shelved

In the film industry, a film is considered shelved if it is not released for public viewing after filming has started, or even completed.

A film can be shelved for a number of reasons:

• A film may receive poor reaction from test audiences and other critics, prompting film producers to choose to never release the film, instead of spending additional money to print and promote it.
• A film may also go over budget and not find funders, causing the film's producer to abandon the film instead of completing it.
• In other cases, a film may be considered too controversial for a release, and is unable to find a distributor.
• One of the main actors died or resigned while the film was in production.
• A film may be become embroiled in legal battles, such as illegal funding means.
• A film may have been produced only to fulfil a legal obligation, such as to fulfil a contract or keep an intellectual property alive.

The term "shelved" may refer to other entertainment media, such as music albums (e.g. Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machine) and novels.