Several incredible films are challenging to watch nowadays. This can be for a variety of reasons, including issues with licensing or streaming.The best movies of all timerarely have issues such as these, but there are plenty of incredible movies that are still hard to find in the modern day.
Many of the films that are difficult to find, both on streaming or otherwise, aremovies with great anti-heroes. Others, likePorgy and Bess,aregreat romance films. Regardless, the fact that these movies are so hard to find makes the effort worth it, as they are each an important part of movie history in their own right.
Cast
Dogmais a beloved ’90s comedy film that follows a pair of fallen angels, desperate to somehow get back into heaven. This Kevin Smith film features an all-star cast, starring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and even Alan Rickman, among others.It is another entry in a handful of films featuring the characters Jay and Silent Bob, made famous by Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith.
Despite the popularity of this film, even to this day, fans are currently unable to stream or purchase this film digitally. This is because of the prison conviction of the current holder of the film’s rights, Harvey Weinstein. Until the rights to the film are sold or eventually passed on to someone else, it is unlikely thatDogmawill be coming to any streaming services now or in the future.
Porgy and Bess
Porgy and Bess, released in 1959, is a film adaptation set in the fictional Catfish Row in Charleston, focusing on Porgy, a crippled beggar, and Bess, who struggles with addiction. The community’s dynamics unfold against the backdrop of early 1900s South Carolina.
Being one of thefilms that defined Sidney Poitier’s career,Porgy and Bessholds an important place in American film history. The movie is an adaptation of an opera of the same name, following the story of a disabled beggar named Porgy who falls in love with Bess, a woman who is addicted to drugs. The film is passionate and tragic, with an incredible performance by Poitier.
Porgy and Besshas been added to the National Film Registry by The Library of Congress, considering it an “overlooked masterpiece” during an important time in the Civil Rights Movement.
When the film was initially released, it received poor reviews from critics.This led to the rights holder eventually allowing the rights to slip away, makingPorgy and Bessanother example of a film lost to a rights dispute.While there are bootlegs of the film in circulation, it is incredibly difficult to find a good copy, essentially making it a lost film.
The Heartbreak Kid
The Heartbreak Kid stars Ben Stiller as Eddie Cantrow, who hastily marries Lila (Malin Åkerman) but quickly realizes his mistake during their honeymoon. Directed by the Farrelly brothers, the film follows Eddie as he meets and falls for another woman, Miranda (Michelle Monaghan), leading to a series of comedic and romantic mishaps. This remake of the 1972 film explores themes of love, commitment, and second chances.
Originally based on the short story “A Change of Plan,“The Heartbreak Kidis about a sleazy sports-goods salesman who, after rushing a marriage, seeks to cheat on his wife with a younger woman. He is shown to be shallow and vain, ruining many of the things around him, including his relationships.The film was eventually remade in 2007, with the remake starring Ben Stiller.
The Heartbreak Kid is a romantic comedy directed by the Farrelly brothers, starring Ben Stiller as Eddie Cantrow, a man who rushes into marriage only to realize his new bride, Lila (Malin Akerman), is not what she seemed. On their honeymoon, Eddie meets and falls for another woman, Miranda (Michelle Monaghan), leading to a series of comedic and chaotic events as he tries to untangle his romantic mishap.
The film was first released on DVD in 1998 and 2002. However, it has never made it to any streaming platforms. This is further complicated by the fact that the DVD is now out of print, making it impossible to find a new copy of the DVD and used copies the only version of the film available.
Heavenly Creatures
In post-war New Zealand, teenagers Pauline Parker and Juliet Hulme meet at school and develop a close but obsessive friendship. Their rich fantasy life, filled with characters and landscapes of their creation, is disrupted as their families grow concerned and decide to separate them, leading to committing a devastating crime.
Based on the Parker-Hulme murder case that took place in 1954,Heavenly Creaturesdocuments the relationship between two girls as they plot to kill the mother of Pauline Parker. It was praised for its stylish nature, even nominated for an Academy Award during the time of its release. At this time, it has a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, showing how generally well-received the film was.
Since its release,Heavenly Creatureshas been released in a variety of different formats, including a DVD release.It was even streaming at one time, even having a page on Amazon Prime, but can no longer be watched online today.The mysterious disappearance of such a great film is puzzling, leaving viewers wondering what happened for the film to essentially disappear.
Sleuth
Sleuth is a mystery thriller directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, featuring Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine. The plot revolves around a wealthy author who invites his wife’s lover to his mansion for an inventive game that spirals into a dangerous contest of wits and deception. Based on the play by Anthony Shaffer, Sleuth explores themes of rivalry, betrayal, and intricate mind games between its two central characters.
Sleuthfollows the constant back and forth between two men named Milo and Andrew. After Milo is found to be sleeping with Andrew’s wife, the two devolve into a back-and-forth that supposedly ends with the disappearance of Milo. However, the film is full of twists and turns, leaving viewers constantly guessing where the mystery will go next.
Sleuthwas added to the Academy Film Archive in 2012 to preserve it for the years to come.
The film was nominated for plenty of awards, with both Michael Caine and Laurence Olivier winning for their stunning performances. However,Sleuthis another victim of rights disputes that has left the film out of print and off of streaming.The 2007 remake is much more accessible, but it does not live up to the 1972 original.
The Brave Little Toaster
In “The Brave Little Toaster,” a group of endearing household appliances embarks on an epic adventure to reunite with their owner, Rob. The fearless Toaster leads the team, which includes Lampy, the bright and optimistic lamp; Blanky, the cuddly electric blanket; Radio, the lively communicator; and Kirby, the steadfast vacuum cleaner. Their journey takes them through treacherous terrains, including dark forests and hazardous junkyards, testing their bravery and loyalty at every turn. As they face various challenges, the appliances demonstrate remarkable resilience and teamwork, highlighting the powerful bond they share with each other and their determination to return home.
An animated children’s movie based on a novella of the same name,The Brave Little Toastertakes place in a world where everyday kitchen appliances have come to life.This film, the first in a series of animated movies, go on a perilous adventure to find their owner. It was incredibly popular on home video at the time of its release, even receiving a limited theatrical run.
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Unlike many other hard-to-find films,The Brave Little Toasterhas very clear-cut lines as to who owns the rights to the film. The rights are currently held by Disney. However, the film has yet to appear on Disney + to find a home for a modern audience, forcing anyone who wants to watch the movie to find either a VHS or DVD copy of the film.
Cocoon
Directed by Ron Howard, Cocoon centers around a group of elderly residents who discover a rejuvenating pool that connects them to a benevolent alien species. Starring Don Ameche, Wilford Brimley, and Hume Cronyn, the film blends science fiction and drama as it explores themes of aging and the possibility of a new lease on life.
Full of dense lore featuring aliens and the legendary city of Atlantis,Cocoonis a beloved science fiction film that was released in 1985. It revolves around the rejuvenating powers of these aliens, making the residents of a retirement facility young again. These aliens want nothing more than to return to their home, creating the crux of this film.
Cocoonis a film that was created and owned by 20th Century Fox, winning many awards upon release. Despite its instant popularity, not only isCocoonnot available to stream, but the last time it was released on DVD was over 20 years ago. Some have theorized that this is because of a rights dispute involving the music in the film, but nothing has been confirmed in the years since the film’s release.
I Was a Teenage Werewolf
I Was a Teenage Werewolf follows a troubled teenager who becomes the subject of a hypnotherapist’s experiment, resulting in his transformation into a ferocious werewolf. Released in 1957, the film explores themes of adolescent unrest and scientific manipulation in a small suburban setting.
Being an incredible classic horror film,I Was a Teenage Werewolfhas served as inspiration for countless horror films that have released since the 50s. It follows the story of a young man who is manipulated by his hypnotherapist, convinced to take an experimental serum. This serum turns him into a werewolf, leading the man to terrorize the town.
I Was a Teenage Werewolfhas managed to stay relevant in the pop culture zeitgeist for nearly an entire generation, and yet it is unavailable to watch on any platform.
I Was a Teenage Werewolfhas managed to stay relevant in the pop culture zeitgeist for nearly an entire generation, and yet it is unavailable to watch on any platform. Bootlegs of the film do exist, offering one of the few ways to watch the film today.Still, the film lives on today in the form of countless references in movies, literature, and even music.
28 Days Later
28 Days Later depicts a post-apocalyptic Britain devastated by a virulent outbreak. Directed by Danny Boyle, it follows a group of London survivors as they navigate the chaos caused by a rapidly spreading virus, transmitted by humans and animals, that transforms the infected into dangerous beings. Released in 2002.
Starring acclaimed actor Cillian Murphy in one of his most iconic roles,28 Days Lateris considered one of thebest zombie movies of all time. When a bicycle courier finds himself in a horrible accident right before the outbreak of a zombie virus, he wakes up 28 days later to a world that has completely changed.The film is considered to have revitalized the zombie genre, making it an important part of the development of these types of films.
A sequel to the film, titled28 Weeks Later, was released in 2007.
Despite the fact that this film is so beloved, it is not available to stream. It is a film that was, once again, owned by 20th Century Fox before their acquisition by Disney, and so the rights situation of the film is complicated. The film’s long-awaited sequel,28 Years Lateris set to release in 2025, so hopefully this issue will be resolved soon, allowing for fans to watch the film before the next installment’s release.
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Dawn of the Dead
George A. Romero’s horror classic Dawn of the Dead follows on from Night of the Living Dead. Expanding upon Romero’s zombies, Dawn of the Dead redefined the horror genre for a generation. It follows a group of survivors as they make camp in a shopping mall, clearing the zombies in order to scavenge supplies and fortify their position in an increasingly hostile world.
For the longest time,Dawn of the Deadwas not available anywhere. This film, which was memorable for its scenes depicting the zombie outbreak in a shopping mall, is a foundational part of the zombie genre.Dawn of the Deadcurrently has an astounding 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and is consistently rated as one of the best zombie films out there.
A remake ofDawn of the Deadwas released in 2004, written by acclaimed director James Gunn.
However, until very recently, the only way to watchDawn of the Deadwas to own it on DVD. This has changed incredibly recently, however, as the film is now available to buy digitally on Amazon. This has allowed a new generation of fans to have access to a movie they wouldn’t otherwise be able to watch, showing just how important streaming is to modern audiences and movie preservation.
