⏱️ 6 min read
Did You Know? 12 Movies That Took Decades to Finish
The journey from initial concept to final cut can be a long and winding road in the world of cinema. While most films are completed within a few years, some productions face extraordinary delays that stretch across decades. These extended timelines often result from financial difficulties, creative disputes, technological limitations, or the sheer ambition of the filmmakers involved. Here are twelve remarkable films that took decades to reach completion, demonstrating that patience and perseverance can ultimately triumph in the art of moviemaking.
1. The Thief and the Cobbler (1993)
Perhaps the most infamous example of prolonged production, “The Thief and the Cobbler” was animator Richard Williams’ passion project that spanned nearly three decades. Williams began work on the animated feature in 1964, but perfectionism and funding issues repeatedly stalled progress. After his success with “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” production accelerated in the late 1980s, but the film still wasn’t completed to Williams’ satisfaction. The studio eventually took the project away from him in 1992, releasing a heavily modified version in 1993. The original vision took 29 years of intermittent work, though Williams never saw his complete version released theatrically.
2. Boyhood (2014)
Richard Linklater’s groundbreaking drama was filmed over 12 years using the same cast, allowing audiences to watch the actors genuinely age on screen. Production began in 2002 and concluded in 2013, with filming taking place for a few days each year. This innovative approach created an authentic coming-of-age story that captured real growth and change, earning widespread critical acclaim and numerous awards. The film demonstrated that extended production timelines could serve artistic purposes beyond mere necessity.
3. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
George Miller first conceived this fourth installment in the Mad Max franchise in 1987, shortly after “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.” However, the project faced numerous obstacles including the Iraq War, which made filming in the intended Middle Eastern locations impossible, and years of pre-production and storyboarding. Production finally began in 2012, nearly 25 years after initial conception. The wait proved worthwhile, as the film became a critical and commercial success, winning six Academy Awards.
4. The Man Who Killed Don Quixote (2018)
Terry Gilliam’s adaptation of the classic Spanish novel began development in 1989 and became one of cinema’s most troubled productions. Multiple attempts to film the project collapsed due to financial problems, natural disasters, and cast health issues. The 2000 attempt was famously documented in the film “Lost in La Mancha.” After nearly three decades and several false starts, Gilliam finally completed the film in 2018, making it a 29-year journey from conception to completion.
5. Avatar (2009)
James Cameron wrote an 80-page treatment for “Avatar” in 1994, but realized the technology needed to bring his vision to life didn’t exist yet. He deliberately waited for filmmaking technology to catch up with his imagination, particularly for motion-capture techniques and 3D cinematography. Production finally began in 2005, with the film releasing in 2009, marking a 15-year journey that revolutionized cinema and became the highest-grossing film of all time for a decade.
6. The Other Side of the Wind (2018)
Orson Welles began filming this experimental drama in 1970, but production was repeatedly interrupted by financial difficulties and legal disputes. When Welles died in 1985, the film remained unfinished with footage scattered across various locations. It took until 2018, 48 years after initial filming began, for producers to finally assemble and release the film through Netflix, making it one of the longest gaps between start and finish in cinema history.
7. Apocalypse Now (1979)
Francis Ford Coppola’s Vietnam War epic had a production timeline spanning over a decade from initial conception to release. The project began in the late 1960s as a collaboration with George Lucas, but didn’t enter production until 1976. The notoriously difficult shoot in the Philippines lasted 238 days, with Coppola spending years in post-production. Including development time, the film took approximately 12 years to complete, resulting in one of cinema’s greatest war films.
8. Metropolis Restored (2010)
While Fritz Lang’s original “Metropolis” premiered in 1927, the complete version wasn’t seen for 83 years. Significant footage was lost after the initial release, and film historians spent decades searching for missing scenes. In 2008, a nearly complete print was discovered in Buenos Aires. The restoration project culminated in 2010 with a version that came closest to Lang’s original vision, representing an eight-decade journey to completion.
9. It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
Stanley Kramer’s comedy epic was conceived in the early 1950s, but the sheer scope and ambitious special effects required made it impossible to produce immediately. The project took over a decade to reach production, with filming finally occurring in 1962. The coordination of dozens of major comedy stars and elaborate stunt sequences required technology and resources that weren’t available when first conceived, making it a 12-year journey from idea to screen.
10. Brazil (1985)
Terry Gilliam’s dystopian masterpiece faced a different kind of delay: studio interference after completion. While production itself lasted from 1982 to 1984, Universal Pictures refused to release Gilliam’s cut, demanding changes. A battle lasting over a year ensued, with Gilliam eventually securing an independent screening that generated enough buzz to force the studio’s hand. From initial concept in 1978 to final release, the film took seven years, with the post-production battle becoming legendary in Hollywood.
11. The Magnificent Ambersons Restored (2002)
Orson Welles’ 1942 film was drastically recut by RKO Pictures while he was out of the country, with over 40 minutes removed and a new ending shot. For 60 years, the footage was considered lost. Modern restoration efforts in 2002 attempted to reconstruct Welles’ vision using his notes, the original script, and surviving still photographs, creating a version closer to his intentions six decades after the original troubled release.
12. Blade Runner: The Final Cut (2007)
Ridley Scott’s science fiction masterpiece went through multiple versions after its 1982 release, with Scott never satisfied that audiences had seen his true vision. The journey to “The Final Cut” took 25 years, as Scott finally received complete creative control to produce a definitive version. This edition addressed every aspect Scott wanted to change, from visual effects to narrative elements, completing a quarter-century quest for his perfect version of the film.
Conclusion
These twelve films demonstrate that great cinema sometimes requires extraordinary patience and persistence. Whether delayed by technological limitations, financial constraints, creative disputes, or restoration efforts, each project eventually reached completion through the dedication of filmmakers who refused to abandon their visions. From Richard Williams’ 29-year animation odyssey to the 83-year journey to restore “Metropolis,” these productions remind us that artistic achievement doesn’t always follow conventional timelines. While such extended productions are exceptions rather than the rule, they prove that some stories are worth the wait, no matter how long that wait might be. These films stand as testaments to the power of perseverance in bringing ambitious cinematic visions to life.
