Summary

In the advanced era , even the best movies are n’t always lucky enough to get a theatrical release . Even though a theatrical run of some kind is required for private film to receive nomination for prestigiousness awards like the Oscars , more and more production companies are choose to skip cinemas entirely . This is a cry pity consider the quality of some movies , peculiarly in late years , that have been released exclusively on cyclosis or video - on - demand , miss out on the allure of the large screen .

There are many reason a distributor might skip the theaters for a give film . The streaming landscape has begun to hearken back to the direct - to - DVD daytime of old , with platform eager to snag exclusive distribution rights to esteemed project so as to drive up subscriptions . The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic also weigh heavily on the movie industry to this very twenty-four hour period , proving that audiences may be eager to simply enjoy movies in the comfort of their own home , specially in the compositor’s case of larger families . No matter the reason , it ’s shocking that the following cinema got their start on cyclosis , consider just how good they are .

10Skinamarink

2022

It ’s no surprise that , of all writing style , horror would be particularly democratic among at - dwelling house audience . That goes double forSkinamarink , whose experimental firing and quirky filming techniques may not be for everyone , but have been os - chillingly effective for horror connoisseurs who were willing to give it a shot . Originally premiering at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal , Canada , commandeer copy ofSkinamarinkspread like wildfire , generating promotional material through a rather unfortunate impromptu " streaming " spillage .

The slow - suntan horror of the motion picture weaponizes the nostalgia of the looker , surrounding them in the looming shadows of protagonist sibling Kevin and Kaylee ’s childhood domicile . The low - output economic value of the film is used as an advantage , frighten the viewer into submission with horrific shapes and face just barely unable to be made out in the glowering tincture and granular footage . Despite some critics calling out the celluloid ’s ho-hum - burn pacing as boring , Skinamarinkwas popular enough on streaming to be picked up for theatrical distribution by AMC Networks ' IFC Films .

9Palm Springs

2020

A supernaturally - bent romantic comedy with a prolific cast , Palm Springspresents the kind of Zea mays everta - chomping appeal that should ’ve done numbers in the box office . regrettably , the moving-picture show released in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic , prompting an exclusive cyclosis release on Hulu that betrays the film ’s achiever as aGroundhog ’s twenty-four hour period - style time loop picture . Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti are a rock-and-roll - solid couple that carry the well - fall apart assumption to new heightswith their hedonistic misadventures through the titulary town of Palm Springs .

8Okja

2017

Another quirky narration from the mind ofthe visionary Bong Joon - ho , easily fuck forSnowpiercerandParasite , Okjawas a sleeper hit that quietly release on Netflix in 2017 , sadly hop the cinema . The marvelously bizarre film follows the adherence between a South Korean Fannie Merritt Farmer fille and her genetically - modified superintendent - pig , Okja . When Okja ’s manufacturers fare to domesticate their property after a successful tryout run , the girl stops at nothing to reunify with her animal companion . Though often regarded as the weakest of Joon - ho ’s employment thanks to its browbeat message around animal inhuman treatment , Okjastill should ’ve been more than desirable of the silver silver screen .

7Prey

6Da 5 Bloods

The venerated Spike Lee prove he still had it with 2020’sDa 5 blood , garner critical winner even through the chokepoint of an sole Netflix freeing . recite the account of a squad of African American soldiers in the Vietnam War that reunite in pursuit of their commander ’s clay , not to mention a small fortune , Da 5 Bloodsdefinitely links the imperialism of 60s America to the racism its soldiers of color faced . Simultaneously a profound think - piece and entertaining action - dangerous undertaking epos , Da 5 Bloodswas a historic return to form for Lee that should ’ve been able to take in its award in theaters .

5An Extremely Goofy Movie

2000

While it ’s easygoing to remain stuck in the advanced era of streaming service greedily gobbling up the right to standout productions , Disney ’s direct - to - videodisk eradid farm some shockingly proficient motion picture that are worthy of the conversation for the greatest film to not begin life in theaters . EnterAn Extremely Goofy Movie , a deserving continuation that dilute Goofy and Max ’s newfound bond to its limit when the ultimate awkward Dad take after his son to college . hold back the trademark family - friendly humor that madeA Goofy Movieso memorable while actually strengthening the series ' emotional core with a more believable dynamic , An Extremely Goofy Moviecould’ve been the last hooray of Disney ’s golden age in theaters .

4Unpregnant

Yet another entry into 2020 ’s lineup of could - have - been hits , Unpregnantis a meditative yet bitterly - funny buddy road slip funniness with a palpable beating gist . As the title implies , the picture show follows two estranged protagonist who ship on a cross - continental road trip to get access to miscarriage services . mainly concentre on the ramification of friendly relationship and how to mend from falling out , Unpregnantis still an authoritative and very human windowpane into the subject that its premise is built around , only becoming all the more relevant in recent years .

3Weird: The Al Yankovic Story

Biopics have always been a hot - button literary genre in Hollywood , a consistent safe wager for farming for accolades in the higher echelons of picture palace . Weird : The Al Yankovic Storyeschewed both the Oscar - decoy formula and a traditional release with its irreverent retelling of the parody player ’s rise to popularity . Daniel Radcliffe ’s bombastic performance as Weird Al compliment the film ’s own satire of the psuedo - cerebral format , very loosely telling the dependable events of Al Yankovic ’s story with all the reverence and seriousness of one of his song . Appealing to both womb-to-tomb buff of Weird Al and rum newcomer , Weird : The Al Yankovic Storydeserved to loose its silliness on audience in theaters .

2Trick ‘R Treat

2009

Putting tool - feature director Michael Doughtrey on the map , the anthology horror collectionTrick ' gas constant Treatsuffered from atrocious release complication , languish for two years in distribution hell before unceremoniously free on DVD in 2009 . Today , Trick ' R Treathas finally been discovered as a cult classic standard for Halloween buff to refund to every twelvemonth , with Sam Hain ’s bulgy head on the corner art eager to greet returning viewers . A staple of the spooky season , Trick ' R Treatmanaged to outlive its distribution woe , luckily for horror lovers everywhere .

1Gerald’s Game

The start of honored repugnance icon Mike Flanagan ’s long kinship with Netflix , Gerald ’s Gamewas a punchy Stephen King adaptation that managed to do the author ’s book of the same name justice with a spine - tinglingly tense bottleful movie . The film centers around a woman who is trapped in a remote cabin with the corpse of her husband after he suffers from a heart attack during a kinky game , leaving her to stand off dogs , hallucinations , and perhapsFlanagan ’s single most terrifying horror villain . It ’s a ignominy thatGerald ’s Gamewasn’t able-bodied to brood over hearing with a theatrical release , trapping them in King ’s eery claustrophobic thread .

Sidious, Tyranus, Maul, and Vader.

Josh Hartnett looking shocked in Fight or Flight

How Rachel Zegler’s

10 Amazing Movies We Can’t Believe Didn’t Release In Theaters

Composite image of Andy Samberg as Nyles wearing a baseball hat and Cristin Milioti as Sarah Wilder in Palm Springs

okja

Da 5 Bloods Memorial Day poster cropped

Max, PJ, Goofy, and Pete in An Extremely Goofy Movie

Daniel Radcliffe holding an accordian and staring intensely at camera in Weird The Al Yankovic Story

Sam stares menacingly ahead with his creepy button eyes in Trick ‘r Treat

Carla Gugino and Bruce Greenwood in Gerald’s Game.