Best ‘straight-to-DVD’ film ever released?

[Groke]

I just watched Unthinkable and was really surprised when I found out it had never really got a ‘theatrical’ release in cinemas. It had a pretty good cast, including Samuel L Jackson and Carrie-Ann Moss, but it seems to have flown below radar (possibly due to its controversial subject matter, i.e. terrorism in the U.S.).

I just wondered what other films people would rate that were released straight to the walls of Blockbuster?

[Ancient One]

Dark Days. the sequal to 30 Days Of Night is quite good.

[Jeffbiscuits]

Wasn't Toy Story 2 supposed to be DTV? But during production someone saw something worthy of the big screen. Same with Donnie Darko, but the only thing I like aboutDonnie Darko is bits of the soundtrack. I seem to remember actually seeing a couple of films on uK terrestrial tv before they were finally given a cinema release. A James Woods film, Another Day in Paradise and possibly Swimming With Sharks. Did that premier on TV in the UK?

[jaykays hat]

I watched Unthinkable on sky movies last week and I'm not surprised it went straight to DVD.

[Groke]

Originally Posted by Jeffbiscuits

Same with Donnie Darko, but the only thing I like aboutDonnie Darko is bits of the soundtrack.

One day I swear I'll find someone who likes Richard Kelly's work as much as me. Once day.

[jaykays hat]

The last straight to DVD I bought was Universal Soldier: Regeneration. It was ok, glad I didn't have to pay good money to see it at the cinema though.

[Jeffbiscuits]

Originally Posted by Groke

One day I swear I'll find someone who likes Richard Kelly's work as much as me. Once day.

I enjoyed Donnie Darko the first time I saw it but it's appeal to me really diminished with each further watch. I don't know if I should admit this, but I enjoyed Southland Tales. It does have a bit much going on, paper thin characters and over reaches a lot, but it's got a charm that reminded me of Repo Man and the plot did have me intrigued. I haven't seen it in a few years though.

[Groke]

Originally Posted by Jeffbiscuits

I don't know if I should admit this, but I enjoyed Southland Tales.

I regularly admit to loving Southland Tales (and The Box). However, every time I do in public, the locals turn up outside my house brandishing pitchforks and flaming torches.

[Jeffbiscuits]

I like how the central roles were all played by actors who seem kind of shallow with a lot more style than substance. Sarah Michelle Gellar never managed to act her way out of her pop culture Buffy bubble, the Rock will always just be a wrestler that happens to be in films and that other guy is just Stiffler from American Pie. The only one who's proved their chops is Timberlake in Alpha Dog and the Social Network. I actually liked him in those films. I don't know if Kelly did it on purpose, but these typecast actors playing shallow parts really worked in the films favour.

[ashleyrhys]

Well, I never saw adverts for a lot of films like Moon, Traitor and so on. I loved both of those but I know they weren't straight-to-DVD but they're relatively ********** films.