DVD Sales: Serious Hangover on the DVD Chart
January 4, 2012
There were only four new releases to reach the top 30 on this week's DVD sales chart, and only one of those placed in the top five. The Hangover II rose to first place with 521,000 units / $5.20 million for the week and 2.26 million units / $31.22 million after three. This is barely more than half what the original sold during its first week of release.
The Help climbed a spot to second with 500,000 units / $8.53 million for the week lifting its totals to 2.80 million / $48.08 million, also after three weeks of release. With a number of major award nominations, it should remain fresh in people's minds for a while to come. The best of the new releases was Dolphin Tale at third place and 493,000 units / $7.39 million. That's not a particularly strong start for a family film, but hopefully it was relatively stronger on Blu-ray. Kung Fu Panda 2 fell to fourth place with 462,000 units / $6.46 million giving it totals of 1.15 million units / $18.56 million after two. This is a whole lot less than the original sold; however, three years is a lifetime ago in terms of DVD sales and the competition from Blu-rays, plus economic troubles / terrible box office numbers, has killed DVD sales. Rise of the Planet of the Apes fell from first to fifth with 384,000 units / $6.69 million for the week and 1.10 million units / $20.15 million after two. It is selling relatively better on Blu-ray, but this isn't a great start. On the other hand, it might be the new baseline with how weak the movie industry has been recently.
The best of the rest of the new releases was Midnight in Paris, which landed in ninth place with 199,000 units / $3.37 million. It was only a limited release, but since it made $50 million at the box office, I was hoping for more. Colombiana debuted in 14th place with 133,000 units / $1.99 million. The film didn't live up to expectations at the box office, but this is still disappointing. On the other hand, it is the right genre for Blu-ray. The final new release to chart was Warrior. The film earned Pick of the Week honors, but barely made the top twenty with 105,000 units / $1.36 million. It was a relatively inexpensive movie to make, but it has bombed domestically, internationally, and now on DVD.
One final note, both Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 and Part 2 reached major milestones this week as the former sold its 7 millionth unit and the latter sold its 6 millionth unit.
Filed under: Video Sales, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II, The Hangover Part II, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I, Kung Fu Panda 2, Warrior, Dolphin Tale, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Colombiana, Midnight in Paris, The Help