Lightyear Entertainment, headquartered in Studio City, California, is an American 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.
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, 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. 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.
Films distributed by Lightyear include Harley Flanagan: Wired for Chaos, Edge of Everything, Get Thrashed: Around the World, 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 The Murder Game 2007 Lou Reed: A Night with Lou Reed 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 2024Edge of Everything2024Get Thrashed: Around the World2025Harley Flanagan: Wired For Chaos
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