Image credit via Unsplash
It is not important that every movie that is directed with higher expectations is released in theaters or on other platforms. Some never made it to the point due to complex distribution rights, music licensing, or studio neglect; many acclaimed English-language films lack any digital subscription or VOD home. Today’s list incorporates the top ten English movies that are not halted into any streaming platforms.
Happiness (1998)
The 1998 dark comedy film Happiness, it was written and also directed by Todd Solondz. A lot of major digital storefronts and most mainstream streaming platforms, really, refuse to host it. The reason is its very controversial, adult-oriented content.
Cocoon (1985)
Ron Howard’s massive sci-fi box office hit, which also won two Academy Awards. Disney owns the film but refuses to pay the high cost of renegotiating the streaming rights for James Horner’s musical score.
Dogma (1999)
The fantasy comedy film Dogma (1999) was written, co-edited, and directed by Kevin Smith. But the digital rights are personally owned by Harvey Weinstein, meaning the film’s distribution is legally frozen amidst his ongoing asset liquidations.
Wild at Heart (1990)
The 1990 black comedy romantic crime film Wild at Heart was written and directed by David Lynch. Fragmented international distributors cannot agree on global rights, and licensing the movie’s heavy rock and Elvis music is too expensive.
The Heartbreak Kid (1972)
The 1972 romantic black comedy was directed by Elaine May, and there’s a screenplay credited to Neil Simon, based on a short story by Bruce Jay Friedman. Now the rights are held by Bristol Myers Squibb, which frankly has no interest whatsoever in dealing with movie licensing.
Short Cuts (1993)
The comedy-drama film Short Cuts (1993) was directed by Robert Altman. Due to the original boutique distributor’s collapse, leaving the tangled music and ensemble actor clearances buried in Warner Bros. corporate limbo.
Pink Flamingos (1972)
The transgressive 1972 cult classic Pink Flamingos was written, directed, produced, and shot by John Waters. The extreme, transgressive content prevents it from meeting the standard commercial guidelines required by digital storefronts.
Little Fauss and Big Halsy (1970)
The 1970 comedy-drama picture, Little Fauss and Big Halsy, was helmed by Sidney J. Furie. At least, Paramount Pictures seems to think it is too obscure, so they don’t bother with the financial cost of digitizing and restoring the original film reels
The Keep (1983)
Director Michael Mann disowned the movie, and the soundtrack contract for the band Tangerine Dream never accounted for digital distribution. The music rights were never legally structured to account for home video or digital streaming formats.
America, America (1963)
The 1963 drama film America, America was directed, written, and produced by Elia Kazan. The whole thing kind of sits in the Warner Bros. archive, because those older, black and white dramas don’t really pull the heavy viewer traffic needed to justify modern digital ingestion costs.
About the Author
