On studios and high-definition disc formats

Posted by marshall Fri, 15 Dec 2006 01:35:00 GMT

For reference...here is a list of top grossing films, their distributors, and the disc format(s) that the distributors support. Note that these specific titles may or may not have been announced yet in a high-definition format. Note also that these are box-office figures, not home video figures, which would arguably make a more interesting list.

Top 20 grossing films of 2006:

  1. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
    Disney (Blu-Ray only)

  2. Cars
    Disney (Blu-Ray only)

  3. X-Men: The Last Stand
    Fox (Blu-Ray only)

  4. The Da Vinci Code
    Sony (Blu-Ray only)

  5. Superman Returns
    WB (Blu-Ray and HD-DVD)

  6. Ice Age: The Meltdown
    Fox (Blu-Ray only)

  7. Over the Hedge
    Paramount (Blu-Ray and HD-DVD)

  8. Talladega Nights
    Sony (Blu-Ray only)

  9. Happy Feet
    WB (Blu-Ray and HD-DVD)

  10. Click
    Sony (Blu-Ray only)

  11. Mission: Impossible III
    Paramount (Blu-Ray and HD-DVD)

  12. Casino Royale
    Sony (Blu-Ray only)

  13. The Devil Wears Prada
    Fox (Blu-Ray only)

  14. Borat
    Fox (Blu-Ray only)

  15. The Departed
    WB (Blu-Ray and HD-DVD)

  16. The Break-Up
    Universal (HD-DVD only)

  17. Scary Movie 4
    Weinstein (HD-DVD only)

  18. Failure to Launch
    Paramount (Blu-Ray and HD-DVD)

  19. Inside Man
    Universal (HD-DVD only)

  20. Open Season
    Sony (Blu-Ray only)

Top grossing films of the past 20 years:

  • 2006 - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
    Disney (Blu-Ray only)

  • 2005 - Revenge of the Sith
    Fox (Blu-Ray only)

  • 2004 - Shrek 2
    Paramount (Blu-Ray and HD-DVD)

  • 2003 - Return of the King
    WB (Blu-Ray and HD-DVD)

  • 2002 - Spider-Man
    Sony (Blu-Ray only)

  • 2001 - Harry Potter
    WB (Blu-Ray and HD-DVD)

  • 2000 - The Grinch
    Universal (HD-DVD only)

  • 1999 - The Phantom Menace
    Fox (Blu-Ray only)

  • 1998 - Saving Private Ryan
    Paramount (Blu-Ray and HD-DVD)

  • 1997 - Titanic
    Paramount (Blu-Ray and HD-DVD)

  • 1996 - Independence Day
    Fox (Blu-Ray only)

  • 1995 - Toy Story
    Disney (Blu-Ray only)

  • 1994 - Forrest Gump
    Paramount (Blu-Ray and HD-DVD)

  • 1993 - Jurassic Park
    Universal (HD-DVD only)

  • 1992 - Aladdin
    Disney (Blu-Ray only)

  • 1991 - Terminator 2
    Lionsgate (Blu-Ray only)

  • 1990 - Home Alone
    Fox (Blu-Ray only)

  • 1989 - Batman
    WB (Blu-Ray and HD-DVD)

  • 1988 - Rain Man
    Fox (Blu-Ray only)

  • 1987 - Three Men & A Baby
    Disney (Blu-Ray only)

  • 1986 - Top Gun
    Paramount (Blu-Ray and HD-DVD)

Studio support:

The studio support information is from The Digital Bits' High-Definition Release List.

From The Digital Bits on December 11, 2006:

I've just spoken today with Eric Maehara, VP of Communications for Buena Vista Home Entertainment...He reiterated to me in no uncertain terms that BVHE has no plans to support HD-DVD, despite persistent online rumors to the contrary.

I've also spoken this afternoon with Steve Feldstein, Senior VP of Corporate and Marketing Communications for 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. He likewise confirmed that Fox has no plans to support HD-DVD...

And on December 12:

...Universal Home Entertainment has gotten back to us this afternoon with a bit of news regarding their high-def plans. Vivian Meyer, the studio's Senior VP of Publicity, has informed us that the studio will continue exclusively backing the HD-DVD format in 2007...

Posted in

Comments are disabled