When it comes to beloved fictional characters, copyright laws are often at play; these laws are meant to protect the creative works of artists, legally discerning who can profit from a fictional character's likeness and story. Yet, some beloved characters are exempt from these stipulations and join what's called the public domain, a term that refers to all creative works that are not subject to intellectual property laws. In other words, characters in the public domain are available for anyone to use and adapt the way they see fit.
Updated Jan. 6, 2024: This article has been updated with additional content, including the anticipated public domain status of Steamboat Willie.
Throughout the years, characters from books, movies, and even ancient mythology have become a part of the public domain. From Tarzan to Thor, we'll explore some of the most well-known movie characters who have since entered the public domain, and recount the stories that helped make these characters household names.
14 Mickey Mouse
As Depicted in Steamboat Willie
What is possibly the most popular property to enter the public domain recently has to be that of Disney's Mickey Mouse. Specifically, we're referring to the depiction of the character featured in Steamboat Willie, an animated short originally produced in 1928. This short introduced Mickey Mouse to the world as a replacement for Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, whose ownership rights were squarely with Universal Pictures instead of Disney. While it's not technically the first ever Mickey Mouse short ever produced, it would become the first to be widely distributed, on account of it being one of the first animated shorts to feature a soundtrack in post-production.
Mind you, public domain status applies to Steamboat Willie and Steamboat Willie alone. Similar to how Winnie-the-Pooh entered the public domain in recent years, it's important to keep in mind that specific depictions of a character do fall under legal protection — which is why you won't see Winnie-the-Pooh wearing an iconic red shirt anywhere other than Disney, for instance. The same applies here. Only this specific iteration of Mickey Mouse, down to its exact details, has officially entered the public domain; not the character as a whole.
13 Jay Gatsby
The Mysterious Face of The Great Gatsby
Jay Gatsby is a featured character in F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic tale, The Great Gatsby. Though the book was released in 1925, Jay Gatsby became a part of the public domain in January 2021, nearly 100 years after the hotshot was introduced to the public. Arguably one of the most well-known pieces of American literature, and a staple of American high schools everywhere, The Great Gatsby chronicled the exploits of the titular Jay Gatsby, a mysterious millionaire, through the eyes of Nick Carraway. The book itself is a sprawling examination of American culture in the midst of the Roaring Twenties, painting a broad picture of social class divides, examinations of the American Dream, and the socioeconomic complexities intersecting the two.
One of the most recognized adaptations of The Great Gatsby was the titular 2013 film directed by Baz Luhrmann, where Leonardo DiCaprio played the role of Jay. Here, Jay was shown to be as dazzling and love-struck as ever; with Luhrmann's fast-paced camerawork and unique visuals, the classic character was given new life set against a backdrop of glitzy sets and contemporary music. A lesser-known adaptation of the film was released in 1974 as well, with Robert Redford donning the role of Jay and Francis Ford Coppola penning the screenplay.
12 Peter Pan
The Boy Who Never Grew Up
Today, Peter Pan is widely recognized due to Disney's iconic portrayal of the character in 1953's Peter Pan, with his signature voice being provided by Bobby Driscoll. The character may not need an introduction for most, but in case you're out of the loop, we'll provide a brief synopsis. Famously known as "the boy who refused to grow up," Peter Pan is a fun-loving boy whose adventures in the magical Neverland are filled with a variety of supernatural creatures and sea-faring adventurers. He's often seen traveling alongside fellow child Wendy Darling, Neverland's numerous Lost Boys, and the nefarious Captain Hook.
However, the boy who refused to grow up originated from Scottish novelist J.M. Barrie decades before Disney had the chance to adapt the story. Disney's 1953 film was specifically adapted from Barrie's titular play, which was originally published in 1904. A subsequent novelization released in 1911, along with a complete mess of intermingling copyright laws and extensions, kept the original work under legal wraps for decades. That is, except for the parts that weren't protected. We won't break it down here, as there's simply too much legalese to cover in so few sentences. Thankfully, you won't have to worry about these distinctions anymore, as 2024 officially brought the original Peter Pan play into the public domain.
Movies that feature Peter Man include 1991's Hook, 2003's Peter Pan, and 2023's Peter Pan & Wendy. Hook is arguably one of the most interesting depictions of the character, demonstrating the strengths of public domain freedoms by interpreting Peter Pan as a fully grown adult. Though the films all tell a unique story, each holds true to the original characterization of Peter Pan.
11 Tarzan
The Man Raised by Apes
Tarzan is a character who was originally created by prolific author Edgar Rice Burroughs. Debuting in the 1912 novel Tarzan of the Apes, Tarzan is a man who was raised by apes after a freak accident leaves him alone and vulnerable in the jungle. The subsequent books in the series, as well as Disney's titular adaptation in 1999, showcase Tarzan's difficulties in navigating the cultural divides between the jungle and civilization.
Though most may recognize Tarzan via Tony Goldwyn's performance in Disney's film, the character has seen a plethora of adaptations. A 1960s television series saw Ron Ely portraying the character, albeit with a bizarrely pristine haircut. Other live action adaptations, like The Legend of Tarzan, with Alexander Skarsgård, put a stern edge on the character. He's a character who is as intriguing as he is athletic, making him a wonderful addition to both the public domain and the creative world.
10 The Wizard of Oz
The Great and Powerful
Since its release in 1939, The Wizard of Oz has undoubtedly cemented itself as a classic film, based on the original story by L. Frank Baum. However, the titular character is perhaps one of the most intriguing aspects of the story; as the almighty and powerful ruler of Oz, this wizard is shown to be one of the wisest, most magical beings in the land. Yet, as the story goes, the wizard turns out to be nothing more than a normal man, certainly capable of providing advice but not performing magic. He is a complex but relatable character who is integral to any story that takes place in the land of Oz.
Though the 1939 version of The Wizard of Oz is still firmly under copyright protection, the characters featured in the original L. Frank Baum story, including Oz himself, are in the public domain. Of course, due to an unconventional copyright ruling, you'll have to make some drastic creative deviations when depicting them on the big screen. You can find an example of this in Disney's Oz the Great and Powerful, a film that takes place prior to the events of the first Oz novel. In this film, James Franco plays a younger Oz in an origin story for the character. A plethora of other Oz adaptations are currently in development.
10 Comic Characters That Were Portrayed Better on TV Than Movies
Adapting comics for cinema is always a challenge, so there are a few cases of iconic characters being portrayed much better on TV than in movies.9 Mad Hatter
The Manic Host
Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland has definitely seen its fair share of cinematic adaptions. Yet, one of the most polarizing characters is certainly the Mad Hatter, a zany tea-party host who wears a unique top hat. He's one of many colorful characters Alice encounters on her journey through Wonderland, with a plethora of iconic depictions bringing the character to life on the big screen.
Disney created both an animated and live-action adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, each of which takes the Mad Hatter in a different direction. For example, Ed Wynn's depiction of the character in the original 1951 Alice in Wonderland portrayed him as a jovial, if not manic, tea enthusiast. Johnny Depp's depiction of the character in the 2010 Alice in Wonderland is slightly toned-down, along with featuring some of Depp's mannerisms. However, both movies showcase the character as being highly unpredictable, jittery, and at times goofy. The Mad Hatter is perfectly fit for a world called Wonderland, bringing the right amount of kookiness to any situation.