The history of film is long and complex, dating back as early as the year 1888 with Louis Le Prince’s first-ever motion picture. Since then, film has grown and evolved with more complex stories, better audio and visuals, and enhanced cinematography. Yet what has perhaps improved the most are film preservation techniques that ensure a film can be viewed and studied for decades to come.

However, some films are considered forever lost; whether they were destroyed in a horrible accidental fire or simply corroded away due to the passage of time, lost films are mesmerizing for their mystery and serve as a harsh reminder of the consequences of poorly preserving history. In fact, it’s estimated that as many as 90% of films produced before the year 1929 are permanently lost, never to be viewed again.

Today, we remember the stories which may never be experienced by modern audiences; from the original Treasure Island to The Mountain Eagle, we take a look back at the films that are considered indefinitely lost, where no known print exists.

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11 Valley of Fear (1916)

     G. B. Samuelson Productions

Sherlock Holmes is perhaps one of the most beloved literary sleuths of all time. The 1916 silent film called Valley of Fear centered around the famous detective and was the second installment in which actor Harry Arthur Saintsbury portrayed the leading man. The plot was said to follow Holmes as he corrupted a murder plot carried out by Professor Moriarty.

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Today, not even a production still of the film exists; no known copy of the film has ever resurfaced, making this film a highly sought after piece of history that is likely to remain lost forever.

10 Treasure Island (1920)

     Paramount-Artcraft Pictures

Lon Chaney was one of the greatest stars of the silent film era; known for his highly expressive face, Chaney even earned the nickname “Man of a Thousand Faces.” However, Chaney’s work in the 1920 film Treasure Island is considered lost forever. The film was based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1883 novel of the same name.

Though the film received some negative reviews from critics, it still preformed well at the box office. Production stills of the film have also been recovered, though no audio or reels are known to exist. However, unlike many of the films on this list, there is a chance that a copy of Treasure Island exists due to the fact that it was distributed by Paramount and not MGM, which saw most of its film collection destroyed in a 1967 fire.

9 The Street of Sin (1928)

     Paramount Pictures

The Street of Sin is a 1928 silent film that to this day, has very little known about it. Starring names like Emil Jannings and Fay Wray, The Street of Sin is said to have taken place in London, where main character Bill falls for a young woman named Elizabeth.

Few production stills exist though the film is considered completely lost. It is unknown how exactly this film was lost, but it is unlikely to be recovered in its entirety.

8 A Blind Bargain (1922)

     Goldwyn Pictures

Another Lon Chaney film, 1922’s A Blind Bargain is the first horror film on this list. Here, we see Lon Chaney as Dr. Lamb, a mad scientist who is known for his zany and at times harmful experiments. When a man named Robert enters his life, he soon finds himself the victim of the infamous Doctor and must try his best to escape a grizzly fate.

Posters and stills from the film have been collected and preserved since its original release. However, the film was said to be destroyed in 1931 and any remaining parts of the film would have been destroyed in MGM’s vault fire. Though it is unlikely the film will ever be seen again, the film was said to be a defining aspect of Lon Chaney’s career and was one of the earliest horror film adaptations to date.

7 Babe Comes Home (1927)

     First National Pictures

A romantic comedy, Babe Comes Home starred the baseball legend Babe Ruth, who played an athlete named Babe Dugan. Here, Babe falls head over heels for a woman named Vernie after accidentally hitting her with a fly ball. The film was also said to focus on tobacco addiction, with Babe eventually swearing off the substance in the end.

Due to Babe Ruth’s historical significance and undeniable star power, Babe Comes Homeis one of the most desired lost films. The film has not been seen since its original release in 1927, though posters for the film have been recovered.

6 St. Elmo (1914)

     Box Office Attractions Company

St. Elmo is another silent film that was based on a popular novel, this time, on the story of the same name by Augusta Jane Evans. The story was said to focus on two cousins named St. Elmo and Murray Hammond who both fell for the same woman named Agnes. When their love triangle results in a duel between the cousins, Hammond is killed and St. Elmo is left possessed by a devilish spirit. In the end, St. Elmo is redeemed and frees his body of the spirit who haunts him.

Though the book and film were extremely popular at the time, no copy of St. Elmo is known to exist. However, certain relics of the film including stills, reviews, and mentions of its former production company, Balboa Amusement Producing Company, can still be found today.

5 Cleopatra (1917)

     Fox Film Corporation

1917’s Cleopatra is one of the few films on this list that has been at least partially recovered. The film stars beloved actress Theda Bara as the titular Egyptain Queen, a woman who was known as one of Hollywood’s earliest sex symbols.

Copies of the film are said to have been destroyed in a Fox Studio Fire in 1937 as well as a fire at the Museum of Modern Art in 1958. Yet, hundreds of stills from the film were recovered and have been pieced together by lost media fanatics to create a decent portrayal of what the story may have looked like. However, only a few seconds of the original film are known to exist, adding to the hype and mystery surrounding this lost gem.

4 The Life of Nephi (1915)

     William A. Morton

The Life of Nephi is unique for its basis in the Mormon faith. The film tells the story of First Nephi from the Book of Mormon, and explores the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

The film was shown only one time in Salt Lake City, Utah and was never screened again. It is assumed that the movie was poorly stored and corroded throughout the years, making it completely lost today. However, images from the film still exist, and it is possible that more may be uncovered in the future, though finding the full reel is unlikely.

3 The Big City (1928)

     Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

The Big City is another Lon Chaney entry to this list. This 1928 silent crime film sees Lon as Chuck Collins, a thief who comes into the possession of precious jewels. Audiences followed along as Chuck navigates rival gangs, hides his findings, and evades capture.

The Big City is another one of the many films that were lost to the MGM vault fire. However, the film was said to have been shown after its initial release, though no known copy exists today. Unlike many of the entries on this list, a trailer for the film does exist, though it does not feature any clips from the movie itself.

2 The Mountain Eagle (1927)

     Gainsborough Pictures

Alfred Hitchcock is one of the most renowned directors of all time and is widely recognized for his contributions to the art of filmmaking. The Mountain Eagle was his second feature film and is known as his only lost production. Sources vary on what the plot was about, though the stars of the film are thought to have been actor Malcolm Keen, actress Nita Naldi, and actor Bernard Goetzke.

Due to Hitchcock’s impact, the film is greatly desired by many historians, collectors, and film-lovers alike. Less than 50 stills exist from the film, and it is unlikely that anymore will ever be recovered.

1 London After Midnight (1927)

1927’s London After Midnight is perhaps one of the most sought after pieces of lost media from the silent film era. As one of the earliest horror films, London After Midnight featured a star-studded cast including the aforementioned Lon Chaney as well as actress Marceline Day. The film was adapted after director Tom Browning’s own novel entitled “The Hypnotist.” Here, Lon portrayed the eccentric man known as “The Stranger” and helps to uncover the truths behind a horrible murder.

This film, like many others, fell victim to the MGM vault fire of 1967. Though images from the silent film still exist, it is widely believed that this film has been lost for good. Rumors have swirled that a print may still be in existence somewhere, but no efforts to uncover it have ever been successful.