HALLOWEEN (1978) 40th Anniversary Edition | Lionsgate | Sep 24 2018

[DeathlyGeneral]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I wouldn't have said that catalogue was the "main part" of revenue for studios and distributors, but there's a reason they keep doing it...otherwise they wouldn't keep doing it. These kinds of movies are perennial sellers, almost free money, even when there's not a reboot/remake/sequel/all of the above coming out, and I don't know if you've got into 4K at all but Lionsgate have released a boatload of catalogue crap on UHD in the US. They're certainly a player but they're not one of the big boys, more of a "mini major" as industry parlance would have it, so they're still keen on sources of revenue like this and so far their commitment to UHD catalogue product has put the likes of Disney to shame.

Not saying these things don’t sell, just saying that they wouldn’t sell that much. There’s a bunch of titles that will just sell well, no matter how many times they get a re-release or upgrade. Halloween is one of these titles. But they’re not the majority, and most back catalog releases won’t be as big or as profitable as Halloween, hence why they’re all being farmed out to indies (Lionsgate don’t licence, but most other majors are).

I haven’t gotten into 4K, I’d need a new TV (which I hope to get soon) as my current one is only a 37-inch HD-ready creaky Toshiba, or more accurately, Toshita. But yeah, Lionsgate are probably profiting off UHD and BD sales, although I’d still argue that it’s not bringing in anywhere nea4 the kind of money paulboland keeps talking about.

[paulboland]

Originally Posted by DeathlyGeneral

Not saying these things don’t sell, just saying that they wouldn’t sell that much. There’s a bunch of titles that will just sell well, no matter how many times they get a re-release or upgrade. Halloween is one of these titles. But they’re not the majority, and most back catalog releases won’t be as big or as profitable as Halloween, hence why they’re all being farmed out to indies (Lionsgate don’t licence, but most other majors are).

I haven’t gotten into 4K, I’d need a new TV (which I hope to get soon) as my current one is only a 37-inch HD-ready creaky Toshiba, or more accurately, Toshita. But yeah, Lionsgate are probably profiting off UHD and BD sales, although I’d still argue that it’s not bringing in anywhere nea4 the kind of money paulboland keeps talking about.

I was a buyer in Music/Video retail for over 10 years with a independent music/video store and later with Our Price/Tower Records
Without back catalog titles none of these stores would have happened.

New releases be it music or films some titles but not all sell very well in first few weeks/months of release but most sales over a year comes from regular back catalog sales as that makes up most of the product range a store or music/films website retailer has to sell.

Back catalog is purchased by teens to adults and over the years the music and films they are interested in changes.

There is more back catalog titles of music/films with distributors to supply retail stores and website retailers than there is new releases.
Look at Amazon or Hmv and some other retailers listing's of titles they have to sell to customers most is back catalog.

Take for example the 60's/70's/80's/90's/ and later a lot from this period provides strong back catalog releases music and films to new and existing customers

This is why distributors do a lot of re-releases as there is a lot of new customers each year to purchase popular back catalog films and music

[ryth_]

Ordered the bluray. Is it a 4K scan?

[indisposed]

Are they ever gonna release the full series box set? As far as I'm aware the American set is region A locked and there's probably some distribution problems releasing them all over here in one set, but now would be as good a time as any.

[cinescot]

Originally Posted by indisposed

Are they ever gonna release the full series box set? As far as I'm aware the American set is region A locked and there's probably some distribution problems releasing them all over here in one set, but now would be as good a time as any.

The rights to the films in the UK are split between at least 3 different distributors. This makes a complete box set very unlikely.

[johnlennon696]

It would be nice if we ever get the H6 Producers Cut over here at some point.

[CouncilSpectre]

Originally Posted by cinescot

The rights to the films in the UK are split between at least 3 different distributers. This makes a conplete box set very unlikely.

From memory:

Halloween - Lionsgate
Halloween II & III - Universal
Halloween IV & V - Starz/Anchor Bay
Curse, H20 & Resurrection - Miramax

That being said, is the situation that different in the US? I'm looking on the back of my US collection set and there's about 10 different labels listed on there...

[DeathlyGeneral]

Don’t StudioCanal distribute Miramax’s catalogue?

Also, the size of the UK market makes such a boxset less viable from a commercial perspective.

[CouncilSpectre]

Originally Posted by DeathlyGeneral

Don’t StudioCanal distribute Miramax’s catalogue?

Also, the size of the UK market makes such a boxset less viable from a commercial perspective.

I *think* so yes. There's an agreement between SC, Lionsgate and Miramax. Am assuming that this covers the Miramax Halloween movies.

[DeathlyGeneral]

Well, SC, Lionsgate and Miramax worked together for that Tarantino boxset, so surely they could get a Halloween set together? I think Universal are the obstacle here, although it could just be old-fashioned lack of demand or too much effort. After all, how can we expect three different labels to work together to produce something for the UK market?

Lionsgate and SC also rule out anybody licencing from Universal and getting a boxset that way, since you can’t licence from SC or Lionsgate, and neither would be willing to licence from Universal for this.

TLDR: This ain’t happening anytime soon. Best to get the US boxset.

[CouncilSpectre]

Originally Posted by DeathlyGeneral

Well, SC, Lionsgate and Miramax worked together for that Tarantino boxset, so surely they could get a Halloween set together? I think Universal are the obstacle here, although it could just be old-fashioned lack of demand or too much effort. After all, how can we expect three different labels to work together to produce something for the UK market?

Lionsgate and SC also rule out anybody licencing from Universal and getting a boxset that way, since you can’t licence from SC or Lionsgate, and neither would be willing to licence from Universal for this.

TLDR: This ain’t happening anytime soon. Best to get the US boxset.

I imported the AB limited edition 2 or 3 years ago, for '30 days of Halloween' viewing - bought the F13 tin/set at the same time. Both great, although the Halloween set is region-locked, whereas the F13 one isn't, if that matters to you obviously.

[cinescot]

Originally Posted by CouncilSpectre

From memory:

Halloween - Lionsgate
Halloween II & III - Universal
Halloween IV & V - Starz/Anchor Bay
Curse, H20 & Resurrection - Miramax

That being said, is the situation that different in the US? I'm looking on the back of my US collection set and there's about 10 different labels listed on there...

Yeah you are right it is not much different in the US except that the original film is with Starz/Anchor Bay rather than with Lionsgate. Then there are the rights holders for the Rob Zombie films as well of course.

I'm not sure II and III are with Universal in the UK as the DVDs were released by a couple of smaller labels. Either way, I would have thought both films would have been a good shout for Arrow (especially with the original film being out of reach). Both are still unreleased in the UK on BD and with the new film coming out it would have been a good time to release them.

[CouncilSpectre]

The UK DVDs would undoubtedly have been released under license, the question is from where - I thought Universal, but looking at the back of the boxes it appears to be De Laurentiis. Not really sure why they'd sit with Universal in the US but De Laurentiis here though, but I'd guess it's right - you'd have to guess that if they WERE with Universal that one of the UK Boutiques would have gone after them by now...

Edit: looking more into this, the situation is as clear as mud. Looks like Sanctuary Records had the rights, which were licensed to Scanbox (who issued II on DVD) - Scanbox were then bought by High Fliers Films, who inherited the license and issued III. In the meantime Sanctuary Records were bought by Universal Music, but then later sold to BMG, who have since farmed out some of their catalogue to Warners.

All of the stuff I found about Sanctuary though, not one mention of them holding film rights or what might have happened to them.

Clear as mud.

[jimdigriz.]

I got the US 15 disc set of Halloween a few years back but I've still been convinced to buy the Lionsgate UHD of the first film. A tad under £15 from Wow so no customs making it seem worth a go

[cinescot]

Originally Posted by CouncilSpectre

The UK DVDs would undoubtedly have been released under license, the question is from where - I thought Universal, but looking at the back of the boxes it appears to be De Laurentiis. Not really sure why they'd sit with Universal in the US but De Laurentiis here though, but I'd guess it's right - you'd have to guess that if they WERE with Universal that one of the UK Boutiques would have gone after them by now...

Edit: looking more into this, the situation is as clear as mud. Looks like Sanctuary Records had the rights, which were licensed to Scanbox (who issued II on DVD) - Scanbox were then bought by High Fliers Films, who inherited the license and issued III. In the meantime Sanctuary Records were bought by Universal Music, but then later sold to BMG, who have since farmed out some of their catalogue to Warners.

All of the stuff I found about Sanctuary though, not one mention of them holding film rights or what might have happened to them.

Clear as mud.

I reckon your correct if they were with Universal they would probably have been released by now, either by Universal themselves or by one of the boutiques. It is quite frustrating as an Arrow release of II and/or III would probably be a great seller for them. Especially over the next few months with the Halloween buzz.

Also, only 4 of the 10 released Halloween films have had a Bluray release in the UK which is very poor.

I do have the Shout 10-disc but will likely pick up this new release from Lionsgate, especially at such a decent price.

[CouncilSpectre]

Originally Posted by cinescot

I reckon your correct if they were with Universal they would probably have been released by now, either by Universal themselves or by one of the boutiques. It is quite frustrating as an Arrow release of II and/or III would probably be a great seller for them. Especially over the next few months with the Halloween buzz.

Also, only 4 of the 10 released Halloween films have had a Bluray release in the UK which is very poor.

I do have the Shout 10-disc but will likely pick up this new release from Lionsgate, especially at such a decent price.

I think I'd be a lot more upset if it weren't for the US collection. Still sucks for region-locked folks though.

[Foggy]

I think it was here people where debating why Halloween has an 18 rating. Seems the BBFC have re-rated today and it’s been reduced to a 15.

[UpsetSmiley]

Originally Posted by Foggy

I think it was here people where debating why Halloween has an 18 rating. Seems the BBFC have re-rated today and it’s been reduced to a 15.

Woah, that's weird considering they just passed it as an 18 two months ago. This discussion was the reason for the thread I started. Some of us put forward some arguments questioning the 18 cert and suddenly they've changed their mind.

Maybe they saw this thread?

[Geoff D]

You guys were right and I was wrong.

[drush9999]

Originally Posted by Foggy

I think it was here people where debating why Halloween has an 18 rating. Seems the BBFC have re-rated today and it’s been reduced to a 15.

Not surprised in the least.