Editing Direct-to-video (section)

{{short description|Specific film distribution method}}
{{redirect-several|Dab=no|Direct to Video (Roseanne)|Straight to DVD (album)}}
{{use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
'''Direct-to-video''' or '''straight-to-video''' refers to the [[Art release|release]] of a [[film]], [[television show|television series]], short or special to the public immediately on [[home video]] formats rather than an initial [[theatrical release]]<ref name="alvarez19941230">{{cite news |title= Big Names Look For Bright Lights In Videoland |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=1994-12-30 |url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/1994/12/30/big-names-look-for-bright-lights-in-videoland/ |access-date=2010-12-07|first=Max J |last=Alvarez}}</ref> or [[Television film|television premiere]]. This distribution strategy was prevalent before [[streaming platform]]s came to dominate the TV and movie distribution markets.

Because [[sequel]]s or [[prequel]]s of larger-budget films may be released direct-to-video, review references to direct-to-video releases are often [[pejorative]].<ref name=Clements>{{cite book |last1=Clements |first1=Jonathan |last2=McCarthy |first2=Helen |title=The Anime Encyclopedia, 3rd Revised Edition: A Century of Japanese Animation |date=9 February 2015 |publisher=[[Stone Bridge Press]] |isbn=978-1-61172-018-1 |pages=195–196 |edition=Third}}</ref> Direct-to-video release has also become profitable for independent filmmakers and smaller companies.<ref name="Lerman">{{Cite journal | last=Lerman | first=Laurence | title= Independents' 'Bread and Butter' | journal= Video Business | volume=21 | issue=38 | at=Section: Video Premieres | date=September 17, 2001 }}</ref> Some direct-to-video [[Film genre|genre film]]s (with a high-profile star) can generate well in excess of $50 million revenue worldwide.<ref name="dvdex">{{cite web|author=DVD Exclusive Online|title=Stars, Money Migrate To DVDP (archived)|url=http://www.dvdexclusive.com/article.asp?articleID=2259|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060515194442/http://www.dvdexclusive.com/article.asp?articleID=2259|archive-date=2006-05-15|access-date=2007-01-13}}</ref>