Title | Format | Opening | Sound | Studio | Notes |
“The Abyss”
| Super 35 | Aug 9 (USA) | 6-Track Dolby Stereo | 20th Century Fox | 70mm trailer: “Worth Winning.” Re-issued in 1993 (in 35mm) as a 171-min expanded edition |
“Always” | Spherical (1.85:1) | Dec 22 (USA) | 6-Track Dolby Stereo | Universal | Original Aspect Ratio (OAR) blow-up. 70mm trailer: “Cry Baby” |
“Back to the Future Part II” | Spherical (1.85:1) | Nov 22 (USA) | 6-Track Dolby Stereo SR | Universal | Original Aspect Ratio (OAR) blow-up. 70mm trailers: “Born On The Fourth Of July,” “Always” and “The War Of The Roses." Some theatres began screenings at midnight. |
“Batman” | Spherical (1.85:1) | June 23 (USA) | 6-Track Dolby Stereo | Warner Bros. | Original Aspect Ratio (OAR) blow-up. Sneak preview screenings held on the evening of June 22. 70mm trailers: “Lethal Weapon 2,” “Young Einstein” and “When Harry Met Sally” |
"L'Ours" / “The Bear” | Panavision | Sept 22 (UK) | 6-Track Dolby Stereo | TriStar | Originally released in France (possibly in 70mm) on Oct 19, 1988 as “L’Ours.” US 70mm release: Oct 25.
See: A Conversation with Jean-Jacques Annaud, Director of "The Bear" (1988)
See: 70mm Film Presentations in London |
“Black Rain” | Super 35 | Sept 22 (USA) | 6-Track Dolby Stereo SR | Paramount | 70mm trailers: “Fat Man And Little Boy” and “Harlem Nights” |
“Born on the Fourth of July” | Panavision | Dec 20 (USA) | 6-Track Dolby Stereo SR | Universal |  |
“Casualties of War” | Panavision | Aug 18 (USA) | 6-Track Dolby Stereo | Columbia | Original Aspect Ratio (OAR) blow-up. 70mm trailer: “Old Gringo” |
“Dead Poets Society" | Spherical (1.85:1) | June 2 (USA) | 6-Track Dolby Stereo | Touchstone | Original Aspect Ratio (OAR) blow-up. Someone high-up at Touchstone sure liked 70mm! 70mm trailer: “Turner And Hooch” |
“Glory” | Spherical (1.85:1) | Dec 14 (USA) | 6-Track Dolby Stereo SR | TriStar | Original Aspect Ratio (OAR) blow-up. 70mm trailers: “Total Recall” (teaser) and “Mountains Of The Moon” |
“In Country” | Spherical (1.85:1) | Sept 15 (USA) | 6-Track Dolby Stereo | Warner Bros. | Original Aspect Ratio (OAR) blow-up. |
“Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade” | Panavision | May 24 (USA) | 6-Track Dolby Stereo SR (SS) | Paramount | 200 70mm prints. Dual 70mm print inventory (SR w/ split surrounds & A w/ mono surround). 70mm trailers: “Star Trek V,” “Black Rain,” “Batman” and “Casualties Of War.” Double-billed in 70mm with “Star Trek V” later in run. |
“Lethal Weapon 2” | Panavision | July 7 (USA) | 6-Track Dolby Stereo | Warner Bros. | 70mm trailers: “Next Of Kin,” “In Country” and “Young Einstein” |
“The Little Mermaid" | Spherical (Super 1.85:1) | Nov 15 (USA) | 6-Track Dolby Stereo | Walt Disney | Original Aspect Ratio (OAR) blow-up. First spherically photographed Disney animated film to be blown-up to 70mm. |
"Sharavegada Saradara" | 35mm anamorphic | India 1989 | 6-Track Stereo | NA | See: 70mm Films in India |
Slipstream | Spherical (1.85:1) | Feb 10 (UK) | 6-Track Dolby Stereo | Entertainment | See: 70mm Film Presentations in London |
“Star Trek V: The final Frontier” | Panavision | June 9 (USA) | 6-Track Dolby Stereo SR | Paramount | The advance one-sheets asked, “Why are seat belts being installed in movie theaters?” Answer: The marketing “experts” at Paramount obviously knew moviegoers might be tempted to walk out on this terrible movie! Double-billed in 70mm with ‘Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade’ later in run. 70mm trailers: ‘Let It Ride,’ ‘Friday The 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan’ & ‘Licence To Kill.’ |
“Tango & Cash” | Panavision | Dec 22 (USA) | 6-Track Dolby Stereo | Warner Bros. |  |
“Valmont” | Panavision | Nov 17 (USA) | 6-Track Dolby Stereo | Orion |  |
| | | | | |