“Star Wars” Blu-rays break global sales records

By Sean O’Connell Hollywoodnews.com: As was expected, the Force was extremely strong with the new “Star Wars” Blu-rays that FOX and LucasFilm recently released. The studios revealed that “Star Wars” is the bestselling catalog Blu-ray Disc of all time, with worldwide sales totaling one million units, including 515,000 units sold in North America in its first week alone. According to a release, this represents $84 million in worldwide consumer spending, including $38 million in North America — unprecedented for a nine-disc Blu-ray collection at a premium price. “Once again our fan’s enthusiasm to celebrate Stars Wars continues to amaze us,” said Kayleen Walters, Senior Director, Marketing, Lucasfilm. “Our goal was to deliver a premium product that they could enjoy with their family and friends and we are thrilled that they are enjoying it as much as we hoped they would.” “Star Wars is a franchise with universal stories that resonates as much today as it did 30 years ago,” said Mary Daily, Executive Vice President of Marketing for Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and Vincent Marcais, Senior Vice President of International Marketing for Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. “With the Blu-ray, audiences can go deeper into the mythology than ever before and reconnect with everything they love about the Saga in the best possible quality.” More from the release: The thirteen-month campaign to launch the SAGA Blu-ray and engage consumers around the globe began in August 2010. From Darth Vader at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), a first look at San Diego Comic Con, a first-of-its-kind partnership with eBay, to creating the world’s largest lightsaber in the UK, the power of the Force continued to resonate around the world as fans came out in droves to have fun with that galaxy far, far away. The comprehensive collection includes the six movies with unparalleled high-definition picture and sound quality, and features numerous deleted, extended and alternate scenes, new documentaries and a cross-section of the countless Star Wars spoofs that have appeared in pop culture over the past three decades. Marking the first time ever that the full Saga is available in one complete collection, STAR WARS: THE COMPLETE SAGA ON BLU-RAY also features a coveted peek into the making of the Saga with vintage documentaries, audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes moments, interviews, prop and costume turnarounds, retrospectives and more. Episodes I-III and IV-VI are also available as distinct Blu-ray Trilogy collections. Additionally, the Ask Vader app [...]