Blu-ray Sales, July 21-27: Top Disc Sales Go to Heaven

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Blu-ray Sales, July 21-27: Top Disc Sales Go to Heaven

Posted July 31, 2014 10:56 AM by Josh Katz

For the week that ended on July 27th, Sony Home Entertainment's Heaven Is for Real debuted at the top spot on the Blu-ray-only and overall package-media rankings. This drama - an adaptation of Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent's bestselling novel - helped demonstrate the commercial benefits of producing films steeped in Christian values. While the critical reception to Heaven Is for Real was fairly so-so (its Metacritic score is 47%), the public response was far more positive - the modestly budgeted feature (just $12 million) grossed over $91 million domestically. This week, Heaven Is for Real had a Blu-ray market share of 26%.

Next up on the Blu-ray-only and overall package-media lists was Twentieth Century Fox's Rio 2. This sequel to the 2011 animated hit overcame mediocre critical notices - it currently has a Metacritic score of 49% - to find commercial success at the global box office; the film grossed just under $490 million worldwide on top of its $103-million budget. Rio 2 sold 78% as many Blu-rays as Heaven Is for Real (and had a 45% HD market share) and on the overall package-media chart, it sold 54% as many total units as the faith-based drama.

Finally, Warner's Transcendence rounded out the top three spots on the Blu-ray-only sales charts. Transcendence was the directorial debut of Christopher Nolan's Academy Award-winning cinematographer Wally Pfister, though Pfister's first high-profile solo endeavor did not prove as fruitful as his collaborations with Nolan. The $100-million sci-fi thriller grossed only $23 million domestically (the picture performed a little better stronger overseas, earning an additional $80 million), and critics likewise didn't have much enthusiasm for the film, as evinced by its 42% Metacritic rating. Transcendence sold 39% as many Blu-rays as Heaven Is for Real and had an HD market share of 44%. On the overall package-media chart, it came in fourth place (the Arnold Schwarzenegger actioner Sabotage took third place) and sold 23% as many total units as Heaven Is for Real.

Top Ten Blu-ray Sellers for Week Ending 07/27/14:
  1. Heaven Is for Real
  2. Rio 2
  3. Transcendence
  4. Sabotage
  5. The LEGO Movie
  6. 300: Rise of an Empire
  7. Frozen
  8. Lone Survivor
  9. Rise of the Planet of the Apes
  10. The Single Moms Club
Top Five Home Media Sellers for Week Ending 07/27/14 (% of Blu-ray's Market Share Noted):
  1. Heaven Is for Real (26%)
  2. Rio 2 (37%)
  3. Sabotage (39%)
  4. Transcendence (44%)
  5. The Single Moms Club (10%)
Top Five Blu-ray 3D Sellers for Week Ending 07/27/14 (Per % of Total Unit Sales):
  1. 300: Rise of an Empire 3D (7%)
  2. How to Train Your Dragon 3D (6%)
  3. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug 3D (6%)
  4. Rio 2 3D (5%)
  5. Transformers: Dark of the Moon 3D (5%)