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)
Movies released in theaters this year
North America
- Satisfaction (February 12, 1988)
- Beetlejuice (March 30, 1988)
- Return to Snowy River (April 15, 1988)
- Killer Klowns From Outer Space (May 27, 1988)
- Big (June 3, 1988)
- The Great Outdoors (June 17, 1988)
- Who Framed Roger Rabbit (June 22, 1988)
- Short Circuit 2 (July 6, 1988)
- Arthur 2: On the Rocks (July 8, 1988)
- Big Top Pee-wee (July 22, 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)
- Child's Play (November 9, 1988)
- The Land Before Time (November 18, 1988)
- Oliver & Company (November 18, 1988)
- Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (December 14, 1988)
- Rain Man (December 16, 1988)
Latin America
- Three Men and a Baby (January 21, 1988)
- Beetlejuice (April 21, 1988)
- Good Morning, Vietnam (May 19, 1988)
- Oliver & Company (December 8, 1988)
- Who Framed Roger Rabbit (December 22, 1988)
Brazil
- Good Morning, Vietnam (January 15, 1988)
- Beetlejuice (June 16, 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)
- Beetlejuice (August 19, 1988)
- Good Morning, Vietnam (September 30, 1988)
- Who Framed Roger Rabbit (December 2, 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 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
- The Fox and the Hound (March 25, 1988)
- Bambi (July 15, 1988)
Brazil
- Lady and the Tramp (October 7, 1988)
Japan
- Peter Pan (July 23, 1988)
- Sleeping Beauty (July 23, 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 5, 1988)
- Disney's Sing-Along Songs: You Can Fly (February 5, 1988)
- Beverly Hills Cop II (March 9, 1988)
- Full Metal Jacket (June 22, 1988)
- Empire of the Sun (August 12, 1988)
- Mary Poppins (Q4 1988)
- Cinderella (October 4, 1988)
- Mickey's Magical World (October 4, 1988)
- The Wind in the Willows (October 4, 1988)
- Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (October 13, 1988)
- Beetlejuice (October 20, 1988)
- E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (October 27, 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 (December 20, 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)
- Beetlejuice (December 1988)
TV Shows
Region 1 (North America)
- 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)
- 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 Classics - "Black Diamond A" (October 4, 1988)
(*) 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)
Albums released this year
- The Disney Collection: Volume 2 (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