Star Wars Home Video Collection VHS to 4K 

Hey Chris. I was born in '71 and know EXACTLY what you are saying. Something so exciting about owning a movie and being able to watch it anytime. That is why I have so many movies in my collection. Can you believe Rise of Skywalker was available 3 months after it's release? Toys, action figures and comic books make a great childhood. Still, nothing beats seeing a movie on the big screen. I just took my 10 year old daughter to see Empire on Friday. I look forward to adding to the collection!

Chris Olivo I agree Chris on all counts (I was born in 86). I never used to like the divide between the US and the UK either (I’m from the UK) where are you to get movies earlier than us. For example when you got Star Wars a.k.a. a new hope in the May 77 we had to wait until December (according to my research). Oh how times have changed, although admittedly you still get home video releases about a month before UK releases but I think that’s to do with trading standards or whoever.

Man Cave Insider That’s great that Star Wars is generational as I don’t think Lucas gets enough credit. The movies can be enjoyed on one level for 8 year olds, yet there is enough mythology that people our age can still enjoy them on a whole other level. I took my nephews to The Force Awakens in 2015 and it was full circle as I told them their dad (who still doesn’t like Star Wars to this day) begrudgingly took me to Return of the Jedi 32 years earlier cause he had his license and my parents forced him to take me! Lol

Eva H I didn’t realize til recently that back in the day, movies were released in the UK 6 months later. I can’t imagine the anticipation in 1977 as a movie like Star Wars took over pop culture and you had to wait. When did that change? Did they release Empire and Jedi in December of 1980 and 1983 too?

Chris Olivo I don’t know Chris it was just something I found out while roaming the Internet. The first time I got to watch Star Wars probably wasn’t until 1990 (I would’ve been 4 at the time). From my fifth birthday I got Empire strikes back because I already had Jedi but the only way I watched Star Wars aka a new hope on a Betamax tape recorded off the TV until I got the 1995 THX release of that movie. Let’s just say when I got Empire the morning of my birthday somebody didn’t wanna go to School that day 😜😂😜 (priorities). More recently since I’ve been Star Wars home video collecting since 2017 I actually did pick up the 1989 standard pan and scan box set, In addition to having them as individual releases and also having their widescreen counterparts from 1990/91. We actually got the widescreen versions based off of the 1986 Japanese widescreen laserdisc releases on VHS slightly earlier than you guys stateside. After all you didn’t get the widescreen release until 1992 and that was a Lucasfilm store exclusive. At present in terms of VHS I have everything from 1988-2002. I have still yet to pick up revenge of the Sith a release which you guys didn’t get in the United States because the North American home video market is anal retentive, it likes new and shiny, like a lot, Say hello DVDs and say goodbye VHS. To answer your question however May 20, 1980 for Empire in the U.K. and June 2, 1983 for Jedi Star Wars aka A New hope in case you were wondering was released December 27, 1977 here in UK. The day after Boxing Day that year (UK holiday).

yes, I think that was the final VHS OT release, prior to the 1997 SE.

Thanks! I have seen the Japanese Skywalker Saga and it looks incredible. I may get some foreign releases at some point. I am also somewhat obsessed.

Man Cave Insider I blame Nathan P Butler entirely, if you haven’t already subscribe to his RU-vid channel he does a series called from the Star Wars home video which is where I saw the Japanese release on camera. I’m betting you did too though. I have the majority of Star Wars VHS releases here in the UK minus the 81/82 releases of Star Wars a.k.a. a new hope the 84 and 86 releases of empire and Jedi respectively. Currently I have everything from 1988 all the way up to 2002, I still have to get the very expensive revenge of the Sith on VHS a released that I know you guys never got across the pond because the North American home video market is very anal retentive when it comes to new and shiny formats (at least in my opinion). I just feel sad for my fellow North American Star Wars collectors who can never have a full US VHS release because it doesn’t exist. My favourite thing about Japanese release of the skywalker saga is it’s like the western 4K release had a baby with the UK/German Blu-ray release. The biggest selling point for me is the book is actually a premium item where the disks aren’t slot into it I just bought two copies I’d have one I can open, one I can leave sealed. My favourite thing about the Japanese market is that they have no bias towards 4K or 3D so (at least in the case of Disney Japan/movienex) they will offer 4K/3D/Blu-ray combo packs, At least for Star Wars the last Jedi, rise of skywalker and solo on steelbook. You can also pick them up in standard Amaray cases along with Rogue one but at present (and very weirdly) no force awakens release yet. The biggest oversight Lucasfilm has had since at least 2011 is it they still haven’t re-released from Star Wars to Jedi the making of a saga since 1995 on VHS here in the UK and laserdisc in Japan. For me that’s one of the best documentaries ever, Including Empire of dreams. Happy Star Wars home video collecting.

@@Eva_H All great stuff! I got Nathan's book and follow his channel. I am definitely looking into getting more foreign releases especially some of the movienex editions.

Man Cave Insider I’ve got Nathan’s book myself, can’t wait for the second edition. Are you referring to the movienex premium editions (force awakens, Rogue one and the last Jedi) or the standard Amaray case versions? Just curious, just want to be nosy from one Star Wars home video collector to another.

Thanks for the kind words! Hope you enjoy the channel!

The tape and the packaging were probably done in 1984. I mentioned 1987 because it had the advertisement for the 10 year anniversary.

I never got around to it and didn’t watch Vol. 1 much.