Celluloid

Active

celluloid-player.github.io

Country: United States (US)
Founded: 2014
Developer: Celluloid Project (open-source community)
Pricing: Free (open-source)
Open source: Yes
Platforms: Linux

Indexes

Video Players

Overview

Celluloid is a lightweight GTK+ graphical frontend for the mpv media player that enables playback of virtually all video and audio formats. Designed for Linux users who prefer a simple, configurable interface over command-line media playback, it integrates mpv's powerful playback capabilities with GNOME Human Interface Guidelines while remaining adaptable to other desktop environments. The application targets users seeking a straightforward media player with playlist support and desktop integration without unnecessary complexity.

Key Features

Universal Format Support - Plays virtually all video and audio formats through mpv backend
Playlist Management - Supports creation and management of media playlists
MPRIS2 Controls - Integrates with desktop media player controls and notifications
Configurable Interface - Maintains high level of configurability while remaining easy to use
Wayland Support - Fully functional on Wayland display server
GTK+ Frontend - Native GTK+ interface following GNOME design guidelines
Blu-ray Support - Capable of detecting and playing Blu-ray discs
Right-to-Left Localization - Proper support for right-to-left language layouts

Pricing

Plan	Price	Includes
Free	$0	Full access to all features, open-source code available

Platforms & Requirements

Celluloid runs on Linux systems with GTK+ and mpv libraries installed. It is fully functional on both X11 and Wayland display servers. The application can be installed via package managers, Snap, or Flatpak on various Linux distributions including openSUSE, Fedora, Ubuntu, and Arch-based systems.

Integrations & Ecosystem

mpv media player engine via libmpv client API
GNOME Desktop Environment integration
Wayland display server
X11 display server
MPRIS2 media player interface
libadwaita UI library
Desktop file associations for media files

Alternatives

App	Difference
VLC Media Player	Cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, mobile) with more features but heavier resource usage
GNOME Videos	Native GNOME application with simpler interface but fewer configuration options
Totem	GNOME's default video player with tighter desktop integration but limited customization
mpv (command-line)	Direct mpv usage without graphical interface, requiring command-line proficiency

Reputation

Celluloid is well-regarded in the Linux community as a lightweight, reliable media player that successfully balances simplicity with configurability. Users appreciate its clean GNOME-aligned interface and efficient resource usage compared to heavier alternatives like VLC. The active development, evidenced by regular updates addressing bugs and adding features, demonstrates ongoing community commitment. Some users note limitations in advanced features compared to fully-featured players, though this aligns with the project's design philosophy of maintaining simplicity.

Sources (7)