batman: the dark knight

Debuting three new feature-length titles in 2013, the DC Universe Animated Original Movie direct-to-video line from Warner Home Video moved over one million home video units during the calendar year. The numbers below comes from the three DC Universe Animated Original Movie titles that debuted this year – Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2, Superman Unbound and Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox. Note that all numbers listed in this articles are estimated numbers only, based on research and market analysis.

Hitting shelves at the end of January 2013, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2, was the second highest-selling DC Universe Animated Original Movie title of the year. Following the release of the critically-acclaimed Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1, the second installment managed to successfully carry that momentum forward, despite experiencing the standard dip in sales that comes with a multi-part release. Given it’s early in-the-year release date, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 moved an estimated 410,000 units combined in the DVD and Blu-ray formats since hitting shelves, moving nearly 150,000 of those copies in the first week alone, the week ending February 1st, 2013. Sales on the release did weaken as the year progressed, partly due to the announcement of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns – Deluxe Edition release, a special home video title collecting both parts of the two-part adaptation. Budget for the film was an estimated $3.5 million.

The second feature-length DC Universe Animated Original Movie title of the year, released May 7th, 2013, the direct-to-video Superman Unbound animated feature has moved 225,000 units in both the DVD and Blu-ray format since its debut. The title was easily the lowest profile release in the DC Universe Animated Original Movie line for 2013, despite the marketing tie-in with the big-screen Man of Steel feature film. Superman Unbound moved only 105,000 units combined in its first frame, the week ending May 12th, 2013. Criticism of the film’s light story and overall run-of-the-mill aestetic led to a tepid response from fans. Superman Unbound experienced a slight uptick during the year, thanks to the heightened awareness of the Superman brand, but was unable to properly cultivate it to higher sales.

Lastly, the final 2012 release under the DC Universe Animated Original Movie banner, Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox also proved to be the best seller for the home video line. The title moved 166,000 total DVD and Blu-ray units in its first week, the week ending August 4th, 2013, and managed to keep a consistent pace for the remainder of the year. Even after the initial two weeks of sales, the title managed to average between 10,000 – 30,000 for the majority of the year’s remainder, with sales usually nearly even between DVD and Blu-ray sales. Before the end of the calendar year, sales for Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox settled around 425,000 units moved. However, interest in the title remains strong, primarily due to the enormous positive fan reaction to the movie, and will likely quietly pass the 500,000 mark in 2014.

Please note that sales of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns – Deluxe Edition were not tracked for this calendar year.

Please note sales numbers are estimates gathered through independent research, market analysis and various home media retailing outlets. Additionally, sale numbers from titles released before the 2012 calendar year are not taken into account. Also remember to take into account release date and character marketability when comparing sales numbers for each title. And while the sales numbers do not take into account rental numbers, OnDemand numbers or legal download numbers, it is worth noting that the amount of legal downloads is becoming a higher factor when tracking home video releases. As more people turn to the option of legal downloads, via iTunes and streaming services, physical home video sales will start to noticeably dip.

Stay tuned for updates on current and upcoming DC Universe Animated Original Movie titles here at The Worlds Finest, including exclusive content and more. More details on the entire DC Universe Animated Original Movie line can be found here at The World’s Finest special dedicated subsite. Please click on the links below to discuss the assorted releases covered in this article.

–Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part Two Feature Talkback (Spoilers)
–Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part Two Blu-ray/DVD Talkback (Spoilers)
–Superman Unbound Feature Talkback (Spoilers)
–Superman Unbound Blu-ray/DVD Talkback (Spoilers)
–Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox Feature Talkback (Spoilers)
–Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox Blu-ray/DVD Talkback (Spoilers)

Note: Thanks to everyone for a great year here at The World’s Finest! Thanks to everyone who took the time to visit this site in 2013, and hopefully will continue to do so in 2014. Happy New Year!

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