1988

1988 was the year when Barney the dinosaur made his home video debut. The Sega Genesis launched.

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)

Movies released in theaters this year

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 & 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)

Movies re-issued in theaters this year

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)

Movies aired on television this year

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

• 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)

(*) Aired in two parts.

Programs debuted on television this year

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)

Programs airing new seasons this year

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)

Programs broadcasted in reruns this year

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

• The Kidsongs TV Show*
• Jeopardy! (Season 4) (September 10, 1988)
• Wheel of Fortune (Season 5) (September 10, 1988)

(*) This show aired once a week, always on weekend mornings. After the 26th episode aired, it only aired on reruns since March 19, 1988.

Programs ended this year

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)

VHS releases this year

Movies

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)

TV Shows

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

• 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)

(*) Paramount was still a Gulf+Western company for one more year during this logo's first year.

Logos updated this year

• Columbia Pictures Television - "80s Torch Lady" (January 4, 1988)*
• Merv Griffin Enterprises (Q1 1988)*
• Paramount Pictures/Television - "Majestic Mountain A" (February 5, 1988)**

(*) Early this year, these companies became units of Columbia Pictures Entertainment, Inc.

(**) 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

• Super Mario Bros. 2 (USA)*

(*)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.

Video games released this year

Japan

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

North America

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)

Video games discontinued this year

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

• Mac OS 6.0 (April 1988)
• Microsoft Windows 2.1 (May 27, 1988)
• MS-DOS 4.0 (June 1988)*

(*) 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.

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