was poorly received by ABC and aired only once. Ironically, this adaptation was written by Steven E. de Souza during his peak action film era (the same year as the release of The Running Man and a year before Die Hard). Eisner reportedly wasn’t satisfied with the outcome; he passed away in 2005 without witnessing Miller’s version.

Barb Wire (1996)

In the mid-’90s, Barb Wire emerged as a character in comics published by Dark Horse. She is a curvaceous blonde bounty hunter set in a dystopian America. During Pamela Anderson’s era on Baywatch, she seemed like an excellent fit for that role. Anderson was indeed a captivating beauty and had a strong screen presence, but her acting abilities were questionable, and the movie adaptation was, at best, a cheaply-made campy spectacle. However, the film does have its supporters; it was recently showcased on the Criterion Channel as part of a collection of films “celebrated” by the Razzies.

Steel (1997)

Between the two installments of Christopher Reeve’s Superman and Superman Returns, Warner Bros. attempted to reboot the franchise in various forms. The most renowned, Superman Lives, almost came into fruition with Nicolas Cage as the lead and Tim Burton directing, but this film disintegrated during pre-production. Somehow, Warner Bros. did manage to produce Steel, featuring Shaquille O’Neal as one of the replacements for Superman during his temporary “death” in the ’90s DC comics. The movie version paved the way for Sony’s disappointing Spider-Man spinoffs, where Spider-Man himself was absent. Without the genuine Superman to motivate it, Steel transformed into a film about a very tall man who donned an awkward-looking suit of armor to combat crime.

Virus (1999)

It’s astonishing how someone could overlook a movie featuring such an iconic image of Donald Sutherland, but it did happen. This particular film was adapted from a comic series published by Dark Horse Comics, revolving around an alien who constructs bizarre creatures by merging humans with various technology. As the image suggests, the movie generally adhered to this concept.

From Hell (2001)

In the distinguished body of work by author Alan Moore, his graphic novel “From Hell,” beautifully illustrated by Eddie Campbell, is considered one of his most notable accomplishments. It’s an extensively researched masterpiece that delves into the realm of gothic horror, unfolding against the backdrop of Victorian England during the era of Jack the Ripper. Given its merit, it was inevitably adapted into a less-than-impressive detective thriller featuring Johnny Depp.

Bulletproof Monk (2003)

The Image comics titled “The Bulletproof Monk” were quite interesting. However, the “Bulletproof Monk” movie, starring a melancholic Chow Yun-fat and an annoyingly energetic Seann William Scott, fell flat on its face. Regrettably, the film failed to deliver even decent action sequences, a feat that seemed achievable given the minimal expectations. It’s questionable whether the director was at fault entirely; it appears that Scott took on more stunts than Chow in the movie. When Stifler outperforms your action movie’s leading actor as a stunt performer, there’s clearly an issue to address.

Man-Thing (2005)

As Marvel Studios prepared for its grand entrance onto the Hollywood scene, it was as if infused with the power of the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak, plowing through the film industry. In the twilight before this transformation, they granted Lionsgate the rights to one of their more unusual characters – a mute swamp creature called Man-Thing (please refrain from chuckles). Initially produced as a low-budget horror flick, it ultimately skipped theaters and went straight to the Sci Fi Channel before reaching DVD. However, Man-Thing was given another opportunity at cinematic fame when it appeared in a supporting role in the Disney+ special “Werewolf By Night.

Art School Confidential (2006)

Following Terry Zwigoff’s success with directing the movie adaptation of Daniel Clowes’ “Ghost World,” they collaborated again to adapt “Art School Confidential” into a film. This satire, like its predecessor, aimed to critique the elitist art world. However, unlike the first film, this one did not resonate with critics or audiences and failed to recover its $5 million production cost. Despite this, I found it to be an underrated dark comedy from the 2000s. If you have experience in art or film studies during your college years, you’ll likely find a lot of relatable truths within it.

30 Days of Night (2007)

Back in the early 2000s, if you were a regular at comic book stores, you would have been quite familiar with “30 Days of Night”. This horror series, known for its intriguing premise – an Alaskan town plunged into darkness for 30 days is besieged by vampires – was a major success for independent publisher IDW. The story was later expanded across multiple sequel books. In the sea of superhero comics, “30 Days of Night” truly shone brightly. (Its captivating artwork by Ben Templesmith certainly played a role in this.) On the big screen, it became another vampire movie, although it managed to earn a straight-to-video sequel inspired by the second “30 Days” miniseries, “Dark Days”.

Whiteout (2009)

Discussing indie comic books turned movies that quickly faded into obscurity, let’s talk about ‘Whiteout’! This gripping murder mystery, penned by Greg Rucka and beautifully illustrated by Steve Lieber, is set in a research station in Antarctica. It’s like a blend of Sherlock Holmes and ‘The Thing’. Kate Beckinsale portrayed the central detective in the Whiteout movie, which generally stuck to the original idea. The film was just average. However, if you can get your hands on the book, it’s definitely worth reading as it’s quite excellent!

The Losers (2010)

Absolutely, that’s Chris Evans you’re referring to. Before he donned the Captain America suit (although he was already the Human Torch beforehand), he portrayed a member of the Losers, a group originating from a Vertigo comic series that shares its name with an older DC concept about a cursed team of World War II soldiers. The modern take followed a Special Forces unit betrayed by their government, who then pursued revenge against the CIA. This theme was also central to the film adaptation, which boasted a strong cast including Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Idris Elba, and Zoe Saldana. Despite the promising ensemble, the movie didn’t fare well at the box office. If you’re interested, you can still catch it streaming on Max.

Jonah Hex (2010)

As a die-hard cinema enthusiast and a fan of DC Comics’ gritty Western anti-hero Jonah Hex, I was genuinely excited for his silver screen debut. I envisioned a tale reminiscent of “Fistful of Dollars,” with Josh Brolin embodying the role of a rough-and-tumble gunslinger. Sadly, the movie veered off course, granting Hex inexplicable supernatural abilities (such as communicating with the deceased) and over-the-top, cartoonish weaponry to complement its eccentric, almost comical narrative. The film’s saving grace is its brief runtime – under 90 minutes. However, the downside lies in its brevity; it feels hacked into disjointed fragments, making it challenging to follow the storyline.

Red (2010)

Initially, the film titled “Red” gained significant popularity, primarily due to its origin in a limited series by Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner. Featuring Bruce Willis alongside an ensemble of seasoned actors like Morgan Freeman and Helen Mirren, it portrayed a group of retired spies undertaking one final mission. The initial success of “Red” prompted the swift production of its sequel, “Red 2”, where the original cast reunited for another adventure. However, you might have noticed a flaw in this narrative; while “Red 2” amassed $148 million globally, it saw a significant drop compared to the first film. Consequently, there was no “Red 3”. Interestingly, you may have come across this movie on basic cable channels frequently as it seems to be aired quite often.

R.I.P.D. (2013)

As a movie enthusiast who hasn’t delved into the R.I.P.D comics penned by Peter M. Lenkov, the brainchild behind the modern adaptations of Hawaii Five-0, MacGyver, and Magnum P.I., I can’t comment on its authenticity. However, if the comics were brimming with tired buddy cop tropes, high-speed pursuits, firefights, bizarre specters, and more action sequences, then it seems to be a precise adaptation. Regrettably, despite boasting two high-profile actors (Ryan Reynolds, who finally found success with Deadpool after numerous attempts in the comic book genre), R.I.P.D falls short of being genuinely entertaining. Instead, it’s more like a synthetic substitute for real entertainment, manufactured to resemble its genuine counterpart.

Term Life (2016)

An unpopular Image Comics series was the source for an equally obscure thriller starring Vince Vaughn and Hailee Steinfeld. In this film, they portray a troubled father-daughter duo who find common ground as he hides from assassins seeking his life. The movie faced numerous obstacles during production – it nearly collapsed before filming even began – and had limited theater showings and home video releases. At present, it has a score of 0 on Rotten Tomatoes.

Wilson (2017)

To be straightforward, I must confess that I had forgotten about “Wilson,” despite being a fan of Daniel Clowes’ work, including his graphic novel “Wilson” and the movie “Art School Confidential.” Surprisingly, this one managed to slip my memory until now. The film stars Woody Harrelson in the lead role as a middle-aged man trying to reconnect with his ex-wife. It was directed by Craig Johnson, who made “The Skeleton Twins,” a movie I enjoyed quite a bit. However, when it premiered at Sundance and hit theaters, “Wilson” wasn’t well-received by critics and failed to attract audiences.

The Kitchen (2019)

In this piece, we’re discussing a film inspired by a mature-themed comic book series from Vertigo Comics, published by DC. The story revolves around three mafia wives who take over the crime scene in 1970s New York City as they become bosses themselves. With an intriguing plot and star-studded cast including Melissa McCarthy, Tiffany Haddish, and Elisabeth Moss, one might expect a successful run. However, the film’s summer release date seemed odd, making it feel out of sync, and unfortunately, it failed to draw audiences in cinemas. It seems that if your comic-book movie doesn’t involve Hell’s Kitchen’s vigilante, Daredevil, comic book fans may not show much interest.

Bloodshot (2020)

For nearly two decades, characters from ’90s comic powerhouse Valiant have eluded successful film adaptations by different Hollywood studios. However, Sony finally managed to bring one character, Bloodshot, to life, casting Vin Diesel as the deadly nanite-infused assassin. Unfortunately, just as the movie was set to premiere on March 13, 2020, the Covid pandemic forced a global shutdown of cinemas. It’s hard to say if Bloodshot would have left a more lasting impression had it debuted under different circumstances. (Probably not.)

2025-01-14 04:08