Sequels lead pack of new DVDs set to shatter sales records

Drug Store News, Sept 13, 2004 by Doug Desjardins

Several DVD releases due this holiday season have a good shot at breaking the all-time sales record set last year by Finding Nemo. The fourth quarter lineup also includes several classic Christmas films due for release in special DVD editions.

The biggest title of the fourth quarter should be "Shrek 2," the summer sequel that took in $440 million at the box office and ranks as the third-highest grossing film of all time. The DVD will debut Nov. 5 on a Friday instead of a Tuesday, following a precedent DreamWorks Home Entertainment established with the release of the original "Shrek" in 2001.

"We're going to anniversary what we did for the first one, since that worked pretty well,' a DreamWorks spokeswoman said. Industry experts believe the odds are good that "Shrek 2" will break the all-time DVD sales record of 21 million units set by "Finding Nemo" in 2003-2004.

Another title with a chance at the record is "Spider-Man 2," a summer sequel with $370 million in box office receipts. Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment will release the two-disc DVD Nov. 30, and studio,executives expect sales to be "significantly better" than those of the original "Spider-Man" DVD.

The original "Spider-Man" held the DVD sales record,,of about 15 million units until "Finding Nemo" broke the mark. However, when the first "Spider-Man" came out two years ago, far fewer homes had DVD players, so it is likely the sequel will outsell its predecessor.

A third title with an outside shot at the DVD sales crown is "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," the third installment in the Harry Potter franchise. The two-disc set is due Nov. 23 and will be loaded with extras, including deleted scenes and an exclusive interview with Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling. Warner also will pour millions of dollars into marketing the title as it did with the first two Harry Potter releases.

Warner will follow that release with its massive 10-disc box set of The Matrix trilogy Dec. 7. The Ultimate Matrix Collection will include all three Matrix movies and many hours of extras.

Other big titles due in the fourth quarter include "The Day After Tomorrow from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment on Oct. 7 and "The Village" from Buena Vista Home Entertainment (date to be announced).

Paramount Home Entertainment is giving its holiday classic "White Christmas a new look on DVD for the film's 50th anniversary. New DVD copies shipped to stores this month will feature 50th anniversary edition stickers. The release, which has sold 4 million copies on VHS and DVD, also will receive extra coverage when it reappears in theaters across the country beginning in November.

On Nov. 2, MGM Home Entertainment will bring the classic "Babes in Toyland" to DVD for the first time. The film, featuring the voice of Christopher Plummer, will retail for $14.95. MGM also will release, a Christmas Fare DVD gift set Nov. 16 featuring "Prancer," "It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie" and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

And rounding out the list of fourth quarter releases is the usual slate of holiday-themed kids' titles. Paramount Home Entertainment has "Dora's Christmas" and the Peanut's classic "I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown" scheduled for release Oct. 26.

HIT Entertainment has "The Wiggles: Santa's Rockin'" due out Sept. 28. The holiday title will feature former singer and guitarist John Fogerty.