Buzz
Movie releases often face delays due to studios struggling to market the film effectively or encountering financial and legal hurdles. These projects end up 'shelved,' remaining unseen by audiences for years, sometimes even decades.
1. 'Margaret': Delayed for 6 Years
Margaret wrapped up filming in 2005 but was held back for six years due to legal disputes involving director Kenneth Lonergan. His contract required the film to be under 150 minutes, but the final version exceeded this by over 30 minutes. Fox Searchlight postponed its release until the legal issues between Lonergan and his backers were resolved.
When Margaret was finally released in 2011, it debuted in only 14 theaters with a runtime of precisely 149 minutes and 49 seconds. The DVD version now offers the director’s cut, which extends to 186 minutes for viewers to enjoy.
2. 'Prozac Nation': Delayed for 4 Years
Despite premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2001, Prozac Nation was shelved by Miramax for over four years due to mixed reactions from test screenings. The studio doubted its appeal to mainstream audiences and eventually released it quietly on the Starz! cable network in 2005.
3. 'The Cabin in the Woods': Delayed for 2 Years
Originally slated for release in early 2010, The Cabin in the Woods was postponed when MGM faced financial collapse. The film finally hit theaters in early 2012, benefiting from the growing fame of Chris Hemsworth and the influence of co-writer/producer Joss Whedon, which helped its box office performance.
4. 'Take Me Home Tonight': Delayed for 4 Years
Filming for Take Me Home Tonight wrapped up in 2007, but Universal Pictures, its distributor, held off on releasing it for four years. Star Topher Grace revealed that the studio struggled to market a youth-centric comedy featuring heavy cocaine and drug use.
"This is a film for the audience. It's not a drama, but there was genuine concern due to the extensive cocaine use. We believed you can't depict the Prohibition era without alcohol, and similarly, you can't portray '80s party culture at that age without showing cocaine," Grace explained. Rogue Pictures eventually bought the rights for $10 million and released the movie in 2011.
5. 'Fanboys': Delayed for 1 Year
After a turbulent post-production phase, Fanboys finally hit theaters in 2009, following a year-long delay at The Weinstein Company. Director Kyle Newman faced challenges reassembling the cast for reshoots, and the studio attempted to alter the film's narrative, shifting it from a story about friends breaking into Skywalker Ranch to let their cancer-stricken friend see The Phantom Menace to a raunchy road-trip comedy. Without Newman's approval, Steven Brill, director of Little Nicky, was hired to add new scenes, removing the cancer storyline and increasing the film's crude humor.
6. 'The Plot Against Harry': Delayed for 20 Years
Michael Roemer’s The Plot Against Harry debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in 1969 but failed to secure a theatrical release due to poor audience reception. It remained shelved for two decades until Roemer decided to show it to his children. Both his kids and the film transfer technician found it amusing, prompting Roemer to create new prints and submit it to the New York Film Festival. The film finally gained critical praise and distribution in 1989.
7. 'Red Dawn' (2012): Delayed for 3 Years
The remake of Red Dawn was completed in 2009 but was shelved by MGM for three years. Initially planned for a summer 2010 release, the studio’s bankruptcy filing delayed its launch. After MGM’s restructuring, the film was rescheduled for 2011, but another issue arose.
To avoid alienating the growing Chinese market, MGM altered the antagonists’ nationality. Throughout 2011, the production team used digital effects to transform the Chinese invaders into North Koreans, updating their insignia accordingly.
8. 'A Thousand Words': Delayed for 4 Years
Eddie Murphy’s comedy A Thousand Words finished filming in 2008, with a planned 2009 release. However, it didn’t hit theaters until 2012 due to a legal dispute between Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks over distribution rights.
When the studios split, they divided around 200 film projects, but disagreements arose over two completed films: A Thousand Words and The Lovely Bones. Given Peter Jackson’s Oscar-winning reputation and the poor test audience response to A Thousand Words, Paramount and DreamWorks prioritized releasing The Lovely Bones, leaving A Thousand Words shelved.
9. 'Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer': Delayed for 4 Years
Completed in 1986, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer faced a four-year delay due to its graphic and violent content. Director John McNaughton clashed with the MPAA over achieving an R-rating without altering his vision. Roger Ebert, however, championed the film with enthusiasm, leading a campaign for its theatrical release. The MPAA ultimately granted it an unrated classification in 1990.
10. 'Repo Men': Delayed for 2 Years
Despite being completed in 2008, Repo Men didn’t reach theaters until 2010. Relativity Media and Universal Pictures delayed its release upon discovering that Repo! The Genetic Opera, a cult rock musical with a similar title and plot about repossessing organ implants, was scheduled to debut around the same time. While the musical gained a cult following, Repo Men struggled to attract an audience upon its release.
11. 'Romance and Cigarettes': Delayed for 2 Years
John Turturro’s Romance and Cigarettes premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2005 but was shelved for two years. After securing distribution with United Artists, the film was overshadowed when Sony acquired the company. Determined to see it released, Turturro used his own funds to finance a limited theatrical run in 2007.
12. 'Rampage': Delayed for 5 Years
William Friedkin’s Rampage debuted at European film festivals in 1987 but didn’t hit theaters until 1992. The delay was due to the bankruptcy of its production company, De Laurentiis Entertainment Group. When Miramax picked up distribution in the early '90s, Friedkin revised his stance on the death penalty, reshoot the ending, and re-edited the film. The new version showed the protagonist sending violent letters to his victims’ families and awaiting a parole hearing, replacing the original suicide conclusion.
13. 'Blue Sky': Delayed for 3 Years
Filmed in 1991, Blue Sky wasn’t released until 1994 after its distributor, Orion Pictures, declared bankruptcy. Following Orion’s restructuring, the film finally premiered to critical acclaim, earning Jessica Lange an Academy Award for Best Actress.
14. 'Lovers on the Bridge' (Les Amants du Pont-Neuf): Delayed for 8 Years
Leos Carax’s Lovers on the Bridge received praise at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival, prompting Miramax to acquire its U.S. distribution rights. However, co-founder Harvey Weinstein deemed it commercially unviable, leaving it unreleased for eight years. Director Martin Scorsese’s advocacy eventually led to its 1999 release under Miramax Zoë.
15. 'I Love Lucy: The Movie': Delayed for 48 Years
MGM produced a feature-length version of the iconic TV series I Love Lucy in 1953, combining three episodes with additional bridging scenes. However, the studio shelved the film, fearing it would clash with the release of The Long, Long Trailer, which also starred Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. The movie remained unreleased for nearly five decades until it was finally shown at a fan convention in 2001.
