Top-flight titles target post-holiday DVD rush
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Although the jury is still out on the ultimate strength or weakness of the fourth quarter, studio DVD marketers are charging ahead with plans for next year.
Already, three big theatrical features — one a certifiable blockbuster — have been slotted for January release. “The Wedding Crashers” (New Line) will arrive in stores January 3 with a $207.8 million theatrical pedigree. A week later comes “Red Eye” and “Transporter 2.”
Other likely January titles include “Flightplan” and “The Constant Gardener,” which is generating a lot of buzz in awards circles.
Contenders for February DVD releases include ” Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride,” “Just Like Heaven” and “Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit,” and “A History of Violence”
“It’s a fantastic time for home video,” Warner Home Video president Ron Sanders said of the January-February time period. “That’s why New Line has ‘Wedding Crashers’ and we had ‘Troy’ in that same slot last year. We were very pleased with the results.”
Sanders credited the booming gift-card market, which according to Deloitte & Touche USA Llp. grew 20% last year and boosted retail sales by an estimated $18 billion.
“As gift cards become bigger and bigger retail items, we have a greater opportunity to sell DVDs after the holiday period,” Sanders said.
It’s not just new releases, either. Dozens of classics have been slotted for January and February release, including Warner’s “Oscar Classics Collection,” consisting of seven Academy Award-winning films that never before have been available on disc. Arriving in stores January 31: best picture winner “Cimarron” (1931), “The Champ” (1931), “Captains Courageous” (1937), “The Good Earth” (1937), “Kitty Foyle” (1940), “Johnny Belinda” (1948) and 1956’s “Lust for Life.”
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