The is a long-running series of annual documentary-style videos featuring the magazine's Playmates of the Month. Launched in 1986 with its first release for the 1987 calendar year, the series ran for over two decades, typically featuring 12 different Playmates in each edition. Series Overview & History
At its peak, the video calendar was a staple of late-night cable television programming, frequently broadcast in edited formats on networks like the Playboy Channel. It became a multi-million-dollar pillar of the Playboy entertainment division.
For the models, appearing in the video calendar was a highly coveted career milestone. It offered them global exposure and frequently acted as a springboard into mainstream acting, reality television, and commercial modeling. Today, the collection remains a nostalgic time capsule for fans of vintage pop culture, chronicling the shifting standards of beauty, fashion, and video production over a twenty-year span. Share public link playboy playmate video calendar collectionthe
Every edition followed a strict, highly anticipated annual formula. The videos traditionally opened with the iconic, baritone voice of narrator Neil Ross, delivering his signature introduction:
: Early videos (late 1980s) featured longer introductory segments before nude profiles, whereas later editions streamlined the format for higher energy and visual focus. Major Video Releases The is a long-running series of annual documentary-style
With the arrival of the DVD format, the collection offered enhanced video quality, interactive menus, and bonus features. Releases like the Playboy: 2009 Video Playmate Calendar , which featured models such as Jayde Nicole and Sara Jean Underwood, adopted a glossy, reality-TV-inspired aesthetic. This era coincided with the height of television shows like The Girls Next Door , which brought renewed mainstream interest to the Playboy brand. Notable Playmates Featured in the Collection
Each calendar features a selection of Playboy Playmates, often including the Playmate of the Year, and showcases their modeling and acting talents. The videos typically include a mix of interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and the Playmates engaging in various activities, such as swimming, dancing, and posing for the camera. It became a multi-million-dollar pillar of the Playboy
Each Playmate was designated a specific month. Her segment typically began with a brief on-camera interview where she discussed her hobbies, career goals, childhood, or thoughts on being chosen for Playboy.
The videos were shot on location in tropical paradises, luxurious estates, and scenic vistas around the world, from Maui and Tahiti to European villas.