Lightyear Entertainment

Lightyear Entertainment
Company typeFilm distributor, music distributor
IndustryEntertainment
Headquarters,
United States
Key people
Arnie Holland, Sky Spooner, David Lawrence
ProductsMotion pictures, music
Websitelightyearentertainment.com

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

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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

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  1. ^ a b Chris Tribbey. "Lightyear Entertainment's 25-year Journey". Home Media Magazine. Retrieved 2011-05-06.
  2. ^ Cohn, Lawrence (1987-07-15). "Management buyout for RVP Prods.: N.Y. Firm to be Named Lightyear". Variety. pp. 3, 28.
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