After putting together a strong box office run, action-thriller "Snow White and the Huntsman" hits the home market this week as the most prominent new title hitting DVD and Blu-ray. While there are few other major releases reaching the home market, James Cameron's smash hit "Titanic" also hits the high-definition of Blu-ray for the first time following its theatrical success in 3D earlier in the year. Fans of hit Starz's hit series "Spartacus" can also check out the latest season, "Vengeance," and romantic comedy "What to Expect When You're Expecting" gets its DVD release after a mediocre run in theaters this summer.
Though it was mainly overshadowed by major releases like "The Avengers," "Snow White and Huntsman" quietly put together a very strong box office run this summer for distributor Universal. Starring Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron and Chris Hemsworth, "Snow White" received so-so reviews from critics when it hit theaters back at the beginning of June, though it still managed to make a big dent with mainstream audiences. "Snow White" ended up pulling in $155 million domestically and $355 million worldwide, which are strong numbers for a non-sequel facing considerable summer competition.
Even if "Snow White and the Huntsman" was far from a runaway hit, it did considerably better than "Mirror Mirror," the other Snow White spin-off to hit theaters in 2012. Now that it doesn't have to compete with "MIB 3," "The Avengers" and "Prometheus," "Snow White and the Huntsman" should be able to find mainstream audiences and have a nice run on DVD and Blu-ray over the next few weeks.
While action lovers turn to "Snow White and the Huntsman," romantic comedy "What to Expect When You're Expecting" should also do well with its target demographic despite a somewhat disappointing box office run. Starring Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez and Anna Kendrick, "What to Expect" hit theaters looking to make a major dent with date audiences, though it struggled to compete with other popular titles and managed just $41 million in domestic revenue. Inspired by the successful pregnancy guide of the same title, "What to Expect" will be a better fit for the home market and should do well with its target audience over the next few weeks, mostly thanks to a lack of other romantic comedies slated for release.
While the new titles are fairly limited, fans of "Titanic" will finally be able to check out the Blu-ray version of James Cameron's monumentally successful 1997 release starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio. Not only did "Titanic" smash box office records on its way to a $1.8 billion worldwide haul, it would go on to sweep the Academy Awards and help place director James Cameron in the pantheon of commercial Hollywood directors. Following a successful run in 3D this past spring/summer, "Titanic" should be a big hit in Blu-ray this week as it hits stores in a special edition set loaded with extras.
Not carrying quite the same level of critical respect is "Killer Klowns from Outer Space," a 1988 horror film that turned into an unexpected cult classic thanks to cable reruns and VHS. In true B-movie form, "Killer Klowns" tells the story of a group of clowns that come to Earth to wreak havoc on an unassuming town, leading to a laughable tale that horror fans have been watching for decades. Though it won't have a huge impact, a niche group of horror fans should turn up to catch "Killer Klowns" as it heads to the high-definition of Blu-ray.
Also hitting stores for the first time this week is "Spartacus: Vengeance," the third season of the popular Starz series that reinvented the gladiator story. After star Andy Whitfield tragically died of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Liam McIntyre stepped in as the historically based slave who defied the Roman Empire by leading a major revolt in the first century B.C.E. Despite losing its star, "Spartacus: Vengeance" remained a flagship series for Starz and should be a significant hit in the home market as well.
Though next week will be a slow one for new releases, fans of Indiana Jones will finally get a chance to check out the whip-cracking action icon as the entire series hits Blu-ray for the first time in a special edition set brimming with extra features. Critically acclaimed horror-comedy "The Cabin in the Woods" will also get its home market release as will the Blu-ray of "Ed Wood," director Tim Burton's masterpiece about the infamous director known for making some of the most mocked movies in cinematic history. On September 25th, the release schedule will pick up with the release of "The Avengers," the box office phenomenon that is far and away the top commercial hit of 2012 so far.
by RTT Staff Writer
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