When did movies become available to watch at home?

Answer 1

Well, Beta never caught on. Obviously. You could rent movies as early as 1981 or 82. In 1982 I purchased my first VCR. I was 16 and saved and made payments. It cost me $2200 for a Curtis Mathis VCR! It not only had 'tuner knobs' on the front but the remote control had a 25ft wire connecting it to the front of the vcr and the wire ran from the tv across the floor to my chair...;-) The only 2 functions the remote had were Play & Pause...LOL! It was truely awesome!
Anyway, the Curtis Mathis dealership had 15 movies to choose from to rent. They were 5 bucks for 5 days. The first one I rented was 'Friday The 13th'! Yay! Soon after, more video stores opened, prices changed constantly but you still couldn't 'buy' a video or collect them unless you were willing to pay at least a hundred bucks. The first vhs video that was priced at '20' bucks for consumer sale was way up in 1989 and that video was the first 'Batman' movie. It was an experiment in pricing to see if people would actually purchase a video vs. renting. It sold millions and 20 buck videos became the standard.
Oh, the first thing I ever recorded on my vcr was a McDonald's commercial and the movie 'Superman'. With my 'fancy remote' I was able to edit the movie live while it was recording and the 2 and half hour SUperman became about an hour long. I just basically let Krypton blow up without that first 45 minutes of boring backstory. Oh, but for your answer, 1982. Although vcrs came out about 6 years earlier. Hollywood movies did not, not until VHS conquered over the more superior Beta. :-) Thanks for the memories...lol!

Answer 2

You mean on TV? Or VCR? Early 80s is when Beta really caught on. Then VHS knocked it out of the market

Answer 3

Since God invented Limewire.

Answer 4

They have'nt not legally.