| Type | Film distributor, music distributor |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Headquarters | , United States |
Key people | Arnie Holland, Sky Spooner, David Lawrence |
| Products | Motion pictures, music |
| Website | lightyearentertainment |
Lightyear Entertainment, headquartered in Studio City, California, is a distributor of independent motion pictures in theaters, on DVD, Blu-ray, Video On Demand, as well as a distributor of music and music videos on CD, DVD, and digital distribution.[1]
Lightyear releases movies into theaters directly. After the theatrical run, digital distribution and licensing (including VOD, EST, SVOD and TV) in North America is now conducted through MVD Distribution. Physical distribution of DVDs and BluRays is also through MVD Distribution. From 2017 through June 2023, digital distribution was conducted through The Orchard (which became 1091). From 2010 to 2018, both digital and physical releases were through eOne Distribution. From 2008 to 2010, it was through Vivendi/Universal Distribution,[1] and from 1995 to 2008, through Warner Home Video. From 1991 to 1995, it was distributed through BMG.
Lightyear's music business in North America is conducted through Virgin Music/Universal Music Group.
Its origins were as a management buyout of RCA Video Productions, Inc. (a.k.a. RVP Productions) in 1987 from Bertelsmann, which was originally created in 1984.[2] The company was a co-producer of the Jane Fonda workout series, and pioneered in the areas of children's and music videos, as well as helping to create the fitness genre. Lightyear is now again the distributor of the original Jane Fonda Workout videos on DVD and Digital.
Recent films distributed by Lightyear include Tanna (nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film in 2017), Maze, Jirga, The Hippopotamus, and Goldstone. Other films include Voodoo Macbeth, a-ha: The Movie, 16 Bars and The Etruscan Smile.
Lightyear's original productions include the films Aria, Heaven and The Return of Swamp Thing, as well as the Stories to Remember series of animated films for children. It also produced concert films by Lou Reed, Eurythmics, Stevie Nicks, and Jefferson Starship, and the documentary Elvis '56.
Films
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Hall & Oates: 7 Big Ones: Video Collection | |
| 1985 | Diana Ross: Vision of Diana Ross | |
| 1987 | Stevie Nicks: Live at Red Rocks | |
| The Emerald City of Oz | ||
| 1990 | Stories to Remember | |
| 1991 | Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii | |
| 1995 | People: A Musical Celebration | |
| 1999 | Aria | |
| 2000 | Rave | |
| 2002 | Under the Covers | |
| 2003 | Turn of Faith | |
| Sistas 'N the City | ||
| The Ghosts of Edendale | ||
| Westender | ||
| Those Who Walk in Darkness | ||
| Save It for Later | ||
| 2005 | Mother Goose Rocks | |
| Poison Dust | ||
| Treasure n tha Hood | ||
| 5 Card Stud | ||
| 2006 | Jailbait | |
| Kevin Hart: Live Comedy from the Laff House | ||
| Neil's Party | ||
| 2007 | Lou Reed: A Night with Lou Reed | |
| The Murder Game | ||
| Burning Annie | ||
| Short Fuse | ||
| Black Woman's Guide to Finding a Good Man | ||
| Pastor Jones: Sisters in Spirit | ||
| Everything's Jake | ||
| The Junior Defenders | ||
| Jekyll | ||
| 2008 | R&B Chick | |
| Color of the Cross 2: Resurrection | ||
| Get Thrashed | ||
| The Orange Thief | ||
| Heaven | ||
| Studio | ||
| Light and the Sufferer | ||
| Don't Touch If You Ain't Prayed 2 | ||
| Killing Zelda Sparks | ||
| Battle of the Bulge | ||
| Johnson Family Christmas Dinner | ||
| Suspension | ||
| Johnson Family Dinner | ||
| Flogging Margaret | ||
| The Return of Swamp Thing | distribution rights now currently owned by Warner Bros. Pictures | |
| Pastor Jones: Sisters in Spirit | ||
| 2009 | Opie Gets Laid | |
| Saturday Morning | ||
| See Dick Run | ||
| Keepin' the Faith: My Baby's Gettin' Married! | ||
| The Moon and the Stars | ||
| The Accountant | ||
| Veritas, Prince Of Truth | ||
| Pastor Jones: Sisters in Spirit 2 | ||
| Randy and the Mob | ||
| Teenage Dirtbag | ||
| 2010 | The Heart is a Drum Machine | |
| Keepin' the Faith: Momma's Got a Boyfriend | ||
| Here and There | ||
| Rocksteady: The Roots of Reggae | ||
| 2011 | Laid Off | |
| 2012 | The Crossing | |
| I'm Dickens, He's Fenster | ||
| 2013 | Reality Terror Night | |
| Thy Will Be Done | ||
| 2014 | Rockin' The Wall | |
| 2015 | Jane Fonda's Original Workout | |
| Little Glory | ||
| 2016 | Me and My Mates vs the Zombie Apocalypse | |
| Tanna | ||
| 2017 | The Hippopotamus | |
| 2018 | Goldstone | |
| 2019 | Maze | |
| The Etruscan Smile | ||
| 2020 | CRSHD | |
| 2021 | Black Magic Live | |
| 2022 | a-ha: The Movie | |
| Voodoo Macbeth | ||
| Cinematographer | ||
| 2023 | The Return of Swamp Thing Remastered |
References
- 1 2 Chris Tribbey. "Lightyear Entertainment's 25-year Journey". Home Media Magazine. Retrieved 2011-05-06.
- ↑ Cohn, Lawrence (1987-07-15). "Management buyout for RVP Prods.: N.Y. Firm to be Named Lightyear". Variety. pp. 3, 28.