Blu-ray Sales, August 20-26: The Odds Are Still with The Hunger Games

Home

Blu-ray Sales, August 20-26: The Odds Are Still with The Hunger Games

Posted August 29, 2012 10:28 PM by Josh Katz

For the week ending on August 26th, Lionsgate Home Entertainment's release of The Hunger Games has continued to dominate both the Blu-ray and overall package media charts. Ever since its theatrical premiere in March, the modestly budgeted ($78 million) adaptation of author Suzanne Collins' science-fiction novel has brought Lionsgate great fortune; the film, which grossed over $407 million domestically, instantly kickstarted a new screen franchise, and that viewer interest has carried over to the home media platform. The Hunger Games was the top earner during its overall media debut, and it has retained that spot during its second week of sales, with only a slight drop in its Blu-ray market share (43% to 41%).

Universal Studios' The Lorax also maintained its standing on the Blu-ray and package media rankings as the runner-up to The Hunger Games' top position. However, in terms of units sold, this animated interpretation of the Dr. Seuss fable fell far short of Lionsgate's thriller. Looking at Blu-rays only, where The Lorax had a Blu-ray market share of 38% (a one percent increase from the previous week), the CGI-animated comedy sold only 8% as many discs as The Hunger Games, and the amount of total home media units sold improved only marginally - just 8.5% as many copies. For the time being, audiences have selected The Hunger Games as their preferred small-screen viewing option, trumping the appeal of the family-friendly Lorax.

Finally, third place on the HD rankings went to a title far removed from either The Hunger Games or The Lorax: Sasha Baron Cohen's R-rated comedy The Dictator. This raunchy satire enjoyed a solid worldwide theatrical gross of over $172 million (on top of a $59 million production budget), and its unrated home media edition helped it debut in the top three on the overall media and Blu-ray rankings. Now, The Dictator's totals never approached The Hunger Games - it sold 7% as many Blu-rays as The Hunger Games and 6% as many total units - but its ability to eke out a third place victory speaks to Paramount Pictures' success at counter-programming The Dictator (which had a 48% HD market share) against the PG-13 and PG-rated Hunger Games and The Lorax.

Top Ten Blu-ray Sellers for Week Ending 08/26/12:
  1. The Hunger Games
  2. Dr. Seuss' The Lorax
  3. The Dictator
  4. Pocahontas Two-Movie Collection
  5. The Rescuers Two-Movie Collection
  6. Jaws
  7. The Aristocats
  8. Chimpanzee
  9. The Tigger Movie
  10. Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure
Top Five Home Media Sellers for Week Ending 08/26/12 (% of Blu-ray's Market Share Noted):
  1. The Hunger Games (41%)
  2. Dr. Seuss' The Lorax (38%)
  3. The Dictator (48%)
  4. Pocahontas Two-Movie Collection (63%)
  5. The Rescuers Two-Movie Collection (69%)
Top Three Blu-ray 3D Sellers for Week Ending 08/26/12 (Per % of Total Unit Sales):
  1. Wrath of the Titans 3D (15%)
  2. Dr. Seuss' The Lorax 3D (5%)
  3. Despicable Me 3D (3%)