Home Media Magazine reports that strong sales of Blu-ray discs for the third quarter of 2011 have driven the expected sales percentage increase over 2010 to 35%. After a sluggish start to 2011, popular Blu-ray titles such as:
The Lion King,
Cars 2,
Thor,
Captain America: The First Avenger, and
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 have enticed disc buyers to choose the superior HD version of the movie over the comparative standard definition.
The new Home Media Magazine article indicates that, "BD disc sales in the United States will reach about 115 million units in 2011, compared with 85 million units in 2010 — spearheaded by the Star Wars: The Complete Saga boxed set release, Jim Bottoms, analyst with Futuresource in London, told Home Media Magazine.
In Europe, BD disc sales will balloon 42% to 63 million units, compared with 44 million units last year — driven by strong adoption in Germany. Global BD disc sales will increase to 234 million units, up 45% from 161 million units in 2010.
Bottoms said that in addition to growing appeal for catalog titles in Blu-ray, consumers are less resistant to purchasing content in HD, despite the higher price compared with DVD."
The current week's Blu-ray slate features the comedic box office hit of the year:
The Hangover Part II, an acclaimed spy thriller:
The Debt, a contender for various Academy Awards:
The Help, and the lastest film from Director Jon Favreau:
Cowboys & Aliens. In addition, the unexpected box office smash
Rise of the Planet of the Apes will be making its Blu-ray bow next week. Thus, disc sales will continue to thrive and gain new ground for the HD disc format.