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| Company type | Corporation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motion picture |
| Founded | 1983; 42 years ago (1983) |
| Founder | Moshe Diamant Eduard Sarlui |
| Defunct | 1993; 32 years ago (1993) |
| Fate | Foreclosed, assets folded into Epic Productions |
| Successor | Company: Epic Productions Library: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (Amazon MGM Studios/Amazon) (throughOrion Pictures) Universal Pictures (Carlito's Way only) |
| Headquarters | |
Key people | Tom Coleman Michael Rosenblatt Moshe Diamant Eduard Sarlui |
| Products | Motion Pictures |
| Owner | Independent(1983–1993) |
Trans World Entertainment was an American independentproduction anddistribution company which produced low-to-medium budget films mostly targeted for home-video market. In the early 1990s, the company became embroiled in theCredit Lyonnais banking scandal in Hollywood and was foreclosed on by the bank and subsequently incorporated into the Epic Library. Since 1998, its library has been owned byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
The company was founded as a video distribution company in 1983 byMoshe Diamant and Eduard Sarlui, a filmmaker whose company Continental Motion Pictures, founded with his sister Helen, had previously produced a number of films includingAtor, the Fighting Eagle andWarrior of the Lost World.[1][2][3]
In 1984, it bought out the video distribution rights to shows handled by various syndicators, includingViacom Enterprises andZiv International for a 200-title agreement.[4] Also that year, it expanded into the world of theatrical film distribution and production, with a lineup of fully-funded films (three films per year), some of which were exhibited at theCannes Film Festival; the theatrical film division was headed up by William Dunn.[5]
Diamant met with filmmakerWilliam Malone in 1985 and Malone pitched him ascience-fictionhorror film in the vein ofAlien. The resulting film wasCreature.[1] Trans World Entertainment also producedPray for Death starringSho Kosugi the same year. Both films were maligned by critics, but were successful in the home video marketplace.
Also in 1985, Trans World Entertainment agreed to merge with Cardinal Entertainment to form a new outfit,Cardinal/TWE; Cardinal Entertainment would be the distributor of Trans World Entertainment's theatrical feature film projects.[6] TWE additionally entered into an agreement with Sarlui's Continental Motion Pictures; Continental would handle worldwide distribution on the titles TWE produced (aiming for six to ten pictures per year), and Continental gained access to the TWE library.[7]
In 1986,Media Home Entertainment inked a deal with TWE for Media to distribute TWE's theatrical titles on videocassette.[8] That year, Eduard Sarlui joined the company as CEO and chairman, while Paul Mason was installed as President of Production; TWE's output increased considerably.[9] This was primarily due to them acquiring the rights to Italian genre titles from filmmakers such asJoe D'Amato; TWE would retitle and dub them and release them straight to video.[10] On September 10, 1986, Trans World Entertainment announced thatDavid Keith had signed on to direct two projects greenlit by TWE.[11]
The company employed a pre-sales model for their product and through the mid-to-late 1980s continued to produce modest direct to video hits such asMoon in Scorpio starringBritt Ekland andInterzone. They also continued to distribute films such asKiller Klowns from Outer Space. In 1987, they signed a multi-picture deal with Italian producerOvidio G. Assonitis.The first of the films to be produced wasThe Farm, released asThe Curse, ascience-fictionhorror film starringWil Wheaton andClaude Akins, based onH. P. Lovecraft's short storyThe Colour Out of Space.[12] The film earned $1,169,922 from its opening weekend, and finished with a gross of $1,930,001 at thebox office. The film also sold considerably well on home video.[13]
In 1986, Diamant and Sarlui created a sister company entitledEpic Productions; Sarlui would remain chairman and CEO of Trans World Entertainment and Diamant would become CEO and Chairman of Epic.[14] A line of credit of $60 million was arranged with French bankCredit Lyonnais Bank Nederland for Epic to produce films that would be distributed under an exclusive marketing agreement withRCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video. Assonitis' next two films for Trans World Entertainment,The Bite andAmok Train, were retitled asCurse II: The Bite andBeyond the Door III respectively by RCA/Columbia Pictures to capitalize on the success ofThe Curse and Assonitis' 1974 mega-hitBeyond the Door, despite no connections between the films.[15]
On October 22, 1986, TWE announced plans to make multiple high-budget films that would begin production within the next nine months; their sales effort included a package of pictures from Continental Motion Pictures, led by Helen Sarlui, who by now was serving as vice president of TWE's video division, and included the signing of deals with various writers, includingSteven de Souza, who was signed to write three films and given an opportunity to make his directorial debut and serve as overall creative consultant of the studio.[16]
On February 18, 1987, while TWE was in the stages of prepping 20 projects for release, the company started its own domestic distribution division, paying out $5 million in royalties to the studio for its own first four feature films; additionally, Dino Constantine Conte had signed a three-picture agreement with the studio in order to serve as producer of TWE's film productions, beginning withNovember Man, and announced a second picture in TWE's two-picture deal with film starBeau Bridges.[17] On April 8, 1987, Sunil Shah, who was president of TWE, left the company to set up a new home video/film distributor, Imperial Entertainment.[18]
In late August 1987, TWE signed another six-picture agreement with Media; their previous deal brought MHE the home video rights to such films asFull Moon in Blue Water,Kansas,Killer Klowns from Outer Space,Hardcover,Cinderella Rock andTeen Witch; the new deal included the video rights to titles likeRage of Honor,Programmed to Kill andIron Warrior. All rights reverted from Heron to TWE by 1989.[19]
By 1988,Charles Band'sEmpire International Pictures began to collapse under mounting long-term debt obligations to Crédit Lyonnais, which included the purchase of Castello di Giove, a 12th-century castle located inGiove, Italy.[20] and theDino de Laurentiis Cinematografica. Crédit Lyonnais foreclosed on Empire, forcing founder Band out. The bank then approached Epic with an offer to extend their line of credit from $60 million to $200 million to absorb Empire's assets into Epic and restructure the company.[1] Epic's takeover of Empire was completed in May 1988 and led to in-production titles such as Stuart Gordon'sRobot Jox, Peter Manoogian'sArena, and David Schmoeller'sCatacombs to be delayed in release by several years.
The merger with Empire allowed several in-production Trans World titles to be released as "stand-alone" sequels to earlier films, such asGoblins, directed byClaudio Fragasso, being renamedTroll 2, andPanga to be released asCurse III: Blood Sacrifice.Catacombs was also retitled asCurse IV: The Ultimate Sacrifice.
In September 1988, Diamant and Sarlui founded a separate company, Cinema Corp. of America, to produce larger scale theatrical motion pictures alongside independent film producerElliott Kastner. The start-up company was assisted by Crédit Lyonnais with an initial start-up investment of $65 million. Kastner signedMarlon Brando to write and star in their first picture,Jericho, where Brando would play a CIA agent who comes out of retirement for a tricky assignment.[21]Donald Cammell was tapped to direct, with shooting slated to begin in Mexico in November 1988, but after months of pre-production on location, Brando apparently dropped out of the project, citing insurance issues.[22]
During this time, Trans World Entertainment and Epic Productions continued to produce and release films such asGhosts Can't Do It, starringBo Derek,Anthony Quinn andDonald Trump, andHoneymoon Academy, withRobert Hays andKim Cattrall.
President of Production Paul Mason departed the company in 1990, and the company was still producing five pictures a year, includingSki Patrol, and releasing Italian imports such asTop Model 2, directed by Pasquale Fanetti. However, the restructuring following the acquisition of Empire by Crédit Lyonnais caused friction between Diamant, Sarlui and the bank. By this time, Crédit Lyonnais had financed the takeover ofThe Cannon Group, Inc. andMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer by Italian financierGiancarlo Parretti,[23] who was close to defaulting on his loans. Diamant and Sarlui discovered that the Crédit Lyonnais restructuring was also hiding bad debt incurred by the bank.[1]
While this was going on, Trans World Entertainment and Epic Productions entered into a sales distribution agreement withMark Damon's Vision P.D.G. International. The deal effectively ended Trans World Entertainment as a distribution entity, withMoshe Diamant becoming co-chairman of Vision and Sarlui also becoming a significant shareholder. The final film to carry the Trans World Entertainment name wasEyes of an Angel starringJohn Travolta. Trans World Entertainment effectively became a holding company for the library of 150 produced films.[14]
Shortly afterwards, Vision International and Epic Productions entered into a co-production deal with Stone Group Pictures, owned byMichael Douglas.[14]
Crédit Lyonnais foreclosed on Giancarlo Parretti and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1991, and investigations into the bank's practices and associations began in both the United States and France. In August 1992, Crédit Lyonnais foreclosed on Epic Productions and Trans World Entertainment, removingMoshe Diamant and Eduard Sarlui from the company. Immediately following their removal, Vision International terminated their production and distribution agreement with Epic and Trans World.[24] Former company directors Diamant and Sarlui immediately filed a lawsuit against the bank for $100 million for breach of contract and various damages; January 1993 saw Crédit Lyonnais file a countersuit against Diamant and Sarlui, claiming they overstated the company's financial position and stole money from the bank.[1][24] Sarlui and Diamant also sued their former attorney, Eugene L. Wolver, for assisting Crédit Lyonnais in their attempts to bury their bad loans in the Empire/Epic merger, leading to Epic being seized by the bank.[25]
During this time, Vision International cut ties with Crédit Lyonnais completely, instead receiving backing from Mercantile National and Kredietbank Luxembourg. However, the ongoing lawsuits with Crédit Lyonnais put pressure on Vision International's producing interest, which lead to founder Mark Damon to depart the company in June 1993.[26] In a May 1993 judgement, Crédit Lyonnais was barred from foreclosing on Trans World Entertainment due to the ongoing lawsuit by Sarlui and Diamant.[27] Eventually Diamant joined Damon at his new company, Mark Damon Productions, in 1994 once the issues between Vision International and Crédit Lyonnais were resolved.[28] Sarlui continued to be a shareholder in Mark Damon Productions, but no longer held an active position in the company. Once the lawsuits were settled, Crédit Lyonnais paid compensation to both Diamant and Sarlui, and Trans World Entertainment was absorbed into Epic Productions, under Crédit Lyonnais control.
After Crédit Lyonnais successfully combined the assets of The Cannon Group Inc., Cannon Pictures and Pathé Communications, folding all 3 of them into MGM, and sold the company back toKirk Kerkorian for a reported $1.3 billion (which was the same amountGiancarlo Parretti had purchased it from Kerkorian for, also a significant overall loss for the bank),[29] they sought to do the same with the assets of Epic Productions, Trans World Entertainment, Empire International, Vision International and other film libraries they now owned (which also included films fromCastle Rock Entertainment (home video rights only),Nelson Entertainment,Sherwood Productions and its successor Gladden Entertainment,Hemdale Film Corporation, Dino De Laurentiis Communications,[30]Fries Entertainment,Embassy Pictures (home video rights only, library owned byStudioCanal viaParavision International),21st Century Film Corporation andScotti Bros. Pictures. The bank merged the libraries into the "Epic Film Collection" or simply the "Epic library" (organized into different holding companies named after the Greek alphabet, i.e. "Alpha Library Company") and began to take bids on the property.[31] MGM,The Walt Disney Company,PolyGram Filmed Entertainment andLive Entertainment all submitted bids, with the ultimate winner being PolyGram with an offer of $225 million.[32]
Despite this success, however, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment sold their library to MGM the following year for $235 million, following being taken over bySeagram and the subsequent folding intoUniversal Pictures in 1999. MGM would place the library underOrion Pictures' control in order to avoid a video distribution pact MGM had withWarner Home Video; this resulted, after a legal battle, in MGM breaking their video distribution agreement with Warner earlier than intended, and MGM then began to release these movies under their own branding, being distributed internationally through20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (though these libraries are still held within the former Orion Pictures).[33][34] Meanwhile, in November 2002, the government conducted an auction for Crédit Lyonnais' residual ten-percent stake, which was won byBNP Paribas, butCrédit Agricole subsequently launched a successful friendly takeover bid and took full ownership of Crédit Lyonnais in July 2003.[35]
Crédit Agricole merged its own investment banking arm,Banque Indosuez, with Crédit Lyonnais's and renamed the merged entity Calyon (forCréditAgricoleLyonnais) in 2004, but that brand was changed in 2010 to Crédit Agricole CIB (for Commercial and Investment Bank), reflecting the gradual phasing out of the Crédit Lyonnais identity. Also in 2010, the bank's staff eventually moved out of the historic headquarters on Boulevard des Italiens to relocate to the Parisian suburb ofVillejuif. Meanwhile, in 2005, the Crédit Lyonnais brand, perceived as tainted by the 1990s turmoil, had been replaced within the French retail network with the blanderLCL (introduced as "Crédit Lyonnais, just more dynamic and better performing"[35]), and the number of LCL branches gradually decreased in subsequent years.
| Year | Title | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | She | Co-Produced with Continental Motion Pictures | [36][37] |
| 1985 | Creature | [38] | |
| 1985 | Master Class | Direct-to-Video, distributed by U.S.A. Home Video. | [39] |
| 1985 | Pray for Death | [40] | |
| 1986 | Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi – "Katana" | Direct-to-Video. See"Fists of Dragons" and"Diamond Ninja Force" | [41][42] |
| 1986 | Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi – "Bo" | Direct-to-Video. See"Shaolin Temple Strikes Back" and"Ninja Champion" | [43][44] |
| 1986 | Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi – "Ninja Fan" | Direct-to-Video. See"The Little Heroes of Shaolin Temple" | [45] |
| 1986 | Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi – "Tekagi" | Direct-to-Video. See"Young Hero" and"Golden Ninja Warrior" | [46][47] |
| 1986 | Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi – "Shikomizue" | Direct-to-Video. See"Shaolin Drunk Fighter" and"Venus the Ninja" | [48][49] |
| 1986 | Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi – "Yari" | Direct-to-Video. See"The Great Massacre" and"The Dragon, The Odds" | [50][51] |
| 1986 | Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi – "Tonfa" | Direct-to-Video. See"Ninja Terminator" (PAL) and"Wolfen Ninja" | [52][53] |
| 1986 | Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi – "Shobo" | Direct-to-Video. See"Flash Challenger","Ninja Terminator" and"Challenge the Ninja" | [54][55][56] |
| 1986 | Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi – "Self Defense" | Direct-to-Video. See"Eagle Claws Champion" | [57] |
| 1986 | Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi – "Jitte" | Direct-to-Video. See"Phoenix the Ninja" | [58] |
| 1986 | Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi – "Kama" | Direct-to-Video. See"Ninja, The Protector" | [59] |
| 1986 | Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi – "Nunchaku" | Direct-to-Video. See"Kingfisher the Killer" | [60] |
| 1986 | Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi – "Manriki-gusari" | Direct-to-Video. See"Champ Against Champ" | [61] |
| 1986 | Karatix | Direct-to-Video. | [62] |
| 1987 | Rage of Honor | [63] | |
| 1987 | Programmed to Kill | [64] | |
| 1987 | Commando Squad | [65] | |
| 1987 | Catch the Heat | [66] | |
| 1987 | Moon in Scorpio | [67] | |
| 1987 | Survival Game | [68] | |
| 1987 | The Curse | [69] | |
| 1987 | The Wild Pair | [70] | |
| 1988 | Deep Space | [71] | |
| 1988 | The Further Adventures of Tennessee Buck | [72] | |
| 1988 | Red Nights | [73] | |
| 1988 | Killer Klowns from Outer Space | [74] | |
| 1988 | Seven Hours to Judgment | [75] | |
| 1988 | Kansas | [76] | |
| 1988 | Full Moon in Blue Water | [77] | |
| 1989 | Sonny Boy | [78] | |
| 1989 | I, Madman | [79] | |
| 1989 | Teen Witch | [80] | |
| 1989 | Curse II: The Bite | [81] | |
| 1989 | Interzone | [82] | |
| 1989 | Out on Bail | [83] | |
| 1989 | Night Game | [84] | |
| 1989 | Honeymoon Academy | [85] | |
| 1991 | Committed | [86] | |
| 1991 | Eyes of an Angel | [87] |
| Year | Title | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Screen Test | Non-US release | [88] |
| 1987 | Iron Warrior | A Continental Motion Pictures Production | [89] |
| 1988 | Lone Runner | [90] | |
| 1989 | Arena | [91] | |
| 1989 | Riding the Edge | [92] | |
| 1992 | Auntie Lee's Meat Pies | [93] |
| Year | Title | Catalog # | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | The Falcon | VHS release of 1981 film | [94] | |
| 1984 | Keeping On | [95] | ||
| 1984 | Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E. | 10019 | [96][97] | |
| 1984 | The Keeper | 10031 | VHS release of 1976 film | [98] |
| 1984 | Ghost Dance | 10032 | [99][100] | |
| 1984 | Coming Out Alive | 10042 | VHS release of 1980 TV movie | [101][102] |
| 1984 | The Accident | 10048 | [103] | |
| 1984 | The Man Inside | 10054 | VHS release of 1977 TV movie | [104][105] |
| 1984 | The Intruder Within | 10058 | VHS release of 1981 TV movie | [106] |
| 1984 | Alligator Shoes | 10063 | VHS release of 1981 film | [107] |
| 1984 | War Brides | 10066 | [108][109] | |
| 1984 | The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia | 10073 | VHS release of 1981 film | [110] |
| 1984 | Slipstream | 10074 | VHS release of 1973 film | [111] |
| 1984 | One Night Stand | 10075 | VHS release of 1978 TV movie | [112][113] |
| 1984 | The Strangeness | 13006 | [114][115] | |
| 1984 | The Houndcats | VHS release of 1972 Animated TV series | [116][117] | |
| 1984 | Ultraman II | 13501 | VHS release of 1979 Animated TV series | [118][119] |
| 1984 | The Houndcats Vol. II | 13502 | VHS release of 1972 Animated TV series | [120][121] |
| 1985 | The Houndcats Volume 3 | 13503 | VHS release of 1972 Animated TV series | [122][123] |
| 1985 | The Houndcats Volume 4 | 13509 | VHS release of 1972 Animated TV series | [124][125] |
| 1985 | The Houndcats Volume 5 | 13512 | VHS release of 1972 Animated TV series | [126][127] |
| 1984 | The Barkleys | 13506 | VHS release of 1972 Animated TV series | [128][129] |
| 1985 | The Barkleys Volume 2 | 13508 | VHS release of 1972 Animated TV series | [130][131] |
| 1985 | The Barkleys Volume 3 | VHS release of 1972 Animated TV series | ||
| 1985 | The Barkleys Volume 4 | VHS release of 1972 Animated TV series | ||
| 1985 | The Barkleys Volume 5 | VHS release of 1972 Animated TV series | ||
| 1985 | The Barkleys Volume 6 | VHS release of 1972 Animated TV series | ||
| 1985 | The Barkleys Volume 7 | VHS release of 1972 Animated TV series | ||
| 1984 | Return of the Dinosaurs | 13504 | [132][133] | |
| 1984 | Chinese Connection II | 15001 | [134][135] | |
| 1984 | Duel of the Seven Tigers | 15003 | [136][137] | |
| 1984 | The Thundering Mantis | 15004 | [138][139] | |
| 1984 | 10 Magnificent Killers | 15005 | [140] | |
| 1984 | Kung Fu Kids | 15006 | [141][142] | |
| 1984 | Daggers 8 | 15007 | VHS release of 1980 film | [143] |
| 1984 | The Junkman | 16001 | [144] | |
| 1984 | Crazed | 17002 | [145] | |
| 1984 | Diary of Forbidden Dreams | 17003 | VHS release of 1972 film | [146] |
| 1984 | Bare Knuckles | 17004 | VHS release of 1977 film | [147] |
| 1984 | Invisible Strangler | 18001 | VHS release of alternate cut of 1978 film | [148][149] |
| 1984 | Jungle Heat | 20001 | [150] | |
| 1984 | And If I'm Elected | 21001 | [151][152] | |
| 1985 | A Far Cry from Home | VHS release of 1981 TV movie | [153] | |
| 1985 | The July Group | VHS release of 1981 TV movie | [154][155] | |
| 1985 | The Hard Part Begins | [156] | ||
| 1985 | The Dawson Patrol | 10011 | [157][158] | |
| 1985 | Explosion | 10034 | VHS release of 1969 film | [159] |
| 1985 | Springhill | 10068 | [160] | |
| 1985 | The Clown Murders | 10077 | VHS release of 1976 film | [161] |
| 1985 | 125 Rooms of Comfort | 10078 | VHS release of 1974 film | [162][163] |
| 1985 | How to Pick Up Girls! | 10079 | VHS release of 1978 TV movie | [164][165] |
| 1985 | Summer's Children | 10081 | [166][167] | |
| 1985 | Hellriders | 10083 | [168][169] | |
| 1985 | Copkillers | 10086 | VHS release of 1977 film | [170][171] |
| 1985 | Overlanders | 10088 | VHS release of 1979 TV movie | [172] |
| 1985 | The Devlin Connection #1 "Brian and Nick" | 10620 | VHS release ofThe Devlin Connection TV series | [173][174] |
| 1985 | The Devlin Connection 2 "The Lady on the Billboard" | VHS release ofThe Devlin Connection TV series | [175] | |
| 1985 | The Master Ninja | 10650 | VHS release ofThe Master TV series | [176] |
| 1985 | The Master Ninja 2 | 10652 | VHS release ofThe Master TV series | [177] |
| 1985 | The Master Ninja 3 | 10654 | VHS release ofThe Master TV series | [178] |
| 1985 | The Master Ninja 4 | 10656 | VHS release ofThe Master TV series | [179] |
| 1985 | The Master Ninja 5 | 10658 | VHS release ofThe Master TV series | [180] |
| 1985 | The Master Ninja 6 | 10660 | VHS release ofThe Master TV series | [181] |
| 1985 | The Master Ninja 7 | 10662 | VHS release ofThe Master TV series | [182] |
| 1985 | USA All-Star Wrestling | 10701 | [183][184] | |
| 1985 | USA All-Star Wrestling Volume 2 | 10702 | [185][186] | |
| 1986 | USA All-Star Wrestling Volume 3 | 10703 | [187][188] | |
| 1986 | USA All-Star Wrestling Volume 4 | 10704 | [189] | |
| 1986 | USA All-Star Wrestling Free-For-Brawl | 10705 | [190][191] | |
| 1985 | The Demons of Ludlow | 11003 | [192] | |
| 1985 | The Marvelous Stunts of Kung Fu | 15008 | [193][194] | |
| 1985 | The Iron Dragon Strikes Back | 15009 | [195][196] | |
| 1985 | Two Wondrous Tigers | 15010 | VHS release of 1980 film | [197] |
| 1985 | Black Magic Terror | 15011 | TWE's Twilight Video VHS release of the 1981 film"Ratu Ilmu Hitam" | [198] |
| 1985 | The Invincible Armor | 15012 | [199] | |
| 1985 | The Kung Fu Warrior | 15013 | [200][201] | |
| 1985 | The Sleeping Fist | 15014 | VHS release of 1979 film | [202] |
| 1985 | The Chinese Stuntman | 15015 | [203] | |
| 1985 | Duel of the Brave Ones | 15016 | [204] | |
| 1985 | Way of the Black Dragon | 15017 | [205] | |
| 1985 | Exit the Dragon, Enter the Tiger | 15018 | [206] | |
| 1985 | Kung Fu Genius | 15019 | [207][208] | |
| 1985 | Snake in the Eagle's Shadow 2 | 15020 | VHS release of 1979 film | [209] |
| 1985 | White Fire | 19001 | [210] | |
| 1985 | Assassination | 19002 | VHS release of 1980 film | [211][212] |
| 1985 | Dead End Street | 22000 | [213] | |
| 1985 | Trap Them and Kill Them | 23000 | TWE's Twilight Video VHS release of the 1977 film"Emanuelle and the Last Cannibals" | [214] |
| 1985 | Bloodbeat | 24001 | [215] | |
| 1985 | The Hard Way | 25002 | VHS release of 1980 TV movie | [216] |
| 1985 | Bloody Moon | 26001 | VHS release of 1981 film | [217] |
| 1985 | Thunder Warrior | 27001 | [218] | |
| 1985 | Tor: Mighty Warrior | 28001 | [219] | |
| 1985 | Five for Hell | 28002 | VHS release of 1969 film | [220] |
| 1985 | A Fistful of Death | 28003 | VHS release of 1971 film | [221] |
| 1985 | Sex with the Stars | 29001 | VHS release of 1980 film | [222] |
| 1985 | Summer Night Fever | 29002 | VHS release of 1978 film | [223] |
| 1985 | The Professionals | 30001 | VHS release of TV series | [224] |
| 1985 | Sword of Heaven | 37001 | [225][226] | |
| 1986 | Devil's Crude | 38001 | VHS release of 1971 film | [227][228] |
| 1986 | Bandera Bandits | 38003 | VHS release of 1972 film | [229][230] |
| 1986 | Blue Paradise | [231][232] | ||
| 1986 | Return to Earth | 10080 | VHS release of 1976 TV movie | [233][234] |
| 1986 | The Phoenix Team | 10087 | VHS release of 1980 TV series | [235] |
| 1986 | Side Show | 10089 | VHS release of 1981 TV movie | [236] |
| 1986 | Fists of Dragons | 15021 | A "Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi" release | [237][238] |
| 1986 | The Ark of the Sun God | 19004 | [239] | |
| 1986 | That Lucky Touch | 31001 | VHS release of 1975 film | [240] |
| 1986 | Shaolin Temple Strikes Back | 32001 | A "Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi" release | [241] |
| 1986 | The Little Heroes of Shaolin Temple | 32002 | A "Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi" release | [242] |
| 1986 | Young Hero | 32003 | A "Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi" release | [243][244] |
| 1986 | The Fighting Fist of Shanghai Joe | 32004 | VHS release of 1973 film | [245][246] |
| 1986 | Shaolin Drunk Fighter | 32005 | A "Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi" release | [247] |
| 1986 | The Great Massacre | 32006 | A "Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi" release | [248][249] |
| 1986 | Raiders in Action | 34001 | [250] | |
| 1986 | Long Weekend | 35001 | VHS release of 1978 film | [251] |
| 1986 | Bits & Pieces | 37002 | [252] | |
| 1986 | Travel Without Terror | 37003 | [253] | |
| 1986 | The Tomb | 37004 | [254] | |
| 1986 | Karatix | 37005 | A Trans World Entertainment Production | [255] |
| 1986 | Duel in the Eclipse | 38005 | [256][257] | |
| 1986 | Condemned to Hell | 38006 | [258] | |
| 1986 | Gangsters' Law | 38008 | VHS release of 1969 film | [259][260] |
| 1986 | Manhunter | 38009 | VHS release of 1980 film | [261] |
| 1986 | Desperate Moves | 38011 | VHS release of 1980 film | [262][263] |
| 1986 | Monster Dog | 38013 | A Continental Motion Pictures Production | [264] |
| 1986 | Five Giants From Texas | 38014 | [265] | |
| 1986 | The Emperor Caligula: The Untold Story | 38015 | [266] | |
| 1986 | Soldier's Revenge | 38016 | A Continental Motion Pictures Production | [267] |
| 1986 | Cold Eyes of Fear | 38017 | VHS release of 1971 film | [268] |
| 1986 | Alien Predators | 38061 | A Continental Motion Pictures Production | [269] |
| 1986 | Vulcan: God of Fire | 38113 | VHS release of 1962 film | [270] |
| 1986 | Ninja Terminator | 39001 | A "Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi" release | [271][272] |
| 1986 | Flash Challenger | 39002 | A "Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi" release | [273] |
| 1986 | Eagle Claws Champion | 39003 | A "Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi" release | [274][275] |
| 1986 | Phoenix the Ninja | 39004 | A "Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi" release | [276][277] |
| 1986 | Ninja, The Protector | 39005 | A "Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi" release | [278] |
| 1986 | Kingfisher the Killer | 39006 | A "Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi" release | [279] |
| 1986 | Golden Destroyers | 39007 | A "Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi" release | [280] |
| 1986 | The Dragon, The Odds | 39008 | A "Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi" release | [281][282] |
| 1986 | Champ Against Champ | 39009 | A "Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi" release | [283] |
| 1986 | Ninja Dragon | 39010 | [284] | |
| 1986 | Golden Ninja Warrior | 39011 | A "Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi" release | [285][286] |
| 1986 | Diamond Ninja Force | 39012 | A "Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi" release | [287] |
| 1986 | Venus the Ninja | 39013 | A "Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi" release | [288][289] |
| 1986 | Wolfen Ninja | 39014 | A "Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi" release | [53] |
| 1986 | Challenge the Ninja | 39015 | A "Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi" release | [290][291] |
| 1986 | Ninja Champion | 39016 | A "Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi" release | [292] |
| 1986 | The Ultimate Ninja | 39017 | [293] | |
| 1986 | Ninja Destroyer | 39018 | [294] | |
| 1986 | Ninja Thunderbolt | 39019 | [295] | |
| 1986 | Ninja Hunt | 39020 | [296] | |
| 1986 | The Hot Touch | 40001 | VHS release of 1981 film | [297] |
| 1986 | No Time to Die | 41001 | [298] | |
| 1986 | Ashanti: Land of No Mercy | 43001 | [299] | |
| 1986 | Zulu Dawn | 43002 | VHS release of 1979 film | [300][301] |
| 1986 | Game for Vultures | 43003 | VHS release of 1979 film | [302] |
| 1986 | Jaguar Lives | 43004 | VHS release of 1977 film | [303] |
| 1986 | The Tormentors | 46001 | VHS release of 1971 film | [304] |
| 1986 | Ninja in Action | 48005 | [305][306] | |
| 1986 | Challenge to White Fang | 49002 | VHS release of 1974 film | [307][308] |
| 1986 | City in Panic | 53001 | [309][310] | |
| 1986 | Code Name: Zebra | 0621 | [311] | |
| 1987 | Blood Ties | 10150 | VHS release of TV movie | [312] |
| 1987 | The Famous Five Get Into Trouble | 19003 | [313][314] | |
| 1987 | Commando Squad | 37031 | A Trans World Entertainment Production | [315] |
| 1987 | Savage Guns | 38002 | VHS release of 1971 film | [316][317] |
| 1987 | Tharus Son of Attila | 38024 | VHS release of 1962 film | [318][319] |
| 1987 | An Animal Called Man | 38056 | [320] | |
| 1987 | Ninja Showdown | 39021 | [321][322] | |
| 1987 | The Ninja Squad | 39022 | [323][324] | |
| 1987 | Ninja Kill | 39023 | [325][326] | |
| 1987 | Vengeance | 43005 | [327] | |
| 1987 | The Delos Adventure | 46002 | [328][329] | |
| 1987 | Screwball Academy | 46003 | [330][331] | |
| 1987 | Thunder Warrior II | 47001 | [332] | |
| 1987 | Warriors of Fire | 48002 | [333][334] | |
| 1987 | The Night God Screamed | 49001 | VHS release of 1971 film | [335] |
| 1987 | The Manhandlers | 49003 | [336][337] | |
| 1987 | Moon in Scorpio | 0363 | A Trans World Entertainment Production | [338] |
| 1987 | Rough Justice | 0425 | VHS release of 1970 film | [339][340] |
| 1987 | The Great Treasure Hunt | 0449 | [341][342] | |
| 1987 | Ninja Phantom Heroes | 0573 | [343][344] | |
| 1987 | The Thundering Ninja | 0575 | [345][346] | |
| 1987 | Death Code: Ninja | 0576 | [347][348] | |
| 1987 | Video Murders | 0614 | [349] | |
| 1987 | Terror on Alcatraz | 0618 | [350] | |
| 1987 | Evil Town | 0619 | [351] | |
| 1987 | Plutonium Baby | 0620 | [352] | |
| 1987 | The Misfit Brigade | 0630 | [353] | |
| 1987 | The Devlin Connection III"Love, Sin and Death at Point Dume" | 0638 | VHS release ofThe Devlin Connection TV series | [354] |
| 1987 | House of Terror | 0644 | VHS release of 1973 film | [355] |
| 1988 | To Be a Rose | VHS release of 1974 film | [356] | |
| 1988 | God's Bloody Acre | 0232 | VHS release of 1975 film | [357] |
| 1988 | Red Nights | 0359 | A Trans World Entertainment Production | [358] |
| 1988 | Private Road: No Trespassing | 0372 | [359] | |
| 1988 | Deep Space | 0380 | A Trans World Entertainment Production | [360] |
| 1988 | Jailbird Rock | 0481 | A Continental Motion Pictures Production | [361] |
| 1988 | Absolution | 0583 | VHS release of 1978 film | [362][363] |
| 1988 | The Black Cobra | 0617 | [364][365] | |
| 1988 | Golden Ninja Invasion | 0622 | [366] | |
| 1988 | Ninja Fantasy | 0623 | [367][368] | |
| 1988 | Ninja Demon's Massacre | 0624 | [369][370] | |
| 1988 | Gallagher's Travels | 0657 | [371][372] | |
| 1988 | Visitants | 0658 | [373][374] | |
| 1988 | Husbands, Wives, Money and Murder | 0660 | [375] | |
| 1988 | Fire Fight | 0661 | [376] | |
| 1988 | Nightmare Sisters | 0670 | [377][378] | |
| 1988 | The Wolf | 0672 | [379] | |
| 1988 | Ninja Condors | 0673 | [380][381] | |
| 1988 | Defense Play | 0676 | [382] | |
| 1988 | Empire of Spiritual Ninja | 0679 | [383] | |
| 1988 | Vampire Raiders: Ninja Queen | 0681 | [384][385] | |
| 1988 | The Big Gag | 0685 | [386] | |
| 1988 | Mama Dracula | 0686 | VHS release of 1980 film | [387][388] |
| 1988 | Hobgoblins | 0688 | [389] | |
| 1988 | Men of Steel | 0689 | VHS release of 1977 TV movie | [390] |
| 1988 | The Game | 0690 | [391] | |
| 1988 | Ninja Force of Assassins | 0691 | [392][393] | |
| 1988 | Ninja's Extreme Weapons | 0692 | [394] | |
| 1988 | Ninja: The Battalion | 0693 | [395] | |
| 1988 | Clash of the Ninja | 0694 | [396][397] | |
| 1988 | Ninja the Violent Sorcerer | 0695 | VHS release of 1982 film | [398] |
| 1988 | Maniac Cop | 0698 | [399] | |
| 1988 | Riding Fast | 0707 | [400] | |
| 1988 | Mama's Dirty Girls | 0708 | VHS release of 1974 film | [401] |
| 1988 | The Last Witness | 0717 | [402] | |
| 1989 | I Don't Give a Damn | 0637 | [403][404] | |
| 1989 | Catacombs | N/A | VHS screener. Released on Epic Home Video as"Curse IV: The Ultimate Sacrifice". | [405] |
| 1989 | Interzone | 0369 | A Trans World Entertainment Production | [406] |
| 1989 | The Devil Wears White | 0639 | [407] | |
| 1989 | Outlaw Force | 0643 | [408] | |
| 1989 | Out on Bail | 0651 | A Trans World Entertainment Production | [409] |
| 1989 | War Cat | 0662 | [410] | |
| 1989 | White Ghost | 0675 | [411] | |
| 1989 | The Shadow Killers | 0680 | [412] | |
| 1989 | Swift Justice | 0687 | [413] | |
| 1989 | Twisted Nightmare | 0699 | [414] | |
| 1989 | Counter Destroyer | 0700 | [415] | |
| 1989 | Instant Rage | 0702 | [416][417] | |
| 1989 | Close to Home | 0714 | [418] | |
| 1989 | Accidents | 0719 | [419] | |
| 1989 | Curse II: The Bite | 0725 | [420] | |
| 1989 | The Caller | 0757 | [421] | |
| 1989 | Deadly Weapon | 0769 | [422] | |
| 1989 | That's My Baby! | 0840 | [423][424] | |
| 1989 | Mutants in Paradise | 0849 | [425] | |
| 1989 | The Pay Off | 0850 | [426] | |
| 1989 | Redneck Zombies | 0862 | [427] | |
| 1989 | Devil's Dynamite | 0868 | [428][429] | |
| 1989 | Thunder Score | 0869 | [430] |
| Year | Title | Catalog # | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | The Prey | TWE402 | British VHS release | [431] |
| 1984 | For the Love of It | 10001 | Australian VHS and BETA releases of 1980 TV movie | [432][433] |
| 1984 | Kenny Rogers as The Gambler | 10002 | Australian VHS and BETA releases of 1980 TV movie | [434][435] |
| 1984 | The Two Worlds of Jennie Logan | 10003 | Australian VHS and BETA releases of 1979 TV movie | [436][437] |
| 1984 | The Kid with the Broken Halo | 10004 | Australian VHS and BETA releases of 1982 TV movie | [438] |
| 1984 | Bitter Harvest | 10005 | Australian VHS and BETA releases of 1981 film | [439] |
| 1984 | Hanging on a Star | 10007 | Australian VHS and BETA releases of 1978 film | [440] |
| 1984 | She's Dressed to Kill | 10008 | Australian VHS and BETA releases of 1979 TV movie | [441] |
| 1984 | Cocaine: One Man's Poison | 10012 | Australian VHS and BETA releases of 1983 TV movie | [442][443] |
| 1984 | Terrytoons: Mighty Mouse – Vol. 1 | 10500 | Australian VHS and BETA releases | [444] |
| 1984 | Svengali | 10010 | Spanish BETA release of 1983 TV movie | [445] |
| 1984 | Despojos de Guerra (Prisoners) | 10065 | Spanish BETA release of 1975 film | [446] |
| 1985 | Panic in Echo Park | 3007 | Dutch VHS release of 1977 TV movie | [447] |
| Year | Title | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Ghosts Can't Do It | Epic Productions and Sarlui/Diamant | [448][449] |
| 1989 | The Kill Reflex | Epic Productions and Po' Boy Productions | [450] |
| 1989 | Beyond the Door III | [451] | |
| 1990 | Why Me? | Epic Productions and Sarlui/Diamant | [452] |
| 1990 | Ski Patrol | Epic Productions and Sarlui/Diamant | [453] |
| 1990 | Courage Mountain | Epic Productions and Stone Group Pictures | [454] |
| 1990 | Bad Influence | Epic Productions and Sarlui/Diamant | [455] |
| 1990 | Down the Drain | [456][457] | |
| 1990 | Waiting for the Light | Epic Productions and Sarlui/Diamant | [458] |
| 1990 | Vietnam Texas | [459] | |
| 1990 | Men at Work | Epic Productions and Sarlui/Diamant | [460] |
| 1990 | The Ambulance | Epic Productions and Sarlui/Diamant | [461] |
| 1990 | Blood Games | [462] | |
| 1991 | Mom | [463] | |
| 1991 | Leather Jackets | Epic Productions and Sarlui/Diamant | [464] |
| 1993 | Joshua Tree | co-production withVision International | [465] |
| 1993 | Carlito's Way | co-production withUniversal Pictures | [466][14] |
| Year | Title | Catalog # | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Cool Blue | 59013 | [467][468] | |
| 1990 | Down the Drain | 59053 | An Epic Productions Production | [469][470] |
| 1990 | Triumph of the Spirit | 59063 | [471] | |
| 1990 | Wild Zone | 59123 | [472] | |
| 1990 | Quest for the Mighty Sword | 59253 | [473][474] | |
| 1990 | Blood Games | 59143 | An Epic Productions Production | [475] |
| 1990 | Courage Mountain | 59163 | An Epic Productions Production | [476] |
| 1989 | Beyond the Door III | 59183 | An Epic Productions Production | [477] |
| 1990 | Warm Summer Rain | 59043 | [478][479] | |
| 1990 | Vietnam Texas | 59193 | An Epic Productions Production | [459] |
| 1990 | The Immortalizer | 59213 | [480][481] | |
| 1990 | Crossing the Line | 59223 | [482] | |
| 1990 | Legion of Iron | 59243 | [483] | |
| 1990 | The Final Alliance | 59273 | [484][485] | |
| 1990 | Robot Jox | 59363 | [486] | |
| 1990 | Men at Work | 59436 | An Epic Productions Production | [487] |
| 1990 | Ghosts Can't Do It | 59513 | An Epic Productions Production | [488] |
| 1991 | Mom | 59153 | An Epic Productions Production | [489] |
| 1991 | Curse III: Blood Sacrifice | 59323 | [490][491] | |
| 1991 | Arena | 59353 | [492] | |
| 1992 | Spellcaster | 59693 | [493][494] | |
| 1992 | Troll II | 59743 | [495] | |
| 1993 | Curse IV: The Ultimate Sacrifice | 59343 | [496] | |
| 1993 | The Crawlers | 59753 | [497][498] |
| Year | Title | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Bat*21 | Tri-Star Pictures & Vision PDG | [499] |
| 1988 | High Spirits | Vision PDG | [500] |
| 1989 | Wild Orchid | Vision PDG | [501] |
| 1990 | I Come in Peace | Vision PDG | [502] |
| 1990 | The Gate II: Trespassers | Vision PDG | [503] |
| 1991 | Double Impact | Stone Group Pictures and Vision International | [504] |
| 1992 | Eyes of the Beholder | [505] | |
| 1991 | Inner Sanctum | Vision PDG | [506] |
| 1991 | Wild Orchid II: Two Shades of Blue | Vision PDG | [507] |
| 1992 | Sidekicks | Gallery Films and Vision PDG | [508] |
| 1992 | Shadow of the Wolf | [509] | |
| 1992 | Sexual Response | [510] | |
| 1993 | The Hit List | [511] | |
| 1993 | Night Eyes 3 | [511] | |
| 1994 | Possessed by the Night | [512] |
| Year | Title | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Stalingrad | Non-US release | [513] |
| Year | Title | Catalog # | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Clownhouse | 59103 | [514] | |
| 1991 | Inner Sanctum | 59703 | A Vision PDG Production | [515] |
| 1991 | Wild Orchid II: Two Shades of Blue | 59823 | A Vision PDG / Saunders/King Production | [516] |
| 1992 | Almost Pregnant | 59793 | [517][518] | |
| 1992 | Shadow of the Wolf | 59893 | A Vision International Production | [519] |
| 1992 | Sexual Response | 51273 | A Vision International Production | [510] |
| 1992 | Sidekicks | 53603 | A Gallery Films and Vision PDG Production | [520] |
| 1993 | Eyes of the Beholder | 59873 | A Vision International Production | [521] |
| 1993 | The Hit List | 53253 | A Vision International Production | [511] |
| 1994 | Save Me | 53943 | [522][523] | |
| 1994 | Possessed by the Night | 79003 | A Vision International Production | [524] |
