Washington, D.C. (December 9, 2008) --
The Dark Knight, the summer blockbuster starring Christian Bale as Batman, will be released today on DVD and Blu-ray high-def disc.
Some analysts are saying (and Warner Home Video execs are praying) that the Blu-ray edition could sell as many as one million copies, which would shatter previous sales records in the category. (Warner reportedly is shipping one million copies.)
The film, which also stars the late Heath Ledger in an Oscar-worthy performance as The Joker, is stuffed with special effects and action scenes which should make it a knockout in high-def.
The sales estimates are also based on early reports that Blu-ray player sales are having a strong holiday season with some research firms saying that it's one of the season's hottest categories.
If the Blu-ray edition of The Dark Knight does sell one million copies (or more), it could go down in history as a turning point for the high-def disc format which has struggled thus far to reach a mass audience. More than two years after its launch, less than 10 million homes now own Blu-ray players, including those who have PlayStation 3 consoles, which have Blu-ray players inside.
A strong sale for The Dark Knight could lead to more sales of Blu-ray players (thanks to word of mouth) and more sales of Blu-ray discs in general.
However, it remains to be seen if consumers will embrace the new technology due to the global recession which is threatening jobs and tightening credit. Although Blu-ray player prices have now reached an affordable mark (under $200 in some stores), Americans might be reluctant to embrace the new technology because of the relatively high price of the discs. Many Blu-ray discs cost 30-50 percent more than their standard-def companion, which could be an obstacle for cash-strapped consumers.
So, over the next 7-14 days, studio executives, retailers and industry analysts will be closely watching sales figures for the Blu-ray version of The Dark Knight. If it reaches the one million mark before year's end, Blu-ray could be on its way. If it doesn't, the Blu-ray industry will likely have to think seriously about lowering prices on players even further and dramatically cutting disc prices.
My prediction is that The Dark Knight will be a Blu-ray hit, easily hitting the one million mark in the coming weeks. I also believe this will trigger more sales of Blu-ray players and discs in early 2009.
However, unless the studios cut prices on Blu-ray titles by at least 20 percent in early 2009, the format's momentum will be stalled.
Also see: Blu-ray Review: The Dark Knight
Comment on this article!
Some analysts are saying (and Warner Home Video execs are praying) that the Blu-ray edition could sell as many as one million copies, which would shatter previous sales records in the category. (Warner reportedly is shipping one million copies.)
The film, which also stars the late Heath Ledger in an Oscar-worthy performance as The Joker, is stuffed with special effects and action scenes which should make it a knockout in high-def.
The sales estimates are also based on early reports that Blu-ray player sales are having a strong holiday season with some research firms saying that it's one of the season's hottest categories.
If the Blu-ray edition of The Dark Knight does sell one million copies (or more), it could go down in history as a turning point for the high-def disc format which has struggled thus far to reach a mass audience. More than two years after its launch, less than 10 million homes now own Blu-ray players, including those who have PlayStation 3 consoles, which have Blu-ray players inside.
A strong sale for The Dark Knight could lead to more sales of Blu-ray players (thanks to word of mouth) and more sales of Blu-ray discs in general.
However, it remains to be seen if consumers will embrace the new technology due to the global recession which is threatening jobs and tightening credit. Although Blu-ray player prices have now reached an affordable mark (under $200 in some stores), Americans might be reluctant to embrace the new technology because of the relatively high price of the discs. Many Blu-ray discs cost 30-50 percent more than their standard-def companion, which could be an obstacle for cash-strapped consumers.
So, over the next 7-14 days, studio executives, retailers and industry analysts will be closely watching sales figures for the Blu-ray version of The Dark Knight. If it reaches the one million mark before year's end, Blu-ray could be on its way. If it doesn't, the Blu-ray industry will likely have to think seriously about lowering prices on players even further and dramatically cutting disc prices.
My prediction is that The Dark Knight will be a Blu-ray hit, easily hitting the one million mark in the coming weeks. I also believe this will trigger more sales of Blu-ray players and discs in early 2009.
However, unless the studios cut prices on Blu-ray titles by at least 20 percent in early 2009, the format's momentum will be stalled.
Also see: Blu-ray Review: The Dark Knight
Comment on this article!
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