Product Details

• Actors: Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, Vincent Gardenia, Steve Martin, Levi Stubbs
• Directors: Frank Oz
• Format: Blu-ray, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Region: Region A/1 (Read more about DVD/Blu-ray formats.)
• Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• DVD Release Date: October 9, 2012
• Run Time: 94 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (452 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B008AT71WI
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,145 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
  • #28 in Movies & TV > Blu-ray > Musicals

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The off-Broadway comedy-horror-musical hit that ran for years makes a successful transfer to film with a bevy of big-name cameos and two perfectly cast leads. Rick Moranis is the nebbish Seymour, who pines for flower-girl Audrey (Ellen Greene) while living in the basement of florist Mr. Mushnik (Vincent Gardenia). Things start turning around for Seymour, though, after he buys a little plant during a solar eclipse, christens it Audrey II, and discovers that it likes to drink blood. Soon enough, though, Seymour finds out that Audrey II, now grown to epic proportions, is in actuality a "mean green mother from outer space" that is hell-bent on world domination. Based on the 1960 Roger Corman cheapie that featured a young Jack Nicholson, Little Shop boasts a hilarious, amazing score by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, who would go on to revitalize Disney's animation arm with The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. Greene, the lone holdover from the original cast, is a ravishing, goofy Audrey, whose awkward demeanor belies a voice that could knock Ethel Merman off her feet. She's ably matched by Moranis, whose lack of a singing voice is perfectly in sync with Seymour's nerdiness. And Levi Stubbs Jr. of the Four Tops provides the lowdown, nasty-minded voice of Audrey II; his rendition of the Oscar-nominated "Mean Green Mother from Outer Space" is a showstopper. As for those celebrity cameos, Steve Martin's sadistic dentist is a masterful creation, as is Bill Murray's masochistic patient; John Candy, James Belushi, and Christopher Guest also pop up. And there was never a lovelier and funkier Greek chorus than the three Motown-fueled girls (Tichina Arnold, Michelle Weeks, and Tisha Campbell) who appear throughout the film. --Mark Englehart

Product Description

A skid-row florist's "mean green mother" of a monster plant is the center of "the looniest, nuttiest, most outrageous movie musical comedy in years" (Jeffrey Lyons, Sneak Preview). Rick Moranis, Steve Martin, Ellen Green, Billy Murray and other comedy greats star.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

71 of 81 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Rejoice! This release includes the alternate ending, IN COLOR! June 29, 2012

By K. Noonchester

Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase

At the time of this post in June 2012, no information from Amazon exists on this product page. This is the press release stuff I was able to cull from the internet.

Tech specs will include a 1080p digitally remastered high definition transfer for the Blu-ray. Audio will be mixed in 5.1 Dolby TrueHD for the BD.

This release will not only include the theatrical cut (on BD), but also a completely restored, never-before-seen Director's Cut of the film, featuring a drastically different, and much darker, 20-minute alternate ending.

Here's a note about the restoration direct from Warner, "The footage of the original ending was previously available only in black & white in the extra content of a limited number of copies of a DVD edition released in 1998. Now, with the help of production notes from Frank Oz and others on the film's creative team, WHV has meticulously restored and digitally remastered the ending, in full color, with the elaborate special effects in tact. Sound has also been rebuilt and mixed in Dolby 5.1. The theatrical version has also been re-mastered."

Extras will include the following (no word yet on which of these extras are exclusive to Blu-ray):
*Theatrical version of the film with optional commentary
*The Director's Cut featuring the newly restored 20-minute alternate ending
*Digitally re-mastered picture and 5.1 sound on both versions
*"Frank Oz and Little Shop of Horrors: The Director's Cut," an introduction by Frank Oz with Richard Conway
*"A Story of Little Shop of Horrors" (behind-the-scenes documentary)
*Outtakes and deleted scenes with optional commentary
*Two theatrical trailers

The Blu-ray will also include a 40-page Digibook with production notes, stills and rare insights.

[UPDATE] When I met Frank Oz at The Saturn Awards, he confirmed the original ending was finally seeing a release in this issue. He personally called the miniatures model maker to tell him that his fine miniature model work was finally going to be seen as the plant rips through cities in a Godzilla style rampage. Paul Dooley will also have his scene restored. He was replaced in reshoots but still got residuals payments on the film despite being cut out.

45 of 51 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars THE version to have (so why is it not available?) May 25, 1999

By A Customer

Format:DVD

Recently checked this out over the weekend, prepared to merely re-watch an old favorite-but boy, is there a lot of cool "add ons" in this version made for DVD! First of all, the film comes letterboxed-only (some people like having the choice, but if you've seen this in a movie theater, you notice a LOT of stuff cut off at the edges by "blowing it up" to full screen), a walk through commentary by legendary puppeteer (voice of ms. piggy/grover) turned director-Frank Oz that lends a humourous and insightful (if sometimes technical)overview from the one guy most qualified to talk about its behind the scenes trials and tribualations. You'll be surprised at just how much work and planning really went into it. And, best of all-the legendary original ending! Yes, it's true, the off-broadway musical (and even the Corman B-movie original) had a VERY different ending. This is where Oz's comments come in particularly handy as first hand guide to the very tough decisions a filmaker has to make regarding his work if the people paying for it ultimately call the shots. So why is it not available? Well, turns out the lost ending footage is owned by producer David Geffen, who did not clear or approve its inclusion on the disc. Could be because presented with another choice, fans of this movie may agree with Oz (and screenwriter Howard Ashman, who died in 1991) on the original ending having a much greater impact. So if you can find this disc, by all means check it out!

29 of 37 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Old Favorite, NEW Release!! June 29, 2012

By DeeJaye6

Format:Blu-ray

This is a brilliant, funny movie adapted in 1986 from the 1982 Off Broadway musical of the same name. That musical was, in turn, adapted from the 1960 Roger Corman film, "The Little Shop of Horrors" (non-musical, dark comedy). The 1986 film's musical numbers are wonderful, and Levi Stubbs delivers a fantastic performance as the plant, Audrey II. In truth, the entire cast is spectacular! If you are unfortunate enough to have missed this gem, pick it up now! This version is the one to get.

I was a little confused when I saw "Director's Cut" but the same runtime (94 min.) listed as that on my 1998 DVD. So, I did a little research and discovered that this new release has both the original theatrical release (94 min.) *and* a version with the original, darker ending! Better yet, the original ending is now in color! From Warner Home Video's announcement of the new release: "The footage of the original ending was previously available only in black & white in the extra content of a limited number of copies of a DVD edition released in 1998. Now, with the help of production notes from Frank Oz and others on the film's creative team, WHV has meticulously restored and digitally remastered the ending, in full color, with the elaborate special effects intact. Sound has also been rebuilt and mixed in Dolby 5.1. The theatrical version has also been re-mastered."

From IGN's website:

"Extras will include the following (no word yet on which of these extras are exclusive to Blu-ray):

- Theatrical version of the film with optional commentary
- The Director's Cut featuring the newly restored 20-minute alternate ending
- Digitally re-mastered picture and 5.1 sound on both versions
- "Frank Oz and Little Shop of Horrors: The Director's Cut," an introduction by Frank Oz with Richard Conway
- "A Story of Little Shop of Horrors" (behind-the-scenes documentary)
- Outtakes and deleted scenes with optional commentary
- Two theatrical trailers

The Blu-ray will also include a 40-page Digibook with production notes, stills and rare insights."

So this is the version to buy! The 1998 DVD was also in 5.1 Dolby Digital, and many of the extras are repeated from the earlier DVD (the commentary, outtakes and gags, production notes, and trailers) but the remastering should make this movie pop on HD TVs!