Iron Man's Blu-ray release manages 20 percent of DVD's market share
by Ben Drawbaugh 
posted Oct 8th 2008 at 11:28AM
At this point it seems that the only one not talking about how well Iron Man sold on Blu-ray is Paramount, as Adam's Research tells Video Business that the Blu-ray version of Iron Man managed to take 20 percent of the market share away from DVD. This number confirms our estimates that Blu-ray market share has doubled since HD DVD demise. The previous record holder, I Am Legend, that was released around the time HD DVD called it quits, only managed 9 percent. We have to say that this even exceeds our expectations though, and although there is no doubt that this title fits in the Blu-demographic, it once again is some indication that the future might just be Blu after all.
Filed under: Blu-ray
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
dagamer34 @ Oct 8th 2008 11:42AM
And The Dark Knight will kick that record's ass to the curb like you've never seen before!
Spiza @ Oct 8th 2008 11:45AM
WOW! Next Laserdisc format indeed.
VampireHunter Z @ Oct 8th 2008 11:47AM
The question is how many of those were bought by PS3 owners? I've completely lost interest in Blu ray because of prices. It's not bad buying a standalone player for $300+ since it's a one time purchase. But the movies are just too expensive.
This statistic is not a good indication of how well people are adapting to Blu ray. Not until we know how many were bought by owners of standalone players.
Michael @ Oct 9th 2008 3:57AM
I've been getting my Blu-rays on Amazon for about what new DVDs cost.
For example:
I bought Iron Man on Blu-ray: $25.95
Iron Man on standard DVD: $24.99
Can you really claim Blu-rays are too expensive? Really?
Multi-format-mayhem @ Oct 8th 2008 11:52AM
You're just not comparing like with like Ben.
The DVD market is a mature market where relatively few will buy brand new releases inm the first week or 2 (but even there it still slaughters the high def number).
I'd love to see a stat showing the % BD took after 6 months.
In other words when all those who know the DVD movie price is going to drop like a stone after a few weeks/months have bought in.
You know it & I know it.
20% is just dreaming and the in-built exaggeration merely reflected because of the completely different nature of the 2 markets.
Some of the 'believers' here might want to wave a flag for the movie & CE industry's margins but I won't.
Relax, the future is DVD, the niche for those of us interested in quality above price is Blu,
for now.
But that's all that's going on, there has been no huge explosion of high def into the mainstream - and with the long deep recession about to strike all of our economies there's not going to be any such explosion for some time.
benny boy @ Oct 8th 2008 1:21PM
"Relax, the future is DVD, the niche for those of us interested in quality above price is Blu,
for now."
Stop talking as if you know exactly what's going to happen with Blu-Ray. I think that's what everyone hated about Truth Teller/Nfinity etc. People don't mind you having an opinion but don't act as if it is gospel and you know exactly what will happen.
DrXym @ Oct 8th 2008 3:27PM
"I'd love to see a stat showing the % BD took after 6 months."
Nah, that's not arbitrary enough. If you're going to shift the goalposts by making ridiculous demands why not go the whole hog.
"I'd love to see a stat showing the % BD took when the badgers screamed under a blood moon and the the guildfolk of Shrewsbury did tap their staffs thrice upon the old clock tower before the cock crowed"
Back in the real world, the reports suggest sales of Iron Man have between 20-50% on Blu Ray format for this title depending on retailer. As most titles sell their most in the first weeks, this is the figure that the industry is actually interested in. Not six months hence.
I wonder what mental knots you'll twist yourself in when The Dark Knight does even better.
Multi-format-mayhem @ Oct 8th 2008 7:23PM
"If you're going to shift the goalposts by making ridiculous demands"
Yeah, cos a comparison in actual sales numbers @ 6mths between BD & DVD is just so "ridiculous" when trying to accurately look to see how each release is really doing.
Just be honest about this, you know the comparison would not look good for BD cos it plays to the strengths of the mature DVD market whereas the present comparison favours BD.
What's so difficult about cutting the PR BS & just seeing the facts and the truth of the situation?
Why would a comparison of actual unit sales numbers @ 6, 9 or even 12mths be so bad?
(don't bother answering, it was a rhetorical question, the answer is as plain as day - to anyone prepared to be open & unbiased about this)
Cotton @ Oct 8th 2008 11:56AM
What amazes me is those numbers are totally off considering when I went into my local Circuit City to purchase a blu-ray copy of Iron-Man the manager informed me that there was a recall on the blu-ray discs so they only had the regular DVD to sell. I wonder what kind of numbers would have happened without the re-call.....
jim @ Oct 8th 2008 12:32PM
does anyone know why they dont just pack a DVD with Bluray discs-- as the new Sleeping Beauty does-- The biggest issue is that if they are looking to increase the volume--- there is no portablility with Blu --- that is why I dont buy more movies on BLU-- because you cant bring it in the car or anywhere that doesnt have a player --- -- any thoughts
Ordeith @ Oct 8th 2008 1:55PM
Maybe they don't want to be seen copying an HD-DVD practice?
Chad @ Oct 8th 2008 2:47PM
EXACTLY!
I have one BD player (my PS3 of course) and over 10 DVD capable devices. When I look at purchasing a title I want portability AND HD but if I have to pick one I'm picking portability (actually I'm picking on price cause I aint payin $35 for a movie) but if I were to get both I might not balk at such a high price.
DrXym @ Oct 8th 2008 3:34PM
Because packing a DVD in means you can give it away to a friend or similar. And most people buying the Blu Ray version would have no need of a DVD copy or they would have bought the DVD version.
Not to say that anyone would turn down a DVD if it was packed in for no extra charge to the consumer but clearly the sales of this title shows disks have no issue selling without one.
DEEZNUTZ @ Oct 8th 2008 3:54PM
I agree with you. I like the portability of it, and I hope that disney continues to do this with all their titles. It makes sense since many kids are fans of disney movies, they may want to watch it in their room or in another room in the home. And since most folks don't have multiple BD players, it's great to have the DVD copy. Also handy for playing the movie in a car.
Also, friends and family that want to borrow the movie, you can just give them the DVD version.
squiggleslash @ Oct 8th 2008 12:56PM
There's a certain amount of truth to what MFM says, especially with BD suffering a shortage of titles and BD users snapping up titles with more desperation than DVD-only users.
That said, it's still an improvement. It's not as impressive as I Am Legend's share, given the latter's existence on a much less widely owned platform, but it still represents net growth for Blu-ray.
fernando @ Oct 8th 2008 2:18PM
well first off this is showing that there has been some growth with blu, which is good, I want to continue see titles being released on the format. But what I don't understand is why some people feel the need to preach at every oppurtunity about how Blu-ray will fail. If it's too expensive for you, or you don't want to upgrade or wait for something better, that's fine, but I don't get the need to continually preach of it's demise. I mean during laserdisc or divx were guys also preaching how it wouldn't go mainstream? And what also bugs me is the continuation of comparing blu to DVD, at this point in time it is no comparison and won't be for some time, so what exactly is the point on coming on here and preaching that since DVD did over a billion in sales that blu is meaningless? We now that what ever blu sells it won't be anything close to DVD and it won't be for a while if ever, so no need to continually bring it up. Also most sales are during the first week of release for DVD as well, when the nielson list comes out you'll see all the new releases at the top. As for the people who wait for the price to drop, don't you think if these people have the patience to wait a few weeks to save $5-10 that they probably also be waiting for blu-ray to drop as well?
-end rant
TrentD @ Oct 8th 2008 4:18PM
Wall of text. Use paragraphs.
RedShirt @ Oct 8th 2008 5:35PM
This is definitely a nice week for Blu. Dark Knight will undoubtedly do even better as a Holiday release. The key to the whole thing is getting the standalone players down below $300, and that's beginning to happen.
Methinks multi-format-mayhem is our old friend Truth Teller, btw.
RedShirt @ Oct 8th 2008 5:37PM
Should be interesting to see how Crystal Skull does next week as well.
chris @ Oct 8th 2008 7:28PM
As far as I'm concerned, Indiana Jones is still a trilogy. But I'm curious how it does too...
Mark @ Oct 9th 2008 4:39AM
I don't think the Crystal Skull will sell *that* well. It'll probably top the charts but the fact that the movie wasn't that good and the other movies in the series aren't also coming out as a boxed set will dampen things down.