Like its predecessor, Halloween III: Season of the Witch has been a Universal film for its entire lifespan and the two films have a remarkably similar release history.
This article is primarily knowledgable on the film’s domestic releases, but any information about international releases is greatly appreciated as well.
Betamax
Halloween III: Season of the Witch received one Betamax release courtesy of MCA/Universal in 1982.
Laserdisc
Halloween III: Season of the Witch received one Laserdisc release in the United States in 1983 alongside the release of Halloween II. The film was presented in the pan & scan format with an analog audio track and no subtitles.
Tohokushinsha Home Video released Halloween III: Season of the Witch on Laserdisc in Japan on July 21, 1986. It retailed for JP¥ 8800. Unlike the Columbia Video Disc release of Halloween II, Season of the Witch was presented with the same pan & scan transfer as the United States release.
VHS
Halloween III‘s first VHS release was simultaneous with its Betamax release, and happened in 1983. MCA/Universal subsequently re-released it on VHS in 1984, before its final release through them in 1987.
In the late 1990s Goodtimes took over distribution for much of Universal’s titles, with Halloween III being among them. Their first VHS release of Halloween III occurred on November 7, 1996 and presented the film in a pan & scan fullscreen transfer.
On November 11, 1998, GoodTimes released a new VHS release of Halloween III that presented the film in a letterboxed widescreen transfer, closely matching that of its simultaneous VHS release.
In 2001, after the rights reverted back to Universal, Universal put out a new VHS of Halloween III on August 28, 2001. It would ultimately become the final VHS release for the film.
DVD
Halloween III received its first DVD release by GoodTimes Video, who had licensed out the film from Universal. Just as with GoodTimes’ first VHS release, Halloween III was released on DVD on September 22, 1998 in a letterboxed widescreen format. This DVD is notable in that in includes an alternate audio mix of the film, removing certain sound effects and adding others, as well as featuring some alternate music cues. In addition, the decapitation scene and Marge Guttman’s death are ever-so-slightly longer in the version.
On September 18, 2001, Universal released their own DVD of Halloween III. Though largely barebones, the film was finally presented with an anamorphic widescreen transfer, making it compatible with widescreen televisions. Several more pressings followed of this release over the years.
October 10, 2011 saw Halloween III get a new release in the UK that featured an exclusive commentary track by Stephen Jones and Kim Newman.
On September 12, 2012, a new DVD of Halloween III was released by Scream Factory for the film’s 30th anniversary. In addition to featuring new commentary tracks and a making-of documentary, it also featured reversible cover art, as well as a slipcover. Though still in print, the same content can be found on the simultaneously released Blu-Ray edition.
Blu-Ray
September 12, 2012 saw the first ever Blu-Ray release of Halloween III, tying in with the film’s 30th anniversary. Released by Scream Factory, the release featured commentary tracks, a making-of, additional featurettes and reversible sleeve art alongside a slipcover.
This same disc was put out in the 2013 Complete Collection Blu-Ray box set.
Universal subsequently put out their own release of Halloween III on August 11, 2015. It utilized the same transfer as the one Scream Factory had been putting out, but was otherwise a barebones release.
To tie in with the release of 2018’s Halloween, Scream Factory put out a new release of Halloween III. Everything from the prior release was carried over, but the main feature was now given a 4K restoration from the original camera negative. In addition, an interview with the make-up artist – previously just an additional feature included on the complete collection’s bonus disc of features – was added to the disc. This release came packaged inside a gorgeous steelbook.
Other Formats
Halloween III was given a released on the very short-lived CED VideoDisc format. Sized similarly to a LaserDisc but with the appearance of a vinyl record, the format didn’t catch on.
With the announcement that the 2018 Blu-Ray release would be sourced from a 4K transfer, there is the potential for a 4K release, but nothing has been announced yet.