Blu-ray Sales, Mar. 3-9: Catching Fire Spreads Over Home Media

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Blu-ray Sales, Mar. 3-9: Catching Fire Spreads Over Home Media

Posted March 13, 2014 10:27 AM by Josh Katz

For the week that ended on March 9th, Lionsgate Home Entertainment's The Hunger Games: Catching Fire took the top spot on the Blu-ray-only and overall package media charts. The second in the Hunger Games film franchise, Catching Fire proved a blockbuster success for the studio last year. Alongside solid critical notices (on Metacritic, the film has a 75% score), Catching Fire grossed $864 million worldwide on top of its estimated $130 million production budget. And it's already setting records on the small screen; as Blu-ray.com reported yesterday, the title sold 3.9 million discs in its first three days of home-media release. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire had a Blu-ray market share of 51%.

Next up on the Blu-ray-only sales ranking was Warner Home Entertainment's Gravity. Gravity was one of 2013's breakout hits. The critically acclaimed sci-fi thriller - it has a strong Metacritic score of 96% - grossed over $707 million worldwide. Furthermore, at the last Oscar ceremony, it won seven Academy Awards, including Best Visual Effects and Best Director. On the Blu-ray-only list, Gravity sold 17% as many discs as Catching Fire and had a Blu-ray market share of 47%. Regarding the overall package media chart, the film actually came in third place behind Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave (the recent Best Picture-winner sold 24% as many copies as Catching Fire). There, Gravity sold 18% as many total units as Catching Fire.

Finally, Disney and Marvel Studios' Thor: The Dark World rounded out the top three spots on the Blu-ray-only media chart. This adventure fantasy, the sequel to the 2011 blockbuster that made stars of both Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston, netted a large profit when it premiered theatrically last November. While it only grossed $206 million domestically on top of its estimated $170-million production budget, the additional $435 million it made in international markets solidified Thor as a viable franchise for its parent studios. Thor sold 16% as many Blu-rays as Catching Fire - and had a higher HD market share of 57% - and 14% as many total units.

Top Ten Blu-ray Sellers for Week Ending 03/09/14:
  1. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
  2. Gravity
  3. Thor: The Dark World
  4. 12 Years a Slave
  5. The Hunger Games / Catching Fire (Wal-Mart Exclusive)
  6. The Hunger Games
  7. Game of Thrones: The Complete Third Season
  8. The Jungle Book
  9. Despicable Me 2
  10. Super Bowl XLVIII Champions: 2014 Seattle Seahawks
Top Five Home Media Sellers for Week Ending 03/09/14 (% of Blu-ray's Market Share Noted):
  1. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (51%)
  2. 12 Years a Slave (33%)
  3. Gravity (47%)
  4. Thor: The Dark World (57%)
  5. The Hunger Games / Catching Fire (Wal-Mart Exclusive) (40%)
Top Five Blu-ray 3D Sellers for Week Ending 03/09/14 (Per % of Total Unit Sales):
  1. The Wizard of Oz 3D (29%)
  2. Thor: The Dark World 3D (25%)
  3. Gravity 3D (10%)
  4. Pacific Rim 3D (7%)
  5. Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters 3D (7%)