Do you know how much Jamie Foxx's Ray generated after twenty weeks on the big screen?

$75.3 million.

Do you know how much Ray brought in after Week 1 on DVD?

$75.2 million.

Certainly, the fact that this Best Picture Oscar-nominated film has a DVS Blind & Low Vision Enhanced Widescreen Edition version has got to help the numbers.

The truth is: Opening Day of DVD movie sales can often exceed that which is earned on the big screen.

Craig Kornblau, president of Universal Studios Home Entertainment, says:

People want what is new, fresh and hot.

As marketers, we're satisfying consumers' need for instant gratification.

There is a big title coming out every week now.

You go back six or seven years, and there was a big title only every month or month and a half.

In this household, the current library of DVDs has been an obvious investment in our children.

Our family has a Friday night ritual, when we're not traveling, where we make popcorn at home, put a fire in the fireplace in our bedroom, and curl up with our kids to watch the latest G or PG rated movie.

The first thing this morning, my seven year-old announced at the breakfast table: "Today is the day Finding Neverland comes out on DVD!" My sister-in-law called this "Best Picture 2005" Oscar-nominated film one of her favorite movies ever; one to own.

I am embarrassed to admit that the one movie we recently purchased, The Incredibles has already been watched three times. Because one of my daughter's was home sick and then because our kids wanted to show two separate groups of friends, they watched their favorite new animated film three times -- in one week.

When we said the other night that you'll have to wait to watch it a fourth time, our usual "Happy Campers" were not very happy with their mom and dad.

Needless to say, we have already gotten our money's worth out of this $18 investment.

That one $18 sale contributed to the 5 million copies sold the first day that Pixar Animation Studios' latest DVD arrived in retail stores and online warehouses.

5 million copes in one day.

This same film generated $70 million the first weekend it was in theaters.

In comparison, the first day it appeared on the shelf, if all 5 million were sold at the discounted price of $18, The Incredibles generated $90 million in one day. If people paid the full retail price of $30, The Incredibles generated $150 million. The actual number is probably something in between.

Pretty incredible!

Often, 50% to 70% of a film's DVD sales take place in the first week of its release.

According to Amazon, the Top Ten highest money making movies in 2004 were:

#1 - Shrek 2 (Widescreen Edition) - $441,226,247

#2 - Spider-Man 2 (Widescreen Special Edition) - $373,585,825

#3 - The Passion of the Christ (Widescreen Edition) - $370,274,604

#4 - The Incredibles (Widescreen 2-Disc Collector's Edition) - $256,713,000

#5 - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2-Disc Widescreen Edition) - $249,541,069

#6 - Meet The Fockers - $234,469,000

#7 - The Day After Tomorrow (Widescreen Edition) - $186,740,799

#8 - The Bourne Supremacy (Widescreen Edition) - $176,241,941

#9 - National Treasure (Widescreen Edition) - $164,633,000

#10 - Shark Tale (Widescreen Edition) - $160,861,908

Rugged Elegance recommends all ten of these movies.

Yesterday, we sold a Sharp LC-45GD4U 45' AQUOS Flat-Panel LCD TV with Integrated HDTV Tuner via The Rugged Elegance World Marketplace. To see today's price click on "Buy From Amazon."

Evidence of widescreen vs. full screen suggests that widescreen TVs is where it's at. I guess it's time for an upgrade.

For further details on the success of DVD sales on "Opening Day" I suggest you read Mike Snyder's 3/22/05 article "The new theatrical event: DVD" at:

Inspire & Be Inspired.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful, "Friday nights by the fire with a good flick" living!

~ Jennifer Carolyn King, Rugged Elegance, LLC