Direct-to-video - "DVD Premiere"

"DVD Premiere"

As DVDs gradually replaced videocassettes, the term "direct-to-DVD" replaced "direct-to-video" in some instances. However, the word "video" does not necessarily refer to VHS cassettes. Many publications continue to use the term direct-to video for DVDs or Blu-ray Discs. The new term sometimes used is DVDP ("DVD Premiere"). Such films can cost as much as $20 million (about a third of the average cost of a Hollywood release) Some direct-to-video releases also feature well-known actors, such as Jean-Claude Van Damme, Steven Seagal, Wesley Snipes, Dolph Lundgren, Val Kilmer, Ron Perlman, Rutger Hauer, Christian Slater, and Cuba Gooding, Jr.. Salaries for such actors range from $2 to $4 million (Van Damme) to $4.5 to $10 million (Seagal). According to Variety, American Pie: Band Camp sold a million copies in one week, despite retaining only two actors from the original trilogy.

As of 2005, DVDPs collectively grossed over $3 billion annually.