Given the results of the top-selling DVDs of 2009, it clearly shows how the charm of the movie in the box office is directly proportional to its DVD sales. There are other factors that also affect the rankings like offers for DVD and blu-ray special features, cool packaging and other publicity stints; yet they are not as crucial as the ultimate appeal requirements of the film for it to make it to the top-selling charts.
It is interesting to note that majority of these top-selling DVDs are those targeted for teens and kids… Yes, they have more luxury time for a couch potato treat! The more adult choices generally fall on the action and adventure genre. And all these could be attributed to the home theater appeal of these popcorn flicks for a fun movie time with family and friends.
A number of these DVDs have considerably basic offers like widescreen and full-screen packages, blue-ray plus DVD packages and any combination of them inclusive of the films’ digital copies. Of course, there are those that take advantage of special features like alternative endings, interviews with filmmakers and performers, behind-the-scene featurettes and other marketing stints to challenge the DVD sales’ greatest competitor: piracy.
The figures below are based from the statistics from The Numbers website, a free resource for industry professionals, the investment community and movie fans to track business information about movies.
25. Bedtime Stories
This family-friendly Adam Sandler comedy proves that he is still a bankable fare on the genre. And it gets its own share of chuckles as it lands on the 25th spot with 2,869,769 DVDs sold since its release on April 2009.
24. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
This adventure comedy is a good add up to the family friendly DVD collection with some touches of American history bent for some comic stints. And it rushes to the 24th spot with 2,960,361 units sold since its December 2009 release.
23. Fast & Furious
This fourth entry to the urban auto franchise provides kinetic entertainment and supercharged action that it becomes a good collectible for homeviewing. And it revs up towards the 23rd spot with 3,049,971 DVDs sold since July 2009.
22. Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure
This animated fantasy adventure following the story of the tiny pixie Tinker Bell works as a visual eye candy. It caters to kids who enjoy frequent watching of movies on DVDs. It reaches the 22nd place on the DVD rankings with 3,254,058 units sold since its last quarter of 2009 release.
21. High School Musical 3: Senior Year
Teenagers definitely love the pop fluff of this Disney Channel Original Movie as it hits the DVD sales with 3,268,868 units sold, making it to the 21st spot on the 2009 list.
20. Hannah Montana The Movie
The strong teen market is truly reliable with DVD sales. The movie’s bankable teen star Miley Cyrus leads the DVD sales on the 20th place with 3,382,393 units sold since its Auguest 2009 release.
19. Paul Blart: Mall Cop
As a genial, inoffensive comedy of such comic charm, this film becomes a home viewing sell out as it lands on the 19th spot with 3,429,843 units sold since its May 2009 release.
18. The Dark Knight
This complex Batman tale has such an exquisite order in the chaos of its story. It’s explosively a provocative film that highlights an acclaimed send-off to Heath Ledger. It rules the 2009 DVD charts on the 18th spot with 3,436,080 units sold since its release on December 2008.
17. Beverly Hills Chihuahua
This mass-marketed fluff captures its cheeky market very well when it lands to the 17th spot in DVD sales with 3,549,937 units sold since its March 2009 release.
16. Marley and Me
As a sentimental tale hitting the right emotional notes, the large sentimental streak of this movie successfully brings in the demand for such a moving chronicle about a struggling couple and their family’s pet. With its large DVD demand, it has sold a total of 3,647,926 since March 2009.
15. Gran Torino
This film reaches the more matured audience and those who seem to relate with father-son relationships. And with a story grasping on universal human flavor, this story refined with a vintage touch of humor has sold 3,928,679 DVDs since June 2009.
14. Taken
The selling point of this Liam Neeson movie is its bizarre mix of effective sentimentality and briskly paced action. And as it provides action junkies with an exciting ride, it garners the 14th spot on the DVD sales with 4,021,420 units sold since May 2009. Adding to its charm is its DVD packages with an Extended Cut for additional breathtaking action and a 2-Disc Edition in Widescreen.
13. G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
The fanboys definitely made this adaptation a well-sold DVD as it lands on the 13th spot with 4,192,387 DVDs sold since November 2009.
12. X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Looks like the piracy incident has failed to really kill its market value as this first X-Men Origin movie ranks 12th with 4,332,607 units sold since September 2009. And it just takes a simple 2-Disc Special Edition and Digital Copy in Widescreen offer to convince the consumers to get hold of a ‘Wolverine’ DVD.
11. Bolt
As a fun and charming animated film, this Disney animation provides fun entertainment to adults and kids alike. And it lands on the 11th spot with 4,611,553 DVDs sold since March 2009.
10. The Proposal
On the 10th spot is this crowd-pleasing romantic comedy that proves to be a pleasant time killer–offering mindless entertainment and appealing stars. It has sold 4,727,066 DVDs since its October 2009 release.
9. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
With 4,819,882 in DVD sales since its release on October 2009, this franchise stays strong and it’s definitely not yet too close to extinction. This kiddie flick really works for its advantage. It has a Widescreen + The Scrat Pack Bonus DVD that makes for a more appealing kiddie treat.
8. Monsters vs. Aliens
As an affectionate spoof combining the 1950’s sci-fi and monster flicks with the ambitious visual texture meant for the young at heart, this animated movie works as a family-friendly animated offer. And as it aims to entertain every demographic in the audience, it lands on the 8th spot with 4,852,310 DVDs sold since its release on September 2009. Aside from the regular widescreen packages, a special edition with B.O.B.’s Big Break in Monster 3D puts more additional appeal for its target market.
7. The Hangover
This guilty pleasure comedy is so much fun that watching it over and over again offers a sort of perverse brilliance, or maybe brilliant perversity to the audience. And this is further supported by its DVD sales totaling to 5,933,794 units sold since its late year release on December 2009. Providing an additional appeal to this DVD favorite is its Unrated Edition.
6. Star Trek
Director J.J. Abrams and his crew build the Star Trek franchise into a truly glorious enterprise as it ranks 6th with 6,046,855 DVDs sold since its release on November 2009.
5. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
This masterful work helmed by director David Yates proves that the Harry Potter franchise and J. K. Rowling’s story are in very good hands indeed. It has sold 6,667,140 DVDs after a late release on December 2009, making it to the 5th spot.
4. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
This animated film proves its franchise’s continuing charm with this sequel’s DVD success. It ranks 4th with a total of 7,780,739 DVDs sold since its release on February 2009. It has a number of fun DVD packages including a complete Spanish version and a full screen package with gift-wrapped DVD which is an ideal gift option especially for kids.
3. Up
Punctuated by gentle whimsy and tender human values, this animated tale about unfulfilled dreams and fulfilling promises finds a good market on DVD as it ranks 3rd with 8,442,069 units sold since a late release on November 2009. The DVD features a 4-Disc Combo Pack with Digital Copy, Blue-ray and DVD.
2. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Michael Bay’s mega-budget sci-fi adventure lives up to its “more than meets the eye” fame as it ranks 2nd with 9,259,894 DVDs sold after a last quarter of the year release on October 2009.
1. Twilight
The teen bite of Twilight really gets into the fans’ veins as this swoony supernatural romance tops the 2009 DVD sales with 10,233,407 units sold since its release on March 2009. It reigns the 2009 DVD sales statistics in the same way as its box office figures have raised this new legendary franchise into outstanding heights. This adaptation from the Stephenie Meyer best-selling novel has all the key elements for romantic spree for an authentic teen escapism treat.
