The high-profile Disney release John Carter scored the top sales figures, both on Blu-ray and the overall media rankings, for the week ending on June 10th. This sci-fi-adventure - Academy Award-winning director Andrew Stanton's reimagining of the Edgar Rice Burroughs-created character - has already become notorious within Hollywood box-office lore; after accruing production costs estimated between $250 million and $350 million, the film only managed a worldwide gross of just over $282 million. Its initial home media performance, which included a 60% Blu-ray market share, certainly put a positive spin on these disappointing theatrical totals, suggesting that John Carter might enjoy a healthy second life on video.
Also making a robust small-screen debut was Twentieth Century Fox and Relativity Media's Act of Valor, which opened at number two on the overal media and Blu-ray-only charts. Budgeted at only $12 million, the action-thriller rode an aggressive marketing campaign - one that highlighted the fact that actual Navy SEALs provided the action and stunts on display - to surprising theatrical success this winter, when it grossed more than $70 million domestically. The picture's premiere on home media last Tuesday continued its success with audiences as it nearly matched John Carter's weekly totals; Act of Valor sold 96% as many Blu-rays as John Carter (and 98% as many total units) and had an HD market share of 59%.
Finally, another new release - Universal Studios' Safe House - made it to the number three position in Blu-ray and overall media sales. The margins between this, Act of Valor, and John Carter were extremely slim; Safe House sold 86% as many Blu-rays as John Carter and 97% as many overall home media units, and its Blu-ray market share was similarly robust at 54%. The week was a good showing for this $85 million spy adventure, building off from its $202 million worth of box-office receipts ($126 million domestically).
Loved John Carter. It just needed a better name, like John Carter and the Princess of Mars. A bit long, yes, but simply "John Carter" sounds like a political drama.
We watched this movie just last night and its GREAT! I didn't expect it to be so. Disney screwed the pouch on this one, it's a fantastic adaption from the book and this would have made a great movie series, so to speak. Had this been "John Carter of Mars" and had the marketing been better, it would have done better. It's a real shame there won't be more.
I hope the home sales of John Carter give it a second chance even if it has to be with a smaller budget. I agree the marketing for it was awful. I think whoever was in charge assumed the audience already knew of the story and were just waiting for the movie. They did not "introduce" the story to anyonce.
After watching it this past wknd I would definitely like to see of more of that world. I'll take John Carter over Avatar any day.
Already watched my John Carter Blu-ray twice. Quite a fun movie. Beautiful visuals. It's hard to blame the lack of box office intake for it's failure because it cost so much to make.
I will be watching it in 3D tomorrow night. I think I will like it. I agree that the name John Carter just wasn't an exciting name and something should have been added, like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, ect. I am glad to see how many people liked it here, I hope Disney does well with the home video version to at least get back something close to their cost or maybe even a decent profit.
Sign me on board to be there opening weekend if these good numbers, and steady sales on Blu-ray make Disney consider making a sequel. I'm sure the budget will be MUCH less, but if it's as fun as this one was, I'd be all over a theatrical watch and Blu-ray purchase!
Also good Blu-ray sales all around. Defintiely shows that good movies sell better with a release price of $19.99 or less, and the combo packs make it so accessible, that most people don't mind spending $3 more.
I certainly hope DVD-only copies phase out and it's all Blu-ray combo packs for $19.99 first week by 2014, or earlier!
Wow number one even though it is, according to most, dreadful and incredibly boring. I'm sure there are releases more deserving of people's hard earned.
@John The Grudge: "even though it is, according to most, dreadful and incredibly boring"
Mainstream media decided the story was "the film is a bomb" even before it was released -- and the "everyone says the movie is bad" myth soon followed.
The reality is that the RT audience score is 65 and the IMDb score is 6.8/10. That doesn't make it The Godfather, but it also doesn't make it From Justin to Kelly. It's a solid movie that lots of people liked, but most stories were determined to label otherwise, because of the budget and egos involved.
It would seem that "most" found something to enjoy in the film. I know my family did.
Another reason why theatrical grosses are becoming less and less important. Seeing as cinemas take 50% of the gross worldwide, or to make it simpler 50% of your ticket price, it's simply highway robbery. With a potentially lower commission with stores, physical and online, the only way to make real money is physical and digital media. I wouldn't be surprised if the sales for John Carter spawned a sequel
I am so happy this did so well. I agree that the movie was a marketing nightmare. I am so glad I saw this in the theater. I had no clue what the movie was about when I went to see it. I was blown away, and could not wait for this to come out on bd. I hope the studio sees that people liked the movie enough to make the rest of the series.
Fascinating!! There are currently 22 comments on this thread. 20 of them are positive, 2 negative-- including one that admits to not seeing the film. And this movie was a "bomb." Hmmmmmm.............
This movie was great. Loved the landscapes, ships and that dog; he made the entire movie for me. The only thing that bothered me about the movie was that John Carter was pasty white like me and he never got a sunburn or if he's lucky a tan... what's up with that Disney?
Bought this as a blind buy week 1 because of all the positive reviews from people who've actually seen it, & I'm glad i did. Movie was really fun to watch. I too hope the strong BD sales help it out, I would love to see a sequel. I've recommended it to others who've now seen it and also love it.
