For the week ending on September 16th, Universal Studios' Snow White and the Huntsman held the highest Blu-ray and overall home media sales figures. Director Rupert Sanders' dark fantasy amassed a worldwide box-office gross of over $396 million after it premiered last June, but the behind-the-scenes travails surrounding the film - including the revelation that Sanders and leading lady Kristen Stewart began an affair on the set - have recently eclipsed its theatrical fortunes. Whether this controversy added to viewer interest last week is debatable, though its number one position is reassuring for the studio, regardless of the motivations behind sales. Particularly noteworthy were its HD totals; Snow White and the Huntsman enjoyed a healthy Blu-ray market share of 55%.
Snow White's number-one standing is particularly impressive considering its Blu-ray debut beat the much-anticipated HD release of James Cameron's Titanic. At number two on the Blu-ray chart, Titanic's had a higher HD market share than Snow White and the Huntsman - 82% - but sold far fewer copies; the titles moved 38% as many Blu-rays and 26% as many total units as Snow White. Still, given the enduring popularity of the epic blockbuster - to date, it has grossed over $2 billion worldwide - one can expect that the Blu-ray will continue to perform well on home media for distributor Paramount Pictures.
Finally, third place on the HD ranking went to a title far removed from either Snow White and the Huntsman or Titanic: Warner Home Entertainment's The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Fifth Season. This television sitcom has been one of CBS' most watched programs since its premiere in 2007, and its fans have long called for Blu-ray season sets. That particular desire would certainly explain the series' third place Blu-ray position, where it sold 10% as many units as Snow White, but The Big Bang Theory's overall appeal extends far past just Blu-rays. On the overall home media front, the sitcom outperformed Titanic, coming in at second place and selling 28% as many total units as Snow White.
@Chaotic- I think buyers are just longing for new material as opposed to double/triple dipping on movies they've seen a few times. I already own Titanic on Laser & DVD, so it was a title that kept being deleted or added to my Amazon cart. I finally went ahead and ordered it when they dropped the price.
Snow White & The Huntsman was awesome in the theater and I immediately pre-ordered it when it became available, because I wanted to actually see it again. I am a little disappointed at how few extras they included.
As much as it troubles me, everyone should take a long hard look at that 20% BD share for Big Bang Theory.
I know many people (myself included) are upset that so many TV shows seem to be coming out as DVD only still... and studios also don't seem to be going back and doing many older shows on BD.
But, with numbers like that, it's hard to blame them. Here's a very popular title, that's selling well... but barely moving any BDs. I don't get it. Is the general public saying "It's just a TV show... DVD is good enough"?
The most unintentionally hilarious thing I've ever seen is the first behind the scenes feature on Snow White and the Huntsman. It's like couldn't they have edited some of that stuff out after the scandal? It's too funny.
Also, bboisvert, I think people are saying tv shows on Blu-ray are too expensive. I tend to buy stuff like Spartacus and the Walking Dead on Blu-ray cause they're relatively affordable.
Is the general public saying "It's just a TV show... DVD is good enough"?
Probably yes, and I kind of agree with them.
Because the price matters too. TV shows are expensive and it's kind of a 1 shot thing. I'm not sure people who owns TV series re-watch them so much.
Rent in BD could be a good option to save.
I stopped buying TV shows along time ago. While yes, some of them are absolutely wonderful and well written, it is still in fact, a series. I can spare 2-3 hrs to re-watch a movie i like alot. I cannot however, spare 20+ hours to rewatch a whole series. I tried with Lost. I bought all the blu ray sets, but they just sat on my shelf. Could never get up the nerve to find time to start re-watching the whole series. I don't mind watching a "new" series, but it takes too much time to re-watch them once I've seen them.
SAo the numbers for last week are finally in and Titanic didn't make it to number 1. Not sure that's a surprise. Most weeks a new/current release movie is usually on top. It seems that the market for catalogue titles just isn't big enough. As I said before the future of Bluray is with the future not the past. Eventually the studios will realize this and stop turning out catalogue BDs. There aren't enough of us who want them.
It all depends on the show. If it is a show like Big Bang Theory (which I do not watch btw) or Seinfeld...you know shows that do not continue one LONG story week after week then I am all for buying them because I know I will have favorite episodes and will re-watch them for years. Show like Lost, Supernatural and others like those I will just buy on DVD IF I buy them at all. Once you see the complete story there is very little urge to re-watch a show like that in it's entirety. I got rid of my True Blood Sets for this specific reason. I will never watch them again. I continuously watch Seinfeld, Family Guy, Home Improvement etc. though and would definitely purchase those on Blu-Ray. As it pertains to Big Bang Theory though, I don't personally know anyone that watches that show.
Wow, surprised Titanic wasn't #1, especially considering how awful Snow White was. It had potential but there were just too many flaws to even mention, but Theron's scene-chewing and what's-her-face's unacting were contributing factors.
@bboisvert The outrageous markup on TV series from DVD to Blu-Ray is certainly a part of it. With some blu-ray seasons costing nearly $20 more than the same season on DVD, you're not going to get too many people willing to spring for blu.
With the exception of "Boardwalk Empire", I've never bought a TV show. But if you're a big fan of a show and want to watch it with the highest technical quality and without commercials, I see no reason not to purchase it on Blu-ray. Also, if it's an older show now in syndication, there are frequently bits cut out of the show to make more room for commercials -- another reason to buy it on Blu-ray.
So while buying TV shows on BD is not my thing and whether on BD or DVD, I do wonder why anyone would want to own the complete Beverly Hillbillies or the Andy Griffith Show, I can understand why people do it and people who put them down for it are morons -- another case of people so self-centered that they think if they don't feel something is worthy than it must not be worthy for anyone (like the jerk who thinks that catalog movie titles don't sell and who obviously has absolutely no understanding of the BD business).
I wouldn't judge the 20% share from TBBT on anything more than season 5 being terrible, and it's a lot cheaper the watch re-runs of seasons 1-4 on TBS.
