Hollywood is known for its blockbuster hits, but not every film that gets made ends up in theaters. Some projects, despite significant investment and anticipation, never see the light of day. Here’s a look at some of the most intriguing movies that were completed or nearly completed, but for various reasons, were never released.
The Day the Clown Cried” (1972)
Directed by and starring Jerry Lewis, “The Day the Clown Cried” is perhaps one of the most infamous unreleased films. The movie tells the story of a German clown in a Nazi concentration camp who is forced to lead children to the gas chambers. The dark subject matter and the controversial tone led to the film being shelved. Jerry Lewis himself reportedly felt that the film was a misstep, and it has remained unreleased, with only a few select people having seen it in private screenings.
reddit.com/r/midjourney/
“Batgirl” (2022)
Batgirl” was a highly anticipated DC film, starring Leslie Grace as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl, with Michael Keaton reprising his role as Batman. The film was directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah and had nearly completed post-production when Warner Bros. made the shocking decision to cancel its release. The decision was reportedly due to a shift in the studio’s strategy under new management, who chose to write off the film for tax purposes rather than release it on any platform, leaving fans disappointed and the film industry stunned.
Matt Morrison
“Empires of the Deep” (2014)
“Empires of the Deep” was an ambitious Chinese-American co-production that aimed to be an epic underwater fantasy, featuring mermaids, sea monsters, and grand battles. With a budget that reportedly ballooned to over $130 million, the film suffered from multiple delays, director changes, and script rewrites. Despite being nearly completed, the film was never released, likely due to its troubled production and the dwindling interest in the project over time.
imdb.com/title
“The Other Side of the Wind” (1970s)
Orson Welles’ “The Other Side of the Wind” is a legendary unfinished project that spent decades in development limbo. Filming began in the 1970s, but due to financial and legal troubles, Welles never completed the film. It remained unfinished until 2018, when it was finally completed and released on Netflix. While this film eventually saw the light of day, its long journey and near-mythical status as an unreleased project make it a fascinating case in cinema history.
bfi.org.uk/news
“Don’s Plum” (1995)
“Don’s Plum” was an indie film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire before they became household names. The film was shot over six days and was intended as a small, improvisational project. However, after DiCaprio and Maguire achieved fame, they reportedly sought to block the film’s release, arguing that it was never meant to be a full-length feature. The film was eventually banned from release in the United States and Canada due to legal agreements, though it has been released in other countries.
Youtube
“Blood in the Water” (2001)
Also known as “Meatcleaver Massacre,” this horror film was plagued by production issues and legal battles. Starring Michael Madsen, the movie was intended to be a gritty slasher film, but production problems led to a disjointed final product. The studio ultimately decided not to release the film, and it remains locked away, with only a few scenes ever leaking online.
maclethal.bandcamp.com
“The Fantastic Four” (1994)
Before the big-budget Marvel films, there was the low-budget, unreleased “The Fantastic Four” produced by Roger Corman. The film was made primarily to retain the rights to the characters, with no real intention of releasing it. Despite being completed, the movie was never released commercially, though bootleg copies have circulated among fans for years. The film has gained a cult following for its campy style and has become a curious footnote in superhero cinema history.
MAX EVRY
“Hippie Hippie Shake” (2009)
“Hippie Hippie Shake” was a British film about the counterculture movement of the 1960s, starring Cillian Murphy and Sienna Miller. Directed by Beeban Kidron, the film faced numerous production delays and was ultimately shelved by Universal Pictures. Despite being nearly completed, the studio decided not to release the film, citing creative differences and the belief that it would not find a large audience.
whynow.co.uk/read
“100 Years” (2115)
In a truly unique marketing stunt, “100 Years” is a film directed by Robert Rodriguez and written by John Malkovich that is not set to be released until November 18, 2115. The film is locked away in a safe, designed to open in 100 years. The content of the film is a closely guarded secret, making it the ultimate unreleased film—for now.
Devan Coggan
“The Man Who Killed Don Quixote” (2000)
Terry Gilliam’s “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote” is another film with a legendary production history. The original version, starring Johnny Depp and Jean Rochefort, was plagued by numerous disasters, including flooding, illness, and financial issues. The film was ultimately abandoned, though Gilliam did eventually complete a different version in 2018 with a new cast. However, the original 2000 version remains unreleased and unseen, fueling its status as one of the greatest unfinished films in history.
Clark Collis
