While theatrical and DVD revenues declined in 2011, Blu-ray Disc sales were up 20% for both new and catalog titles to cross $2 billion for the first time, according to DEG: Digital Entertainment Group.
A 38% jump in Blu-ray household penetration push Blu-ray compatible devices into 40 million U.S. homes by the end of the year.
Helping spark Blu-ray sales were the continued growth of HDTV sales, another 27 million sold in 2011, expanding penetration to more than 74.5 million U.S. households.
Also contributing to Blu-ray sales, the number of 3D Blu-ray releases tripled to 45 (65 overall in market now), with unit sales increasing more than six times in the same period.
The five top-selling titles of 2011 sold more than 2 million copies each. The top-selling Blu-ray titles in 2011, according to Nielsen VideoScan First Alert:
1. Harry Potter – Deathly Hallows, Part 1
2. Harry Potter – Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (available in 3D)
3. Tangled (available in 3D)
4. Cars 2 (available in 3D)
5. Transformers – Dark of Moon
6. Bridesmaids
7. Rio
8. The Help
9. Lion King (available in 3D)
10. Hangover Part 2
Total consumer spending on home filmed entertainment in 2011 was down more than 2% to $18 billion, including digital and electronic downloads and video-on-demand services, but it rose nearly one percent in the second half of the year and 5% in the third quarter alone — the first quarterly increase since 2008.
— By Scott Hettrick