Release
Red Scorpion had a world premiere at the 1988 MIFED film market, and was released theatrically in Germany and Japan in January 1989, then domestically USA on April 21, 1989. The movie was released theatrically worldwide except in the United Kingdom (where it went "direct to video" in January 1990).
Months later, Shapiro-Glickenhaus Entertainment Home Video released the movie on videocassette and laserdisc. In 1993, a budget tape of the film was released by Starmaker. The movie has had at least two Region 1 DVD releases. The first DVD was released in 1998 by Simitar and the second DVD was released in 2002 by 20th Century Fox. In 2005, Tango Entertainment released a UMD of the film for the Sony PlayStation Portable. The two DVDs are now discontinued.
The film was directed by Joseph Zito and represents his first authorial effort half a decade after the release of the Chuck Norris vehicles Missing in Action and Invasion U.S.A..
The film has been released on Blu-ray in the UK by Arrow Video on 6th Feb 2012. This special edition contains the following features:
- Reversible sleeve with original and newly commissioned artwork by The Dude Designs
- Double-sided fold-out artwork poster
- Collector’s booklet featuring brand new writing on the film by author Calum Waddell
- Brand New High Definition Transfer of the film (1080p)
- Introduction to the film from star Dolph Lundgren
- UK exclusive audio commentary with director Joseph Zito, moderated by filmmaker and genre scholar Howard S. Berger
- "All Out Of Bullets: Dolph Lundgren remembers Red Scorpion"
- "Music With Muscles: Composer Jay Chattaway on the soundtrack of Red Scorpion"
- Original Trailer
- In original 1.78:1 Aspect Ratio
- Original Uncompressed LPCM Stereo Audio
- Feature and extras 1080/24p Region ABC playable worldwide
A Blu-ray/DVD combo was released in the US by Synapse Films on June 12, 2012 with the following features:
- All-New 2K High-Definition Digital Restoration of the Uncensored Version
- Audio Commentary with Director Joseph Zito and Mondo Digital’s Nathaniel Thompson
- All-new DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack mixed specifically for this release
- "Hath No Fury – Dolph Lundgren And The Road To Red Scorpion" featurette
- "Assignment: Africa" – Interview with Producer Jack Abramoff
- "Scorpion Tales" – Interview with Make-Up Effects Artist Tom Savini
- Rare original on-set behind-the-scenes video footage
- Animated Still Gallery
- Liner notes on the making of Red Scorpion by Jérémie Damoiseau
- Theatrical Trailer and TV Spots
- Reversible Cover Design
Read more about this topic: Red Scorpion
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