Our DVD and Blu-ray sales estimates are based on weekly retail surveys, which we use to build a weekly market share estimate for each title we are tracking. The market share is converted into a weekly sales estimate based on industry reports on the overall size of the market, including reports published in Media Play News.

For example, if our weekly retail survey estimates that a particular title sold 1% of all units that week, and the industry reports sales of 1,500,000 units in total, we will estimate 15,000 units were sold of that title. The consumer spending estimate is based on the average sales price for the title in the retailers we survey.

We refine our estimates from week to week as more data becomes available. In particular, we adjust weekly sales figures for the quarter once the total market estimates are published by the Digital Entertainment Group. Figures will therefore fluctuate each week, and totals for individual titles can go up or down as we update our estimates.

Because sales figures are estimated based on sampling, they will be more accurate for higher-selling titles.

DVD Sales: Color Pulling in the Green

February 23rd, 2011

Due to a mixture of weak holdovers and depth in the new releases, we had seven DVDs debut in the top 30 sales chart this week. This includes a new number one, For Colored Girls, which sold 517,000 units and generated $8.41 million in consumer spending at retail. More...

DVD Sales: Living it Up in Beverly Hills

February 15th, 2011

Overall, new releases were rather weak, but we did see four films reach the top 30 on the sales chart this week, including a new number one. That film was Beverly Hill Chihuahua 2, which sold 712,000 units, generating $10.67 million in opening week revenue. Granted, this was half as many sales as the original, but that was a theatrical release and this was direct-to-DVD, so I think Disney has to be very happy with this release. In fact, they might be thinking franchise. More...

DVD and Blu-ray Releases for February 1st, 2011

February 1st, 2011

There's still a lull when it comes to first-run releases on the home market with no major, or even midlevel hits coming out this week. In fact, the best-selling release according to Amazon.com is Alice in Wonderland on Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack, which is a contender for Pick of the Week. The other major contender is Let Me In on Blu-ray, which failed to find an audience despite impressing critics almost as much as the original did. I'm going to give the honor to Let Me In, but both are worthy contenders. More...

Featured Blu-ray / DVD Review: Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2

January 31st, 2011

Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 is a direct-to-DVD sequel to Beverly Hills Chihuahua, but with a mostly new cast. I didn't exactly like the original, but recognized the entertainment value it would have for younger kids. This time around, my expectations are a little lower, as direct-to-DVD sequels tend to be a step down from their predecessors. That said, will it still have enough entertainment value to be worth checking out? Perhaps even picking up? More...

Contest: Room For More

January 28th, 2011

Normally when our Oscar Contest kicks in, our regular box office prediction contest takes a break, but we got an extra copy of Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 on Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack, so it continues for at least one more week with The Roommate as out target film. In order to win, one must simply predict the opening weekend box office number for The Roommate. Whoever comes the closest to predicting the film's opening 3-day weekend box office (Friday to Sunday), regardless if they go over or not, will win a copy of Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 on Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack. Entries must be received by 10 a.m., Pacific Time on Friday to be eligible, so don't delay! More...