Avatar Breaks Blu-ray Record as DVDs Hit Shelves
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Avatar continues its phenomenal commercial success with 6.7 million DVD sales.
Avatar has added to its roll of achievements by setting a new record for Blu-ray disc sales.
Twentieth Century Fox revealed that Avatar had sold 2.7 million Blue-ray copies of Avatar since it was released in the US and Canada last Thursday. James Cameron’s movie also sold over 4 million units on the traditional DVD format, bringing in $130 million for Fox Home Entertainment in just four days.
Avatar was released in the US ahead of other worldwide distribution in order to coincide with Earth Day on 22 April. This year was the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, celebrated with a rally in Washington DC. Cameron has been a stout supporter of green initiatives and reinforced Avatar’s environmental message by released the DVD on Earth Day.
Although the true figures will likely never be known, Avatar is undoubtedly the most expensive movie ever made, with budget estimates ranging from $300 million to $600 million. The critical success at the box office has brought in over $2.7 billion however, and US DVD sales will add to Avatar’s vast commercial success.
DVD and Blu-ray sales are expected to be equally strong in other major markets in the UK, Europe and Asia. Avatar was released earlier today in the UK, with some stores opening at midnight last night to give fans their first opportunity to buy a copy of the DVD.
Retailer Tesco forecasts sales of 20,000 Blue-ray discs in the first day alone across its 180 stockists. The big question that still remains is when a 3D DVD will be available for viewers to enjoy at home. The first 3D TVs have already gone on sale this month, and so Avatar 3D is surely just around the corner.
Until that day, Cameron announced that Avatar would be rereleased in cinemas worldwide this summer with seven minutes of extra material. Until the 3D DVD is released, Avatar fans will have to content themselves with repeat viewings at the cinema to see Avatar as it was intended in glorious 3D.
