WikiLists

1984 in home video:

Industry milestones[]

January[]

  • January - JVC introduces the VHD in the UK.[1]
  • January 17 - In Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios, Inc., popularly known as the "Betamax case", the Supreme Court of the United States rules that the practice of "time shifting" constitutes fair use and that the manufacturers of home video recording devices cannot be held liable for copyright infringement by consumers.

May[]

  • May - MCA Home Video releases Scarface. Listed at $79.95, it becomes the first videocassette movie to sell 100,000 copies.[2]

July[]

  • July 12 - The Video Recordings Act 1984 is adopted by the UK.[3]

Film releases[]

The following films were released on video:

U.S./Canada
Release Date
Title Studio Notes
January–March
J
A
N
U
A
R
Y
1 Twelve Months RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video Betamax/VHS release
F
E
B
R
U
A
R
Y
1 Beyond the Limit Paramount Home Video Betamax/VHS release
The Court Jester
We're No Angels
7 Mr. Mom Vestron Video Betamax/VHS release
Porky's CBS/FOX Video Betamax/VHS release
Porky's II: The Next Day CBS/FOX Video Betamax/VHS release
Lucky Luke: The Ballad of Daltons Walt Disney Home Video Betamax/VHS release
Staying Alive Paramount Home Video Betamax/VHS release
M
A
R
C
H
2 Strange Brew MGM/UA Home Video Betamax/VHS release
Trading Places Paramount Home Video Betamax/VHS release
WarGames CBS/FOX Video Betamax/VHS release
April–June
A
P
R
I
L
10 D.C. Cab MCA Home Video Betamax/VHS release
The Dead Zone Paramount Home Video Betamax/VHS release
Octopussy CBS/FOX Video Betamax/VHS release
Space Raiders Warner Home Video Betamax/VHS release
Big Red Walt Disney Home Video Betamax/VHS release
Star 80 Warner Home Video Betamax/VHS release
Sudden Impact Warner Home Video Betamax/VHS release
Uncommon Valor Paramount Home Video Betamax/VHS release
Under Fire Vestron Video Betamax/VHS release
Unknown Thief of Hearts Paramount Home Video Betamax/VHS release
M
A
Y
4 All the Right Moves CBS/FOX Video Betamax/VHS release
Christine RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video Betamax/VHS release
The Keep Paramount Home Video Betamax/VHS release
Scarface MCA Home Video Betamax/VHS release
Silkwood Embassy Home Entertainment Betamax/VHS release
J
U
N
E
9 The Right Stuff Warner Home Video Betamax/VHS release
Son of Flubber Walt Disney Home Video Betamax/VHS release
Terms of Endearment Paramount Home Video Betamax/VHS release
July–September
J
U
L
Y
3 The Dirty Dozen MGM/UA Home Video Betamax/VHS release
6 The Big Chill RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video Betamax/VHS release
Children of the Corn Embassy Home Entertainment Betamax/VHS release
The Seven Samurai Embassy Home Entertainment Betamax/VHS release
A
U
G
U
S
T
10 The Incredible Journey Walt Disney Home Video Betamax/VHS release
Repo Man Thorn/EMI Video Betamax/VHS release
Romancing the Stone CBS/FOX Video Betamax/VHS release
Splash Touchstone Home Video Betamax/VHS release
S
E
P
T
E
M
B
E
R
23 Against All Odds RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video Betamax/VHS release
Footloose Paramount Home Video Betamax/VHS release
October–December
O
C
T
O
B
E
R
22 SS Experiment Camp T-Z Video/Video City
Wizard Video
Betamax/VHS release
25 Never Cry Wolf Walt Disney Home Video Betamax/VHS release
29 This is Spinal Tap Embassy Home Entertainment Betamax/VHS release
Yentl CBS/FOX Video Betamax/VHS release
N
O
V
E
M
B
E
R
7 Top Secret! Paramount Home Video Betamax/VHS release
13 Star Wars : Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back CBS/FOX Video Betamax/VHS release
28 A Christmas Story MGM/UA Home Video Betamax/VHS release
Conan the Destroyer MCA Home Video Betamax/VHS release
Dreamscape Thorn/EMI Video Betamax/VHS release
Firestarter MCA Home Video Betamax/VHS release
The Last Starfighter MCA Home Video Betamax/VHS release
The Natural RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video Betamax/VHS release
Purple Rain Warner Home Video Betamax/VHS release
Sixteen Candles MCA Home Video Betamax/VHS release
D
E
C
E
M
B
E
R
6 DTV: Rock, Rhythm & Blues Walt Disney Home Video Betamax/VHS release
DTV: Pop & Rock Walt Disney Home Video Betamax/VHS release
DTV: Golden Oldies Walt Disney Home Video Betamax/VHS release
Mickey's Christmas Carol Walt Disney Home Video Betamax/VHS release
The Muppet Movie CBS/FOX Home Video Betamax/Laserdisc/VHS release
Robin Hood Walt Disney Home Video Betamax/VHS release
8 The NeverEnding Story Warner Home Video Betamax/VHS release
Police Academy Warner Home Video Betamax/VHS release
Streets of Fire MCA Home Video Betamax/VHS release
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory Warner Home Video Betamax/VHS release
23 Becket Paramount Home Video Betamax/VHS release
Damien: Omen II CBS/FOX Video Betamax/VHS release (reissue)
The Exorcist Warner Home Video Betamax/VHS release (reissue)
Exorcist II: The Heretic Warner Home Video Betamax/VHS release (reissue)
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly MGM/UA Home Video Betamax/VHS release (reissue)
Hurray for Betty Boop Warner Home Video Betamax/VHS release
Moscow on the Hudson RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video Betamax/VHS release
Misunderstood MGM/UA Home Video Betamax/VHS release
National Lampoon's Vacation Warner Home Video Betamax/VHS release
The Omen CBS/FOX Video Betamax/VHS release (reissue)
Omen III: The Final Conflict CBS/FOX Video Betamax/VHS release (reissue)
Taps CBS/FOX Video Betamax/VHS release

Australia[]

The following tapes were released in Australia in 1984:

Australia
Release Date
Title Studio Notes
April
A
P
R
I
L
Unknown Basket Case Rugged Films Betamax release
VHS release
Fire and Ice RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video Betamax release
VHS release
Hysterical Embassy Home Entertainment Betamax release
VHS release
Jaguar Lives! Roadshow Home Video Betamax release
VHS release
Rolling Thunder American International Pictures Betamax release
VHS release

References[]

  1. History of Media Technology (läst 8 april 2011)
  2. Bierbaum, Tom (February 6, 1990). "Mixed Reviews". Daily Variety: 78. 
  3. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/39/introduction Video Recordings Act 1984 - Accessed 8 April 2011

External links[]