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CriticalPast
Reston, Virginia, USA
What it is
CriticalPast is a web archive for finding and licensing video clips and still images about events, people, and B-roll from around the world during the 20th century. Its collection is described as more than 59,000 historic clips and 7 million still images, drawn from declassified U.S. government films and other public-domain holdings. Search tools let users browse and narrow results by decade, location, color, and sound, or use advanced operators. Registered users can save selections in multiple lightboxes across sessions and share them. Video is licensed per clip; broadcast-ready, unmarked HD masters in ProRes or XDCAM cost USD $95-$295 depending on duration and format. Downloadable JPEG stills cost USD $5 for personal use, USD $20 for a Standard License, or USD $30 for a Premium License. Registered users can request full-resolution screeners at no charge; these have burned-in timecode and the CriticalPast logo. Licensed material is described as available worldwide, in perpetuity, across media, subject to license terms. Orders are typically ready within one hour and remain available for two weeks.
For and against
For
- Search by decade, location, color, or sound.
- Save and share selections with lightboxes.
- HD masters offered in ProRes or XDCAM.
- Screeners are available at no charge to registered users.
- Licensed material covers worldwide use, in perpetuity, across media.
Against
- Video masters cost USD $95-$295 per clip.
- Still images cost USD $5-$30 per image.
- No still images beyond those shown under each clip.
- Sales are final except for defective media.
The verdict
CriticalPast combines a broad searchable archive with per-clip video licensing and several still-image license choices. Check the specific clip, format, and license terms before ordering; still-image availability is limited to images shown under each video.
Who it suits
CriticalPast suits broadcast, film, publishing, advertising, museum, and online education professionals looking for archival footage or stills. It also fits users who need searchable historical material with licensing for a selected use.
Plans and prices
Video screener
Full-resolution · Timecode and CriticalPast logo burned into image · For evaluation and edit approval
Read 9 Oct 2026 · criticalpast.com
Still image — Personal use only
Downloadable JPEG · 1382x960 pixels · Personal use only
Read 9 Oct 2026 · criticalpast.com
Still image — Standard License
Downloadable JPEG · 1382x960 pixels
Read 9 Oct 2026 · criticalpast.com
Still image — Premium License
Downloadable JPEG · 1382x960 pixels
Read 9 Oct 2026 · criticalpast.com
Broadcast-ready video clip master
Full-resolution HD · Unmarked · ProRes or XDCAM
Read 9 Oct 2026 · criticalpast.com
On the record
- Audience
- CriticalPast says it serves broadcast news, television, film, publishing, production, advertising, museum, and online education professionals.criticalpast.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Collection size
- The site describes its collection as containing more than 59,000 historic clips and 7 million still images.criticalpast.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Company and founding
- Critical Past LLC was launched by co-founders Andy and Jim Erickson in 2007.criticalpast.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Delivery
- The site says online orders are typically ready for download within one hour and remain available for two weeks after the order date.criticalpast.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Delivery formats
- HD video masters are offered in ProRes or XDCAM with multiple frame rates, and still images are delivered as JPEG files.criticalpast.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- Video clips are available as full-resolution HD masters or screeners, with selectable codecs and frame rates; still images are downloadable JPEG files.criticalpast.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Free screeners
- Registered users can order full-resolution screeners at no charge for quality evaluation and rough-cut editing; they carry timecode and the company logo.criticalpast.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Intended customers
- CriticalPast says it serves broadcast news, television, film, and publishing professionals, and lists production companies, broadcasters, filmmakers, advertisers, publishers, museums, and online education companies among its clients.criticalpast.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- License scope
- The site says clips and stills are licensed worldwide, in perpetuity, for all media, including unlimited theatrical use.criticalpast.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Licensing
- The site says licensed footage and still images are available worldwide, in perpetuity, for all media, subject to the selected license terms.criticalpast.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Lightboxes
- Registered users can create multiple lightboxes, save their contents across sessions, and share them with friends or colleagues.criticalpast.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Notable limit
- The site says no still images are available beyond those shown under each video clip.criticalpast.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Privacy and payments
- The privacy policy says passwords are hashed and payment and billing data are collected through PayPal Braintree and are not stored on or transmitted by company servers.criticalpast.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Product
- CriticalPast is a searchable online collection of historic footage and still images spanning the 20th century.criticalpast.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Returns
- Sales are final except for defective media, for which the site says it accepts returns for a full refund or exchange.criticalpast.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Search
- Users can search and browse the collection, with search refinements for decade, location, color, and sound.criticalpast.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Security
- The privacy policy says passwords are hashed, database servers are not accessible from outside the corporate network, and payment and billing data are handled by PayPal Braintree rather than stored on or transmitted by corporate servers.criticalpast.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Source provenance
- The collection is sourced directly from declassified U.S. government films and other public-domain holdings, and orders of unmarked clips include the government source ID when available.criticalpast.com · read 8 Oct 2026
