Exhibitors Angry With Disney Because ‘Beauty And The Beast 3D’ Is Already In Stores
By Germain Lussier/Jan. 16, 2012 11:19 am EST
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
Why the disparity? Is it because Beauty and the Beast is less popular than The Lion King? A general 3D backlash? According to angry exhibitors, it might be because consumers can purchase a Blu-ray of Beauty and the Beast 3D right now, as it’s in theaters. Read more after the jump.
Deadline first reported this news and began with the following:
Another point mentioned, and the main one in my opinion, is the small percentage of homes who own 3D TV’s and are able to use this disc to its full extent. However, I’m sure many families might have purchased the disc over the holidays just because it’s such a massive 5-disc package. Purchases may have also grabbed it with an eye on buying a 3D TV down the road.
We’ve talked to all of our partners in exhibition about this and have made no secret about the Beauty And The Beast 3D Blu-Ray DVD being available. In fact there are multiple exhibition partners that are tying promotions into the 3D Blu-ray being available, like AMC and Regal.
Either way, while there’s no way to prove if this had any effect on the box office draw of Beauty and the Beast 3D, it certainly didn’t help it.
What are your thoughts? Did Disney do wrong by the exhibitors by releasing the Blu-ray first? Did it effect the grosses?
