Editing A Certain Sacrifice (section)

===Home video===
An [[exploitation film]], ''A Certain Sacrifice'' was released on video to capitalize Madonna's fame in 1985.<ref name="exploitation">{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=to1OAAAAIBAJ&dq=A+Certain+Sacrifice&pg=PA42&article_id=3357,2467438|title=Madonna's videos range from insipid to aerobic|access-date=October 12, 2024|date=September 11, 1987|work=Spokane Chronicle|page=42}}</ref> The [[retail price]] was $49.95.<ref name="EW">{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1990/05/11/madonnas-discography/|title=Madonna's discography|access-date=October 4, 2023|date=May 11, 1990|first=Ron|last=Givens|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref> The [[Home video|video release]] sold more than 50,000 copies in its first-week.<ref name="Koopmans"/> According to ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' in 1985, Virgin Video, a joint venture of two independent distributors, had plans to distribute over one million copies of the home video by the end of 1985.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DCQEAAAAMBAJ&dq=A+Certain+Sacrifice&pg=PT3|title=...newsline... It Sounds Ambitious|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|page=26|date=October 5, 1985|accessdate=March 8, 2023}}</ref> Critics said that Madonna's appearance in the film was the only reason it sold well,<ref name="Koopmans">{{harvnb|Koopmans|2003|p=31}}</ref> while [[Mark Bego]] commented it was purchased by hard-core Madonna devotees only.<ref name="Bego">{{harvnb|Bego|2000|p=141}}</ref>

Shortly after the video release, Lewicki received significant criticisms of "exploiting" Madonna's image, which he responded, "If people say that, I don't mind".<ref name="LosA"/> He previously commented, "hope the videocassette makes lots of money".<ref name="LosA">{{cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/292174339|title=Will Scrooge Spielberg Steal Christmas?|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|last=Hunt|first=Dennis|date=October 11, 1985|accessdate=September 17, 2023|id={{ProQuest|292174339}} }}</ref> Biographer [[J. Randy Taraborrelli]] claims the film made Lewicki a "millionaire" in 1985.<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/anti-porn-movie-almost-ruined-madonna-story-behind-certain-sacrifice/|title=How an 'anti-porn' movie almost ruined Madonna: the story behind A Certain Sacrifice |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|last=Levine|first=Nick|date=January 29, 2020|accessdate=March 8, 2023}}</ref> Lewicki subsequently claimed that he deserved the financial success that came afterward, because he had taken a risk by casting an unknown Madonna, and the money he put into the movie.<ref name="Koopmans"/> Saitzman referred to the release: "It must be one of the most amateur, technically atrocious student films ever to be marketed", and added Madonna shouldn't have worried to have prevent the film's release, while called an irony from her part.<ref name="HeraldJournal">{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FFIsAAAAIBAJ&dq=Madonna&pg=PA17&article_id=6830,4592094|title=Will Scrooge Spielberg Steal Christmas?|date=January 17, 1986|access-date=February 23, 2024|newspaper=[[Spartanburg Herald-Journal]]|last=Saitzman|first=Joe}}</ref>