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The Force is Strong on Blu-ray: Star Wars Saga Breaks Global Sales

Poll Results: So did you end up buying Star Wars?

 
  • 1% (1)
    Just one of the trilogies.
  • 26% (21)
    Yep, like it or not I bought the set.
  • 30% (24)
    Its Star Wars, of course I bought it.
  • 41% (32)
    No original trilogy, no sale, I've resisted the tempation to buy them.
78 Total Votes  
post #1 of 71
9/22/11 at 11:36pm
Thread Starter 

THE FORCE IS STRONG ON BLU-RAY

sw.jpg

THE MOST ANTICIPATED BLU-RAY RELEASE IN THE GALAXY

BREAKS GLOBAL SALES RECORDS WITH ONE MILLION UNITS SOLD AND

$84 MILLION IN CONSUMER SPEND

 

The Complete Saga on Blu-ray quickly becomes the #1 pre-order and #1 catalog title since the launch of the high-definition format. 

 

Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment announced today that STAR WARS is the bestselling catalog Blu-ray Disc of all time with worldwide sales totaling one million units, including 515,000 units sold in North America in its first week alone.  This represents $84 million in worldwide consumer spend including $38 million in North America - unprecedented for a nine-disc Blu-ray collection at a premium price. 

 

 

The thirteen-month campaign to launch the SAGA Blu-ray and engage consumers around the globe began in August 2010. From Darth Vader at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), a first look at San Diego Comic Con, a first-of-its-kind partnership with eBay, to creating the world’s largest lightsaber in the UK, the power of the Force continued to resonate around the world as fans came out in droves to have fun with that galaxy far, far away. 

 

"Once again our fan’s enthusiasm to celebrate Stars Wars continues to amaze us,” said Kayleen Walters, Senior Director, Marketing, Lucasfilm. “Our goal was to deliver a premium product that they could enjoy with their family and friends and we are thrilled that they are enjoying it as much as we hoped they would.”

 

"Star Wars is a franchise with universal stories that resonates as much today as it did 30 years ago," said Mary Daily, Executive Vice President of Marketing for Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and Vincent Marcais, Senior Vice President of International Marketing for Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.  "With the Blu-ray, audiences can go deeper into the mythology than ever before and reconnect with everything they love about the Saga in the best possible quality."

 

The comprehensive collection includes the six movies with unparalleled high-definition picture and sound quality, and features numerous deleted, extended and alternate scenes, new documentaries and a cross-section of the countless Star Wars spoofs that have appeared in pop culture over the past three decades. Marking the first time ever that the full Saga is available in one complete collection, STAR WARS: THE COMPLETE SAGA ON BLU-RAY also features a coveted peek into the making of the Saga with vintage documentaries, audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes moments, interviews, prop and costume turnarounds, retrospectives and more.

 

Episodes I-III and IV-VI are also available as distinct Blu-ray Trilogy collections. Additionally, the Ask Vader app is now live in the iTunes store! You can download it via  http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/star-wars-blu-ray-ask-vader/id464507311?mt=8

 

 

 

 

ABOUT STAR WARS

The May 25, 1977 theatrical debut of Star Wars - on a scant 32 screens across America - was destined to change the face of cinema forever. An instant classic and an unparalleled box office success, the rousing "space opera" was equal parts fairy tale, western, 1930s serial and special effects extravaganza, with roots in mythologies from cultures around the world. From the mind of visionary writer/director George Lucas, the epic space fantasy introduced the mystical Force into the cultural vocabulary, as well as iconic characters such as evil Darth Vader, idealistic Luke Skywalker, feisty Princess Leia, lovable scoundrel Han Solo and wise Obi-Wan Kenobi. Since its 1977 debut, Star Wars has continued to grow, its lush narrative expanding from modest beginnings into an epic, six-film Saga chronicling the fall and redemption of The Chosen One, Anakin Skywalker.

 

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Gear mentioned in this thread:

Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Episodes I-VI) [Blu-ray]
Star Wars: The Prequel Trilogy (Episodes I - III) [Blu-ray]
Star Wars: The Original Trilogy (Episodes IV - VI) [Blu-ray]
post #2 of 71
9/23/11 at 2:41am
People bought it because it has 'Star Wars' on the cover Lucasfilm, and it obviously looks sharper than the DVDs, not because it was a premium product...

If you really care about your customers, next time out you might want to fix all the things you said would be fully fixed with this release, and actually pony up for a brand NEW HD transfer rather than using a 7 year old one...
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post #3 of 71
9/23/11 at 2:42am
This is all bad news. It encourages Lucas to make more bad movies. After making Empire Strikes Back Lucas was not happy with Gary Kurtz. Kurtz told him, but at least we made an excellent movie and he replies, we would have made the same amount of money if it wasn't this good. That "broke" my heart.

I recently watched Episode II. So combine that Kurtz anecdote with all the things Lucas has done in Episode II (I truly deeply love you. Shmi's death is a joke and make people laugh.....) It shows Lucas has no respect for his audiences. He things whatever low quality thing he makes, people will buy it.

So in worst case scenario if you consider Lucas a businessman and not an artist, I still can not respect a man that has no respect for his customers, clients. I did not buy this set.
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post #4 of 71
9/23/11 at 3:05am
The obvious thing is why did Lucasfilm not put more time/money/effort into the OT transfers. ROTJ & ANH especially are pretty shoddy in places & this set is obviously going to generate well over $100M when its finished its sales run so perhaps now Lucasfilm can do the right thing & address the technical issues like the missing picture in ROTJ & overscan issues highlighting missing picture corners as well as new HD masters for the OT as they really need them IMO instead of further pointless ILM additions or extras which have little appeal (but obviously cost a lot of money in legal rights clearances!!!).........
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post #5 of 71
9/23/11 at 4:26am
I believe that GL is a very shrewd business man who knows exactly what he is doing.

If you follow his business patterns, then you know that he will release the OT just like he did in 2006, perhaps this time LFL / GL might actually invest the funding for new restorations.

The whole debate about not buying the Blu Ray is insignificant with these figures just released.
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post #6 of 71
9/23/11 at 5:48am
Amazing i knew it was going to be this way...cool.gif

Oh and i want to thank everyone who called me a troll, and an attention seeker..(really appreciate that guys.)
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post #7 of 71
9/23/11 at 5:50am
With three Star Wars threads going strong do we really need another one? You just know people are going to use it to complain about the set. I haven't purchased my copy yet and I think I'm going to wait a while before I do. Money is tight and there are several other, smaller titles I'd like to get first. I'm actually a bit more interested in the Ben-Hur release coming out next week.
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post #8 of 71
9/23/11 at 5:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by johnSM View Post

People bought it because it has 'Star Wars' on the cover Lucasfilm, and it obviously looks sharper than the DVDs, not because it was a premium product...

If you really care about your customers, next time out you might want to fix all the things you said would be fully fixed with this release, and actually pony up for a brand NEW HD transfer rather than using a 7 year old one...

It was made 7 years ago? I didn't know transfers of film have sell by dates like the milk at the local dairy??

Does it somehow make it less enjoyable if it's past expiration? If so what is the expiration date exactly cause I really enjoyed the quality of this boxed set even if it's spoiled .
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post #9 of 71
9/23/11 at 6:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by elDomenechHTF View Post

With three Star Wars threads going strong do we really need another one? You just know people are going to use it to complain about the set. I haven't purchased my copy yet and I think I'm going to wait a while before I do. Money is tight and there are several other, smaller titles I'd like to get first. I'm actually a bit more interested in the Ben-Hur release coming out next week.

Actually yes we should keep this thread to rub it in the face of those that shunned this release...cool.gif
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post #10 of 71
9/23/11 at 6:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alessandro View Post


Actually yes we should keep this thread to rub it in the face of those that shunned this release...cool.gif

Gee, Alex, why would anyone think of you as a troll or an attention-seeker?
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post #11 of 71
9/23/11 at 6:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alessandro View Post


Actually yes we should keep this thread to rub it in the face of those that shunned this release...cool.gif

Did you get that check from Lucasfilm yet? No? Then you've won no victory by its selling well. I bought it and while I have no doubt that the set could be better, I'm still very happy with my purchase. However, I don't have some kind of need to bolster my happiness by rubbing sales figures in the faces of people who didn't buy it.
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post #12 of 71
9/23/11 at 6:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by TravisR View Post


Did you get that check from Lucasfilm yet? No? Then you've won no victory by its selling well. I bought it and while I have no doubt that the set could be better, I'm still very happy with my purchase. However, I don't have some kind of need to bolster my happiness by rubbing sales figures in the faces of people who didn't buy it.

I agree that it could have been better and hopefully we will get a future better release but i am happy with my purchase and i was rubbing it the faces of those that requested to boycott this release because of few new additions... additions that i really have not taken offense too..
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post #13 of 71
9/23/11 at 6:51am
Do the numbers include each trilogy's stand-alone release? If not, what would that do to the numbers? Not that I saw that many of those moving, but I know some people picked those up.

Let's hope this encourages the full restoration of the originals by showing how eager people still are to buy anything with the Star Wars name on it.
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post #14 of 71
9/23/11 at 6:57am
So is this actual sales, that is: to end consumers, or as usual: units shipped to stores? We'll only see what the real demand for it is once we know how many units the shops will need to restock their shelves later on. There may have been a million units created and shipped, but if you look at a long lasting repeatedly restocked and reprinted title like The Matrix you know there's an actual demand for it.
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post #15 of 71
9/23/11 at 7:04am

I don't see this as rubbing anyone's nose in something.  However, I do see this as a small dose of reality to that small segment of so-called movie buffs that seem to feel Blu-ray is somehow supposed to be perfect all the time.  Not that this will mean anything to them.  For them, it will just give them someone to look down their collective noses at, that is, everyone that thinks this is a premium product.

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post #16 of 71
9/23/11 at 7:37am
Considering the global recognition and the very broad demographic appeal of Star Wars, it is of no surprise whatsoever that it is having the highest sales. The very heavy marketing of this release also didn't hurt either.

Now, all that's left to wonder is if sales would have been higher or lower if the unaltered originally trilogy had been given such a treatment, the only glaring flaw in the release as far as I'm concerned
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post #17 of 71
9/23/11 at 7:38am
There's a middle ground between feeling that "Blu-ray is somehow supposed to be perfect all the time" and accepting a Blu-ray release that adds modern CGI cartoon characters to beloved movies from the 70s and 80s. I don't expect every release to be perfect, but the changes to the Star Wars movies (all of them, not just those new to the Blu-ray) take this one pretty far down the scale from "perfect."
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post #18 of 71
9/23/11 at 7:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert George View Post

I don't see this as rubbing anyone's nose in something.  However, I do see this as a small dose of reality to that small segment of so-called movie buffs that seem to feel Blu-ray is somehow supposed to be perfect all the time.  Not that this will mean anything to them.  For them, it will just give them someone to look down their collective noses at, that is, everyone that thinks this is a premium product.


I agree this is not rubbing anyone's nose in something, but I have already seen the posts that say "Well, just think how many more titles would have been sold, if George had done the films like I think they should."  I am one of the ones that bought the full set and I am enjoying them.  Are they perfect, no, but not everything is perfect.  Each to their own on what they want to do, but missing out on these titles is missing some exceptional storytelling and filming that changed the way the world looked at films. 

 

I guess the Star Wars threads will be winding down now in the next couple of months and we can look forward to the threads on ET and Indiana Jones. 
 

 

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post #19 of 71
9/23/11 at 7:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ahollis View Post

I guess the Star Wars threads will be winding down now in the next couple of months and we can look forward to the threads on ET and Indiana Jones.

We probably don't have to worry about E.T. as Spielberg has gone on record saying that he feels the changes he made to the re-release were poor and that people should watch the original version.
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post #20 of 71
9/23/11 at 8:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ahollis View Post

Each to their own on what they want to do, but missing out on these titles is missing some exceptional storytelling and filming that changed the way the world looked at films.

I avoided purchasing these Blu-rays specifically because they do not include the original version of the films. However, all of the recent Star Wars discussion got me pretty excited to see them again, so I just watched the original versions, which I have on DVD. I enjoyed doing so immensely; I certainly don't feel that I've "missed out" on anything any more so than with any other movie I have on DVD but not Blu-ray. If anything, I feel I would be missing out if I eschewed the versions of the films that really did "change the way the world looked at films" in favor of CGI-"enhanced" Frankensteinian monstrosities just because I cared more about picture & sound qualilty than I did about the films themselves.
Edited by cafink - 9/23/11 at 9:51am
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post #21 of 71
9/23/11 at 8:24am
I voted for the last option; but honestly, I was not tempted in any way to purchase any of the Star Wars Blu-Rays. It would have caused me more displeasure than pleasure to watch Lucas' versions Du jour.
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post #22 of 71
9/23/11 at 8:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Towergrove View Post


It was made 7 years ago? I didn't know transfers of film have sell by dates like the milk at the local dairy??

Does it somehow make it less enjoyable if it's past expiration? If so what is the expiration date exactly cause I really enjoyed the quality of this boxed set even if it's spoiled .

Good for you, sir. I'm pleased for you cool.gif

I've had the HD versions for some time now - from the German broadcasts - and they're also from the same HD masters as the new bluray sets, minus a little colour tweaking.

If you enjoy it then that's great, but it could have been far better, and what many people are pissed with is the fact Lucasfilm said one thing, and did another in terms of all the items which still have yet to be fixed. It's the fact these things weren't fixed, but that they had time to add blinking Ewoks and stupid extra lines of dialogue that bother many. Myself included - so I'll stick to the HD broadcasts for those times I need to see the Special Editions (i.e. not often!).

I'll stick with Harmy's superb HD reconstructions until Lucasfilm do this thing correctly (aka a Ben-Hur type release - now that DOES look stunning, and it couldn't have been that good 7 years back either).

I'll bow out here, and let bygones be bygones smile.gif
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post #23 of 71
9/23/11 at 9:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert George View Post

I don't see this as rubbing anyone's nose in something.  However, I do see this as a small dose of reality to that small segment of so-called movie buffs that seem to feel Blu-ray is somehow supposed to be perfect all the time.  Not that this will mean anything to them.  For them, it will just give them someone to look down their collective noses at, that is, everyone that thinks this is a premium product.


Says the guy who was fed up with the anamorphic DVD whiners as well.

Admit it Robert, you're just a collector. You don't really give a crap about quality or authenticity to the cinematic experience.
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post #24 of 71
9/23/11 at 9:16am
Oh boy, another Star Wars thread.
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post #25 of 71
9/23/11 at 9:37am

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Martin Teller View Post

Oh boy, another Star Wars thread.


Yeah. Joy. rolleyes.gif

 

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post #26 of 71
9/23/11 at 11:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cactus View Post

So is this actual sales, that is: to end consumers, or as usual: units shipped to stores?

It's the number sold and not the number shipped. From the press release "...the bestselling catalog Blu-ray Disc of all time with worldwide sales totaling one million units, including 515,000 units sold in North America...".
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post #27 of 71
9/23/11 at 11:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott Calvert View Post



Says the guy who was fed up with the anamorphic DVD whiners as well.

Admit it Robert, you're just a collector. You don't really give a crap about quality or authenticity to the cinematic experience.


Dude, you really should let it go.  14 years is a really long time.

 

And your last comment is pure bullshit, and did I kill your dog or something?

 

I watch movies to be entertained, first and foremost.  Technical presentation is important, but it only goes so far.  Perfect video and audio don't make a bad movie good, and last year's transfer doesn't make a great movie bad.

 

BTW, what, exactly, is the "cinematic experience"?

 

Crappy sound from 30 year old audio gear?

 

Out of focus projection from a worn out lamp?

 

Beat-to-shit polyester prints?

 

Sticky floors?

 

Stale popcorn?

 

Talkative patrons?

 

 

 


Edited by Robert George - 9/23/11 at 11:20am
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post #28 of 71
9/23/11 at 11:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by TravisR View Post


It's the number sold and not the number shipped. From the press release "...the bestselling catalog Blu-ray Disc of all time with worldwide sales totaling one million units, including 515,000 units sold in North America...".

Sure, but most probably sold by Fox to distributors, not actual shop sales. It's the same with music top lists. Most of the time they reflect the number of discs sent out to shops. How do you figure Fox knows how many copies a gas station in Hicksville sold?
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post #29 of 71
9/23/11 at 11:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cactus View Post


Sure, but most probably sold by Fox to distributors, not actual shop sales. It's the same with music top lists. Most of the time they reflect the number of discs sent out to shops. How do you figure Fox knows how many copies a gas station in Hicksville sold?

If that was the case, why would any company ever say that they shipped x number of copies rather than always saying that the number of copies shipped was what they sold? The numbers given are what was sold to people.
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post #30 of 71
9/23/11 at 11:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by TravisR View Post


If that was the case, why would any company ever say that they shipped x number of copies rather than always saying that the number of copies shipped was what they sold? The numbers given are what was sold to people.

Why would they say they sold all they shipped to shops? Because that's what they did. Fox sold a million copies, I'm sure that's true. Did the stores in turn shift a million copies to customers? How could we know? Who would compile that data? In this short time? Not every shop in the world is hooked up to deliver daily sales reports to Fox.

Music top lists have been compiled this way for ages. There's a reason a big album hits the number #1 spot on the top list before you even knew it was released, and that's because they count the number of discs sold to stores. That's why that album falls down the list pretty fast if it's not an actually liked album, because there are no restocking requests.
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Gear mentioned in this thread:

Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Episodes I-VI) [Blu-ray]
Star Wars: The Prequel Trilogy (Episodes I - III) [Blu-ray]
Star Wars: The Original Trilogy (Episodes IV - VI) [Blu-ray]
Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming Video and Digital Downloads › Blu-ray › The Force is Strong on Blu-ray: Star Wars Saga Breaks Global Sales