DVD Sales - Nothing New Tops the List

June 9, 2009

A severely weak list of new releases left Paul Blart - Mall Cop at the top of the sales chart this week. The DVD sold an additional 554,000 units and added $9.92 million in consumer spending at retail to lift its total to $39.33 million. Second place went to New in Town, the only new release in the top ten, and one of only three new releases in the top 30. The DVD sold 405,000 units and generated $8.72 million in sales, which is about half of what it made theatrically. Taken remained in third place with 373,000 units / $5.76 million for the week and 3.45 million units and $56.15 million after three. It is by far the best-selling theatrical release of 2009 so far. Valkyrie fell to fourth place with 321,000 units, lifting its running tally to 1.17 million units and $20.05 million. Meanwhile, My Bloody Valentine 3D remained in fifth place with 217,000 units / $4.34 million for the week and 699,000 units / $13.97 million after two.

The best of the rest of the new releases was The Closer - Season Four, which managed 14th place with 80,000 units, but 10th place in terms of spending with $2.09 million. The final new release was The Devil's Tomb at 16th place with 76,000 units / $1.52 million in opening week sales.

I described the Blu-ray selection for this week as perhaps the worst since day-and-date releases became standard. So it comes as no surprise that there was a drop-off in High Definition sales. But while it was down 33% from last week to $14.1 million, that was still 82% higher than the same week last year, and no worse than average for the year so far. Compared to DVD sales, it was 8.7% of total sales and 12% of the top 20 comparison. This week's best selling Blu-ray was Taken, which returned to the top with 75,000 units. The best-selling new release was New in Town with just under 15,000 units. No wonder Blu-ray sales were down from last week.

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Filed under: Video Sales, Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Taken, Valkyrie, My Bloody Valentine, New in Town, The Devil's Tomb