Streaming is the modern way to watch your favorite movies and series. Multiple streaming platforms such as Netflix, HBO Go, and Disney+ are just a few of the handful of options currently available to consumers. Gone are the days when movie buffs need to go out to their local Blockbuster to rent a movie for the weekend. DVDs and Blu-Rays also appear to have become quite a niche market, with only the most ardent film aficionados as their primary consumer.
While the selection of films available on all streaming platforms is quite impressive, there are still movies out there that have yet to grace this new medium of its presence. Reasons vary from copyright issues to the film being too niche, so it is a shame that these movies are yet to be available for streaming.
Are you curious to see if one of your favorites has yet to become available for streaming? Here are the best and most enjoyable movies that are still unavailable for streaming on any current platform.
8 Best Movies that Are Still Not Available for Streaming Anywhere
1. Wall Street (1987)
For a film with its leading actor, Michael Douglas bagging several best actor awards, including the Academy and Golden Globe Awards, you would think it is a shoo-in for a spot on every streaming service. Unfortunately, however, Wall Street is not available on any streaming platform today. That is quite strange when you also consider this film by award-winning director Oliver Stone who made other classics such as Midnight Express, Scarface, Platoon, Natural Born Killers, and Conan the Barbarian.
Wall Street also has a pretty solid lineup of actors like Charlie Sheen, Martin Sheen, Hal Holbrook, and John C. McGinley. The story focuses on the cutthroat world of stock market trading, specifically the junior stockbroker Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen). Bud is taken under the wing of the veteran and ruthless Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas), who teaches Fox to succeed at any cost – even by using underhanded and illegal means.
Duration: 2 h 6 min
Rating: R
2. The Abyss (1989)
Before James Cameron became one of the most bankable filmmakers in history with timeless classics under his belt, such as Titanic, Avatar, and Terminator 2: Judgment Day – he made some pretty “out there” movies. One such film is The Abyss, which has one of the most challenging productions in movie history.
The difficulty in shooting the film was due to the set, which calls for the actors and crew, including Cameron, to shoot most of the scenes at 11 to 17-meters underwater. Decompression sickness was always a factor during shooting. The strain of shooting 70-hours a week for six months put tremendous stress on actors, with Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Ed Harris experiencing emotional breakdowns. Ed Harris almost drowned on the set during filming.
The movie, The Abyss tells the story of a research team tasked to dive into one of the deepest waters on Earth on a highly classified recovery mission. What they are assigned to recover is unknown, but the discovery will shake the foundation of human history and the future.
The Abyss is a pretty solid science-fiction movie and is an impressive feat of movie-making with all the challenges that plagued production. However, it is a shame that it has still yet to find a place in the streaming service landscape.
Duration: 2 h 20 min
Rating: PG-13
3. Cocoon (1985)
What is it with science-fiction classics not getting the same love from streaming services? Like The Abyss, Cocoon is another benchmark sci-fi movie that has yet to be made available for streaming. The film is also directed by another award-winning filmmaker, Ron Howard.
The movie tells the story of a group of aliens who return to the planet to retrieve cocoons containing other members of their species left behind during their first visit. They hid the cocoon in a swimming pool in a quaint Florida home as they prepared to leave the planet. However, things get complicated when a retirement community starts using the pool and experiencing tremendous benefits.
The main reason why Cocoon has yet to be released on streaming services is that the soundtrack is not yet cleared to be for new media sales. So, unfortunately, this copyright issue prevents another classic sci-fi flick from being enjoyed by people today.
Duration: 1 h 57 min
Rating: PG-13
4. Dawn of the Dead (1978)
Directed by the Godfather of modern zombie movies, the late George A. Romero, Dawn of the Dead (1978 original) is still oddly not available to watch on any streaming platform. Is it possible that the copyright oversight made with Night of the Living Dead had a factor in the sequel’s current predicament?
As fans of the genre know, Night of the Living Dead is currently a public domain IP, making it easily accessible to anyone. Unfortunately, this is the opposite of the sequel, Dawn of the Dead, which is not available for streaming. This is quite unfortunate as Dawn of the Dead is considered by many to be the best movie by Romero.
The 2004 remake is available on streaming services such as Netflix, which should satisfy the fans’ craving until the original finally makes its debut.
Duration: 2 h 7 min
Rating: Unrated
5. Dogma (1999)
Dogma is an indie film cult classic directed by Kevin Smith and stars then up-and-comers Ben Affleck and Matt Damon as two fallen angels trying to get back into heaven. However, Bethany Sloane (Linda Fiorentino), an abortion clinic worker, is tasked with preventing the two fallen angels from achieving their goals. Oh, and she is also aided by two marijuana-smoking prophets, Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith), two iconic characters from Kevin Smith’s other films.
As you can see from the plot, Dogma is certainly not your typical film. Smith’s movies are typically not for everyone, but they do have a certain charm that makes it a worthwhile investment to check them out if you have the chance.
Dogma is still currently not available in any streaming service due to the copyright being owned by the Weinstein’s, whose contract predates streaming services. However, one can still hope that one of Smith’s most off-beat and hilariously offensive films finally gets its spot on your preferred streaming platform.
Duration: 2 h 10 min
Rating: R
6. Spice World (1997)
Okay, the term “best” will be used loosely for this particular entry, but one cannot deny the cultural phenomenon and impact that the Spice Girls had for a generation. This is a movie musical featuring all five members of the iconic British pop girl group that swept the entire globe.
The plot is pretty crazy, bordering on nonsensical, with aliens and haunted castles involved as the Spice Girls hop on their signature double-decker bus as they journey towards their concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
While critics critically panned the movie, it became a runaway box office success. Thus, proving that the charisma of the Spice Girls can even overcome a non-existent plot. But unfortunately, for something considered a milestone in pop culture, the Spice Girls’ one, and only movie has yet to appear on any streaming service.
Music copyright issues are most likely to blame for why people still can’t stream Spice World anywhere. However, there are rumors about a new animated Spice Girls movie with the entire group coming back to voice their characters. So that is something fans of the iconic girl band should look forward to in the near future.
Duration: 1 h 33 min
Rating: PG
7. Angels in the Outfield (1994)
Angels in the Outfield is one of the staple family movies back in the 90s, so it is pretty strange for Disney not to have it on their streaming service. However, while the 1950s original is currently available, it is the 90s remake that most fans are clamoring for to be available for streaming.
The movie has a pretty typical family movie setup. Still, it does come with an impressive cast that includes Danny Glover, Christopher Lloyd, Adrien Brody, Matthew McConaughey, and a young Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Roger, a young boy who recently lost his mother and is looking to reconcile with his father. He hopes that the California Angels baseball team winning will be the bridge that will connect him with his father. So he prays for the team to win, which amazingly works as angels start helping the baseball team reach the championships.
As of this writing, there is still no word if Disney will ever release this 90s classic on Disney+, but one can pray that the angels will once again work their magic, right?
Duration: 1 h 42 min
Rating: PG
8. Super Mario Bros. (1993)
One of, if not the, worst videogame to film adaptation is the infamous and disastrous Super Mario Bros. movie. Starring award-winning actor Bob Hoskins as the titular Mario and John Leguizamo as the brother and perennial sidekick Luigi, the film gets nothing right and misses everything that made its source material and worldwide success.
This particular film is included here primarily due to its infamous reputation, which Hoskins even stated as the one movie he regretted doing. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on your views, the Super Mario Bros. movie is not available for streaming anywhere. The only way to legit watch this movie is via DVD and Blu-Ray for those with a morbid curiosity.
The good news for Mario fans is that there is a new animated film on the way which stars a solid lineup of actors, including Chris Pratt as the titular mustachioed Italian plumber and the lovely Anya Taylor-Joy as Mario’s love interest Princess Peach. The upcoming animated film also has Charlie Day voicing Luigi and Jack Black as Mario’s nemesis, Bowser.
Duration: 1 h 44 min
Rating: PG