Why are Blu-rays released earlier outside the U.S.?

[Maxell]

I remember when most movies would show up first in the U.S. and then weeks to months later in other countries. Why all of a sudden other areas of the world are getting new releases first, such as Simpsons, Pirates, Spider-man 3 (weeks before), etc.?

[MOONPHASE]

america sucks thats all i can think of

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by Maxell

I remember when most movies would show up first in the U.S. and then weeks to months later in other countries. Why all of a sudden other areas of the world are getting new releases first, such as Simpsons, Pirates, Spider-man 3 (weeks before), etc.?

I'm pretty sure its that time zone thing.

[Maxell]

Originally Posted by Marcusarilius

I'm pretty sure its that time zone thing.

I doubt places like Germany and Australia are in different MONTHS.

[aygie]

Its usually because Films are owned by different distributors in different countries.

[Giyomu]

even if I live in France, 90% of my collection is imported from US (hey, zone A player)
yesterday it was "Simpson's here", today is "Master Commander arrived!"... next week will be "blade runner there!!"...
nooooo, those are not blockbusters

[moggy]

yeh, i was wondering why America was no longer the place to be for new release dvd's. Here in Aussie land we have quiet a few titles that are not out in America until next year, such as;

Starship Troopers,
Air Force One,
The Rock,
Con Air
and so on.

Now I know why that it's due to distribution contracts, so i suppose it is a good thing, but personally i would like a universal release of a blu-ray title.

[w_tanoto]

maybe because the country of origin is not USA (although the production contry maybe USA. pirates and harry potter has been released in UK. that is example

[Giyomu]

Originally Posted by w_tanoto

maybe because the country of origin is not USA (although the production contry maybe USA. pirates and harry potter has been released in UK. that is example

Starship Troopers,
Air Force One,
The Rock,
Con Air
and so on

all of these titles are also available in France and I am pretty sure that Starship troopers has not been shot in Paris,
no more Jean Reno played US president in Air Force One

[SomethingForKate]

We're also getting Blade Runner earlier here in the UK

Although I want the 5-disc US version

SFK

[Bullseye]

Its truely wonderful that there is more outside the USA.

[GregBlu5]

Wicky said, in response to an ironic post I made in a related thread, that it's because the movie companies tend to get more money when they sell titles abroad first. So, by releasing them over there first, they can make a bit more profit. (We have seen a number of you UKers complain about the high cost of disks over there.) Also, too, Wicky mentioned the fact that a number of you elsewhere around the world can buy disks cheaper through amazon US. So, this way, you can pay less by doing that; however, you'd then have to wait a few more weeks (like we do) in order to get them from amazon US cheaper.

I really don't know what the reason is for why titles like Starship Troopers have been available over there for some time now and not here. 'Course, some of us have ordered it over there, and paid a hefty price to do so. So, again, it's economics 101.

-Greg

[Hanzaki]

Don't worry most of the new titles still show up earlier in the US.

[MrVorhees]

Originally Posted by Maxell

I doubt places like Germany and Australia are in different MONTHS.

LMAO!!!

[GregBlu5]

Originally Posted by Maxell

I doubt places like Germany and Australia are in different MONTHS.

Has anyone actually verified this? What do the Nielsen's say?

[jsteinhauer]

Originally Posted by Maxell

I doubt places like Germany and Australia are in different MONTHS.

Hugo Chavez may decree that Venezuela is in a different month, though.

[Giyomu]

Originally Posted by SomethingForKate

We're also getting Blade Runner earlier here in the UK

Although I want the 5-disc US version

SFK

same in France,
blade runner comes next week but I pre ordered US version

I want my blade runner marathon with friends
all versions in a row

[tiger roach]

Originally Posted by jsteinhauer

Hugo Chavez may decree that Venezuela is in a different month, though.

!viva la revolucion!


What about the dreaded extra features - are they the same on the discs when they finally come out in the USA or do they add extra stuff?

[Seretur]

This generally doesn't hold true with new releases.

It happens in the case of catalog releases, and is usually left to the discretion of the country's individual distributor. And in cases of high-profile catalog titles, it is most obvious; however, the US still gets the vast majority of releases on both DVD and Blu-ray, so any generalizations are misplaced.

And often, if the US BD is delayed, it also ends up being improved -- with a better transfer, better audio, and better extras. So the trade-off isn't as bad as it might seem at first glance.

[Living Near Shamu]

Originally Posted by jsteinhauer

Hugo Chavez may decree that Venezuela is in a different month, though.

Originally Posted by Giyomu

same in France

Haha, Chavez rules the world!