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.

Blu-ray Sales: Holdovers Slay New Releases

September 12th, 2013

There were only three new releases to chart on the June 30th, 2013 edition of the Blu-ray sales chart, but all three of them reached the top ten. That said, Jack the Giant Killer remained in first place with 90,000 units / $2.24 million over the week for a total of 313,000 units / $7.40 million after two. More...

DVD Sales: Calling New Releases

September 12th, 2013

There was a quartet of new releases spread throughout the June 30th, 2013 edition of the DVD sales chart. None were major hits, but at least The Call earned first place with 225,000 units / $3.88 million during its first week of release. It was only a midlevel hit at the box office, so this opening is on par with expectations, given the current state of the overall DVD market. More...

DVD and Blu-ray Releases for June 25th, 2013

June 24th, 2013

It's summer time. Long time readers know what that means for the home market. It's bad news. There are a couple of first-run releases to come out: The Call and The Incredible Burt Wonderstone. The former was a solid midlevel hit earning more than $50 million on a $13 million budget. The latter bombed. Neither one is a contender for Pick of the Week. There are a couple limited releases that might rise to that level, but I think the best release is Todd & the Book of Pure Evil: The Complete Second Season on DVD. Unfortunately, the screener arrived late so I haven't had a chance to review it, and I hate handing out that honor when till after I give the screener a full review. Fortunately, there is a screener that arrived late that is worth that honor: My Neighbor Totoro on Blu-ray. More...

International Box Office: Oz Still Powerful

March 21st, 2013

Oz the Great and Powerful remained in first place with $48.2 million on 10,433 screens in 55 markets for totals of $138.6 million internationally and $282.7 million worldwide. The film took top spot in France with a hair under $5.00 million on 620 screens. During its second weekend in Russia, the film added $4.93 million on 1,137 screens for a total of $21.63 million so far. At this pace, it should have no trouble earning a profit. The only question is whether or not it will get there before it reaches the home market. More...

Per Theater Chart: Breaking the Bank

March 20th, 2013

Spring Breakers dominated the per theater chart earning the best per theater average for any film of 2013. It opened with an average of $87,667 in three theaters. Had it opened with a total of $87,667 in three theaters, it would have been a great start. A fellow A24 release, Ginger & Rosa, was next with an average of $14,279, also in three theaters. Somebody Up There Likes Me fell 64%, but still earned a spot in the $10,000 club with $12,310 in its one theater. Oz the Great and Powerful was the final film to earn more than $10,000 on the per theater chart with an average of $10,545. More...

Limited Releases: Go For Broke

March 15th, 2013

It is a pretty busy week for limited releases with a number of them that could do well. Blancanieves should do well in art house cinemas, but it is too out there for mainstream success. Likewise, From Up on Poppy Hill should draw in fans of Anime, but there are not enough of them to allow the film to expand significantly. Ginger and Rosa has more appeal to mainstream audiences and strong buzz, but its reviews are only good and not great. Spring Breakers is also earning reviews that are good, but not great. However, it has a planned wide opening next week, so unless that falls apart, it will be the biggest hit on this week's list. More...

International Box Office: Oz Powers Its Way to the Top

March 15th, 2013

Oz the Great and Powerful began its international run in first place with $69.2 million on 11,250 screens in 46 markets. It crushed the competition is Russia with $14.65 million on 1,137 screens, but this particular market tends to reward fantasy films. It wasn't quite as strong in the U.K., but still earned first place with $5.53 million on 530 screens. It also topped the charts in Mexico ($5.26 million on 207 screens); in Australia ($4.88 million on 268); in Brazil ($4.39 million 732); Italy ($3.76 million 588); Germany ($3.74 million on 548); and in Spain ($2.62 million on 649). On the other hand, it had to settle for second place in Japan with $2.81 million on 584 screens over the weekend for a total opening of $3.50 million. It could do no better than fourth in South Korea with $1.58 million on 425 screens over the weekend for a total opening of $1.73 million. It is too soon to tell where it will end up, but this is a good start. More...