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1[[quoteright:265:[[WebAnimation/HomestarRunner https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/StrongBadDTV.jpg]]]]
2[[caption-width-right:265:Exactly as good as it sounds.]]
3
4->''"[[WesternAnimation/TheLandBeforeTime Land Before Time]] VI Released Straight To Landfill"''
5-->-- '''Website/TheOnion'''
6
7This is the practice of skipping theaters/[[MadeForTVMovie television]] and just going straight to home video as the first release. This is [[SturgeonsLaw generally not a good sign in terms of quality]] (especially if it ''was'' [[PolishTheTurd originally going to be released theatrically, but was consigned to video]])--the term "direct-to-video" or "straight-to-video" often gets used as slang for "cheaply made, rushed, low quality", and in extreme cases, "complete bucket of crap".
8
9In the United States, while there have been plenty of direct-to-video films and such since the advent of home video, they were usually things that were considered financially unsound to release in theaters, like instructional videos, specialized documentaries, foreign films, films with controversial or niche subject matter, Z-grade low budget horror films, cartoon compilations, concert films, longform music videos, [[BreadEggsMilkSquick and pornography]]. The practice of creating and releasing regular fiction specifically for video didn't really take off until 1994 with Creator/{{Disney}}'s ''WesternAnimation/AladdinTheReturnOfJafar'' and Creator/{{Universal}}'s ''WesternAnimation/TheLandBeforeTimeIITheGreatValleyAdventure'', neither of which were intended to hit theaters at any point in their production.[[note]]The financial failure of ''WesternAnimation/TheRescuersDownUnder'' was what caused Disney to decide to do this with their sequels. ''The Land Before Time'' was the opposite; Universal, who lacked the animation industry clout Disney had at that point in time, took their most successful animated film and tried to make it a CashCowFranchise.[[/note]] Other studios started following suit, hardly limited to child-oriented animation. In particular, independent studios and filmmakers quickly picked up on this distribution model, due to its lower distribution costs and reduced censorship (video stores will often stock {{unrated|Edition}} films that theaters won't touch).
10
11There is a distinct business model that drives the direct-to-video industry, particularly when it involves lower-quality films. One might think that churning out mediocre-to-bad movies on purpose would be a dumb idea, until one looks at the sales and rental figures. A cheap 70- to 90-minute film can be produced for as little as a few thousand dollars if you hire obscure actors, crew and writers (often non-UsefulNotes/{{union|s in Hollywood}}, and barely getting minimum wage), [[CaliforniaDoubling everything gets shot around the studio]], and nothing is required that can't be obtained from the studio's stock wardrobe and props. Or, as has been trending since the mid-2000s, animation will now be done as [[SpecialEffectsFailure pretty cheap]] CGI movies. The studio then usually makes about $3-5 million off this, most of it from sales to rental chains. It floods the market with tripe into which nobody put any true effort, but it still makes money in the long run.
12
13It's the [[SpiritualSuccessor modern equivalent]] of the BMovie; in fact, many of these would be B movies if double features were still a regular thing. Some direct-to-video flicks will [[PolishTheTurd try to make lemonade of their lemons]] by claiming that their movie is "too intense", "too scary", "too well-written", "too sexy", or "too lavishly budgeted" for theaters; usually the viewers don't fall for it. It may be a sign that a series or franchise the movie is associated with has long since [[JumpingTheShark jumped the shark]], or is about to ''very'' soon. Alternately, the movie could be [[TheMockbuster a shameless ripoff of an existing, highly profitable franchise]].
14
15A film that had a theatrical release in its home country might be released direct-to-video internationally [[note]]''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirlsMovie'' for example, after its flop in the U.S., was converted to direct to video for the European market (although it did get a British cinema release).[[/note]]. This may be due to several factors: it might be a sign that the film was a complete failure in its home country, or it might be because [[AudienceAlienatingPremise the subject matter]] [[QuirkyWork or style]] limit its appeal in a particular foreign market. It's also common for a film made and released direct-to-video in its home country to be released theatrically in other countries -- for instance, ''WesternAnimation/BambiII'' and ''Honey 2'' were both released straight to video in the US and Canada, but given theatrical runs in Europe and Argentina.
16
17Further still, works that were originally intended to be direct-to-video end up getting retrofitted to show on television or in theaters. Usually, only some minimal editing is done to make it fit for theaters, but there have been cases where the project was intervened midway and beefed up to make it quite a bit better. An example of the former is ''WesternAnimation/Dougs1stMovie'', which was put into theaters after the success of ''WesternAnimation/TheRugratsMovie''. A famous example of the latter is ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory2'', on which Creator/{{Pixar}} expanded tremendously for its theatrical release, along with another Disney film, ''WesternAnimation/RecessSchoolsOut''.
18
19In Japan, where the business model is referred to in ''[[GratuitousEnglish wasei-eigo]]'' as ''Video-through'' (ビデオスルー), {{OVA}}s follow the same model of distribution, but have the opposite expectations in terms of their quality. In short, while "direct-to-video" means "too bad for theaters" in the West, OVA means "too good for television" in the East. With larger budgets and without ExecutiveMeddling or the strict requirements of the {{Media Watchdog}}s, [=OVAs=] are expected to be significantly better than television-based anime. Live-action direct-to-video, known as "V-cinema" overseas (although this is [[BrandNameTakeover technically a trademark of]] Creator/ToeiCompany), also has a much better reputation in Japan. This is due mainly to the number of established filmmakers who use it for their more "experimental" or unusual work, enjoying the [[ProtectionFromEditors greater creative freedom and lack of censorship]]. In addition, some Japanese dubbed versions of foreign films or TV series also go direct to home video without getting a theatrical or TV release first -- for example, the Japanese release of ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''.
20
21With home video [[TechnologyMarchesOn being slowly replaced]] by streaming services, direct-to-video has become more loosely defined as any film that skips theaters for a release through streaming or the general web. Because of the rise of original programming for services like Creator/{{Netflix}} and Creator/{{Hulu}} during the 2010s, with shows like ''Series/StrangerThings'' boasting production values and A-list talent on par with cable offerings, the line has become blurrier between "theatrical" and "direct-to-video" content. This became especially true in the wake of the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic, when it became common for films originally intended for theaters to be released directly to streaming instead.
22
23In a further expansion of the phenomenon, it has become increasingly common for {{Missing Episode}}s of shows that were [[ScrewedByTheNetwork canceled early]] to first see the light of day on home video or streaming.
24
25See also ItsNotSupposedToWinOscars, the GhettoIndex, {{Sequelitis}}, ItWillNeverCatchOn, and AudienceAlienatingPremise.
26
27----
28!!Direct-to-video releases (examples by source media)
29
30[[foldercontrol]]
31
32[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
33* The American releases of the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' movies, beginning with the sixth one; the closest they get to a theatrical release now is a premiere on Creator/CartoonNetwork or Creator/DisneyXD.
34** Since there were two versions of ''Anime/PokemonTheMovieBlackAndWhite'' (a "black" version and a "white" version, much like their corresponding games ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite''), The Pokemon Company International used the opportunity to premiere one version in a limited theatrical run (the "white" version) while the other premiered on Cartoon Network (the "black" version). Both were released to DVD in a double-feature.
35* Most theatrical anime movies are released direct-to-video in the US. Before digital cinemas, it was very expensive to put a movie in theaters since it meant spending thousands on just one 35mm film print, much less hundreds. Some anime films got a very limited run at art house or convention screenings if they were ''lucky''. Now with almost all cinemas in the US having digital projectors, it's much cheaper to release a film in theaters, and now most major anime movies get a limited release here before being released to DVD and Blu-ray, though quite a few still skip the theatrical run completely.
36* ''Literature/LegendOfTheGalacticHeroes'', being 110 episodes long (i.e. longer than most TV series) was -- to many viewers' surprise -- an OVA released straight-to-Laserdisc. The result is a tight script with virtually no PlotHole nor {{Filler}}. Limited animation budget somehow effectively avoided StockFootage usage throughout long-winded space battles... almost (StockFootage was used occasionally, but the interval between each usage can easily be wide up to tens of episodes that you won't notice it once it's in effect).
37* ''Anime/TheAnimatrix'' is probably the second best thing that ever happened to Film/TheMatrix franchise (with the sequels rarely on fans' favorite list, the video game adaptations fall victim to the [[TheProblemWithLicensedGames typical syndrome]] and the graphic novels largely forgettable). Most of its success can be credited to bold exploration into the Matrix mythos, a return to the {{Cyberpunk}} theme (that was never revisited by the sequels) and the excellent hand-drawn as well as CGI animation.
38[[/folder]]
39
40[[folder:Comic Books]]
41* There have recently been a series of Creator/MarvelComics direct-to-video animated adaptation such as ''WesternAnimation/UltimateAvengers'' and ''WesternAnimation/HulkVs'', which in practice are more like [=OVAs=]: both better animated and less-censored than their television counterparts.
42* Creator/DCComics has a similar line of such productions, including ''WesternAnimation/SupermanDoomsday'' (adapted from ''ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman'') and ''{{WesternAnimation/Wonder Woman|2009}}''. There's also the little-known 1998 animated film based on ''ComicBook/Gen13'', ''WesternAnimation/Gen13TheMovie'', the series's only venture outside of comics.
43* ''ComicBook/TheBeano Video'' and its sequel were both Direct to video. These were a number of animated shorts featuring characters from The Beano.
44* The ''WesternAnimation/HellboyAnimated'' series comprises two films: ''Sword of Storms'' and ''Blood and Iron''. (Both films did air on Creator/CartoonNetwork shortly ''after'' they were released on DVD.) In spite of having much of the voice work provided by the same actors from the Guillermo del Toro ''Film/{{Hellboy|2004}}'' live-action films, ''Animated'' is a distinct continuity. If anything, it's closer to [[ComicBook/{{Hellboy}} the original comics]].
45* ''WesternAnimation/GoldDiggerTimeRaft'' was released directly to DVD. Being a home made project, it was initially released in parts. In 2010, the whole thing was complied into one full movie.
46[[/folder]]
47
48[[folder:Comic Strips]]
49* In the run of ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'' animated specials:
50** ''It's Spring Training, Charlie Brown'' (1996, [[TheShelfOfMovieLanguishment made in 1992 for TV but unaired until after the video release]])
51** ''It Was My Best Birthday Ever, Charlie Brown!'' (1997)
52** ''It's the Pied Piper, Charlie Brown'' (2000)
53** ''WesternAnimation/HappinessIsAWarmBlanketCharlieBrown'' (2011). This is the first ''Peanuts'' special produced without the involvement of longtime producer Bill Melendez, who died in 2008. The artwork in the special is actually an ArtShift that reflects the classic early drawing style of the ''Peanuts'' specials of TheSixties.
54* The CGI ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}'' movies ''Garfield Gets Real'', ''Garfield's Fun Fest'' and ''Garfield's Pet Force'' were all released this way. However, the Regal Free Family Film Festival did show the latter two films in the summer of 2009.
55[[/folder]]
56
57[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
58* The third and fourth ''WesternAnimation/AnAmericanTail'' movies, which take place between the first one and ''Fievel Goes West'' by putting Fievel back in UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity.
59* ''WesternAnimation/BartokTheMagnificent'', the technically-not-a-sequel to ''WesternAnimation/{{Anastasia}}'', was released this way.
60* Films by Creator/BlueSkyStudios got this treatment in Japan (with [[WesternAnimation/IceAge two]] [[WesternAnimation/ThePeanutsMovie exceptions]]).
61* Both sequels to ''WesternAnimation/TheBraveLittleToaster'' were released straight to video. ''WesternAnimation/TheBraveLittleToasterToTheRescue'' is the immediate follow-up, but America [[ShortRunInPeru had to wait until]] the ''second'' sequel, ''WesternAnimation/TheBraveLittleToasterGoesToMars'', was already released.
62* Due to the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic shutting down theaters, ''WesternAnimation/TrollsWorldTour'' went straight to video on demand, skipping theaters (bar a few drive-ins). ''WesternAnimation/{{SCOOB}}'', ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobMovieSpongeOnTheRun'' [[note]] which was released theatrically in Canada and South Korea[[/note]], ''WesternAnimation/{{Soul}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Luca}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'' followed suit.
63** Some of these films did wind up getting theatrical releases:
64*** After getting releases in select major cities around the time of their Creator/DisneyPlus releases, ''Soul'', ''Luca'' and ''Turning Red'' got theatrical releases nationwide in 2024 following the delay of ''WesternAnimation/{{Elio}}'' to 2025.
65*** ''Trolls World Tour'' got released at select AMC Theaters locations beginning in April of 2021, as either a selectable movie for their private watch parties or as a standard $5 Fan Favorites release. In addition, the film was shown at three summer kids' movie programs: Regal's ''Summer Movie Express'', Cinemark's ''Summer Movie Clubhouse'' and Megaplex Cinema's ''Kids Summer Movies''.
66*** ''SCOOB!'' got a release nationwide on May 21, 2021.
67* The 2006 ''[[WesternAnimation/CuriousGeorge2006 Curious George]]'' film had three sequels that were released this way in 2010, 2015, and 2019.
68* Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon
69** The first direct-to-video movie Disney ever made specifically as a Direct-to-Video sequel would be ''WesternAnimation/AladdinTheReturnOfJafar'', released in 1994. It proved to be an immense success, becoming one of the best-selling VHS tapes in history with 15 million copies sold. This led to not only Disney producing dozens more direct-to-video movies, but also inspired every studio in Hollywood to release substantially more Direct-to-Video content, leading to a boom that lasted nearly two decades.
70** Disney has released direct-to-video sequels to a significant portion of its animated canon, animated by the company's various television animation units. At first they were follow-ups to MediaNotes/TheRenaissanceAgeOfAnimation titles, but they gradually shifted back to films from the [[MediaNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation Golden]] and [[MediaNotes/TheDarkAgeOfAnimation Dark]] ages. There are also a few titles based on WesternAnimation/ClassicDisneyShorts characters and ''Franchise/WinnieThePooh''. Three movies (''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeastBellesMagicalWorld'', ''WesternAnimation/CinderellaIIDreamsComeTrue'' and ''WesternAnimation/AtlantisMilosReturn'') were {{Compilation Movie}}s consisting of completed episodes of an aborted [=TV=] spinoff. A fourth, ''WesternAnimation/TarzanAndJane'', did get picked up for a full series. John Lasseter cancelled all future direct-to-video sequels after taking over Disney (likely in part due to the rise in 3D animation at the time) although he did allow a few already in production to become completed. In TheNewTens, Disney's only efforts in this vein were the ''[[Franchise/DisneyFairies Tinkerbell]]'' CGI films.
71** There have been a couple Disney sequels that have gotten theatrical runs: ''WesternAnimation/TheRescuersDownUnder'', ''WesternAnimation/PeterPan: WesternAnimation/ReturnToNeverLand'', and ''WesternAnimation/TheJungleBook2''. The financial failure of ''The Rescuers Down Under'' resulted in the start of the company's Direct-to-Video trend in the 1990s. The failure of the latter two convinced the company to continue it in the 2000s, abandoning plans for theatrical releases of ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitch2StitchHasAGlitch'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKingOneAndAHalf'' (hence why they have higher production values)[[note]] However, some others like ''WesternAnimation/BambiII'' still got theatrical runs in regions such as Europe[[/note]]. The company has decided to venture again recently into theatrical sequels, starting with ''WesternAnimation/RalphBreaksTheInternet'' in 2018 and ''WesternAnimation/FrozenII'' in 2019.
72** And the ''Tinker Bell'' movies (with the exception of ''The Pirate Fairy'', thanks to ''Film/MuppetsMostWanted'' coming out at the same time) were shown at the El Capitan so they could be hypothetically nominated for an Oscar, thus padding the list of eligible animated films. [[note]]Academy rules state that in order for the Best Animated Feature category to have 5 nominated titles in a given year, 16 films must be made eligible.[[/note]]
73* ''WesternAnimation/DorothyMeetsOzmaOfOz'' is a 1987 direct-to-video special.
74* Creator/DreamWorksAnimation:
75** After ''WesternAnimation/{{Megamind}}'' flopped because it was released on the same weekend as the Tohoku disaster in 2011, [=DreamWorks=] decided to release their films in Japan in this matter. The only recent [=DreamWorks=] films to not be released this way were ''WesternAnimation/TheBossBaby'' and ''WesternAnimation/TrollsWorldTour''. In the case of the latter, it was also released on VOD in the United States and Canada due to the UsefulNotes/CoronavirusPandemic closing down most, if not all, movie theaters, save for drive-ins.
76* ''WesternAnimation/TheEmojiMovie'' was released this way in Japan.
77* ''WesternAnimation/TheLandBeforeTime'' series, with [[{{Sequelitis}} 13 sequels]] that all went straight-to-video. (And an animated TV series.)
78* ''WesternAnimation/TheLittlestLightOnTheChristmasTree'' was released straight-to-video.
79* ''[[WesternAnimation/MagicAdventuresOfMumfie Mumfie's Quest]]'' had its movie-length epic "Mumfie's Quest'' was initally released this way after airing as a MadeForTVMovie on pay per view.
80* The Weinstein Company was aiming to release the American dub of ''Metegol'' in 2015 as ''The Unbeatables'' (the movie was issued in the UK with another dub featuring British voices), but it wound up going to Creator/{{Netflix}} and DVD instead in the summer of 2016 after they pulled it from their schedule to avoid competition with ''Film/AntMan1''.
81* The CGI compilation series ''WesternAnimation/TheMindsEye'' was released this way, on several formats no less.[[labelnote:which formats?]][[Platform/{{VCR}} VHS]], Platform/LaserDisc, Platform/{{DVD}}, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8_mm_video_format#Video8 Video8]], and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MovieCD MovieCD]].[[/labelnote]]
82* In both South Korea and Japan, this happened to ''[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyTheMovie2017 My Little Pony The Movie]]''. South Korea got it on video on demand and streaming services, while [[https://news.ponycanyon.co.jp/2018/09/26959 Japan got a DVD release]].
83* ''WesternAnimation/NormOfTheNorth'' was originally intended to be this, but for unknown reasons, the film averted this and it was put into theaters. Most would agree that the final product still feels like it was ''supposed'' to be a direct-to-video film (mainly due to its ''very'' outdated animation).
84** Originally, two sequels were in production that were intended to go straight to DVD, but for some reason, they just decided to splice the two films together so it could get a limited theatrical release, resulting in ''Norm of the North: Keys to the Kingdom''.
85* Most of the ''WesternAnimation/OpenSeason'' franchise, starting with ''Open Season 2'', and going from there.
86* ''[[WesternAnimation/RatchetAndClank2016 Ratchet & Clank's]]'' extremely underwhelming performance in the US and Canada meant that it was pulled in most other countries to be released on DVD later.[[note]]with New Zealand not even getting it on Blu-Ray![[/note]] Notably, in Japan it was bundled with the game based on it as a [[LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition Limited Collectors Edition]].
87* The Japanese dub of ''WesternAnimation/SausageParty'' was released straight to DVD, with the theatrical release being the original English version of the film with subtitles.
88* ''WesternAnimation/TheSecretOfNIMH2TimmyToTheRescue''.
89* A majority of the pre-1997 Creator/StudioGhibli catalogue, [[Anime/NausicaaOfTheValleyOfTheWind with]] [[Anime/CastleInTheSky four]] [[Anime/MyNeighborTotoro excep]][[Anime/OnlyYesterday tions]], got released to home video first in the United States.
90* ''WesternAnimation/SpaceChimps2ZartogStrikesBack'' was released direct-to-DVD after the failure of the [[WesternAnimation/SpaceChimps first movie]].
91* The Halloween movie ''WesternAnimation/SpookleyTheSquarePumpkin'' was released direct-to-DVD.
92* Most [[TheMockbuster mockbusters]], especially those by Creator/VideoBrinquedo, Creator/DingoPictures, and Creator/SparkPlugEntertainment, get released this way.
93* [[WesternAnimation/GoldenBookVideo Golden Step-Ahead Videos]] in the 1980s were released on video tapes, including ''WesternAnimation/JourneyThroughTheOfJungleWords''.
94* ''WesternAnimation/WereBackADinosaursStory'' was released that way in the United Kingdom, with the film having the (dis)honor of being the only movie in recent memory with Creator/StevenSpielberg's name on the credits to do so.
95* ''WesternAnimation/HoodwinkedTooHoodVersusEvil'' didn't get a UK theatrical release in 2011; eventually getting a UK VOD release in 2022.
96[[/folder]]
97
98[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
99* ''Film/BloodCult'', a 1985 SlasherMovie, was the first DTV film ever made.
100* Most of Film/NationalLampoon's later films have been released direct-to-video. Not surprisingly, this coincides with the steep fall in quality that their films have taken.
101* ''Film/SlumdogMillionaire'' was almost released this way until Fox Searchlight signed on as distributor.
102* Controversial Japanese director Creator/TakashiMiike loves using direct-to-video V-cinema for many of his more unusual movies, because of the creative freedom this provides him. Miike is often touted as part of the reason for V-cinema's good reputation overseas.
103* ''Film/ParanormalAsylum'' was released on [=DVD=] in 2013.
104* All of the ''Film/PuppetMaster'' franchise was released straight to video. This was because producer Charles Band thought he would make more money going this route instead of taking it to theaters. In fact, most of Full Moon Entertainment's works are direct-to-video.
105* ''Film/TheodoreRex'' was intended to be a theatrical release, but after some complications, including a few failed test screenings, it was released straight to video. Having a budget of $33.5 million, it was the most expensive direct-to-video release of its time.
106* Most {{mockbuster}}s use the DTV market in order to dupe unsuspecting customers.
107* ''Film/ElfMan'': The movie was released on [=DVD=], likely a given result of its nature as a Christmas movie.
108* All of Film/ErnestPWorrell's films after ''Ernest Rides Again''.
109* The live-action ''Film/{{Casper}}'' film produced several. They could hardly even really be called "sequels" seeing how they disregarded the continuity of the original movie so completely that the [[InNameOnly presence of Casper and his uncles]] was literally the only similarity to the feature film. They haunted a different house in a different town and all movie-based characters were dropped, all without explanation. And, of course, there was also the expected downgrade in the quality of the CGI. (It should be noted that [[Creator/StevenSpielberg Amblin]], ILM and Creator/{{Universal}} were not involved with the sequels, with Creator/SabanEntertainment and Creator/TwentiethCenturyFox producing them instead, though Universal and Amblin did produce the better-received animated series.) Incidentally, the ''Casper'' "sequels" gave a very young Music/HilaryDuff in her first acting role as Wendy in ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4DXSGhF-To Casper Meets Wendy]]''.
110* All MediaNotes/{{Nollywood}} movies are like this, although with the rising popularity of streaming many of them are now direct to Website/YouTube or similar sites.
111* The ''Film/UniversalSoldier'' franchise is an interesting case of this. A pair of DTV films (''Brothers In Arms'' and ''Unfinished Business'') were released in 1998 sans any of the original cast members, and focused on lead character Luc Deveraux's attempts to stop the [=UniSol=] program from smuggling diamonds while helping reporter Veronica Roberts clear her name after the events of the original film. The DTV sequels were subsequently retconned by 1998's theatrical ''Film/UniversalSoldierTheReturn''. That film, in turn, was retconned by 2010's DTV ''Film/UniversalSoldierRegeneration'', which disregards everything except the original.
112* ''In the Electric Mist'', an acclaimed crime drama with Creator/TommyLeeJones and Creator/JohnGoodman and directed by Bertrand Tavernier, had the misfortune of going straight-to-DVD after failing to find a distributor. However, it did manage a brief theatrical run after the film rented well.
113* You would think that a movie starring Music/MichaelJackson put out in 1988 would have no trouble getting a theatrical release -- and you would be right... except that ''Film/{{Moonwalker}}'' wound up going straight-to-video in the US after Jackson's then-manager Frank [=DiLeo=] asked for an exorbitant share of the box office takings.
114* An interesting case is the 2006 thriller ''The Contract'', which starred Creator/JohnCusack as a school coach who unwittingly ends up having to escort an assassin (played by Creator/MorganFreeman, no less) during a camping trip and avoid a group of the assassin's cohorts while he tries to bring him back to police custody. Despite having several major film and television stars attached to the project, the production (which cost $25 million) was shut down after 50 days by Millennium Films, leaving the director to finish the project with money out of his own pocket. The resulting film was unceremoniously dumped on DVD stateside after a limited theatrical showing -- ''in France''.
115* Millennium Films also produced the Morgan Freeman/Creator/AntonioBanderas heist film ''The Code'' (a.k.a. ''Thick As Thieves''), which revolved around a veteran thief recruiting a younger crook to help him pull off a final job to pay off the Russian mob. Despite attracting some top-tier talent -- Mimi Leder (''Film/DeepImpact'') directed and Creator/TomHardy co-starred -- the film was also dumped on DVD without a theatrical release (it was however the top-renting movie the week it was released on DVD, giving sort of a happy ending for the film).
116* ''Film/TheMaidenHeist'' was released straight to DVD after the distributor Yari Film Group went bankrupt.
117* The first film version of ''Film/ThePunisher1989'' was planned for a US theatrical release by its makers New World Pictures, but the new owners decided to focus more on television and elected to sit on this, ''Film/Warlock1989'' and ''Meet The Applegates'' (although all three did open as planned outside the US through other distributors). The other two did get American theatrical release eventually, but ''The Punisher'' spent two years on the shelf before going to video.
118* As if being shelved by Creator/DreamWorksSKG[=/=]Creator/{{Paramount}} for years before its 2012 theatrical release wasn't enough, Paramount cancelled the British release of ''Film/AThousandWords'' following its terrible American reception -- and thus it went straight to DVD.
119* The 2004 film ''Envy'', starring Creator/BenStiller and Creator/JackBlack, was released straight to DVD in all of Europe following its negative American reception.
120* Creator/LiamNeeson signed up for ''Film/{{Taken}}'' thinking it was going to be released this way.
121* The sixth and seventh installments of the ''Film/ChildsPlay'' franchise, "Curse of Chucky" and "Cult of Chucky".
122* ''Film/{{Soldier}}'' bombed so badly in the US, that it went for a straight to video release in other countries.
123* Creator/RobertRodriguez originally intended to make ''Film/ElMariachi'' for Spanish home video.
124* Two popular movies of the early-'90s -- ''Film/DennisTheMenace'' and ''Film/RichieRich'' -- were given direct-to-video sequels in 1998 from Warner Bros. Family Entertainment. The former received ''Dennis the Menace Strikes Again'', while the latter was saddled with ''Richie Rich's Christmas Wish''. Neither movie featured its predecessor's original cast, nor was either movie ''nearly'' as well-received.
125* The same year, Warner Bros. Family Entertainment also put out ''Film/AddamsFamilyReunion'' in the same manner. It fared about as well as the prior mentioned movies, though unlike those, ''Reunion'' was not intended as a direct sequel to [[Film/TheAddamsFamily the first two films in its series]].
126* 2013's ''Blood Ties'', despite its impressive cast (Creator/CliveOwen, Creator/MarionCotillard, Creator/MilaKunis, Creator/ZoeSaldana, Creator/JamesCaan), went straight to DVD in Britain.
127* After it bombed at the U.S. box-office in February 2014, ''Film/VampireAcademy'''s British cinema release was cancelled and it went straight to DVD there in early July.
128* In 2008, ''Entertainment Weekly'' released an article entitled "Would You Dump this Woman?" (which you can read [[http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20175469,00.html here]]) which detailed the tumultuous production of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amy_Heckerling Amy Heckerling's]] ''[[Film/ICouldNeverBeYourWoman I Could Never Be Your Woman]]'' (starring Creator/MichellePfeiffer and Creator/PaulRudd) and how it went straight-to-video in the first place.
129* ''Film/CaptainAmerica1990'' did receive theatrical distribution in some foreign markets, but it went straight to VHS in the US due to financing problems.
130* After Sony cancelled the wide theatrical release of ''Film/TheInterview'' in late 2014, it released the film to WebSite/YouTube at the same time as a limited release and then to Creator/{{Netflix}}.
131* In 2006, Creator/WarnerBros made a brand specifically devoted to Direct To Video films entitled Warner Premiere. These consisted of sequels to their live-action output, animated films for ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDoo'', ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry'', and the WesternAnimation/DCUniverseAnimatedOriginalMovies (mentioned below), and a few original titles here and there (like the [[TheShelfOfMovieLanguishment delayed]] ''Film/TrickRTreat''). Due to the growing decline of the DVD market and other economic setbacks, Warner Bros. pulled the plug on the label in 2013. The studio still makes direct to video films, but those are under the regular Warner Home Video banner.
132** Fun fact, Warner Premiere had a sub-label named Raw Feed which made, you guessed it, horror films. [[ForegoneConclusion It didn't last very long]].
133* All of the sequels to ''Film/BringItOn'' were released this way. Despite this, they frequently get TV airings on ''Creator/{{Freeform}}''.
134* ''Film/{{Leatherheads}}'' is a notable example of the AudienceAlienatingPremise-in-certain-markets version, as it was released straight to home video almost everywhere outside North America, despite its star cast, as it was thought that outside the USA and Canada nobody would be interested in a comedy film based around a real-world turning point in the history of American football.
135* Indeed, films centreing on sports events of primarily North American interest are almost guaranteed to meet this fate in certain markets -- ''Film/{{Miracle}}'', ''Film/WeAreMarshall'', ''Invincible'', ''The Greatest Game Ever Played''...
136* ''Film/Trench11'': A 2017 Canadian-produced horror film set in the final days of UsefulNotes/WorldWarI was released direct-to-DVD.
137* The LiveActionAdaptation of Disney's ''Film/{{Lady and the Tramp|2019}}'' was the first of [[Film/DisneyLiveActionRemakes the company's live-action remakes]] of their animated films to receive a direct-to-digital release on Creator/DisneyPlus when that service launched in 2019. Reports have also indicated that the expected live-action/CGI remake of ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitch'', which begins filming in 2020, will also receive a digital-only release.
138* ''Film/PoisonIvy'''s first film was a legitimately good erotic thriller exploring a {{Fille Fatale}}'s fascination with her best friend's father and how that affected the people around her. It was critically acclaimed at the Sundance Film Festival and, although a Box Office flop, good word of mouth led to it becoming a CultClassic. In came the direct-to-video sequels. ''Poison Ivy II: Lily'' featured none of the original cast, instead basing itself around a girl reading Ivy's old diary and becoming more like her. It too promoted itself around having a FormerChildStar in a seductress role (Creator/DrewBarrymore in the first, Creator/AlyssaMilano in the second) and added a lot of gratuitous nudity. The next sequel followed suit, introducing a never-before-mentioned sister of Ivy's as the protagonist and more nudity. The last sequel was a television movie that of course [[LifetimeMovieOfTheWeek premiered on the Lifetime network.]]
139* ''Film/TheHole'' was planned to be released theatrically in the US as it was in its native UK, but ended up going direct to video two years later. It has since developed a cult fan base.
140* ''Film/SharpaysFabulousAdventure'', a spin-off film of ''Film/HighSchoolMusical'', originally released as a direct-to-DVD feature before being aired on Creator/DisneyChannel as one of their original movies.
141* ''Film/TheKingOfStatenIsland'' was released to VOD and drive-ins simultaneously in June 2020, before it was pulled from theaters the same week without warning. An [[https://www.google.com/amp/s/nypost.com/2020/06/14/the-king-of-staten-island-gets-the-hook-from-universal/amp/ article]] from the New York Post revealed the drive-in screenings were booked by Creator/{{Universal}} on accident, and that the film was only meant to be straight to video.
142* ''Film/{{Tremors}}'' was released theatrically. All of its sequels--[[LongRunner six and counting]]--have been released straight to DVD, or straight to Neftlix.
143* ''Film/TheWonderfulIceCreamSuit'': Despite having known actors such as Creator/EdwardJamesOlmos and Bradbury's name on it, it was shown at the Sundance Film Festival before going straight to VHS.
144* ''Film/TheCircle2017'' demonstrated that Creator/TomHanks isn't immune this, with this movie bypassing UK cinemas despite also having Creator/EmmaWatson and Creator/KarenGillan (this was ''before'' Creator/JohnBoyega was famous, if you're wondering) -- and going straight to Creator/{{Netflix}} instead.
145* ''Film/OperationDeltaForce''
146* ''Film/{{Stiletto}}''
147* ''Film/RiseOfTheScarecrows''
148* All of the Japanese-made Franchise/{{Godzilla}} films from 1989's ''Film/GodzillaVsBiollante'' to 2004's ''Film/GodzillaFinalWars'' were released straight to video in the west, with the sole exception of ''Film/Godzilla2000''. ''Biollante'' was handled by Creator/{{HBO}} and the rest by Creator/SonyPictures, who also handled ''2000'''s theatrical release and distributed the American-made ''Film/Godzilla1998''. The 2016 reboot ''Film/ShinGodzilla'' broke the trend by getting a limited American theatrical release by Creator/{{Funimation}}, prior to its video release.
149* In an effort to accommodate those who are unable or uncomfortable with venturing out, many studios have taken a modified approach to this in the wake of theaters reopening after the pandemic-forced shutdown, releasing movies in cinemas and on-demand either simultaneously, or very soon afterwards rather than several months later as was done before. For example, ''Film/NoTimeToDie'' was released on-demand within a month after it finally opened in the US, and became available on DVD by December 21.
150* Due to the cinemas in the UK still being closed due to [[UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic Covid]], ''[[Film/SchoolsOutForever School's Out Forever]]'' was released straight to streaming in February 2021, before getting a Blu-Ray release the following April. It's US release in June 2021 was also straight to streaming.
151* ''Film/BoxingDay'' was released straight to Creator/AmazonPrime in the US, two weeks after it's theatrical release in the UK.
152* ''Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague'' premiered on the Creator/HBOMax streaming service first (and on HBO partner streaming/VOD sites internationally), then came out on physical home video. It had a limited Creator/{{IMAX}} theatrical run with profits going to the [[UsefulNotes/{{Suicide}} American Foundation for Suicide Prevention]].
153* ''Film/HomeAlone'': None of the films that followed ''Home Alone 3'' were released in theaters.
154* Whilst ''Film/KnightsOfTheZodiac'' was initially supposed to have a UK theatrical release on the 28th July 2023, to point where it was [[https://twitter.com/FirebirdMaximus/status/1685372230606159873/photo/1 still listed as such on some cinema's websites]] right up until the day of release, it was silently cancelled and instead the film made it's UK debut on DVD a few months later on 9th October.
155[[/folder]]
156
157[[folder:Literature]]
158* ''Return to Rainspell Island'', an AnimatedAdaptation of the ''Literature/RainbowMagic'' franchise.
159* A series of Creator/RichardScarry's animated [[EdutainmentShow educational]] videos that were produced between 1989 and 1994.
160[[/folder]]
161
162[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
163* ''Series/LittleHardhats'' is a live-action direct to video series on showing kids about what adult jobs are like.
164* The pioneer of this for spin-offs of TV series was probably the ''Series/BabylonFive'' spin-off ''[[Film/BabylonFiveTheLostTalesVoicesInTheDark The Lost Tales]]'', which was intended to be the first of a series of [=DVDs=] until Creator/JMichaelStraczynski decided that he couldn't tolerate the artistic limitations created by the low budget (which many cynical people translated as "not even enough [[CrackIsCheaper completist fans]] bought it for it to make any money").
165* ''Series/StargateSG1'' has two direct-to-video sequel movies: ''Stargate: Film/StargateTheArkOfTruth'' and ''Film/StargateContinuum''.
166* Franchise/SuperSentai:
167** The annual [[{{Crossover}} team-up films]] that started with ''[[Series/ChourikiSentaiOhranger Ohranger]] vs. [[Series/NinjaSentaiKakuranger Kakuranger]]'' were originally straight-to-video releases until ''[[Series/EngineSentaiGoOnger Go-onger]] vs. [[Series/JukenSentaiGekiranger Gekiranger]]'', in which they started getting theatrical premieres instead.
168** ''[[Series/RescueSentaiGogoFive Gogo-V]]'' had a tie-in video titled ''Clash! The New Super Warrior'' (aka ''Gogo-V vs. Zeek''), which focused on a new hero created just for the movie in order to make up for the lack of a SixthRanger in the actual show.
169** Every Sentai since ''Series/SamuraiSentaiShinkenger'' (with the exception of ''Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger'') had a "Come Back!" special that were released on home video after their respective finales were aired.
170** ''Series/NinpuuSentaiHurricaneger'' and ''Series/TokusouSentaiDekaranger'', two of the more popular seasons, have received "Ten Years After" DTV movies which reunite most of the primary cast.
171** Its Western counterpart had an unintentional example: The finale for ''Series/PowerRangersSamurai'' was first released on Netflix almost a week before it aired and as part of the DVD boxset days later. Saban had planned the DVD to release days after the finale aired, but Nickelodeon pushed the show back a week when it came back from hiatus so the DVD got out first.
172* ''Franchise/KamenRider'':
173** ''Film/ShinKamenRiderPrologue'' was a direct to video movie.
174** Also, in the Heisei era, there are Hyper Battle Videos[=/DVDs=], which act as {{clip show}}s for the respective show and usually has an alternate form or piece of equipment that never appears anywhere else. They also tend to be [[BizarroEpisode a good bit sillier than the original show]].
175** Starting with ''Series/KamenRiderDouble'', several series have had direct-to-DVD movies that focus on a different character while the hero only appears in a reduced capacity; the movies are often DarkerAndEdgier and/or HotterAndSexier because they don't have to worry about appeasing {{Media Watchdog}}s. Double's movies focused on Accel and Eternal.
176** ''Series/KamenRiderGaim'' got four movies whose stars were chosen by a poll; the winners were Zangetsu and Baron for the first pair, and Knuckle and Duke for the second.
177** ''Series/KamenRiderDrive'' started with one for Chaser, then two more for Mach and Heart, the first time a non-Rider got his own movie[[note]]Though said movie gives Heart a Kamen Rider form[[/note]].
178** ''Series/KamenRiderGhost'' had the "Specter V-Cinema", focusing on the origins of Specter himself.
179** ''Series/KamenRiderExAid'' had the "Another Ending" trilogy focusing on the rest of the Riders (''Brave & Snipe'', ''Para-DX with Poppy'', and ''Lazer vs. Genm''), with protagonist Emu Hojo playing only a supporting role and never transforming into Ex-Aid. The triolgy is set two years after the series' end and addresses a major hanging plot thread: [[spoiler:Kuroto Dan's villainy being [[KarmaHoudini swept under the rug]] [[SortingAlgorithmOfEvil as greater threats reared their heads]].]]
180* ''Franchise/UltraSeries''
181** ''Series/UltramanTowardsTheFuture'' was released this way in 1990 in Japan under the title ''Ultraman Great''. It did eventually air on Japanese TV in 1995 though.
182** ''Series/UltramanTheUltimateHero'' had the same fate in 1993 when it came out as ''Ultraman Powered'', but like ''Towards the Future'', it was finally aired on Japanese TV in 1995.
183** ''Series/UltramanNeos'' was released as such in 2000. Notably, it was originally meant to be the first Ultra Series of the Heisei era until it got shelved in favor of ''Series/UltramanTiga''. However, it did manage air a few episodes on TV in 2002 when then-ongoing series ''Series/UltramanCosmos'' had to be taken off their air for a few weeks due to the lead actor getting caught in some controversy.
184* Many BBC panel games in TheNineties made special episodes only released on VHS, including ''Series/HaveIGotNewsForYou'' and ''Series/NeverMindTheBuzzcocks''. The "will never be seen on TV" advertising was sometimes mocked by the later examples with jokes along the lines of "...except when you watch it by putting the tape into the VCR".
185* As British fans of ''Series/BreakingBad'', ''Series/{{Damages}}'' and other American TV series have discovered, it is possible for them to go direct to DVD in the UK once their broadcasters ([[Creator/Channel5 FiveUSA]] for the former, [[Creator/TheBBC BBC1]] for the latter, and FX for both) have dropped them and if no other channel picks them up (although Netflix has since come to the rescue for both of these shows, among others (''Series/DropDeadDiva'', ''Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia'', ''Series/OnceUponATime'', ''Series/PrettyLittleLiars'' etc). A particularly annoying example was ''Series/OrphanBlack'', whose last two seasons went Straight to DVD in the UK despite having been made by BBC America.
186* Any [[EdutainmentShow edutainment special]] [[ToiletTrainingPlot about potty-training]] will be released straight to video. Some examples include the AnimatedAdaptation of ''Once Upon A Potty'', ''It's Potty Time!'' [[note]]A video about a little boy learning how to use the bathroom at his friend's birthday party[[/note]], ''I Gotta Go!'' [[note]] A series of music videos about potty training.[[/note]] ''Potty Power''[[note]] A ''WesternAnimation/BluesClues''-esque video about toilet training[[/note]], ''No More Diapers'' [[note]] A video about a bear who learns to give up diapers done in a similar style to the ''WesternAnimation/KatieAndOrbie'' series[[/note]] and ''[[Series/SesameStreet Elmo's Potty Time]]''.
187* ''[[Series/BarneyAndFriends Barney and the Backyard Gang]]'', the series that was the basis for ''Barney and Friends'', was released this way. Several episodes of the show also aired as specials on Disney Channel, and "Barney In Concert" aired on PBS at least once during a pledge drive.
188* The ''Kids For Character'' series, which teaches the six pillars of character through clips of popular children's shows from that time period (some of which were exclusive to the videos themselves), was released this way.
189[[/folder]]
190
191[[folder:Music]]
192* The critically acclaimed ''Series/BabySongs'' MusicVideo series. The individual videos also aired as segments on Disney Channel's ''Lunch Box'' block.
193* Music/ParachuteExpress had two direct-to-video concert films: ''Parachute Express: Live in Concert'' and ''Parachute Express: Come Sing with Us''.
194* Most concert videos. While films in the past like Music/LedZeppelin's ''The Song Remains the Same'', Music/TheBand's ''Film/TheLastWaltz'' and Music/TalkingHeads' ''Film/StopMakingSense'' have had theatrical releases, they haven't really been box-office blockbusters, but the artists have loyal audiences for live footage. Hence, direct-to-DVD makes a lot of financial sense for these live videos.
195* Music/FrankZappa started doing this from the late 1980s on, with ''Music/DoesHumorBelongInMusic'' (1985) as his first release. In his case it made sense to directly bring it out on home video, because his music was only popular with a cult crowd and wouldn't sell much tickets in the theater.
196* Rock band Music/MindlessSelfIndulgence have a song called "Straight to Video" which plays off of this trope.
197[[/folder]]
198
199[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
200* Franchise/TheMuppets have appeared in a number of direct-to-video productions:
201** In 1985, Playhouse Video released ten compilations featuring the best clips from ''Series/TheMuppetShow'', with original linking footage.
202** In the late-1980s there was ''A Muppet Babies Video Storybook'', with Kermit reading three existing ''WesternAnimation/MuppetBabies1984'' storybooks (sometimes to Robin).
203** 1988 brought ''Creator/JimHenson's Play-Along Video'', in which the Muppets encourage the viewers to do the activities featured in the videos.
204** ''Muppet Sing-Alongs'' were made in the early 1990s, with Kermit hosting.
205** ''Film/MuppetClassicTheater'' had the Muppets doing their own versions of six fairy tales.
206** ''Film/KermitsSwampYears'' focused on 12-year-old Kermit.
207* The cast of ''Series/SesameStreet'' have appeared in a number of direct-to-video productions:
208** In 1986, Random House Home Video released ''Series/MySesameStreetHomeVideo''. They were basically mini-episodes featuring some of the best clips from the show itself. The releases came with an activity book.
209** In 1987, Random House also did ''Sesame Street Start-to-Read Video'', where Big Bird narrates various Sesame Street storybooks. [[ActingForTwo He even imitates his friends]]!
210** In 1990, Random House released ''[[Series/SesameStreetSongsHomeVideo Sesame Songs Home Video]]'', which was similar in format to the first series, only focusing on songs from the series. The releases came with a song lyrics poster.
211** After taking over from Random House, Sony Wonder commissioned more ''Sesame Street'' direct-to-video specials under the regular branding, like ''Elmo's Potty Time''.
212* ''Series/TheAdventuresOfTimmyTheTooth'', a direct-to-video puppet series about the adventures of a tooth and his pet toothbrush as they went on adventures fighting villains based off things that are bad for your teeth starring Phil Baron as the titular tooth. It's well-known for being featured in one of the ''Film/AmericanPie'' movies and having some of its characters reused on ''Series/GregTheBunny''.
213** The series did air on television at least twice to promote the tapes: once in syndication and another time during the Creator/NickJr block.
214* ''Series/TobyTerrierAndHisVideoPals'' was a 1990s direct-to-video series about Toby Terrier and his friends, a group of dogs who work in showbiz and run their own television station. The show had the gimmick of being compatible with a Toby Terrier toy which would interact with the cassette as you played it on the television.
215* Three of the ''Series/AllegrasWindow'' VHS releases (''Storytime Sing-Along'', ''Play Along with Allegra and Friends'', and ''Sing Along with Allegra and Lindi'') were direct-to-video episodes featuring songs from different episodes with new linking material, with the latter two videos being released after production on the show itself ended.
216[[/folder]]
217
218[[folder:Toys]]
219* In a rare example of a decent DTV, the ''WesternAnimation/{{Bionicle}}'' films.
220* Almost every single ''Franchise/{{Bratz}}'' movie was straight to DVD, the sole exception being the controversial LiveActionAdaptation.
221* The ''[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyG3 My Little Pony]]'' G3's "Core 7" shorts (except for Twinkle Wish Adventure and the movies) and SpinOffBabies G3.5 ''Once Upon a My Little Pony Time'' shorts.
222* The ''WesternAnimation/{{Barbie}}'' films. However, quite a few of them were shown as part of Kidtoons, and a few have been aired on Creator/TreehouseTV.
223[[/folder]]
224
225[[folder:Video Games]]
226* The majority of video game franchises from the 1980s and 1990s originally began as arcade games and are nowadays released directly to consoles. Even during the "Golden Age" of the arcades (the 80s and 90s), some of these franchises already had a few made-for-console sequels.
227* ''Series/GamePlayerGameTape'' was a series of VHS tapes and Betamax tapes that helps gamers learn the tips and tricks on each video games.
228[[/folder]]
229
230[[folder:Web Animation]]
231* ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'':
232** The WebAnimation/StrongBadEmail "unlicensed" parodies this and TheMockbuster. Strong Bad talks about movies with titles like ''The Secret Princess and Her Oppressive Authority Figure 4'' and ''Jungle Animals in Decidedly Non-Jungle Situations'' ("So straight-to-DVD it hurts") that are put in grocery store check-out lines to trick grandmothers into buying them.
233** Also mentioned in the Strong Bad Email "best thing" which is about [[HairMetal Limozeen]] starring in a [[FailedPilotEpisode failed]] [[BandToon Saturday morning cartoon]]. At the end of the pilot, band member Larry says, "Join us next time, kids! In syndication! Or maybe on DVD!"
234[[/folder]]
235
236[[folder:Western Animation]]
237* The ''WesternAnimation/OnceUponAPotty'' potty training video, based on [[Literature/OnceUponAPotty the book by the same name]].
238* The ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' feature ''WesternAnimation/StewieGriffinTheUntoldStory'' and the four ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' direct-to-DVD movies were made with intent of ultimately cutting the episodes up for airing on TV as three-parters and four-parters respectively. Though in the case of ''Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story'', the movie is considered the definitive cut and as such, the TV edit "episodes" are omitted from DVD releases. The DVD also has about 20 minutes of bonus footage (involving the "premiere" of the movie in theaters and a [[NoFourthWall fourth-wall breaking]] after party where the characters discuss the real-life cancellation of the series) that was not shown on TV. The four ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' movies sold so well and got such a positive reaction from fans that they continued the series.
239** In-universe, the episodes "[[Recap/FamilyGuyS6E4And5StewieKillsLoisAndLoisKillsStewie Lois Kills Stewie]]" and "[[Recap/FamilyGuyS9E17ForeignAffairs Foreign Affairs]]" parody Disney's infamous direct-to-video sequels with cutaway skits that poke fun at just how pointless the sequels stories are. In the former, Stewie invokes his presidential power to ban Disney from producing further sequels, including films like ''JustForFun/AladdinIVJafarMayNeedGlasses'' ([[CutawayGag we then see]] [[OverlyLongGag a 38-second clip of Jafar getting an eye exam]]). In the latter, Peter and co. are watching ''Aladdin V: Jafar Answers the Census'' on the Creator/DisneyChannel.
240* Humorously, in ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventuresHowISpentMyVacation'', the credits claim it went straight to video because "it's that darn good" (which is probably more true than they're joking, since the movie is basically an OVA, as it was done by Creator/{{TMS|Entertainment}} in Japan).
241* ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'' AlternateUniverse film, ''WesternAnimation/WakkosWish''.
242* A few ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' episodes were released on DVD before airing on TV.
243** "One Good Scare Ought to Do It!" made its US debut on the DVD ''The Fast and the Phineas'', over two months before its US TV premiere on Creator/DisneyChannel.
244** "Unfair Science Fair" and "Unfair Science Fair Redux" (Another Story) made their US debut on the DVD ''The Daze of Summer'', around a week before their US TV premieres on Creator/DisneyXD.
245** "The Doof Side of the Moon" made its US debut on the DVD ''A Very Perry Christmas'', three days before its US TV premiere on Creator/DisneyChannel.
246* ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}'':
247** ''WesternAnimation/RecessTakingTheFifthGrade'' and ''Recess: All Growed Down'' were both DTV movies, consisting of unaired episodes and linking material.
248** ''WesternAnimation/RecessSchoolsOut'' was planned as this, but Disney wanted a theatrical release due to the show's popularity. With an expansion of the plot and an AnimationBump, it turned out to be a success. In a few foreign areas, it ''was'' released as this, though, particularly in areas where ''Recess'' wasn't much heard of or not as popular than in other countries.
249* All of the ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry'' films except for the [[WesternAnimation/TomAndJerryTheMovie first]] and [[Film/TomAndJerry2021 fifteenth]] ones.
250* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanMaskOfThePhantasm'' is a borderline case. Intended as DTV, it received a short theatrical run with no alterations.
251* DC now has a whole series of direct-to-DVD animated films, from Warner Premiere. The fact that they are Direct to Video has absolutely no bearing on their quality. Some are made for adults like ''WesternAnimation/AllStarSuperman'', ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheKillingJoke'', and ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueTheFlashpointParadox''. Some are made for families like the ''WebAnimation/DCSuperHeroGirls'' movies, the Batman Unlimited movies, and any Lego projects.
252* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'' had a few, notably the hour-long special ''Vacation'' (later broadcast on TV), and the ''Tales From the Crib'' movies, made long after the series ended in a (failed) attempt to make it popular again.
253* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirlsMovie'', while released in the U.S theatrical (and sadly bombing due to lousy marketing from Creator/WarnerBros) was released in foreign markets straight to DVD. Subsequently many of Creator/CartoonNetwork MadeForTV movies were also released this way as well.
254* ''Franchise/AlvinAndTheChipmunks'' has three: ''WesternAnimation/AlvinAndTheChipmunksMeetFrankenstein'', ''WesternAnimation/AlvinAndTheChipmunksMeetTheWolfman'' and ''Film/LittleAlvinAndTheMiniMunks''.
255* ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'' has a [[WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooDirectToVideoFilmSeries long-running series]] of direct-to-video features. It's the longest running part of the franchise, as far as time goes. At least one film has been made every year since 1998, seeing many changes to the character designs, animation style, story tone, and voice actors. The series currently has 34 entries and counting. Some of which have surprising quality (''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooOnZombieIsland'', ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooCampScare'', ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooLegendOfThePhantosaur''), others are just okay (''WesternAnimation/AlohaScoobyDoo'', ''WesternAnimation/ChillOutScoobyDoo''...). The very first entry, ''Zombie Island'' is considered a classic in its own right, and one of the most well-received entries in the entire ''Scooby-Doo'' franchise.
256* Several ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episodes were released on DVD before they aired on television.
257** After season 3 wrapped up, the series proper went on hiatus for two years in order to produce [[WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobSquarePantsMovie the movie]]. This was also the same time the show started being released on home video. Nickelodeon bought time by reshuffling and spreading out the remaining episodes -- some of which ended up first being released on DVD months before official airtime. Notable examples include "Graveyard Shift" and "Club [=SpongeBob=]" on ''Nautical Nonsense and Sponge Buddies'', "I Had an Accident" and "Born Again Krabs" on ''Tales from the Deep'', and the final pre-movie episodes, "[=SpongeBob=] Meets the Strangler" and "Pranks a Lot", on ''The Seascape Capers''.
258** "Gary Takes a Bath" has one of the stranger release histories. It's officially the [[ThreeShorts sister short]] of the season 2 episode "Shanghaied", which first aired by itself in March 2001 as a double-length special. Both of them showed up on the ''Sea Stories'' DVD in November 2002. "Gary Takes a Bath" didn't actually air on TV until mid-2003, over two full years after its sister and a year after its DVD debut. [[note]]This also made it not only the last-released episode of season 2, but one that aired well toward the end of season ''3''.[[/note]]
259** Nick hyped up the "lost episode", "The Sponge Who Could Fly"'s airdate heavily as a special event, but it actually showed up on a DVD called ''Lost at Sea'' a couple weeks before airtime.
260** An extreme example would be the DVD ''Bikini Bottom Adventures'' -- at the time when the DVD was released, none of the episodes were on television.
261** "New Leaf" was released on the "Karate Island" DVD two months before it aired on TV.
262** Every season 4 episode that aired in 2007 had already been released on "Season 4 Volume 2" DVD before they aired on TV.
263** Even some of season 5's episodes had been released on DVD before their official airtime on TV such as "Friend or Foe?" ("The Original Fry Cook", "Night Light", "Fungus Among Us", and "Spy Buddies"), "Season 5 Volume 1" ("Fungus Among Us"), "Bikini Bottom Adventures" ( "Boat Smarts", "Good Ol' Whatshisname", "New Digs", "Krabs à la Mode", "Roller Cowards", "Bucket Sweet Bucket", and "Breath of Fresh Squidward"), "[=WhoBob WhatPants=]" ("Goo Goo Gas"), and "Season 5 Volume 2" ("Goo Goo Gas").
264** The Japanese dub of ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobSquarePantsMovie'' was released this way, with the theatrical version being subtitled and shown as a limited release.
265** The Complete(asterix) Twelfth Season DVD notably contained ''several'' episodes that hadn't been aired on American Nickelodeon at the time of its release, like "My Two Krabses", "Bubble Bass's Tab" and "Kooky Cooks".
266* Most seasons of ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndFriends'' have some episodes released on video or DVD before they are broadcast on TV. Most notably, the third season had sixteen episodes (over half a season's worth) released on video the year before they were actually broadcast, and the fourth season had eight episodes released on tape the year before they were shown on TV. Notably, the music and sound effects present in these episodes were altered in the TV airings and all subsequent video releases, making the early season 3 and 4 videos more sought-after than most. The early Season 3 episodes even had their entire narration redone after the initial video release. The majority of the feature-length specials are given a limited release in select cinemas (mostly via Kidtoons Films and at the Theater at Mall Of America during Toddler Tuesdays, both of which are now defunct) before the DVD release, but ''Calling All Engines'' was released on DVD and VHS without a theatrical release.
267* After the first two films in the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirls'' series had limited theatrical runs, future films were relegated to streaming services or television before going straight to video. The third film, ''[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsFriendshipGames Friendship Games]]'' did receive a theatrical release in the United Kingdom, however.
268* Creator/{{Disney}} releases ''WesternAnimation/DisneySingAlongSongs'' as a direct-to-video series. The series has songs from various Disney films and television shows, and kids at home can sing-along by ''[[FollowTheBouncingBall following Mickey the Bouncing Ball]]'' as it bounces on the lyrics.
269* A few other companies aside from Disney did sing-along videos based off their properties as well:
270** Jim Henson had Muppet Sing Alongs, which had a spin-off of its own called "Things That...", which was a series of sing-along videos featuring the Muppets singing about different kinds of vehicles.
271** Warner Brothers had two of these videos: one was a ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' sing-along, and the other was a tie-in to ''WesternAnimation/QuestForCamelot'', which also included songs from ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'' on it.
272** Fox released two of these: one contained Creator/ShirleyTemple songs, and the other was themed around ''WesternAnimation/{{Anastasia}}''.
273** Franchise/AlvinAndTheChipmunks had two of these releases: Ragtime Cowboy Joe and Working On The Railroad.
274** WesternAnimation/{{Madeline}} also had two releases: ''Sing-a-Long with Madeline and her Friends'' and ''Sing-a-Long Around the World with Madeline'', originally released by Creator/{{Lionsgate}} in 2001 and 2002, respectively.
275* ''WesternAnimation/TheWackyAdventuresOfRonaldMcDonald'', an animated series based off the [[UsefulNotes/McDonalds McDonaldLand]] characters produced by Klasky-Csupo.
276* Another series of long running direct-to-video releases is the Franchise/{{Barbie}} film series, beginning with ''WesternAnimation/BarbieInTheNutcracker'' in 2001. The most recent release is ''WesternAnimation/BarbieVideoGameHero'' in 2017.
277* ''WesternAnimation/PostmanPat'' had several direct to video [[EdutainmentShow edutainment]] titles released this way.
278* The North American release of the individual ''WesternAnimation/NoddysToylandAdventures'' episodes, which had VHS exclusive music videos play every few stories. This was different from how they were broadcast on TV in the country, where one ten minute segment was played as part of ''Series/TheNoddyShop''.
279* Episodes of ''WesternAnimation/VeggieTales'' were originally released straight to VHS tapes and [=DVDs=] before it got [[WesternAnimation/JonahAVeggieTalesMovie a movie in theaters]] and TV airings courtesy of Creator/{{qubo}} and Creator/{{TBN}}. However, Creator/PBSKids aired "The Star Of Christmas" before it was released to DVD and video as a special event, and [[Creator/IonTelevision PAX]] ran a Christmas special based on the series before its VHS release.
280* Throughout the 90's, a few direct-to-video animated specials were released to promote short-lived toylines. Examples of this practice include ''Shadow Strikers'', ''WesternAnimation/BarnyardCommandos'' (in America; in France, the full 13-episode run was aired on television) and ''WesternAnimation/SgtSavageAndHisScreamingEagles''.
281* This happened to the ''WesternAnimation/DragonTales'' episode "Cowboy Max" as a result of ScheduleSlip. The episode was released on the DVD/VHS release "Whenever I'm Afraid..." nine months before it aired on TV.
282* ''WesternAnimation/{{Jingaroo}}'''s stories went straight to VHS.
283* Artisan Entertainment and Family Home Entertainment for Kids released three [[ChristmasSpecial Christmas Specials]] all named after ''ChristmasSongs'' on VHS/DVD, produced by Hyperion Pictures, in 1999, as part of the Christmas Classics Series:
284** ''WesternAnimation/JingleBells''
285** ''WesternAnimation/WeWishYouAMerryChristmas''
286** ''WesternAnimation/OChristmasTree''
287* While ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'' never aired on TV in Japan, it did however get five episodes [[note]]"Knock, Knock", "Sea Fright", "Night Game", "Ghost Busted" and "Don't Forget the Motor City", all from the first two seasons [[/note]] dubbed and released on VHS.
288* ''WesternAnimation/JayJayTheJetPlane'' began life as a series using models similar to ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndFriends''. The videos containing these stories [[https://youtube.com/watch?v=TuZ6OQ8GWo0 were sold via a special hotline]] that was advertised on television.
289* The first season of ''WesternAnimation/TheAnimalsOfFarthingWood'' was released that way in the US as a movie called ''Journey Home: The Animals of Farthing Wood'', which had some redubbing to have Creator/RalphMacchio replace Rupert Farley as Fox and also have Creator/FionaReid voicing Adder and Weasel instead of Stacey Jefferson and Sally Grace respectively. It was also edited to have songs and many of the death scenes (save for three of them) cut out in order to make it child-friendly.
290[[/folder]]

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