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.

Theater counts: Way of Water cruises into 2023

January 5th, 2023

After making its North American debut on December 16th, Avatar: The Way of Water has amassed a staggering $465 million from a steady 4,202 locations. Internationally, the James Cameron juggernaut has performed even better, scoring $1.05 billion since its release, already eclipsing the $769 million that Top Gun: Maverick earned during its seven-month run. Way of Water actually adds 138 viewing locations this week, making it once again this week’s widest release, playing in 4,340 venues. We will at least have one brand new wide release this week to give it some competition. More...

Theater counts: Strange World becomes widest release while Violent Night smashes its way into theaters

December 1st, 2022

After a slew of new wide releases made their way into movie theaters over the Thanksgiving Holiday, we see only one true new wide release coming to cinemas this week in the way of Christmas action-comedy, Violent Night. Joining Violent Night is a familiar face, as Top Gun: Maverick soars in for a two week theatrical engagement in 1,864 locations before making its streaming debut on Paramount+ starting December 22. Tom Cruise’s epic jet fighter sequel currently sits at number 5 on the all-time domestic box office chart with over $716 million in earnings. The widest release this week however belongs to last week’s newcomer, Strange World, keeping its opening count of 4,174 locations from its under-performing debut week. More...

Theater counts: The Woman King reigns supreme as a bevy of wide releases hit theaters

September 15th, 2022

A new troupe of wide releases will make their theatrical launches this week with the largest being that of the historic epic The Woman King. This week however isn’t all about the new arrivals as there are still plenty of opportunities to see some older films still playing in theaters. More...

Theater counts: Barbarian lands in theaters but No Way Home endures once again as widest release

September 8th, 2022

While no film put up huge numbers last weekend at the box office, it was an interesting one nevertheless as a handful of films repeatedly traded places with one another at the top of the chart, finally presenting a winner in Top Gun: Maverick as the jet-fueled movie came out on top of the Labor Day Holiday weekend (while also crossing the $700 million mark domestically on Monday). One of Maverick’s competitors was another behemoth feature, Spider-Man: No Way Home, which once again repeats as widest release this weekend by showing in 3,213 cinemas. Those two films alone account for a staggering $3.34 billion in worldwide earnings to date. More...

Theater counts: a trio of wide releases debut but Beast makes its way to widest release

August 25th, 2022

After trailing Bullet Train in last week’s list of widest releases and Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero at the box office, Beast can claim the prior accolade as it adds 11 locations this week for a theater count of 3,754. The Idris Elba survival thriller has collected $14.54 million in its first six days—$11.57 million coming from its opening weekend. More...

Theater counts: once again, two new movies can’t topple Bullet Train as widest release

August 18th, 2022

For the third consecutive week Bullet Train sits atop this weeks theater count list, despite the arrival of Idris Elba’s Beast, as the former comes in this week with 3,781 locations. After 13-days, the assassin film starring Brad Pitt has earned nearly $60 million in North American box office. After two weeks on top, the movie will likely have its hands full with the debut of both Beast and the latest from the popular Dragon Ball Z franchise, with Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero opening in about 3,100 theaters according to the latest from Deadline. Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero is on a 90-day theatrical window. More...

Theater counts: Bullet Train repeats as widest release as a new batch of films hits theaters

August 11th, 2022

After a solid opening at the box office, Bullet Train is once again the widest release heading into its second week. The film’s freshman effort yielded just over $30 million in its first three days and currently clocks in with a six-day total of $38.9 million. The Brad Pitt action-thriller clings to its opening theater count of 4,357 locations and it is poised to spend another week at the top of the box office charts. While no contenders are expected to knock Bullet Train off of its tracks, a slew of new moderate to wide releases hit cinemas this week as Mack & Rita, Laal Singh Chaddha, Fall, and Emily the Criminal debut, while Bodies Bodies Bodies expands nationwide. More...

Theater counts: Rise of Gru remains widest release as Thor: Love and Thunder rumbles into theaters

July 7th, 2022

Another week, another blockbuster movie arriving to theaters. This week we see the debut of Thor: Love and Thunder. The film is the second of three planned Marvel Cinematic Universe films set for release in 2022 after Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and before the November release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Love and Thunder, which has already stirred up $15.7 million from 17 overseas territories starting Wednesday, opens in 4,375 theaters in North America (including IMAX locations) on Friday. The movie features a large ensemble cast, headlined by Chris Hemsworth. More...

Theater counts: Rise of Gru hits 4,391 theaters for the Holiday weekend

June 30th, 2022

After an exciting head-to-head contest at the box office last weekend, another newcomer arrives in theaters this week to challenge chart toppers Top Gun: Maverick and Elvis. Minions: The Rise of Gru will open in 4,391 theaters this week, making it the widest release. The prequel to 2015’s Minions and fifth film in the Despicable Me franchise has earned nearly $4 million overseas so far in rollouts that began in mid June. Set in the 1970s, the animated feature follows a 12-year old Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) as he grows up in the suburbs. The animated comedy from Illumination will also be available on IMAX screens throughout North America. More...

Theater counts: Elvis and The Black Phone debut but Lightyear will be the widest release

June 23rd, 2022

While it has taken a back seat to both Top Gun: Maverick and Jurassic World: Dominion this week at the box office, Lightyear will become the widest release this weeked, albeit due Dominion dropping 400+ locations. While the Toy Story spinoff didn’t exactly hold up to the majority of expectations, the film has still garnered over $67 million in domestic revenue as of Wednesday. Pixar’s Lightyear keeps its opening count of 4,255 theaters as it heads into its sophomore outing. More...

Theater counts: Lightyear buzzes into theaters, but Dominion remains widest release

June 16th, 2022

With Spring nearing an end and Summer upon us, big things are happening at theaters across North America. With the number one and number two films at the box office also holding two of the three top positions of widest release ever, each week seems to possess a new and exciting release. This week is no exception as Lightyear arrives in theaters. The sci-fi action-adventure film directed by Angus MacLane charts the origin story for Buzz Lightyear, the action figure in the popular Toy Story films. Starring Chris Evans as the titular character, Lightyear debuts in 4,255 locations including IMAX screens throughout the United States and Canada. More...

Theater counts: It’s full speed ahead for Top Gun: Maverick as it enters its second week

June 2nd, 2022

After crushing it at the box office last weekend, Top Gun: Maverick ascends even higher than its record breaking opening theater count, adding 16 additional theaters to its already vast location count this week, coming in this week in 4,751 theaters. Two other wide releases land in theaters this week in Watcher and David Cronenberg’s Crimes of the Future with the former set to debut in 764 locations, while the latter in an estimated 900 theaters. This week is much more subdued regarding new releases as next week another monster franchise sequel will release by way of Jurassic World: Dominion, which is projected to arrive in about 4,500 locations. More...

Theater counts: Top Gun: Maverick soars into theaters as the widest release in history

May 26th, 2022

After 36 years, the wait is finally over as Top Gun: Maverick arrives in theaters, and does so in high-flying fashion as it is propelled to the top of the all-time widest release chart by debuting in 4,735 theaters. Tom Cruise returns as Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell as he is tasked with training a new group of Top Gun recruits to go on a dangerous mission, while confronting elements from his past. Top Gun: Maverick isn’t the only wide release hitting theaters this week however as The Bob’s Burgers Movie enters the fray in 3,425 locations. More...

Theater counts: Downton Abbey and Men arrive in North America, but Doctor Strange remains widest release

May 19th, 2022

For the third consecutive week, Doctor-Strange in the Multiverse of Madness stands perched atop our theater count chart. After compiling over $715 million worldwide since its release in early May, the film keeps its opening location count of 4,534 heading into week three, while two new wide releases appear this week: Focus Features’ Downton Abbey: A New Era and A24’s Men. More...

Note: This list contains actors who appeared in at least two movies in the franchise.

Note: This list contains people who contributed to at least two movies in the franchise.