Known as “videotainies” (videotapes) or “videokasetes” (videocassetes), these ruled in Greece from 1984 until their popularity ended in 1990, when private TV channels got into the production of series.

Massive production and consumption of video players in early 80's was followed by an explosion of usually small video-rental stores, leading to an explosion -in the middle 80's- of the production of low-budget commercial movies, shot in video format (usually S-VHS) and exclusively distributed in video-rental stores. In the late 80's, dozens of small production companies were in operation to make video-movies.

Videotainia knew its biggest popularity during the late 80's. The films were always fiction and usually comedies. In the beginning, the cast and crew were established comic actors, directors and stories from the past Greek commercial cinema- the difference was basically the shooting format and straight-to-video distribution. Step-by-step, videotainia obtained its own stars and aesthetics.

An old (but not forgotten) star from this era, Akis Florentis, (Computer of death, Tarnanas vs Cicciolina….) in a very recent interview for retromaniax.gr. says: “Each movie was costing about 5 million drachmas (15.000 euros), but the benefit was always guaranteed. Usually, for a 5 million budget movie producer's gain was 7-8 million. You could sell it at video-clubs. The owners weren't selective at all. They were buying any tape. But, even that, the benefit was always limited. If, for example, the locations were more expensive, or shooting days extended, then the producer had a loss.”

Some of the stylistic characteristics (besides the video format) for a videotainia: Poverty or lack of sets, the shooting taking place in real apartments, hotels or streets without scenography. Non-stop dialogues. Typically commercial storylines, obvious separation of the 'good guy', always with a happy ending and sometimes with a moralistic tag. Social and political views hove between conservative puritanism (you should love your country, you should join the army) and populism (politicians are lying, priests are thieves). Only a few times appeared something deeper. Generally, a videotainia-maker always knew he was making a shitty film and held no pretense of being an artist, rather than a good pro.

Subgenres or (more correctly) favourite topics: Karate spoofs, comedies or adventures like My Uncle Ninja, 7 Mini Commandos, Ninja with shepherd's crook, the Ninja woman… In this subgenre ruled Kris Sfetas. Highschools, comic adventures with pupils mocking their teachers like I Love my Desk, Wheels, Schoolbags and Cuts. The big star in the genre was Steve Douzos playing pupil Bilias. Priests and Nuns, shown in intimate moments, like Priestwheelie. Vera Gouma played a very sexy nun. Basketball, after Greece won the European Championship in '87 many movies appeared like Teach my Child Basketball…etc. Wrestling, where Apostolos Souglakos, a wrestler himself, ruled. And of course various spoofs and parodies, such as Count Tsakona and his Draculettes, Vlakoun, Dynasty of Boors, Pink Brothers, Rambo no0 AKA Beat me I Stand it…etc.