DreamWorks Dominates DVD Holiday Sales

4-Dec-00

DreamWorks Home Entertainment dominated the DVD market the past Thanksgiving holiday week with the November 21 release of ""Gladiator,"" which became the fastest-selling DVD of all time - selling through to consumers more than 1.8 million units.Poised to become the best-selling DVD in history, retailers reported that ""Gladiator"" is a destination purchase, driving store traffic during the busiest shopping weekend of the year. In addition, ""Chicken Run,"" which also released on November 21, secured a spot as one of only three family DVD titles to ever ship one million units.On its first day of availability, demand for the Roman epic was so high that retail re-orders resulted in the need to replicate an additional one million units. ""Gladiator's"" week-one retail shipment total of 3.4 million units bested in five days what the previous record holder, ""The Matrix,"" accomplished in more than a year of release.According to Kelly Sooter, Head of Domestic Video for DreamWorks, ""We are working to keep up with the tremendous consumer demand for ëGladiatorí on DVD - however we are literally getting new orders by the minute, and available manufacturing capacity between now and Christmas is limited.""The ""Gladiator"" DVD offers a coliseum full of extras, including an insightful director's commentary by Academy AwardÆ-nominated director Ridley Scott (""Alien,"" ""Blade Runner""), 11 deleted scenes, a seven-minute montage of never-before-seen footage produced exclusively for the DVD by Academy Award-winning editor Pietro Scalia (""JFK""), a production diary by one of the film's actors and much more.The powerful story of courage and revenge, ""Gladiator"" stars Academy Award nominee Russell Crowe (""The Insider,"" ""L.A. Confidential"") and features an outstanding, all-star international ensemble cast, including Joaquin Phoenix (""8MM,"" ""To Die For""), Connie Nielsen (""Mission To Mars,"" ""The Devil's Advocate""), Oliver Reed (""Oliver,"" ""The Three Musketeers""), Richard Harris (""Patriot Games,"" ""Unforgiven"") and Djimon Hounsou (""Amistad,"" ""Deep Rising"").The first full-length feature film from Aardman, the Academy Award-winning creators of ""Wallace & Gromit,"" ""Chicken Run"" amassed a smashing box-office result of close to $105 million. Featuring awe-inspiring animation, an unforgettable cast of characters, a stellar voice cast including Mel Gibson, Julia Sawalha and Miranda Richardson, ""Chicken Run"" became an instant classic with audiences worldwide.For more information about DreamWorks SKG visit their Web site at www.dreamworks.com.

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