
You do realize all the Sleepaway Camp sequels are direct to VHS movies? The "Friday the 13th" movies were all theatrical movies.
So? I was born in 84, so I still ended up renting them both in the 90s.
Theatrical release is only based on connections and money, and timing, not quality.
Ava Duvenery's first film is incredible, but it didn't have 1% of the widespread theatrical release of a

movie like Smurfs 2.
Speaking of horror though, I remember watching an AVGN review and he was saying that the first
Halloween movie almost failed to secure any theatrical release at all.

But it did, so now its a classic.