2025 has brought with it a new slate of works now in the public domain — and there are some iconic creations on the list.
In the U.S., the length of copyright protection for works published before 1978 is 95 years. That means works from 1929 and sound recordings from 1924 are open to all in the U.S. from January 1, 2025. That’s all films, books, songs, and art published during the Roaring 20s now without copyright protection.
Duke Law School’s Center for the Study of Public Domain has a helpful roundup, but highlights include the original character of Tintin by Hergé as he appeared in the Le Petit Vingtième magazine comic strip Les Aventures de Tintin, The Karnival Kid (Mickey Mouse’s first talking appearance and the debut of his signature white gloves), and Alfred Hitchcock’s first sound film, Blackmail.
The most notable inclusion, however, is the original Popeye (who didn’t eat spinach to gain strength), as he appeared in the Thimble Theatre comic strip Gobs of Work, created by E. C. Segar. “Everything that he says, all of his characteristics, his personality, his sarcasm… that’s public domain,” Jennifer Jenkins, director of Duke’s Center for the Study of the Public Domain, told NPR. “The spinach, if you want to be on the safe side, you might want to wait.”
January 1, 2024 saw the first iteration of Mickey Mouse enter the public domain, and just a day later a Steamboat Willie horror film was announced. Winnie the Pooh’s Tigger also entered the public domain last year as the character first appeared in A.A. Milne’s The House in Pooh Corner in 1928. Tigger subsequently appeared in Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 2, the sequel to Rhys Waterfield’s child-ruining horror flick. Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 3 is in the works.
But 2025 is of particular interest because 1929 was the first year for film with sound. So it comes as no surprise to see there are a number of Popeye horror films already in the works. Popeye the Slayer Man is one, ITN Studios’ Popeye, which is reportedly raunchy as well as gory, is another. Perhaps we’ll also get a Tintin slasher in the coming years.
2026 will see works from 1930 lose their copyright, including the earliest versions of Betty Boop, Mickey Mouse’s dog Pluto, teen detective Nancy Drew, and Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
