Release Dates & Distributors

Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the first feature-length animated picture ever made in America. It premiered in 1937 and has been re-released to theatres--and then home video--in every decade since. Distribution companies and/or special releases are listed in parentheses. 

1938, 1967 Lobby Cards (USA)

USA--
  • 1937, December 6 (Pomona preview)
  • 1937, December 21 (RKO Radio Pictures world premiere at Carthay Circle Theatre )
  • 1938, January 13 (RKO; Radio City Music Hall, NYC; Sheridan Theater, Miami)
  • 1938, February 4 (RKO general release)
  • 1940, July (RKO; Festival of Hits re-release)
  • 1944, February 22 (first RKO stand alone re-release)
  • 1952, February 13 (RKO)
  • 1958, February 7 (Buena Vista Pictures)
  • 1967, June 11 (Buena Vista; 30th Anniversary general release)
  • 1975, December 20 (Buena Vista)
  • 1983, July 15 (Buena Vista)
  • 1987, July 15 (Buena Vista; 50th Anniversary, New York City)
  • 1987, July 17 (Buena Vista; 50th Anniversary, general release)
  • 1993, July 2 (Buena Vista)


____


Although the original film was produced in English, the appeal of the story is universal. As a result, many other dubs have been created with language tracks for the international community. With the advent of home video, the number of languages has increased ever more.

The following list of theatrical release dates (and distribution companies) is a work-in-progress and is far from complete. Updates will be added as more details are confirmed. If you have information on this or any other aspect of the film in your country, feel free to email Filmic Light at the address provided in my complete profile.


1938 One Sheet (Argentina); 1982 One Sheet (Finland)


Afghanistan--
  • 1945, September 8 IMDb

Algeria--
  • 1938, October 31 (Algiers screening) IMDb

Argentina--
  • 1938, January 22 (RKO Buenos Aires premiere) IMDb
  • 1938, January 26 (RKO general release) IMDb
  • 1958(c.) (Rank Films)
  • 1975(c.) (20th Century Fox)

Australia--
  • 1938, June 2 (RKO) IMDb
  • 1953, August 21 IMDb
  • 1976, August 9 (Melbourne International Film Festival) IMDb
  • 1976(c.) (Buena Vista via British Empire Films)
  • 1983, December 15 (Greater Union Organisation) IMDb
  • 1987, July 17 (Village Roadshow Corporation 50th Anniversary screening)
  • 1988, December 26 IMDb
  • 1992, April 9 IMDb

Austria--
  • 1948, June 25 (Atlantic Film/Atlantik-Filmverleih gala premiere in Vienna)
  • 1949, January 14 (Atlantic Film first general release)
  • 1958, December (Sascha-Film)
  • 1966, November (Rank Films)
  • 1975(c.) (Cinema International Corporation)

Belarus--
  • 1978, July 31 IMDb

Belgium--
  • 1938, May 20 (RKO Brussels premiere)
  • 1938, May 26 (RKO general release) IMDb
  • 1951 (RKO)
  • 1962 (Discibel)
  • 1973 (Elan Film) 
  • 1983 
  • 1987, July 17 (special 50th Anniversary screening) 
  • 1992 (Warner Bros.)

Brazil--
  • 1938, September 5 (RKO Rio de Janeiro premiere - Odeon and São Luiz Theatres)
  • 1938, October 10 (RKO São Paulo - Alhambra, Odeon and Rosario theatres; then general release)
  • 1944, June 22 (RKO; new 35mm prints)
  • 1952, August 27 (RKO; 35mm & 16mm)
  • 1958, July (RKO; in some states)
  • 1965, December 27 (Rio de Janeiro; redub)
  • 1966, July 4 (São Paulo)
  • 1977, December 24 (Cinema International Corporation)
  • 1987, June 25 (50th Anniversary)
  • 1992, December 5 (Warner Bros. screening promoted by newspaper "Folha de São Paulo")
  • 1992, December 11 (Warner Bros. general re-release)

Canada-- 
  • 1938, late January (press preview)
  • 1938, April 5 (RKO) IMDb
  • 1944
  • 1952
  • 1958
  • 1967
  • 1975
  • 1983
  • 1987, July 17 (Buena Vista 50th Anniversary)
  • 1993

China--
  • 1938, June 2 (Nanking screening) IMDb
  • 1987 (50th Anniversary)

Croatia--
  • 1965, January 18 (Zagreb screening) IMDb

Czech Republic--
  • 1938, September 16 (RKO) IMDb
  • 1970s

Denmark--
  • 1938, September 29 (RKO)
  • 1952, December 26 IMDb
  • 1962, December 26 IMDb
  • 1982
  • 1994 (Danish dub) IMDb

Egypt--
  • 1939, January (Cairo screening) IMDb

El Salvador--
  • 1967, January 14 IMDb

Finland--
  • 1938, October 16
  • 1962, December 21 (Suomi-Filmi Oy)
  • 1973, December 21 IMDb
  • 1982, December 17 (Suomi-Filmi Oy)
  • 1987, July 17 (special 50th anniversary screening)


1938 120 x 160cm (France); 1950s B2 Format (Japan)

France--
  • 1938 May 6 (RKO Marignan Theatre Paris premiere)
  • 1944, December 30 (RKO Paris)
  • 1951, August 31 (RKO)
  • 1962, December 12 (Athos Films; French redub)
  • 1973, December 5 (Walt Disney Productions)
  • 1983, November 30 (Walt Disney Productions)
  • 1987, July 17 (special 50th Anniversary screening) 
  • 1992, February 12 (Warner Bros.)

Germany--
  • 1950, February 24 (RKO)
  • 1957, December 12 (Herzog-Filmverleih)
  • 1966, November 18 (MGM) IMDb
  • 1975, December 19 (Fox-MGM) IMDb
  • 1983, November 26 (20th Century Fox) IMDb
  • 1987, July 17 (special 50th Anniversary screening)  
  • 1992, April 2 (Warner Bros.) IMDb 

Greece-
  • 2007, September (Athens Film Festival)

Guyana--
  • 1953, February 14 IMDb

Hong Kong--
  • 1941, January 16 IMDb

Hungary--
  • 1938, December 22 (RKO) IMDb
  • 1962, September 13 (MOKÉP; Hungarian redub)
  • 1982, December 2 (MOKÉP)

India--
  • 1965, February 10 IMDb

Indonesia --
  • 1945, August 13 IMDb

Ireland--
  • 1938, July 8 (RKO Capitol Cinema Dublin premiere)
  • 1944, April 7
  • 1953, December 18
  • 1965, December 17
  • 1981, December 11
  • 1987, December 18
  • 1992, April 17

Israel--
  • 1960, January 31 IMDb

Italy--
  • 1938, August 8 (Venice Film Festival)
  • 1938, December 23 (RKO/Generalcine general release) 
  • 1950, January 1 (RKO)
  • 1953, April 16 (RKO 16mm release)
  • 1962, December 13 (Rank Films)
  • 1972, December 20 (Cinema International Corporation; Italian redub)
  • 1980, December 19 (Cinema International Corporation)
  • 1987, July 17 (UIP special 50th anniversary screening; one day/free admission in Torino-Milano-Roma only)
  • 1987, December 10 (United International Pictures)
  • 1992, March 27 (Warner Bros.)
  • 1994, April 1 (Buena Vista International)

Jamaica--
  • 1973, May 27 IMDb

Japan--
  • 1950, September 26 (Daiei Motion Picture Company) IMDb
  • 1957, December 17 IMDb
  • 1968, March 9 IMDb
  • 1980, July 19
  • 1985, July 20 IMDb
  • 1987, July 17 (special 50th Anniversary screening)  
  • 1990, July 21 IMDb
  • 1994, January 8 IMDb

Kuwait--
  • 1984, June 11 IMDb

Lebanon--
  • 1966, July 30 IMDb

Malaysia--
  • 1956, January 10 (Kuala Lumpur screening) IMDb
  • 1972, October 7 IMDb


1964 Lobby Card (Mexico)

Mexico--
  • 1938, July 21 (RKO) IMDb 
  • 1952 (RKO)
  • 1964, December 14 (Rank Films; redubbed in Mexico City)
  • 1975
  • 1983(c)
  • 1987, July 17 (special 50th anniversary screening) 
  • 1993(c)

Morocco--
  • 1964, January 1 IMDb

Netherlands--
  • 1938, November 11 (RKO Dutch-language edited version)
  • 1939, February 24  (RKO Dutch-language unedited version)
  • 1939, March 17 (RKO English-language)
  • 1984, December 20
  • 1992, April 10

Norway--
  • 1938, September 12 IMDb
  • 2002, May 1 (Kristiansand International Children's Film Festival)

Philippines--
  • 1949, September 24 (Davao screening)  IMDb

Poland--
  • 1938, December 21
  • 2001, May 25 IMDb

Portugal--
  • 1938, December 14 (RKO; Teatro Politeama Theatre Lisbon premiere)
  • 1938, March 9 (RKO; general release)
  • 1992, April 10 IMDb   

Russia--
  • 1955
  • 1987 (special 50th Anniversary screening)

Spain--
  • 1941, October 6 (Filmofono)
  • 1952 (RKO)
  • 1964 (Filmax; soundtrack redubbed in Mexico City)
  • 1975 (Filmayer)
  • 1983, December 2 (Filmayer)
  • 1992 (Warner Bros.)

Sweden--
  • 1938, September 27 (RKO) IMDb
  • 1949, December 12 IMDb
  • 1962, December 15 IMDb
  • 1973, December 22 IMDb
  • 1982, December 17 IMDb
  • 1992, March 27 IMDb

Switzerland--
  • 1938, December 17 (German-language) IMDb

Syria--
  • 1976, March 13 IMDb

Taiwan--
  • 1954, November 17 IMDb

Trinidad and Tobago--
  • 1997, September 20 (Port of Spain screening) IMDb

Turkey--
  • 1938, December 21 (Istanbul premiere)

United Kingdom--
  • 1938, February 17 (Rialto Cinema trade show)
  • 1938, February 24 (RKO New Gallery London premiere)
  • 1938, March 12 (RKO general release)
  • 1938, December 26 (RKO holiday revival) 
  • 1939, May (RKO Stoll Theatre revival)
  • 1943, December (RKO New Gallery revival)
  • 1944, April 3 (RKO first reissue general release)
  • 1953, December 18 (Studio One revival)
  • 1954, April 12
  • 1964, December 20
  • 1972, December 24
  • 1980, December 21
  • 1982, January 21
  • 1987, July 14 (Walt Disney Company via U.K. Film Distributors, Ltd.; 50th anniversary)
  • 1987, December 16 (Walt Disney Company via U.K. Film Distributors, Ltd.)
  • 1992, February 21 (Warner Bros.)
  • 1994, July 1 (Buena Vista International; Scotland early release)
  • 1994, July 22 (Buena Vista International; nationwide)

Uruguay--
  • 1938, June 28 (Montevideo screening) IMDb

Vietnam--
  • 1938 or 1939 (Hanoi and Haiphong screenings; French-language)

Yugoslavia--
  • 1938, October 7 (Avala Film)
  • 1955, October 30 IMDb 
  • 1973(c.) (Makedonda Film)
  • 1983

Circa 1973 Quad (Yugoslavia); 1980 Quad (United Kingdom)


Note: Many of the dates listed above come directly from IMDb and are marked as such.