Why do some American movies only get Blu-rays in Europe? - Blu-ray Forum

NetSpiker · 07-18-2014, 05:17 AM

The United States has a higher population than Britain, France, Germany and Spain put together. So why are some American movies only getting Blu-ray releases in Europe? If someone went to the trouble of creating a HD transfer, why not release it on both sides of the Atlantic? Are Europeans simply more aware of cult classics like Society and Fido? Did Highlander: The Source make more money in Germany than anywhere else in the world?

julz0802 · 07-18-2014, 10:08 AM

Because Europe is so much more awesome

Truthfully, without specific titles in mind, one of many reasons is distribution rights... Only the major international studios (e.g. Warner, Universal, Disney) will often see uniform releases worldwide.

hanshotfirst1138 · 07-19-2014, 12:48 AM

Because Europe is an intellectual oasis

?

jscoggins · 07-19-2014, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hanshotfirst1138

Because Europe is an intellectual oasis

?

Yeah, and the Highlander movies are what intellectuals watch.

BaerGriggs · 07-19-2014, 01:12 AM

The fact that the Team America Blu-ray is only available in Europe is absolutely insane.

jscoggins · 07-19-2014, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaerGriggs

The fact that the Team America Blu-ray is only available in Europe is absolutely insane.

julz0802 · 07-20-2014, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jscoggins

Yeah, and the Highlander movies are what intellectuals watch.

I've never seen them. No wonder I feel stupid...

Leterface · 07-21-2014, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NetSpiker

The United States has a higher population than Britain, France, Germany and Spain put together. So why are some American movies only getting Blu-ray releases in Europe? If someone went to the trouble of creating a HD transfer, why not release it on both sides of the Atlantic? Are Europeans simply more aware of cult classics like Society and Fido? Did Highlander: The Source make more money in Germany than anywhere else in the world?

One reason is that there are far more countries in the Europe than the ones you listed with infact more population than in North America.

blonde_devil · 07-21-2014, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jscoggins

Yeah, and the Highlander movies are what intellectuals watch.

Sean Connery would like to have words with you....

It is a little weird. I know there are distribution rights that cause issues but it is strange that in cases like the Leone westerns, the European transfers look better than the American ones. You would think the American ones would sell more so why would the European ones seem to put more work into it and get a better result.

But back to the original question, I think there is also a demand issue. Some movies did better over there so there is more of a demand compared to the US. DVD wasn't any different - there are some Canadian movies that we got great releases of here in Canada yet the States only got a barebones version. Since it seems to be so loved, I know Highlander did better over there compared to here and got a better release than what we got.

Roy_Batty · 07-21-2014, 06:34 PM

I am baffled by this question myself. This is the reason why I went region free a couple of years ago. I dealt with an Austalian company to purchase a copy of "The Boston Strangler" on Blu-ray, an American film, made by fox,
yet it has not been released in North America. Right now I'm sitting on about 20 titles that have been released in the rest of the world and not here.
The only one I have that is going to see a release is the innocents from Criterion. Is it just that the home video Branches of the studios in other countries care more? But thanks to the fact I own several Region free players
I don't have to worry.

blonde_devil · 07-21-2014, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

Sure you could just get a region free player but still it would be nice to have their BD's region B available over here.

even there though, there is inconsistency. Look at Twilight Zone - the American release was locked-A yet the European release, which was identical, is region free. What's the point of locking it if I can order it from the UK for cheaper and it will still work? That makes no sense to me, even with the rights issue. Even with Disney, Fantasia 2000 says it is locked B yet it is actually region free. Would be so much easier if they just stopped region coding things and just restricted where you could buy it.

The Fallen Deity · 07-21-2014, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blonde_devil

even there though, there is inconsistency. Look at Twilight Zone - the American release was locked-A yet the European release, which was identical, is region free. What's the point of locking it if I can order it from the UK for cheaper and it will still work? That makes no sense to me, even with the rights issue. Even with Disney, Fantasia 2000 says it is locked B yet it is actually region free. Would be so much easier if they just stopped region coding things and just restricted where you could buy it.

Agreed.

There's no need for region coding in this day and age.

hanshotfirst1138 · 07-23-2014, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jscoggins

Yeah, and the Highlander movies are what intellectuals watch.

I'm from the suburbs, to me my local library is an intellectual oasis

.

NetSpiker · 07-23-2014, 04:17 AM

Battlefield Earth is another movie that's only available on Blu-ray in Europe. I think we can put the intellectual theory to rest.

hanshotfirst1138 · 07-23-2014, 12:04 PM

I've never seen that film, but its existence is worthwhile for Roger Ebert's hilarious review.

07-18-2014, 05:17 AM	#1
NetSpiker Member Member since:Mar 2014	Why do some American movies only get Blu-rays in Europe? The United States has a higher population than Britain, France, Germany and Spain put together. So why are some American movies only getting Blu-ray releases in Europe? If someone went to the trouble of creating a HD transfer, why not release it on both sides of the Atlantic? Are Europeans simply more aware of cult classics like Society and Fido? Did Highlander: The Source make more money in Germany than anywhere else in the world?

07-18-2014, 10:08 AM	#2
julz0802 Active Member Top contributor Member since:Mar 2013	Because Europe is so much more awesome Truthfully, without specific titles in mind, one of many reasons is distribution rights... Only the major international studios (e.g. Warner, Universal, Disney) will often see uniform releases worldwide.

07-19-2014, 12:48 AM	#3
hanshotfirst1138 Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Dec 2011 4K collection:114 Blu-ray collection:743 DVD collection:91 Trading Score:24	Because Europe is an intellectual oasis ?

07-19-2014, 01:12 AM	#5
BaerGriggs Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Mar 2012 Location:Overland Park, KS 4K collection:223 Blu-ray collection:626 Blu-ray reviews: 3 Trading Score:138	The fact that the Team America Blu-ray is only available in Europe is absolutely insane.

07-21-2014, 06:34 PM	#10
Roy_Batty Expert Member Member since:May 2010 Location:Canada Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:13	I am baffled by this question myself. This is the reason why I went region free a couple of years ago. I dealt with an Austalian company to purchase a copy of "The Boston Strangler" on Blu-ray, an American film, made by fox, yet it has not been released in North America. Right now I'm sitting on about 20 titles that have been released in the rest of the world and not here. The only one I have that is going to see a release is the innocents from Criterion. Is it just that the home video Branches of the studios in other countries care more? But thanks to the fact I own several Region free players I don't have to worry.

07-23-2014, 04:17 AM	#14
NetSpiker Member Member since:Mar 2014	Battlefield Earth is another movie that's only available on Blu-ray in Europe. I think we can put the intellectual theory to rest.

07-23-2014, 12:04 PM	#15
hanshotfirst1138 Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Dec 2011 4K collection:114 Blu-ray collection:743 DVD collection:91 Trading Score:24	I've never seen that film, but its existence is worthwhile for Roger Ebert's hilarious review.

Best Blu-ray Movie Deals