Meet John Doe 4K UHD (1941) coming from ClassicFlix

[Mattmck99]

Damn I also pre-ordered the 4K, at least the blu-ray release is still coming though.

[filmlover22]

I rarely preorder 4ks in general. Too many have been problematic so I tend to wait for reviews to ensure it is worth it. Does not mean I don't have interest in that release.

[MifuneFan]

Damn, I thought it was cancelled due to some technical issues arising, only to read now that's solely due to poor pre-sales. It's a shame that a title like this can't sell enough for 4K, yet other stuff that's way more obscure can. Is there seriously less demand for this, than Long Wait??

I think CF should at least consider going the crowdfunding route to secure the funding needed to put this out on 4K as well.

[starman15317]

Originally Posted by filmlover22

I had no idea that PREordering a release could impact a potential cancellation of that release. I was always planning to get this, but had no plans to preorder.
Has this happened with other labels?

Pre-orders often determine how much of an interest there is in a title and a specific format. 4K discs are considerably more expensive to produce than Blu-rays, so a lot of times, it's simply not cost prohibitive to release something on 4K and Blu-ray vs. Blu-ray only.

For major labels, releasing a 4K can be pricey enough, but for a smaller label like ClassicFlix (who does excellent work), the extra cost in making a 4K that won't sell can make or break them.

[Katatonia]

I submitted the Blu-ray pre-order on here earlier, which for some reason wasn't entered yet.

Hopefully a mod can alter the 4K listing on here. It currently points incorrectly to the "Blu-ray" edition on Amazon, and you can't use the same ASIN twice.

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I think CF should at least consider going the crowdfunding route to secure the funding needed to put this out on 4K as well.

I'd be up for that.

[Brian81]

That stinks about the cancellation. I didn't preorder but was planning to buy near time of release. Hate to say it but I might throw it on the long term back burner and hope for another region to tackle it in actual 4K.

[Astairefan]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Damn, I thought it was cancelled due to some technical issues arising, only to read now that's solely due to poor pre-sales. It's a shame that a title like this can't sell enough for 4K, yet other stuff that's way more obscure can. Is there seriously less demand for this, than Long Wait??

I think CF should at least consider going the crowdfunding route to secure the funding needed to put this out on 4K as well.

While I obviously don't know for sure how good pre-sales were forMeet John Doe vs. The Long Wait, I suspect that part of the problem is that both The Long Wait and I, The Jury were masters that somebody else did and ClassicFlix licensed them, as opposed to Meet John Doe, for which ClassicFlix was doing the restoration themselves.
Obviously, it's disappointing for all of us, but there is still hope elsewhere. After all, Bob Furmanek of the 3-D Film Archive has said (mainly on HTF) that he found the OCN to Meet John Doe and donated it to UCLA some time ago, where it is currently under Sony's control. Considering ClassicFlix isn't exactly able to license stuff from the major studios that easily (especially not Sony, who likely would have insisted on doing the restoration themselves, which they seemed to do with the titles that Kino licensed from them for their only deal so far), they didn't have access to those film elements. So, if Sony does decide to do something, we could get a better master than what ClassicFlix could have given us anyways. Regardless, with nothing likely coming soon from Sony, I will certainly buy the Blu-ray to support ClassicFlix.

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Damn, I thought it was cancelled due to some technical issues arising, only to read now that's solely due to poor pre-sales. It's a shame that a title like this can't sell enough for 4K, yet other stuff that's way more obscure can. Is there seriously less demand for this, than Long Wait??

I think CF should at least consider going the crowdfunding route to secure the funding needed to put this out on 4K as well.

Yes, this is extremely disappointing. I like ClassicFlix, but if cancelling the release based on sales was a possibility, then they should have mentioned that when the release went up for pre-order in the first place. Home video is not an area where consumers expect cancellations for this reason and like many, I also had not pre-ordered a release I definitely would have bought.

[crackedknee]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

Yes, this is extremely disappointing. I like ClassicFlix, but if cancelling the release based on sales was a possibility, then they should have mentioned that when the release went up for pre-order in the first place. Home video is not an area where consumers expect cancellations for this reason and like many, I also had not pre-ordered a release I definitely would have bought.

It wasn't something they thought was a "possibility", as the statement they put out says:

"While this isn't something we even remotely anticipated, the extremely poor pre-sales for the release leaves us no alternative."

[Katatonia]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

Yes, this is extremely disappointing. I like ClassicFlix, but if cancelling the release based on sales was a possibility, then they should have mentioned that when the release went up for pre-order in the first place. Home video is not an area where consumers expect cancellations for this reason and like many, I also had not pre-ordered a release I definitely would have bought.

Agreed, it probably would have helped with pre-orders if that was known in advance. Maybe it should have been a "boutique" release to begin with... available only from them direct, in a limited amount or with a finite timespan to order. A lot of people would get FOMO from that alone.

As someone stated earlier, a crowdfunding release might be a possibility they could think about doing.

[Bates_Motel]

Thanks everyone for "waiting for it to be cheaper"... here's your consequence. And people wonder why physical media is still dying.

[dallywhitty]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

Thanks everyone for "waiting for it to be cheaper"... here's your consequence. And people wonder why physical media is still dying.

Mother's calling, Norman!

[Katatonia]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

Mother's calling, Norman!

Norman did not pre-order any camphor for his mother. Mama died.

[JoelGoodsen]

It’s all your fault. I pre-ordered, why couldn’t you!?

Just joking. Don’t think I’ve ever seen a release cancelled for this reason.

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

Thanks everyone for "waiting for it to be cheaper"... here's your consequence. And people wonder why physical media is still dying.

I’m glad you can afford to pre-order this with 12 vacancies at your motel.

Some of us have 4 mistresses to keep. Damn college kids.

[THS]

Originally Posted by JoelGoodsen

Just joking. Don’t think I’ve ever seen a release cancelled for this reason.

Makes me nervous for other announced 4K UHD titles. I assume Mimic and Below are not sought-after cinema (although they are to me), and therefore could have low pre-sales.

[retroalli]

I tried to pre-order on Amazon but, the link from this site only showed a regular Blu-ray so, I was waiting to see if that was updated to say 4K.

[JoelGoodsen]

Originally Posted by THS

Makes me nervous for other announced 4K UHD titles. I assume Mimic and Below are not sought-after cinema (although they are to me), and therefore could have low pre-sales.

I’m just glad JCVD has agreed to split nut punch anyone that doesn’t pre-order the upcoming Kickboxer 4K release. Need to be on the ball (or balls) in this game.

[Katatonia]

Originally Posted by retroalli

I tried to pre-order on Amazon but, the link from this site only showed a regular Blu-ray so, I was waiting to see if that was updated to say 4K.

Yeah, the link in the 4K listing on here has been incorrectly pointing to the Blu-ray release on Amazon since day one. A mod needs to correct it, or it won't point to the "Blu-ray" listing whenever that's approved.

I'm unsure if Amazon ever even had the 4K up for pre-order for whatever reason. I'm sure that's a possible reason why pre-orders were so low on it.

[happydood]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

Thanks everyone for "waiting for it to be cheaper"... here's your consequence. And people wonder why physical media is still dying.

Thanks everyone for "spending your lunch break on a media forum..." here's your consequence. And people wonder why their cats feel neglected.

[ryantoyota]

Dammit, this is one I was thinking of picking up also but hadn't yet ordered. Sucks to hear it was cancelled!