Digital Media FX News Archives

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Tuesday - November 6, 2001
- Shrek Makes $110 Million in DVD and Video Sales
- Early Reviews: Harry Potter is "Pure Magic"
- Final Weekend Box Office Numbers
- News Link of the Day - Pixar Stock Drops

Shrek Makes $110 Million in DVD and Video Sales
(by digitalmediafx.com) Shrek shook up the DVD and video marketplace over the weekend bringing in an amazing $110 million in DVD and video sales in just its first three days of release. Normally the impressive feat would garnish mass media attention, however most attention has been on the biggest opening ever for a Disney / Pixar film as Monsters, Inc. brought in a final weekend tally of $62.6 million. It is normal for DVD and video sales to top a movie's weekend box office numbers. Shrek made $42.3 million in its opening box office weekend.

The Shrek DVD sold 2.5 million copies from Friday through Sunday.

"We had a record breaking weekend with nearly half of initial shipments sold, with many stores selling completely out of stock," said Craig Kornblau, President, Universal Studios Home Video, which is distributing the Shrek DVD and video. "We are making every effort to keep up with consumer demand and to keep 'Shrek' on retail shelves."

> Click here to visit the Shrek dFX Movie Site
> Click here to visit the Monsters, Inc. dFX Movie Site
> Click here to visit the Shrek vs. Monsters, Inc. Special Report.

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Early Reviews: Harry Potter is "Pure Magic"
(by digitalmediafx.com) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is winning critical acclaim from critics who saw the movie during London's Sunday world premiere.

"It's dark, it's scary, it's funny," says Sun newspaper reviewer Dominic Mohan. "It's a Willy Wonka for the new Millennium with special effects that will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. I didn't want this movie to end and I don't know how I'm going to be able to wait for the sequels."

The director of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Chris Columbus, was highly praised by John Hiscock, film critic for The Daily Telegraph.

"He has managed to keep the saccharine to a minimum, and instead allows Rowling's story to unfold almost exactly as she wrote it," said Hiscock.

As reported in yesterday's Digital Media FX, when Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling left the theater, she gave a big thumbs up sign causing an eruption of cheers from the thousands of fans outside of the theater.

Pirated versions of the movie have already started appearing on the Internet and DVDs as people seek to make an illegal profit from the work.

Opticians are already reporting a large increase in business from kids who want glasses so that they can look like Harry Potter!

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Final Weekend Box Office Numbers - FX & Animation Movies
(by digitalmediafx.com) Final weekend box office numbers are in and here are the results for the top animated and visual effects movies:

The gain/loss represents the movie's performance when compared to last weekend.

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News Link of the Day - Pixar Stock Drops

According to San Francisco Business Times

"Despite a record-breaking box office debut for its latest theatrical release, shares of Emeryville-based Pixar Animation Studios took a dip on Nov. 5 on concern about the company's past volatility..."

Click here for the full story.

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