Iron Man [Blu-ray] sells more than 500,000 copies in first week

[dobyblue]

In September 1999, when DVD was 2.5 years old, The Matrix was released on DVD only, nine weeks ahead of the VHS; it sold 780,000 copies in its first week.

In October 2008 Blu-ray is now 2.5 years old. Iron Man was released on 09.30.08 on Blu-ray AND DVD; the Blu-ray has moved over 500,000 copies in its first week with over 1/4 million on just the first day.

If Blu-ray is going to stay as a niche market, it sure has a funny way of going about it. The future looks good for the high definition optical disc market.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3iced839ebc80856000c1b9629c27100d2

Home entertainment's historic resiliency to turbulent economic times was struck home last week by a big, fat iron fist.

As the markets were tumbling, "Iron Man" posted the strongest first-week sales tally of any new release this year, with distributor Paramount Home Entertainment selling 7.2 million DVDs and more than 500,000 Blu-ray Discs.

Day one Blu-ray Disc sales alone amounted to 260,000 units, a single-day record, according to Paramount.

In just one week, "Iron Man" has already become the best-selling Blu-ray title all year. The title also spiked total weekly Blu-ray Disc sales to record heights.

 

[j_garcia]

Yep. I read that it sold more than any other disc in just the first two days on sale (including Transformers), though I didn't see any numbers to back that up.

 

[alexsound]

In September 1999, when DVD was 2.5 years old, The Matrix was released on DVD only, nine weeks ahead of the VHS; it sold 780,000 copies in its first week.

In October 2008 Blu-ray is now 2.5 years old. Iron Man was released on 09.30.08 on Blu-ray AND DVD; the Blu-ray has moved over 500,000 copies in its first week with over 1/4 million on just the first day.

If Blu-ray is going to stay as a niche market, it sure has a funny way of going about it. The future looks good for the high definition optical disc market.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3iced839ebc80856000c1b9629c27100d2

I bet Dark Kngiht will see even better when it comes out.

 

[allargon]

What's interesting is that Video Business and Paramount are disputing each other's numbers again. Last Year Video Business said Paramount didn't sell as many copies of Transformers on HD DVD as it claimed. This year Video Business is claiming that Paramount sold more than the 500,000 copies of Iron Man on Blu-Ray it claims. I trust Paramount's #'s over VB's any day of the week.

http://www.tvpredictions.com/iron100808.htm

Update: The Hollywood Reporter writes today that Paramount says 500,000 Blu-ray and 7.2 million DVDs of Iron Man were sold in the first week. First day sales generated 260,000 Blu-ray sales of the film, a new record, according to Paramount. However, in terms of sales percentages, the studio numbers are less impressive than those quoted in the original Video Business story, cited above.

Here's the issue with Blu-Ray for it to continue. It still needs to move past the PS3 demographic. Iron Man breaks records, yet Baby Mama and other comedies languish. If Sleeping Beauty doesn't do well, the PS3 is to blame--period!

 

[j_garcia]

Well then maybe they should stop making crap like Baby Mamma. I am sure Sleeping Beauty won't do as well as they hope, but as more Disney classics come out, as well as the upcoming release of The Matrix Trilogy, Blu-ray player sales will increase IMO (definitely come holiday time) and those "favorites" titles will start to sell better.

 

[dobyblue]

I believe when Paramount actually release numbers you'll find they've sold through WELL over 500,000 - closer to 700,000, with one million shipped.

This will be the first million selling disc before TDK is even released.

 

[j_garcia]

Which means the numbers for TDK will be even bigger IMO.

 

[wiyosaya]

I bet Dark Kngiht will see even better when it comes out.

I second that bet!

 

[Public Domain]

This and next summer's tentpoles are going to firmly establish BR.

 

[hillbill]

7.2 million copies of the dvd? WOW

 

[allargon]

This and next summer's tentpoles are going to firmly establish BR.

I hope so, but they really need to move past male oriented titles. The poorer than expected sales of Sleeping Beauty and Universal's decision not to even release Veggie Tales on Blu-Ray are pretty telling.