20 Movies You Won’t Find in 2024 (and How to Watch Them Anyway)
Casual moviegoers might assume that almost everything is available on streaming these days, or at least easily found on DVD or Blu-ray. Unfortunately, this is not the case… not even close. A huge number of films, from obscure cult releases to nostalgic favorites and even big-budget blockbusters, are extremely uncomfortable to watch in 2024.
The streaming era has taught us to believe that watching a movie at home should be an uninterrupted experience, but for a variety of reasons, from rights issues to copyright holders’ indifference, these 19 films can’t be found streaming. and they are not currently available on physical media (at least in North America).
Some of these films are available on DVD if you’re willing to pay for a used or imported copy, but since many of the latter are likely to be region-locked and only playable on machines sold in a certain part of the world, this isn’t always possible . useful. Be especially careful when buying imported and used copies so you don’t end up with something you don’t need that you won’t be able to watch anyway.
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
The toll war takes on children (an unfortunately evergreen topic) is made beautifully and heartbreakingly clear in Isao Takahata’s Grave of the Fireflies , the director’s first film since co-founding Studio Ghibli. A pair of Japanese siblings narrowly escape the American bombing of Kobe in the final months of World War II, but their struggle continues as they navigate the war-torn countryside with nowhere to live, no money and no food. The film is widely considered one of the saddest films ever made, with a visual palette to match: the animators used soft brown as a base color rather than the more traditional black ink, giving the film a unique and dreamlike visual quality. It’s beautiful and complex and inexplicably hard to find.
How to even watch it: It’s not an easy task: North American DVDs and Blu-rays are sold out, and they can cost hundreds of dollars from resellers. However, if you have a region-free player, imported versions will cost much less.
Starrbooty (1987/2007)
It’s RuPaul’s world and we’re just living in it. So why is it so hard to find a drag queen supermodel’s first movie? Created virtually for free back in 1987, the original Starbooty was Ru&co’s answer to the blaxploitation era, and the 2007 remake ( Starrbooty , with an extra “r”), released just a couple of years before the start of Drag Race , covered some of the same territory with a bit more big budget. None of these are available because the original film (technically a trilogy of short films totaling about an hour in length) is only available on DVD on one website; The reboot DVDs are completely sold out.
How to even watch it: Out-of-print DVDs of the 2007 film are going for more than $50 on eBay and other online sellers. Earlier versions appear on YouTube from time to time, but they are usually short-lived.
Dogma (1999)
Kevin Smith’s masterful satire of organized religion was met with protests upon its release, although that’s not why it’s unavailable. It turns out that Bob and Harvey Weinstein own the rights to the film personally, and they don’t seem interested in doing anything with them, and Smith doesn’t want to pay Weinstein a penny to get them back. About Harvey Weinstein, Smith said : “My film about angels belongs to the devil himself.”
How to even watch it: Out-of-print DVDs are at least relatively easy to find , with prices starting at $20, but you’re out of luck when it comes to streaming.
Swimming Pool (2003)
Popular crime novelist Sarah Morton (the always great Charlotte Rampling) is struggling with her current romance and decides to take a short vacation for some peace and quiet—just to clear away the cobwebs—at her editor’s summer home. There she meets the uninhibited Julie (Ludivine Sagnier), the editor’s daughter, and the two form a bond; Sarah is initially repulsed and then delighted by the young woman’s sexual freedom. The emotional intrigue escalates until an imminent murder complicates the situation even further. The film’s sexual content was toned down for its original American release, so it’s worth seeking out the original unrated French version.
How to watch it: Technically there are no DVDs released, but new and used copies are fairly easy to find from resellers . But if you want Blu-ray, you’ll have to go the international/non-regional player route.
Children (1995)
Larry Clark and Harmony Korine’s circa 1995 portrait of teenage depravity is both dark and moralizing, but the controversy surrounding it made it a box office success. He also introduced Chloë Sevigny to the world, but still, he’s hard to find in 2023.
How to even watch it: Out-of-print DVDs are $15-$20, and there’s a region-wide European Blu-ray that will probably set you back around $30. However, not a single streamer has it.
Lagaan (2001)
Old-school Hollywood musicals get an Indian makeover with this big-budget, high-profile epic that combines historical romance with sports film tropes. Yes, it’s about four hours, and yes, it’s worth it: consistently delicious, with an everything-and-kitchen-sink vibe that ensures it never, ever gets boring, even with that long running time. It has goofy comedy and incredible villains, and the story has enough substance to hold everything together. AR Rahman’s soundtrack is just the cherry on top. Alas: good luck watching.
How to actually watch it: There are no official channels, but you can find it on YouTube or on imported DVDs for all regions (but buyers beware: there are many sketchy versions on sale).
Detective (1972)
Michael Caine and Laurence Olivier were nominated for Oscars for the film, a two-handed mystery thriller, as was director Joseph L. Mankiewicz. It was the All About Eve director’s last film, and it earned rave reviews, but even with that reputation, it’s still hard to find.
How to even watch it: The North American releases from 1998 and 2002 are out of print and range in price from $20 to $40. Releases from other regions are cheaper if you have the right player. It also displays in full on YouTube if you’re not too picky about image quality.
It’s Such a Beautiful Day (2012)
With a deceptively simple art style and a stunning sense of design, Don Hertzfeldt’s film chronicles the disintegration of a mind belonging, in this case, to Bill, who suffers from an unnamed neurological disorder. It ranges from moments of humor to deep sadness, but reaches a climax of extraordinary beauty. The film deservedly often finds itself on lists of the best animated films of all time. (An earlier short film bears the same title; the feature-length version is just over an hour long.)
How to watch it: While it’s not available to stream or has a widely available DVD, you can order the Blu-ray ( originally made through Kickstarter ) directly fromthe studio’s website .
Finding Mr. Goodbar (1977)
In this blockbuster, Diane Keaton plays a teacher who goes out at night looking for rough sex with random guys. Her obsessive desire for thrills puts her in increasing danger, especially from Richard Gere. Things get a little crazy near the end, but Diane Keaton is great.
How to even watch it: An imported game from Australia intended for use on a North American player will cost about $20. Due to music rights, there has never been an official American release in any format.
Panic in Needle Park (1971)
Al Pacino’s breakthrough (his second film appearance) was this admittedly dark drama about the love story between a heroin addict and the woman who loves him and whom he accidentally falls for.
How to even watch it: The 2016 Twilight Time Blu-ray is out of print, sellers are charging over $60 (it’s a pretty good release considering its price); The Portuguese Blu-ray release is readily available, but probably won’t play on your North American player.
Old Comrade (1989)
The Longtime Companion , which spanned nearly a decade, became the first mainstream film to address the AIDS crisis in America throughout the 1980s (the film’s director died of complications from HIV/AIDS just a few years later). In addition to being groundbreaking, it is a beautifully crafted, moving drama with an impressive cast.
How to even watch it: Prices vary widely, but North American DVDs start around $40. The Asian import version , presumably a region-wide one, sells for much less.
Making Love (1982)
Another early gay classic (if a little too soapy), Making Love stars Kate Jackson, Michael Ontkean and Harry Hamlin as a married woman, her husband and the man who comes between them. It’s a good movie, if not a great one, and it deserves to be seen.
How to even watch it: Prices vary widely here, too, with the 2006 DVD release selling for anywhere from $15 for used copies to $100+ for sealed copies.
Raintree County (1957)
Although it received several Academy Award nominations, largely due to its acting talent, the beautiful and expensive Raintree County is in many ways overly boring. However, these production values alone make the film worth watching, and any film that features Elizabeth Taylor, Montgomery Clift (who nearly died in a car accident during production), Eva Marie Saint, and Lee Marvin is worth checking out. If it’s not a great movie, it’s a stunning failure and a piece of Hollywood history.
How to even watch it: The 2014 Australian release, widely available at reasonable prices, should be playable on a North American player.
Titus (1999)
Julie Taymor, perhaps best known for her lush production of The Lion King , makes her directorial debut with this equally stylish Shakespeare adaptation that balances camp and tragedy with surprising skill. Starring Anthony Hopkins, Jessica Lange and Alan Cumming.
How to watch it: The 1999 DVD, out of print, will cost you between $20 and $40.
Fire (1996)
The first film in director Deepa Mehta’s The Elements trilogy, Fire generated considerable controversy upon its release as one of the first popular Indian films to focus on a lesbian relationship. Mehta is a major director who has broken new ground with each of her films, and Fire is a sensual and gripping romantic drama in its own right.
How to even watch it: Copies of the 1998 Region 1 DVD are available, sometimes at reasonable prices.
Frankenstein Unchained (1990)
It’s a strange, exciting, somewhat garish novelty that doesn’t quite work, but Frankenstein Unchained is more than entertaining enough to earn a watch… if you could. Based on the novel of the same name by Brian Aldiss (who also wrote the story that inspired Spielberg’s creation of artificial intelligence ), it brought co-writer Roger Corman back to the director’s chair two decades later and remains his last (or at least very last) effort. John Hurt, Raul Julia, Bridget Fonda and Jason Patric star in the story of a future scientist (Hurt) working on a weapon so destructive that he hopes it will end all wars. As these things tend to do, it instead sends him back in time… where he meets one Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Julia), who is himself working on a slightly ill-conceived project.
How to actually watch it: A decent copy of the out-of-print 2006 DVD will cost you $20-$30. You may also be able to find it on YouTube.
Porgy and Bess (1959)
Receiving mixed reviews, director Otto Preminger’s adaptation of Porgy and the Bes faded rather quickly after its initial release, a sad fate for many films of the era with an all- or predominantly black cast, especially those that failed to achieve blockbuster status. Producer Samuel Goldwyn reportedly only had the rights to the main story and music for 15 years, after which the distributor would have to renegotiate the deal with producer George Gershwin’s estate. But Gershwin reportedly hated the film, which did not make enough of a splash to justify the extra expense. However, the cast alone is enough to make you want to see it for yourself: Sidney Poitier, Dorothy Dandridge, Sammy Davis Jr., Pearl Bailey, Diahann Carroll, Brock Peters, Nichelle Nichols are some of the most talented actors. , iconic artists of the 20th century, and it’s a shame that we can’t easily see them together on screen.
How to even watch it: Copies of the 2002 region-wide DVD cost $100 or more; a later release from Crescent Media costs less, but the quality is quite poor. It can also be found on YouTube , although again with poor picture quality.
Fall (2006)
Following his debut feature The Cage (starring Jennifer Lopez), director Tarsem takes things a step further with a visually unparalleled fantasy adventure set in 1920s Hollywood in which a bedridden little girl in a hospital enjoys A fantastic story from a stuntman and fellow disabled person. Audiences weren’t bothered by it, and critics were divided on the plot, but virtually everyone agreed that the film’s style (stunning visuals by cinematographer Colin Watkinson; costumes by the late Oscar-winning designer Eiko Ishioka) made it something special.
How to watch it: You’ll likely have to shell out $150 for an out-of-print Blu-ray , or about $40 for a DVD.
Duel in the Sun (1946)
This is an epic Western from the legendary director King Vidor, produced and written by the equally legendary David O. Selznick, and featuring a top-notch cast including Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cotten, Gregory Peck, Lillian Gish, Walter Huston and Lionel Barrymore. good luck trying to watch. It’s a strange and exaggerated sexual fantasy involving a young mixed-race woman experiencing lust and prejudice, but this jumble of plot elements does much of what makes it entertaining. Critics nicknamed it Thirst in the Dust , which was much later adopted as the title of a 1985 film starring Divine and Tab Hunter. This movie is actually available for streaming.
How to even watch it: A sold-out DVD can be purchased for about $20, while a similarly sold-out Blu-ray costs a little more. Sometimes it can also be found on YouTube .
Cocoon (1985)
A huge box office success from an Oscar-winning director, the film even got a sequel, but you can’t stream Ron Howard’s Cocoon these days, it was never released on Blu-ray in the US or on DVD. sold out. What Disney (which acquired the film when it bought 20th Century Fox in 2019) has against this heartfelt sci-fi film about a group of older adults (including Don Ameche, Wilford Brimley, Jessica Tandy and Gwen Verdon) who become young again after an encounter with aliens technology? He even won two Oscars, including Best Supporting Actor for Ameche and Best Visual Effects.
How to even watch it: You’ll have to pay about $30 for a used DVD , or purchase a region-free Blu-ray imported from Germany .