Our DVD and Blu-ray sales estimates are based on weekly retail surveys, which we use to build a weekly market share estimate for each title we are tracking. The market share is converted into a weekly sales estimate based on industry reports on the overall size of the market, including reports published in Media Play News.

For example, if our weekly retail survey estimates that a particular title sold 1% of all units that week, and the industry reports sales of 1,500,000 units in total, we will estimate 15,000 units were sold of that title. The consumer spending estimate is based on the average sales price for the title in the retailers we survey.

We refine our estimates from week to week as more data becomes available. In particular, we adjust weekly sales figures for the quarter once the total market estimates are published by the Digital Entertainment Group. Figures will therefore fluctuate each week, and totals for individual titles can go up or down as we update our estimates.

Because sales figures are estimated based on sampling, they will be more accurate for higher-selling titles.

DVD and Blu-ray Releases for July 31st, 2012

July 31st, 2012

According to Amazon.com, the best selling new release of the week is a catalog Blu-ray release. Not only that, it is a double-dip. There were a few contenders for Pick of the Week, including the aforementioned Blu-ray double-dip: Total Recall: Mind-Bending Edition. It looks better than the previous edition, it has more extras, and it is really cheap. Forever Marilyn is a great Blu-ray and is also excellent value for the money. Finally, Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXIV. 'Nuff said. So which one is the pick of the week? Honestly, I can't decide. Call it a three-way tie. More...

Featured DVD / Blu-ray Review: The Flowers of War

July 25th, 2012

The Flowers of War was filmed in 2010 with a production budget of roughly $100 million, making it the most expensive Chinese film ever made. It was also the biggest Chinese hit in its native market the year it was released. On the other hand, despite have a big name lead, Christian Bale, it went nowhere here. Is it a good movie that deserves to be seen by more? Or without the historical connection, is it a weak film? More...

Blu-ray Sales: Reunions Make People Blu

July 24th, 2012

There were only two new releases to chart this week, but one of them, American Reunion, led the way with 352,000 units / $7.04 million. Its opening week Blu-ray share was 46%, which is excellent for a comedy. On the other hand, it has missed expectations nearly every step of the way, so this isn't enough to make the studio really happy. More...

DVD and Blu-ray Releases for July 10th, 2012

July 9th, 2012

Like last week, it's another really slow week on the home market. Unlike last week, there is at least one first run release coming out. American Reunion should lead the way in terms of sales, but given its reviews and its box office struggles, it won't be a major player. As for the best new release, there are a few interesting titles, like Dark Shadows: The Complete Original Series (Deluxe Edition). But in the end I went with Adventure Time: Complete First Season is the release I'm most looking forward to seeing. (The screener is late, but I will get to the review ASAP after it arrives.) More...

Per Theater Chart: Pina Dances to the Top

January 25th, 2012

There were only three films this past weekend to reach the $10,000 mark on the per theater average, and none of them were new releases. Pina finally expanded playing in ten theaters, while it climbed to the top of the per theater average with $13,667. It should hit its first major milestone soon. A Separation doubled its theater count and saw its per theater average grow to $12,986. It too should reach its first milestone sooner rather than later. The final member of the $10,000 club was We Need to Talk About Kevin with an average of $10,530 in seven theaters. The best new release of the week was Crazy Horse with $7,963 in its lone theater. However, it was a Wednesday release and if you include its first two days of release, it earned $12,336. If it were a Friday release, it likely would have reached the $10,000 market. More...

Limited Releases are in Full Bloom

January 20th, 2012

Among the number of limited releases coming out this week, there are a surprisingly high number of films earning overwhelmingly positive reviews: Carol Channing: Larger Than Life, Coriolanus, Crazy Horse, and The Pruitt Igoe Myth. Unfortunately, three of those four films are documentaries and those rarely earn any measure of mainstream success. I don't think there's enough buzz behind Coriolanus to make up the difference. More...

International Box Office: Sherlock Sequel tries to Climb out of Its Shadow

January 11th, 2012

It's clear that Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows won't surpass its predecessor domestically, while it will be difficult to avoid that fate internationally. That said, it did climb into first place on the international chart with $44.9 million in 51 markets over the weekend for a total of $180.6 million after four weeks of release, while its worldwide total reached $337.6 million. It debuted in first place in a couple major markets this past weekend. In Australia it earned $6.65 million on 386 screens, while in Spain it managed $4.67 million on 459. Even if it had no major markets left to open in, it still would get to $250 million internationally. With debuts in Brazil, France, and Japan ahead, it could reach north of $300 million. More...

International Box Office: Major Milestone for Mission

January 5th, 2012

Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol remained in first place on the international chart with $45.86 million on 7,342 screens in 50 markets for a total of $227.01 million internationally and $359.42 million worldwide. This includes a first place, $12.77 million opening on 509 screens in the U.K. It had to settle for second place in Mexico with $1.32 million on 1,065 screens over the weekend for a total opening of $6.64 million and in Brazil with $1.04 million on 501 screens over the weekend and a total opening of $6.02 million. The film has almost caught up with Mission: Impossible: III and is closing in on the average for the franchise. More...

Limited Releases: Awards Season Cools Off This Week

December 23rd, 2011

There are only seven films on this week's list of limited releases; however, five of them were earning at least some measure of Awards Season buzz. This is hardly unusual for this time of year. What is unusual is that almost none of them are earning overall positive reviews. The one exception is Pina, which has 93% positive reviews, but as a documentary / concert film, it might struggle to find an audience outside of fans of modern dance. On the other hand, while Albert Nobbs' overall reviews are merely mixed, it has a chance to find a sizable audience, thanks in part to its numerous early nominations. More...

International Box Office: Mission Goes Global

December 21st, 2011

New releases dominated the international chart starting with Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol, which debuted in first place with $69.49 million on 6,693 screens in 42 markets. It debuted in first place in Japan with $7.35 million on 636 screens over the weekend for a total opening of $9.32 million. It also placed first in neighboring South Korea with $7.18 million on 948 screens over the weekend and $8.67 million in total. Other first place openings included Australia with $4.23 million on 414 and Spain with $2.64 million on 528. It had to settle for second place in Russia, but still managed $6.08 million on 1099 screens and in France with $5.03 million on 616. The final major market release of the week was Germany, where it earned second place with $3.48 million on 577 screens over the weekend for a total of $4.00 million. The film has yet to open in Brazil, the U.K., Italy and Scandinavia, among other markets, and should finish in a similar range to the other films in the franchise. More...

Awards Season: Globes Reward Artistic Intent

December 16th, 2011

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced their nominations and the Awards Season picture started to look a whole lot clearer. The Artist led the way with six nominations, while The Descendents and The Help were right behind with five apiece. More...