Do you think catalog releases peaked?

[Bishop_99]

The jump in catalog releases on blu-ray from 2007 to 2008 was huge, but since then, it seems that the catalog output on Blu-ray has peaked. There really wasn't a huge increase of catalog titles from 2009 to 2010, and 2011 seems to be going in that same route so far. I'm not saying it's bad since we are getting good movies released this year and I'm sure there will be a lot of surprises as the year goes along, but I was hoping studios like Universal, Sony and Paramount would have dramatically increased the amount of catalog movies they release. It seems as if Warner is the studio pushing the most catalog titles.


If someone can, post a chart showing the amount of catalog titles the studios have released year after year.

[Arkadin]

there is an amazing thread on another site that lists EVERY single catalog release by studio with the year the film was released.
it also shows the breakdown by year of each studio as far as # of titles they released.
pm me if you want the link.
as far as you question--no catalogs haven't peaked imo.
MGM is just now getting back in the game, Warner and Criterion will continue their output.
other smaller studios will continue to join the bd market.
Universal and Sony will continue their steady output, though hopefully Sony will increase the number they release.
Paramount will hopefully get their finances improved, and get back in the game in a meaningful way.
The next 5 years SHOULD be the peak of catalog bd imo, although I'm not sure if the overall number of releases will be that much higher than last year or this year.
my thinking is that catalogs on bd will just continue at the current steady pace, though possibly increasing as blu-ray penetration becomes even larger.
btw: what I see possibly happening, and which I would welcome, would be blu-ray catalogs on demand of more obscure titles.
Warner is obviously enjoying great success with their dvd archive dvd-r on demand program, and I hope they will expand it to blu in the future.

[Clark Kent]

The sad truth of the matter is that catalog titles are not the cash cows they once were for the studios, and the economics of releasing anything on Blu-ray is different than DVD.

New catalog releases will continue to happen, just not in the quantity the average BD owner would like to see. One positive move is that the Hollywood studios are once again willing to license properties for other distributors to handle on home video, seeing no profit in releasing them on their own. That will likely lead to some choice movies from Criterion and other boutique distributors.

[kdo]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

The sad truth of the matter is that catalog titles are not the cash cows they once were for the studios, and the economics of releasing anything on Blu-ray is different than DVD.

New catalog releases will continue to happen, just not in the quantity the average BD owner would like to see.

Agree 100%.

[davcole]

While we enthusiasts will jump on new catalog releases, the truth is the typical person is not all that eager to replace their DVD collection.

[Bishop_99]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

The sad truth of the matter is that catalog titles are not the cash cows they once were for the studios, and the economics of releasing anything on Blu-ray is different than DVD.

New catalog releases will continue to happen, just not in the quantity the average BD owner would like to see. One positive move is that the Hollywood studios are once again willing to license properties for other distributors to handle on home video, seeing no profit in releasing them on their own. That will likely lead to some choice movies from Criterion and other boutique distributors.

Good post.


I agree, it's very positive if studios will continue to let other studios distribute their films on Blu-ray. While I'm sure only a very limited amount of movies will be able to come out through criterion, I do hope a studio like Universal will be willing to let other studios distribute the films that weren't blockbusters or classics.

[AKORIS]

I hate to open up this can of worms but it probably doesn't help that there are numerous posts here on this site with people saying things like "I'm not gonna pay over 7 bucks for a catalog title"...

studios do read these posts to gather data for sales and interest....

[Clark Kent]

The studios themselves are partly to blame for this state of affairs. Continually reissuing popular movies on DVD in new editions, with just the tiniest amount of new content, made most consumers very wary of buying the latest version. A studio like Universal, who has been releasing mostly dated, ugly transfers to Blu-ray, did no favors to the perception that the minor increase in video quality was not worth the cost of a new BD.

[kdo]

Originally Posted by davcole

While we enthusiasts will jump on new catalog releases, the truth is the typical person is not all that eager to replace their DVD collection.

Quite true. I was at Fry's Electronics yesterday, which in my area, has one of the largest selection of Blu-ray titles available. For a weekend winter day, and at a time of the year where people tend to do a lot of movie watching, I was surprised how quiet the store was. It's obvious people aren't buying a lot right now, and of all the people looking at movies in the store, I'd say about 85% of them were only looking at DVD's...

Not only is the typical person not that eager to replace their DVD collection, but they're also watching their wallets, and are much happier paying 1/3 (sometimes 1/4) the cost. I still buy DVD's too, and with the economy being the way it is, and with gasoline costs approaching the wonderful $4/gallon mark again , this behavior doesn't surprise me one bit...there just doesn't seem to be enough incentive or reason for studios to sink the type of resources necessary into getting the catalogs out there in HD.

Originally Posted by AKORIS

I hate to open up this can of worms but it probably doesn't help that there are numerous posts here on this site with people saying things like "I'm not gonna pay over 7 bucks for a catalog title"...

studios do read these posts to gather data for sales and interest....

True.

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

The studios themselves are partly to blame for this state of affairs. Continually reissuing popular movies on DVD in new editions, with just the tiniest amount of new content, made most consumers very wary of buying the latest version. A studio like Universal, who has been releasing mostly dated, ugly transfers to Blu-ray, did no favors to the perception that the minor increase in video quality was not worth the cost of a new BD.

Again, I agree.

[saprano]

Theres not going to be another year like 2008.

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/relea...r=2008&month=1

Good year.

[Bluyoda]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

The studios themselves are partly to blame for this state of affairs. Continually reissuing popular movies on DVD in new editions, with just the tiniest amount of new content, made most consumers very wary of buying the latest version. A studio like Universal, who has been releasing mostly dated, ugly transfers to Blu-ray, did no favors to the perception that the minor increase in video quality was not worth the cost of a new BD.

Yes, sadly!

[nolfoc]

Personally i think this year is going to be a great year for catalog titles.. announced already is Taxi Driver, Star Wars, Breakfast at Tiffanys also got announced today.. even great family classics like Uncle Buck Sandlot have been announced i think if sales are going to stay around 50% and higher compared to DVD sales then i think studios will start pushing them out also now with this whole 3D fad going on if Titanic wasn't being released in theaters in 3D next year then we would probably be seeing it released on BD right around xmas time.. personally price isnt an issue for me, so Studios if you are reading this just release your full arsenal of catalog titles and i will buy

[Gamma_Winstead]

BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S was announced? YESSSSS! Wait... When? Link?

[nolfoc]

Originally Posted by Gamma_Winstead

BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S was announced? YESSSSS! Wait... When? Link?

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=5972

[Gremal]

I wouldn't say "peaked" but I think there will be no further acceleration of catalog titles. Older films will continue to be dribbled out at the slow, steady pace we've seen of the past year or two. What's aggravating is that several years into Blu-ray we still don't have titles like Lawrence of Arabia, Chinatown, Finding Nemo or lesser known gems like Clockers, Smoke and The Unbearable Lightness of Being.

[Rob71]

90 catalogs released this year already, when last year the number was 53. I would say that close to twice the output of last year so far bodes well. When you add the quality of the announced titles coming later this year, I'm not worried one bit. And when you add the number of smaller distributors releasing cult/lesser known titles I'm not really that concerned. I would like to see Re-Animator get a release sooner rather than later though.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by Rob71

I would like to see Re-Animator get a release sooner rather than later though.

I'd love to get this too. Unfortunately, Starz/AB seems more interested in releasing new direct-to-video films instead of catalog titles.

[kdo]

Originally Posted by nolfoc

personally price isnt an issue for me, so Studios if you are reading this just release your full arsenal of catalog titles and i will buy

But it is for the majority of people...and the very limited number of those sitting in comfortable financial positions isn't enough to warrant the costs involved in releasing all those catalogs. Plus, even those who have the means to afford any and all titles they want, aren't necessarily going to purchase them. It's a crapshoot, and a big gamble for the studios to take on older films...

Originally Posted by Rob71

90 catalogs released this year already

Yes, but of those 90, have any of them been titled "The Karate Kid Part III," "RocketMan," "Hot to Trot," or "Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze" ?

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by kdo

Yes, but of those 90, have any of them been titled "The Karate Kid Part III," "RocketMan," "Hot to Trot," or "Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze" ?

No!!!

But The Sandlot is.

Squints-the-sandlot-2092414-400-300.jpg

[kdo]

Originally Posted by Rob71

No!!!

But The Sandlot is.

Attachment 30445

Definitely a welcomed title...not one I'm going to purchase, but I'm sure others will. Again though, I wonder just how well this will sell considering how many families already own it, having picked it out of the $5 DVD bargain bin for their kids...