Today, it seems impossible that a movie would ever be entirely lost or forgotten; with the internet, films and media seem to live on forever in the depths of the web. Yet, films of the past haven't been so lucky, with many movies vanishing from the public eye, never to be seen again. Entire reels may have been destroyed while others simply corroded due to poor preservation, but whatever the reason, lost movies captivate historians and film buffs alike for their unsolved mystery.

But sometimes, lost films are only one search away from being discovered. Some have been found in attics, libraries, or hidden under the bed of a personal collector. These finds are exciting for lost media enthusiasts and give hope that one day, all lost films can be miraculously recovered.

Today, we look at a few rare cases where once-lost films were discovered and restored for public viewing.

12 The Amusement Park (1975)

The Amusement Park
Laurel Productions

The Amusement Park is one of the more recently produced films on this list. The original film was produced in 1975 but was stowed away by renowned director George Romero after being deemed too disturbing for its intended audience; the film was meant to be shown only at Lutheran Society Community Centers though it has since become an intriguing piece of cinematic history for fans of lost media and film-fanatics alike.

The psychological thriller follows an elderly man named Maazel as he struggles to live happily in his old age. The movie opens with Maazel speaking directly to audiences, and clarifies that the film itself is meant to be a metaphor for how the elderly are shunned by society. The film was found by chance in 2017 and is now available for viewing on a variety of streaming platforms.

11 Shadows (1959)

Shadows
British Lion Films

1959's Shadows is another film that looks to tackle societal issues like race relations and prejudice. Here, we see three black siblings as their varying skin tones decide their interactions and reception in the community; one of the siblings has darker skin than the others and struggles to live out his dream as a jazz musician while his light-skinned sister seems to thrive.

The film was independently directed by John Cassavetes with two separate edits of the film being produced. The original edit for the film, however, was considered lost until the early 2000s when the first version was recovered by a professor after an intensive decades-long search.

10 The Portage Trail (1915)

The Portage Trail
Periscope Films

The Portage Trail is a story that was discovered by chance and tells a story of romance set in Akron, Ohio. The 16-minute-long film is over 100 hundred years old and features clips of local landmarks and depictions of day-to-day life in the Ohio city. The film also features a cast of prominent locals including Akron businessmen, child stars, and socialites.

It is thought that only one print of the original film currently exists, however, The Portage Trail was uploaded to YouTube by a Los Angeles company called Periscope Film LLC and can now be freely enjoyed by the public.

9 Their First Misunderstanding (1911)

Their First Misunderstanding
Independent Moving Pictures

Silent films are some of the rarest lost media discoveries; due to poor preservation methods, its thought that nearly 75% of silent films are considered completely lost. When the silent drama, Their First Misunderstanding, was miraculously uncovered in a New Hampshire barn in 2006, historians and film buffs were rightfully excited.

The film stars beloved actress Mary Pickford, who was one of the original founders of the Motion Picture Academy, as well as actor Owen Moore; the two portray a married couple who frequently argue with one another. The film is now preserved at the Library of Congress and is available for free online.

8 The Flying Doctor (1936)

The Flying Doctor
20th Century Fox

The Flying Doctor is a 1936 Australian film that takes place at the Royal Flying Doctor Service in the Australian outback. Here, a man named Sandy leaves his soon-to-be-wife, Jenny, at the altar in order to pursue his true passion as an artist. Soon, he decides to become a pilot after befriending a man named John.

Eventually, John, Jenny, and Sandy find themselves in the middle of a complex love triangle. The story is full of twists and turns, with a dramatic and heartbreaking ending. The film was rescued by chance before it was set to be taken to a junkyard; it is said that an office worker chased down the movie by car when he noticed it being taken away and was able to save it at the last minute!

Related: 8 Completed Movies That Will Never See the Light of Day

7 Tarzan and the Golden Lion (1927)

Tarzan and the Golden Lion
Robertson-Cole Pictures Corporation

As James Pierce's only known appearance as the titular hero, Tarzan and the Golden Lion is a 1927 film based on the novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs. James Pierce was also known for his football career, making his role as Tarzan an interesting addition to his overall repertoire. Here, we see Tarzan as he embarks on a dangerous quest to save a woman from being sacrificed to a beastly lion god.

The film was discovered in the 1990s in a French asylum along with a collection of other lost films, concluding a decades-long search.

6 Outside the Law (1920)

Outside the Law
Universal Film Manufacturing Company

1920's Outside the Law is a crime film that stars one of the most prolific actors of the era, Lon Chaney. The story follows actress Priscilla Dean as a woman named Molly, a former gangster who re-enters a life of crime after her father is framed for murder by Chaney's character, Black Mike Sylva. Chaney also plays a character called Ah Wing, who interacts on-screen with Black Mike Sylva through clever editing.

Outside the Law is one of the many lost films that was discovered in a barn after years of being stowed away. The film has since been donated to the American Film Institute which has been preserving the film since its rediscovery in the 1970s.

5 Zepped (1916)

Zepped
Charlie Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin is one of the most well-known and respected artists of the silent film era; famous for his visual comedy and signature bowler hat, Charlie Chaplin was a comedian and actor who not only defined an entire era but made great contributions to filmmaking that persist even today. His 1916 film, Zepped, is one of the few entries on this list that was completely unknown before its discovery in the late 2000s.

The film is a World War I propaganda piece that sees Chaplin as his famous character, the Little Tramp. Found at a thrift store and being sold for a mere 5 dollars, Zepped is an extremely rare find despite its short runtime of only 7 minutes.

4 Frankenstein (1910)

Frankenstein
Edison Manufacturing Company

As the oldest edition to this list, 1910's Frankenstein was believed to have been lost forever. Based on Mary Shelley's original novel, the film is considered to be one of the first film adaptations of the beloved story. Here, a mad scientist named Dr. Frankenstein is able to create and bring a monster to life. Though the film's plot certainly strays from the novel, the characters, for the most part, remain true to the original.

Frankenstein was found in the possession of a private collector and eventually made its way to the Library of Congress in 2014, where it is now preserved for decades to come.

3 Deranged (1974)

Deranged
American International Pictures

Like The Amusement Park, Deranged was another lost horror-thriller film of the 1970s. Deranged was rediscovered in the 1990s and has become a fan favorite for lovers of horror. The film is known to be gruesome and extremely disturbing, depicting a slew of unspeakable crimes.

The film pulls from the real-life case of serial killer Ed Gein; here, the main character, Ezra Cobb, is shown carrying out a series of brutal murders and grave robberies, including exhuming his own deceased mother from her casket. Though Deranged was only lost for a short period of time, its discovery was exciting nonetheless and can be viewed today on streaming services.

2 The Old Dark House (1932)

The Old Dark House
Universal Pictures

1932's The Old Dark House is a horror-comedy flick that follows three friends as they become trapped in a mysterious house when a bad storm forces them inside. As the mystery surrounding the house begins to come to light, the three friends find themselves terrified for their lives, scared to be the next victim of the insidious souls who live there.

When Universal Pictures lost the rights to the original film, it was tucked away for good and was considered lost as it was unavailable for public viewing. However, persistent lost film hunters were able to locate and restore a copy of the original production.

1 The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)

The Passion of Joan of Arc
Société Générale des Films

The Passion of Joan of Arc is a French silent film that tells the story of the titular historical heroine. Starring Renee Jeanne Falconetti as Joan of Arc, the film follows her infamous trial and eventual execution. It is widely considered to be a monumental piece of cinematic history for its innovative style and was long considered to be one of the most sought-after lost films.

However, the film was luckily rediscovered in good condition inside a Norwegian mental hospital in the 1980s. The film was sent to the Norwegian Film Institute for preservation and was made publicly available in 1985.

Related: 11 Lost Films Where No Known Print Exists