The start of a new year signals the release of a fresh batch of time-tested characters into the public domain. 2025 freed the first-ever iteration of Mickey Mouse, Tintin, and Popeye from copyright protection, joined by ‘The Skeleton Dance’ from Disney’s Silly Symphonies, William Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury, and Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms. But which treats does the year 2026 bring?
We have the answer thanks to the Duke Law School’s Center for the Study of Public Domain, which has posted a roundup of all the no-longer-copyright-restricted works from 1930 that are now available for everyone to enjoy. This includes Fleischer Studios’ Betty Boop, but be warned: it’s the dog version of the famous character, who made her debut in Dizzy Dishes before shaking off her anthropomorphism for her more widely known human appearance. Canines are all the rage this year, it seems, as Pluto (or Rover, as he was known back then) from The Picnic has also been granted freedom.
William Faulkner’s novel As I Lay Dying, Agatha Christie’s The Murder at the Vicarage, the first four Nancy Drew mysteries, Chic Young’s Blondie comic strip, and the Marx Brothers’ movie Animal Crackers are also on the list.
1930’s Anti-War Classic ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ Becomes Public Property
All Quiet on the Western Front is officially in the public domain as of 2026Universal Pictures
For movie aficionados, the news that anti-war classic All Quiet on the Western Front is now officially public property is cause for celebration. Directed by Lewis Milestone and based on the 1929 novel of the same name by German author Erich Maria Remarque, it won two Oscars from four nominations, taking home Outstanding Production (which would eventually be renamed Best Picture) and Best Director. The official synopsis reads:
“All Quiet on the Western Front follows Paul Bäumer, a young German student who enlists in World War I with his classmates, only to confront the brutal reality of trench warfare. As constant violence, loss, and disillusionment replace patriotic ideals, Paul becomes increasingly detached from civilian life. The film offers a powerful portrayal of war’s devastating impact on an entire generation.”
All Quiet on the Western Front was remade by Conclave director Edward Berger in 2022, and this visually upgraded version became a sensation amongst critics after being released internationally via Netflix. Berger’s movie garnered nine Oscar nominations, winning Best International Feature, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, and Best Production Design.
For the MovieWeb review, Julian Roman wrote: “Acclaimed German director Edward Berger is masterful in every aspect. He vividly portrays trench warfare and the use of chemical weapons. There’s no respite from the elements. The trenches are pits of despair. The eager, fresh-faced young recruits become nearly unrecognizable as the plot progresses. Paul’s teeth yellow as he’s repeatedly covered in grime and entrails. All Quiet on the Western Front looks magnificent. The use of smoke and mist to light the battles is remarkable. Flares illuminate pitch black nights as the German soldiers run towards and flee other trenches. This is also contrasted by the white beauty of the snow-covered French countryside. You see that pristine lands are being mercilessly ravaged.”
Release Date
October 28, 2022
Runtime
2hr 28min
Director
Edward Berger
Writers
Edward Berger, Lesley Paterson, Ian Stokell