DVD Sales - Escape Greater

February 24, 2009

There were four or five new releases to reach the top 30 on this week's sales chart depending on how you count Madagascar 2 - Escape to Africa. During its first full week of release it sold 1.83 million units, giving it totals of 3.51 million units and $56.55 million, which is easily the best sales figures for any DVD this year. Nights in Rodanthe opened in second place with a solid, if unspectacular, 521,000 units sold for $8.61 million in consumer retail spending. Space Buddies slipped to third with 437,000 / $6.54 million for the week and 1.38 million / $20.62 million after two. Soul Men opened in fourth place with 215,000 units sold while generating $4.29 million in sales, which is a strong start compared to its theatrical run. Zack and Miri Make a Porno remained in the top five with 178,000 units and $3.56 million in sales for total sales of $10.68 million from 597,000 units sold.

The only two other new releases to chart were W. and Miracle at St. Anna, which had nearly identical results, landing in seventh and eighth spots respectively. W. sold 144,000 units for $2.85 million while Miracle at St. Anna sold 143,000 units for $2.57 million.

Ugh. Another week of terrible Blu-ray releases is starting to have a real toll on the numbers. Granted, sales were down less than 3% to $10.8 million, but that's only 6.5% of total sales and 8% of the top 20 comparison. Compared to last year, Blu-ray sales were up, but only by 33%. However, there were no strong Blu-ray releases this week. Or last week. Or the week before. The best-selling Blu-ray was Madagascar, which sold an estimated 135,000 units during its first full week of release and close to 300,000 units in total. The second best-selling Blu-ray of the week was The Dark Knight, which has been in release for more than three months, which just goes to show you how weak new releases have been.

- C.S.Strowbridge

Filed under: Video Sales, The Dark Knight, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Nights in Rodanthe, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, W., Soul Men, Miracle at St. Anna