Direct-to-video

A film that is released direct-to-video (also straight-to-video) is one which has been released to the public on home video formats first rather than first being released in movie theaters. In recent years, companies have increasingly released movies in DVD format rather than VHS.

Related Topics:
Film - Home video - Movie theater - DVD - VHS

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This can occur for several reasons. Often a production studio will develop a TV show or film which is not generally released due to poor quality, lack of support from a TV network, controversial nature, or simple lack of general public interest. Sometimes a film may be in post-production before the studio realizes how bad it is. Only able to grant a cinematic release to a limited number of films in a year, they may choose to pull the completed film from the theatres, but aim to recoup some of their losses through video sales and rentals.

Related Topics:
Studio - TV show - Controversial - Post-production

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The term is at times used as a derogatory term for sequels of films that are not expected to have financial success.

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Direct-to-video releases are generally considered to be of lower technical or artistic quality than theatrical releases. Some studio films that are released direct-to-video are films which have languished for some time without release, either because the studio doubts its commercial prospects would justify a full cinema release or because its "release window" has closed — that is, it may have been rushed into production to capitalize on a timely trend or personality and not been completed in time. In film industry slang, such films are referred to as having been "vaulted."

Related Topics:
Studio - Slang

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This, however, is not always true, as video releases have become something of a lifeline for independent filmmakers and smaller companies. Direct-to-video releases can be done for films which sometimes cannot be shown theatrically, because of their content (they may be too controversial for theaters) or because the cost involved in a theatrical release is prohibitive to the releasing company. Almost all pornographic films are released direct-to-video.

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Animated sequels and movie-length episodes of animated series are also often released this way. The Walt Disney Company began making sequels of most of its animated films for video release beginning with The Return of Jafar (the sequel to Aladdin) in 1994. Universal Pictures also began their long line of Land Before Time sequels that same year. Some movies, such as , are released straight to DVD as a thanks to the fans who bought the season DVDs, causing the network to revive the show.

Related Topics:
Sequels - The Walt Disney Company - Its animated films - The Return of Jafar - Aladdin - 1994 - Universal Pictures - Land Before Time

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