Movie Star, Inc., Reports Improved Financial Results For Fiscal 2000

Sept. 21, 2000--Movie Star, Inc., (AMEX:MSI) today reported continuing improvement in its financial results for the fiscal 2000 fourth quarter and full year, which ended June 30, 2000.

Net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2000 increased 6.9% to $13,944,000 from $13,044,000 for fiscal 1999's fourth quarter. Fourth quarter net income of $40,000 was a significant turnaround from a net loss of $1,042,000 a year ago.

``We continue to see positive results from our efforts to become more efficient and the Company has been profitable for four successive quarters,'' said Mel Knigin, Movie Star's President and Chief Executive Officer. ``In the lingerie business, the April through June quarter is typically a difficult one. After April's shipments for Mothers Day, May is relatively uneventful and June is characterized by promotional business. But thanks to the improvements we have been steadily making in our operations, we lost only a penny a share for the quarter and with the benefit from the debt retirement, we actually had a fourth quarter net profit.''

Fourth quarter sales for the Company's intimate apparel division increased 10% over the same period in 1999, while the retail division's sales were down 10% primarily due to the closing, in the fourth quarter, of eight of its stores. Gross margin for the intimate apparel division increased to 28.2% for fiscal 2000 from 28.0% in the prior year, while the retail division's gross margin increased to 37.4% from 37.0%.

``Our focus is on our intimate apparel division, where we expect to increase sales within the current fiscal year. Our new Meant to Be(TM) line of loungewear and sundresses is being well received in the market. This coupled with our new fashion lines, Private Property by Cinema Etoile and the Heather Nicole Sleepwear line, which have already been received with enthusiasm from the retailers, should prove to be a healthy addition in fiscal 2001.''

For all of fiscal 2000, net sales were down 2.1% to $71,004,000 from $72,506,000 for fiscal 1999. For the fiscal year, sales for the Company's intimate apparel division decreased less than one half of one percent as compared to the same period in 1999, while the retail division accounted for the majority of the decrease, losing approximately 13% of its sales as compared to the prior year. Net income increased 16.7% to $3,120,000, or $0.20 per diluted share, in fiscal 2000 from $2,673,000, or $0.17 per diluted share, for fiscal 1999. Included in net income for the year ended June 30, 2000, is an extraordinary gain of $393,000, or $0.03 per diluted share, attributable to purchases of the Company's 12.875% subordinated debentures and 8 % senior notes. Excluding this extraordinary gain, income increased 2% to $2,727,000 from $2,673,000. Diluted net income per share before the extraordinary gain was $0.17 for both years.

Over the past five years, Movie Star has made steady progress in improving its profitability. In fiscal 2000, the Company closed its last fully operational domestic manufacturing facility and completed its shift to offshore manufacturing. Today, the Company manufactures substantially all of its products offshore at higher margins with excellent quality and high efficiency and no longer sells price-sensitive commodity apparel.

``We reduced our inventories by 11% during fiscal 2000,'' Mr. Knigin noted. ``Inventory reduction improved our cash flow, which in turn has allowed us to reduce debt and related interest expense. We are increasing our efforts to sell additional products to our existing customers and to broaden our customer base by actively reaching out to new customers. We incurred costs this year to strengthen our sales staff in preparation for opportunities we expect this fall, and we expect to start seeing tangible benefits from these efforts as fiscal 2001 progresses.''

Certain of the matters set forth in this press release are forward-looking and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: business conditions and growth in the industry; general economic conditions; addition or loss of significant customers; the loss of key personnel; product development; competition; foreign government regulations; fluctuations in foreign rates; rising costs for raw materials and the unavailability of sources of supply; the timing of orders booked; and the risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports.

MOVIE STAR, INC. produces and sells ladies sleepwear, robes, leisurewear, loungewear, panties and daywear and also operates 20 retail outlet stores.

                           MOVIE STAR, INC.
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
               (In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
 
                           Three Months Ended          Year Ended
                                June 30,                June 30,
                            2000        1999        2000        1999
                          -------     -------     -------     -------
                               (Unaudited)
 
Net sales                 $13,944     $13,044     $71,004     $72,506
Cost of sales               9,930       9,325      50,199      51,363
                          -------     -------     -------     -------
   Gross profit             4,014       3,719      20,805      21,143
 
Selling, general and
 administrative expenses    3,962       4,271      16,496      15,859
                          -------     -------     -------     -------
   Income from operations      52        (552)      4,309       5,284
 
Gain on purchases of
 subordinated debentures        -           -        (164)          -
Interest income               (92)        (59)       (145)       (118)
Interest expense              375         590       1,856       2,694
                          -------     -------     -------     -------
   Income before (benefit
    from) provision for
    income taxes and
    extraordinary gain       (231)     (1,083)      2,762       2,708
 
(Benefit from) provision
 for income taxes             (28)        (41)         35          35
                          -------     -------     -------     -------
   Income before
    extraordinary gain       (203)     (1,042)      2,727       2,673
 
Extraordinary gain on
 purchases of subordinated
 debentures and senior
 notes, net of income taxes  (243)          -        (393)          -
                          -------     -------     -------     -------
Net income                $    40     $(1,042)    $ 3,120     $ 2,673
                          -------     -------     -------     -------
                          -------     -------     -------     -------
   BASIC
Income (loss) before
 extraordinary gain per
 share                      $(.01)      $(.07)       $.18        $.19
Extraordinary gain per
 share                        .01           -         .03           -
                          -------     -------     -------     -------
Net income (loss) per
 share                      $   -       $(.07)       $.21        $.19
                          -------     -------     -------     -------
                          -------     -------     -------     -------
   DILUTED
Income (loss) before
 extraordinary gain per
 share                      $(.01)      $(.07)       $.17        $.17
Extraordinary gain per
 share                        .01           -         .03           -
                          -------     -------     -------     -------
Net income (loss) per
 share                      $   -       $(.07)       $.20        $.17
                          -------     -------     -------     -------
                          -------     -------     -------     -------
 
Basic weighted average
 number of shares
 outstanding               14,897      14,877      14,889      14,309
                          -------     -------     -------     -------
                          -------     -------     -------     -------
Diluted weighted average
 number of shares
 outstanding               15,580      14,877      15,928      15,869
                          -------     -------     -------     -------
                          -------     -------     -------     -------
 
 
 
                           MOVIE STAR, INC.
                      CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                (In Thousands, Except Number of Shares)
 
                                                  June 30,   June 30,
                                                    2000       1999
                                                 ---------- ----------
                         ASSETS
Current Assets
 Cash                                             $   712    $ 4,597
 Receivables, net                                   7,960      6,864
 Inventory                                         14,643     16,460
 Deferred income taxes                              1,706      1,983
 Prepaid expenses and other current assets            437        602
                                                  -------    -------
     Total current assets                          25,458     30,506
 
Property, plant and equipment, net                  3,247      3,495
Other assets                                          619        732
Deferred income taxes                               2,303      2,026
                                                  -------    -------
 
     Total assets                                 $31,627    $36,759
                                                  -------    -------
                                                  -------    -------
           LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities
 Notes payable                                    $ 1,690    $     -
 Current maturities of long-term debt and
  capital lease obligations                            83         45
 Accounts payable                                   4,597      4,529
 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities     1,835      3,316
                                                  -------    -------
     Total current liabilities                      8,205      7,890
 
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations       12,130     20,703
                                                  -------    -------
 
Commitments and Contingencies                           -          -
 
Stockholders' equity
 Common Stock $.01 par value - authorized
  30,000,000 shares, issued 16,914,000 shares in
  2000 and 16,897,000 shares in 1999                  169        169
 Additional paid-in capital                         4,078      4,072
 Retained earnings                                 10,663      7,543
                                                  -------    -------
                                                   14,910     11,784
 
 Less: Treasury stock, at cost - 2,017,000 shares   3,618      3,618
                                                  -------    -------
     Total stockholders' equity                    11,292      8,166
                                                  -------    -------
 
 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity       $31,627    $36,759
                                                  -------    -------
                                                  -------    -------

Contact:

     Movie Star, Inc.
     Thomas Rende, 212/684-3400
     or
     INVESTOR RELATIONS:
     SM Berger & Company, Inc.
     Steve Warcholak, 216/464-6400