New releases dominated the DVD sales chart for the week of February 3rd with three in the top five and five in the top ten. This includes Hotel Transylvania, which opened in first place with 1.08 million units / $19.52 million and it is already in second place for the year. Downton Abbey: Season 3 opened in second place with 243,000 units / $6.06 million during its first week of release. This is a great start for a TV on DVD release. Taken 2 was pushed into third place with 196,000 / $2.94 million for the week giving it totals of 1.88 million units / $30.49 million after three. It remains in first place for the year, but who knows how long that will last. Paranormal Activity 4 did not do well opening in fourth place with just 185,000 units / $3.15 million. I'm questioning the wisdom of making Paranormal Activity 5. Madly Madagascar rounded out the top five with 147,000 units / $880,000 for the week and 388,000 units / $2.33 million after two.

The Cold Light of Day just missed the top five with 124,000 units / $1.61 million. This is not terrible compared to its box office run, but that is damning it with very faint praise. Seven Psychopaths was even weaker opening in eighth place with 112,000 units / $1.90 million. It deserved better than this.

- C.S.Strowbridge

Date posted: 2013-03-20