'Avatar' breaks all-time Blu-ray sales record in just four days [updated]

James Cameron didn't need 3-D to break this record.

Just four days after debuting on store shelves, "Avatar" has sold 2.7 million Blu-ray discs to consumers in the U.S. and Canada, according to 20th Century Fox -- more Blu-rays than any previous movie has sold. The previous record holder, "The Dark Knight," has sold 2.5 million Blu-rays since its debut 16 months ago.

[Update, April 26, 6:45 p.m.: Warner Bros. now says "The Dark Knight" has sold 2.9 million Blu-ray copies. Details here.]

Fox also sold 4 million standard definition DVDs. The combined total makes "Avatar" the biggest DVD launch of the year, breaking a previous mark of 4 million Blu-ray and DVDs combined set by "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" on its first weekend in March.

"Avatar" also debuted Thursday in France, where it sold a combined 400,000 units on DVD and Blu-ray, the biggest-ever launch in the country. It is at the top of the charts in Germany as well, although specific sales figures weren't immediately available. It goes on sale in Great Britain on Monday.

The huge debut for "Avatar" on home video dispels concerns that consumers wouldn't want to see it on a 2-D home television after most watched it in theaters in 3-D. Eighty-three percent of "Avatar's" $746.4-million domestic gross has come from theaters with 3-D screens. More than 70% of its $1.975-billion international gross has come from 3-D.

The news comes as Fox recently signed deals with kiosk renter Redbox and DVD-by-mail firm Netflix that keep "Avatar" and all of the studio's future releases off the services until 28 days after they go on sale.

"Avatar" provides a much needed shot in the arm to Hollywood's home entertainment business, which saw its revenue fall 8% in the first three months of the year and 5% last year.

-- Ben Fritz

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Comments

[alexx johnson]

llalalalalallalala i have no i dea what this is about!

[Charlotte77]

I didn't see the movie in a theater. I did buy a blue ray disc and three regular ones as presents. I watched the movie Friday. James Cameron is pure genius! I intend to buy the other releases as well.
I've read some post where people were mad about the 2D version. I wasn't disappointed at all. I think releasing the blueray version was brilliant! In case anyone forgot Studios need to make money. This provides jobs, better movies etc,.

[doog]

Subpar movie with flashy graphics becomes best-selling movie of all time because of exorbitant 3D pricing and DVD release scheduling and pricing.

[Sia]

What an overrated movie. I actually fell asleep that's how boring it was !

[Christopher Carr]

James Cameron's self-righteous injection of partisan politics and one-dimensional morality that is the story of Avatar is ponderous, underhanded, and due to the whopping success of the film, destined to make us all dumber.

Read More: http://www.theinductive.com/culture/2010/2/12/avatar-is-an-elephantine-heap-of-excrement.html

[Kathy]

this movie is great. Can't wait to add it to my collection. I just hope with all that 3d stuff I get similar experience as the theater.

[TheScreenDoor]

This movie caputres the essence of American thinking. Vist http://www.thescreendoor.org/ to read our review on this movie as well as other great movies both in and out of theaters!