Blu-ray Sales: January 20th, 2013: Taken Too Much for Competition

March 5, 2013

We had a new release on top of the Blu-ray sales chart for the week of January 20th, 2013. Taken 2 sold 838,000 units and generated $16.75 million. Its opening week Blu-ray share was 42%, which is good for the genre, but not great. Frankenweenie remained in second place with 64,000 units / $2.24 million for the week and 240,000 units / $7.16 million after two. This is good for a kids movie, especially one that wasn't digitally animated. Dredd fell to third place with 61,000 units / $1.34 million over the week for totals of just 250,000 units / $5.12 million after two. Given the genre and the reviews, it should have performed better thus far. Looper was right behind with 60,000 units / $1.50 million for the week, while it now has 476,000 units / $10.59 million after three weeks of sales. The Possession only managed fifth place on the Blu-ray sales chart, compared to second place on the DVD sales chart. It sold 57,000 units and generated $1.32 million in revenue for an opening week Blu-ray share of 24%. That's low for a horror film, which tend to appeal to the same target demographic as high definition does.

The next best new release was To Rome With Love in 23rd place with 12,000 units / $246,000. Since it didn't chart on DVD, we don't have an opening week Blu-ray share. Undefeated was right behind in 24th place with 9,000 units / $141,000. Its opening week Blu-ray share was just 11%, but it is a documentary, so that's not that shocking.

The overall Blu-ray market finally bounced back increasing 47% in terms of units and 32% in terms of revenue when compared to last week. Compared to last year, the growth was even better, as it rose 73% in terms of units and 57% in terms of revenue. DVD sales actually declined when compared to last week, albeit by small margins of 4%, both in terms of units and revenue. Compared to last year, DVD sales were higher, up 37% in terms of unit and revenue. The strong showing by Blu-rays helped the overall Blu-ray share recover reaching 35% in terms of units and 41% in terms of revenue. This is more like it.

Next week it is not a good week for new releases. Only End of Watch has any real shot at making a real impact on the DVD or Blu-ray sales chart. Last year's new releases were led by Real Steel, both on DVD and on Blu-ray. I don't think End of Watch will match Real Steel's numbers and without a lot of depth, the overall market could be in trouble.


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Filed under: Video Sales, Frankenweenie, Looper, Taken 2, The Possession, Dredd, Undefeated, To Rome with Love, End of Watch