PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL, the year's top live actioner, has sold 11 million DVD and VHS units (a reported 90% on DVD) in its first week of sales, becoming the largest opening live-action home entertainment title in history. According to VIDEO BUSINESS, that translates to about $187 million in revenue.
"We couldn't be more thrilled with the success our home entertainment titles have had this year," said Buena Vista Home Entertainment president Bob Chapek, referring not only to PIRATES but also to FINDING NEMO (the best-selling DVD of the quarter), THE LION KING, CHICAGO, SWEET HOME ALABAMA and SIGNS. "With FREAKY FRIDAY in stores next week, I am excited at the potential for this to be the biggest fourth quarter in industry history."
The two-disc set of PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN ($29.99) features 19 deleted scenes, audio commentary with Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley and the filmmakers, behind the scenes and on-set features, and cast and crew video diaries.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
