Bemoaning unimpressive DVD sales figures throughout 2011, analyst IHS iSuppli has named three home movie heavyweights that could help rescue the all-important holiday season for the physical media market. Luckily, playing the savior is right up their alley.
According to the research group, the release of "Thor," "X-Men: First Class" and the six-film "Star Wars" collection on Blu-ray buoyed the foundering market last month.
"Thor" and "Star Wars" caused Blu-ray movie sales to jump by 156 percent at the end of September's third week revealed IHS, selling 500,000 and 400,000 units (respectively) in that time frame. George Lucas' whopping nine-disc box set's suggested price was $139, though the market analysis firm pointed out some retailers had dropped the price tag to under $100.
"X-Men: First Class" led the medium the week prior, selling over 600,000 copies in seven days. The stellar performance delivered a 131 percent year-over-year growth for Blu-ray - growth Hollywood is eager to maintain.
"Studios are starting to bring the crown jewels out of the vault for BD release," said Jan Saxton, senior U.S. video analyst for IHS. "That, coupled with the first releases from a very strong summer box office, has the potential to turn the movie disc market around."
Recent blockbusters "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," "Super 8," "Cars 2," "Captain America: The First Avenger" and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" will all see release in the next two months. We'll know soon enough if they can carry the industry and continue Blu-ray's recent success.
Which big Blu-ray releases are you anticipating this fall? Let us know in the comment section.
