1988

1988 was the year when Barney the dinosaur made his home video debut.

Movie trailers released this year

 * Oliver & Company (October 4, 1988)
 * Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (Teaser) (October 4, 1988)
 * Field of Dreams (Teaser) (October 4, 1988)
 * Ghostbusters II (Teaser) (November 9, 1988)
 * Batman (Teaser) (November 18, 1988)
 * Licence to Kill (Teaser) (December 16, 1988)

North America

 * Satisfaction (February 12, 1988)
 * Shoot to Kill (February 12, 1988)
 * Bloodsport (February 26, 1988)
 * Frantic (February 26, 1988)
 * Hairspray (February 26, 1988)
 * Off Limits (March 11, 1988)
 * Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach (March 18, 1988)
 * Biloxi Blues (March 25, 1988)
 * Beetlejuice (March 30, 1988)
 * Above the Law (April 8, 1988)
 * Return to Snowy River (April 15, 1988)
 * Willow (May 20, 1988)
 * Crocodile Dundee II (May 25, 1988)
 * Rambo III (May 25, 1988)
 * Killer Klowns From Outer Space (May 27, 1988)
 * Big (June 3, 1988)
 * Funny Farm (June 3, 1988)
 * Big Business (June 10, 1988)
 * Poltergeist III (June 10, 1988)
 * The Presidio (June 10, 1988)
 * Bull Durham (June 15, 1988)
 * The Great Outdoors (June 17, 1988)
 * Red Heat (June 17, 1988)
 * Who Framed Roger Rabbit (June 22, 1988)
 * Coming to America (June 29, 1988)
 * License to Drive (July 6, 1988)
 * Short Circuit 2 (July 6, 1988)
 * Arthur 2: On the Rocks (July 8, 1988)
 * The Dead Pool (July 13, 1988)
 * Die Hard (July 15, 1988)
 * A Fish Called Wanda (July 15, 1988)
 * Big Top Pee-wee (July 22, 1988)
 * Caddyshack II (July 22, 1988)
 * Cocktail (July 29, 1988)
 * The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking (July 29, 1988)
 * Tin Toy (short film) (August 2, 1988)
 * Tucker: The Man and His Dream (August 12, 1988)
 * Young Guns (August 12, 1988)
 * Married to the Mob (August 19, 1988)
 * Crossing Delancey (August 24, 1988)
 * Stealing Home (August 26, 1988)
 * Eight Men Out (September 2, 1988)
 * Moon Over Parador (September 9, 1988)
 * Gorillas in the Mist (September 23, 1988)
 * Memories of Me (October 7, 1988)
 * The Accused (October 14, 1988)
 * Mystic Pizza (October 21, 1988)
 * Everybody's All-American (November 4, 1988)
 * Child's Play (November 9, 1988)
 * Ernest Saves Christmas (November 11, 1988)
 * The Land Before Time (November 18, 1988)
 * Oliver &amp; Company (November 18, 1988)
 * Jack the Ball (November 19, 1988)
 * Cocoon: The Return (November 23, 1988)
 * Idaho (November 23, 1988)
 * Scrooged (November 23, 1988)
 * The Naked Gun (December 2, 1988)
 * Tequila Sunrise (December 2, 1988)
 * Mississippi Burning (December 9, 1988)
 * My Stepmother is An Alien (December 9, 1988)
 * Twins (December 9, 1988)
 * Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (December 14, 1988)
 * I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (December 14, 1988)
 * Dangerous Liaisons (December 16, 1988)
 * Rain Man (December 16, 1988)
 * Beaches (December 21, 1988)
 * Working Girl (December 21, 1988)

Latin America

 * Three Men and a Baby (January 21, 1988)
 * Beetlejuice (April 21, 1988)
 * The Puppetoon Movie (May 12, 1988)
 * Good Morning, Vietnam (May 19, 1988)
 * Jack the Ball (December 1, 1988)
 * Oliver & Company (December 8, 1988)
 * The Chipmunk Adventure (December 15, 1988)
 * Who Framed Roger Rabbit (December 22, 1988)

Brazil

 * Good Morning, Vietnam (January 15, 1988)
 * Beetlejuice (June 16, 1988)
 * Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night (June 23, 1988)
 * The Puppetoon Movie (June 23, 1988)
 * Oliver & Company (December 16, 1988)
 * Who Framed Roger Rabbit (December 22, 1988)

Japan

 * Full Metal Jacket (March 19, 1988)
 * Empire of the Sun (April 2, 1988)
 * Grave of the Fireflies (April 16, 1988)
 * My Neighbor Totoro (April 16, 1988)
 * Three Men and a Baby (August 13, 1988)
 * Good Morning, Vietnam (October 15, 1988)
 * Who Framed Roger Rabbit (December 3, 1988)
 * Beetlejuice (December 17, 1988)

UK

 * Empire of the Sun (April 22, 1988)
 * Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night (June 15, 1988)
 * Beetlejuice (August 19, 1988)
 * Good Morning, Vietnam (September 30, 1988)
 * Who Framed Roger Rabbit (December 2, 1988)
 * Jack the Ball (December 9, 1988)

France

 * Benji the Hunted (February 3, 1988)
 * Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (February 3, 1988)
 * Three Men and a Baby (March 9, 1988)
 * Empire of the Sun (March 16, 1988)
 * Good Morning, Vietnam (September 7, 1988)
 * Who Framed Roger Rabbit (October 18, 1988)
 * Beetlejuice (December 14, 1988)

Australia

 * Three Men and a Baby (February 4, 1988)
 * Empire of the Sun (March 10, 1988)
 * Return to Snowy River (March 24, 1988)
 * Good Morning, Vietnam (April 21, 1988)
 * Beetlejuice (September 8, 1988)
 * Who Framed Roger Rabbit (November 24, 1988)

South Korea

 * Empire of the Sun (June 1, 1988)
 * Beetlejuice (July 26, 1988)
 * The Puppetoon Movie (November 15, 1988)
 * The Chipmunk Adventure (November 22, 1988)
 * Jack the Ball (November 22, 1988)
 * Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night (November 29, 1988)

Hong Kong

 * Full Metal Jacket (March 31, 1988)
 * Three Men and a Baby (June 16, 1988)
 * Good Morning, Vietnam (September 15, 1988)
 * Beetlejuice (October 13, 1988)

North America

 * Cinderella (January 15, 1988)
 * The Fox and the Hound (March 25, 1988)
 * Bambi (July 15, 1988)
 * Saludos Amigos (August 12, 1988)

Brazil

 * Lady and the Tramp (October 7, 1988)

Japan

 * Peter Pan (July 23, 1988)
 * Sleeping Beauty (July 23, 1988)
 * Bambi (July 30, 1988)
 * Melody Time (November 5, 1988)

UK

 * Make Mine Music (May 13, 1988)
 * Peter Pan (June 24, 1988)

France

 * The Jungle Book (March 16, 1988)
 * The Fox and the Hound (December 7, 1988)

Australia

 * 101 Dalmatians (March 31, 1988)
 * Bambi (June 23, 1988)
 * Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (December 26, 1988)

Short films released in theaters this year

 * Tin Toy (August 2, 1988)

ABC

 * Beverly Hills Cop (May 15, 1988)
 * Down and Out in Beverly Hills (November 6, 1988)
 * Flight of the Navigator (January 3 and 10, 1988)*
 * The Journey of Natty Gann (September 3, 1988)
 * Mary Poppins (November 24, 1988)
 * Splash, Too (May 1 and 8, 1988)*

CBS

 * Jaws 3 (June 17, 1988)
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (November 23, 1988)
 * The Wizard of Oz (February 24, 1988)

Disney Channel

 * The Brave Little Toaster (February 27, 1988)
 * Lady and the Tramp (May 7, 1988)
 * The Best of Walt Disney Presents (June 16, 1988)
 * The Apple Dumpling Gang (June 16, 1988)

NBC
(*) Aired in two parts.
 * Totally Minnie (February 25, 1988)
 * The Goonies (October 23, 1988)
 * Mickey's 60th Birthday (November 13, 1988)
 * Mickey's Christmas Carol (December 4, 1988)
 * One Magic Christmas (December 23, 1988)

ABC

 * The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (September 10, 1988)
 * A Pup Named Scooby-Doo (September 10, 1988)
 * Roseanne (October 18, 1988)

CBS

 * Family Feud (1988-1995) (July 4, 1988)
 * Garfield and Friends (September 17, 1988)

Disney Channel

 * Pontoffel Pock, Where Are You? (May 18, 1988)

NBC

 * The Magical World of Disney (October 9, 1988)

ABC

 * Full House (Season 2) (October 14, 1988)

CBS

 * Card Sharks (1986-1989)

FOX

 * Married... with Children (Season 3) (November 6, 1988)

PBS

 * 3-2-1 Contact (Season 7) (October 10, 1988)
 * Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood
 * Reading Rainbow (August 15, 1988)
 * Sesame Street (Season 20) (November 21, 1988)
 * Square One Television (Season 2) (September 19, 1988)

Syndication

 * Jeopardy! (Season 5) (September 5, 1988)
 * Wheel of Fortune (Season 6) (September 5, 1988)
 * Star Trek: The Next Generation (Season 2) (November 21, 1988)
 * DuckTales (Season 2) (November 24, 1988)
 * Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Season 2) (October 1, 1988)

Disney Channel

 * The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat (June 16, 1988)
 * Halloween is Grinch Night (October 14, 1988)

PBS

 * 3-2-1 Contact (last episode aired on November 18, 1988)
 * Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood (1969-1975)

USA Network

 * Press Your Luck

Syndication
(*) This show aired once a week, always on weekend mornings. After the 26th episode aired, it only aired on reruns since March 19, 1988.
 * The Kidsongs TV Show*
 * Jeopardy! (Season 4) (September 10, 1988)
 * Wheel of Fortune (Season 5) (September 10, 1988)

ABC

 * The Disney Sunday Movie (September 11, 1988)

Syndication

 * Dennis the Menace (September 3, 1988)
 * Jeopardy! (Season 3) (September 3, 1988)
 * Wheel of Fortune (Season 4) (September 3, 1988)

Anime released this year

 * Hello! Lady Lynn (May 12, 1988)

Region 1 (North America)

 * Jaws: The Revenge (February 1988)
 * Benji the Hunted (February 2, 1988)
 * No Way Out (February 1988)
 * Beverly Hills Cop II (March 9, 1988)
 * Mickey and the Beanstalk (May 31, 1988)
 * The Reluctant Dragon (May 31, 1988)
 * Donald in Mathmagic Land (May 31, 1988)
 * Mickey's Magical World (May 31, 1988)
 * Disney's Sing Along Songs You Can Fly (May 31, 1988)
 * Full Metal Jacket (June 22, 1988)
 * Pinocchio and the Emperor of Night (August 1988)
 * Good Morning Vietnam (August 2, 1988)
 * Empire of the Sun (August 10, 1988)
 * The Three Caballeros (October 4, 1988)
 * Mary Poppins (October 4, 1988)
 * Cinderella (October 4, 1988)
 * The Wind in the Willows (October 4, 1988)
 * Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (October 12, 1988)
 * Beetlejuice (October 19, 1988)
 * E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (October 26, 1988)
 * Three Men and a Baby (November 15, 1988)
 * Walt Disney Cartoon Classics: Special Edition (November 15, 1988)
 * Disney's Sing-Along Songs: Very Merry Christmas Songs (November 15, 1988)
 * Stand and Deliver (November 16, 1988)
 * Funny Farm (November 24, 1988)

Region 2 (Japan)

 * Jaws: The Revenge (February 5, 1988)
 * Beverly Hills Cop II (March 25, 1988)
 * Flight of the Navigator (April 1, 1988)
 * The China Odyssey: Empire of the Sun - A Film by Steven Spielberg
 * Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day

Region 2 (UK)

 * Flight of the Navigator (February 1988)
 * Beverly Hills Cop II (March 1988)
 * Jaws: The Revenge (May 1988)
 * Disney's Sing-Along Songs: Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah (Q4 1988)
 * Dumbo (October 1988)
 * Benji the Hunted (December 1988)
 * Full Metal Jacket (December 1988)

Region 3 (South Korea)

 * The Wizard of Oz (October 6, 1988)
 * Rankiss/Bass' Wind in the Willows (December 31, 1988)
 * Beetlejuice (December 31, 1988)

Region 1 (North America)

 * Barney and the Backyard Gang: Our Friend, Barney (August 29, 1988)
 * Barney and the Backyard Gang: The Backyard Show (October 13, 1988)
 * Count it Higher: Great Music Videos from Sesame Street
 * Sesame Street: The Alphabet Game
 * Sesame Street: The Best of Ernie and Bert
 * Sesame Street: Big Bird's Favorite Party Games

Region 2 (Japan)

 * Candy Candy Vol. 3 (May 13, 1988)
 * Candy Candy Vol. 4 (October 28, 1988)

VHS re-releases this year

 * Alice in Wonderland (October 4, 1988)
 * Dumbo (October 4, 1988)

VHS Tapes discontinued this year

 * Sleeping Beauty (1986 VHS) (March 31, 1988)
 * Lady and the Tramp (1987 VHS) (March 31, 1988)
 * The Living Desert (1986 VHS)
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1984-1987 VHS)
 * Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1984-1987 VHS)
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1986-1987 VHS)

Logos introduced this year
(*) Paramount was still a Gulf+Western company for one more year during this logo's first year.
 * The Lyons Group (October 13, 1988)
 * Paramount Home Video - "Abstract Mountain A"*
 * Walt Disney Home Video- "Mini Classics" (May 31, 1988)
 * Walt Disney Classics - "Black Diamond A" (October 4, 1988)
 * Paramount Pictures - "Majestic Mountain A" (March 12, 1988) (Japan and South Korea)

Logos updated this year
(*) Early this year, these companies became units of Columbia Pictures Entertainment, Inc.
 * Columbia Pictures Television - "80s Torch Lady" (January 4, 1988)*
 * Merv Griffin Enterprises (Q1 1988)*
 * Paramount Pictures/Television - "Majestic Mountain A" (February 5, 1988)**

(**) The words "75th Anniversary" are removed off the logo, but the company itself still remained a Gulf+Western company for 1 1/2 more years.

Logos ended this year

 * DiC Entertainment - "The Green Vortex"
 * Paramount Video - "Growing Mountain"
 * TriStar Television - "The Early Pegasus" (March 1988)

Video games unveiled this year
(*)The characters have been modified. For example, Luigi is now taller and thinner than Mario and wears a green hat, blue shirt and green overalls and his mustache and sideburns are now different than Mario's.
 * Super Mario Bros. 2 (USA)*

Japan

 * Double Dragon (April 8, 1988)
 * Super Mario Bros. 3 (October 23, 1988)

Commodore 64/MS-DOS

 * Matterhorn Screamer

Nintendo Entertainment System

 * Donkey Kong Classics (October 1988)
 * Super Mario Bros. 2 (October 1988)
 * Bubble Bobble (November 1988)
 * Super Mario Bros. + Duck Hunt (November 1988)
 * Zelda II: Adventure of Link (December 1988)
 * Jeopardy!: Junior Edition
 * Wheel of Fortune: Junior Edition

Europe

 * Metroid (January 15, 1988)
 * Kid Icarus (February 15, 1988)
 * Zelda II: Adventure of Link (September 26, 1988)
 * The Goonies II (December 19, 1988)

Nintendo Entertainment System

 * Donkey Kong
 * Donkey Kong Jr.
 * Donkey Kong 3
 * Mario Bros.
 * Super Mario Bros. (original version)

Books released this year

 * Matilda (Author: Roald Dahl)
 * The Missing Tooth (Author: Joanna Cole)
 * Spot's First Easter (August 4, 1988)

Albums released this year

 * She's Having a Baby: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (CD)
 * More Dirty Dancing (March 1, 1988)
 * School Daze: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (CD)
 * Hairspray: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (March 7, 1988)
 * Bright Lights, Bright City: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (CD)
 * Colors (CD)
 * Salsa: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (CD)
 * Beetlejuice: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (June 7, 1988)
 * Coming to America: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (CD)
 * Cocktail (July 5, 1988)
 * Married to the Mob: Music from the Film (CD)
 * Buster: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (September 12, 1988)
 * Imagine: John Lemmon: Music from the Original Soundtrack (October 10, 1988)
 * Heartbreak Hotel: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (CD)
 * Bird: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (September 13, 1988)
 * Scrooged: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (November 23, 1988)
 * 1969: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (November 7, 1988)
 * The Disney Collection: Volume 2 (CD)
 * Oliver and Company: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (CD)
 * Tequila Sunrise: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (CD)
 * Twins: Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (CD)
 * Beaches: Original Soundtrack Recording (CD)
 * Rain Man: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (CD)
 * Working Girl: Original Soundtrack Album (CD)

Software released this year
(*) This operating system also introduces support for hard drive partitions up to 2 GB. A later version, MS-DOS 4.01, was released in November. Both versions came in 5.25" floppy disks.
 * Mac OS 6.0 (April 1988)
 * Microsoft Windows 2.1 (May 27, 1988)
 * MS-DOS 4.0 (June 1988)*

Vehicles introduced this year

 * 1988 Acura Legend LS (4-door sedan)
 * 1988 Audi 80/90
 * 1989 Audi 100
 * 1989 BMW 525i/535i
 * 1988 BMW 750iL
 * 1988 Buick Reatta
 * 1988 Buick Regal (2-door coupe only)
 * 1989 Buick Riviera
 * 1988 Cadillac Seville STS
 * 1988 Chevrolet Camaro IROC
 * 1988 Chevrolet Cavalier (RS, VL and Z24)
 * 1989 Dodge/Plymouth Colt
 * 1989 Ford Probe
 * 1988 Ford Tempo GLS
 * 1989 Ford Thunderbird
 * 1989 Geo Metro/Suzuki Swift
 * 1989 Geo Tracker
 * 1988 Hyundai Excel GS
 * 1989 Hyundai Sonata
 * 1988 Isuzu Pickup
 * 1988 Isuzu Trooper XS
 * 1988 Lincoln Continental (Signature Series only)
 * 1988 Mazda 929
 * 1988 Mercedes-Benz 300-Class (2-door coupe and 4-door station wagon)
 * 1988 Mercury Topaz LTS and XR5
 * 1989 Nissan 240SX
 * 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme SL (2-door coupe) (January 13, 1988)
 * 1988 Oldsmobile Toronado Trofeo
 * 1988 Pontiac Firebird Formula
 * 1988 Pontiac Lemans
 * 1988 Pontiac Sunbird (as a 1988.5 model)
 * 1989 Suzuki Sidekick
 * 1988 Toyota Pickup

Vehicles discontinued this year

 * Cadillac Cimarron (June 3, 1988)
 * Chevrolet Camaro LT
 * Dodge 600
 * Dodge Aries/Plymouth Reliant (December 9, 1988 for the 1989 model year)
 * Nissan Maxima (4-door station wagon)
 * Plymouth Caravelle