Anticipating Record-Breaking Fourth Quarter And Year Universal Studios Home Video Announces A New Name

Shrek 2, The Bourne Supremacy, Dawn of the Dead, Van Helsing And The Chronicles Of Riddick Drive Fourth Quarter Slate

22-Oct-04

As it prepares to launch a highly-anticipated fourth quarter slate headlined by summer blockbusters Shrek 2, The Bourne Supremacy, The Chronicles of Riddick and Van Helsing, Universal Studios Home Video is changing its name to Universal Studios Home Entertainment, announced Craig Kornblau, Universal Studios Home Entertainment President. The new name reflects the continued importance of DVDs and other emerging digital formats in the studio's home entertainment business strategy. ""The success of the DVD format has been nothing short of revolutionary,"" says Kornblau. ""As we move forward with our ambitious roll out of new and classic NBC Universal movie and television properties, DVDs will continue to play an increasingly prominent role."" The feature films on Universal Studios Home Entertainment's fourth quarter release schedule represent 36% of the domestic box office of all feature titles being released during this period. In recent years, Universal Studios Home Entertainment has enjoyed spectacular success releasing such critically acclaimed and popular theatrical films as Seabiscuit, Bruce Almighty and 2002 Best Picture OscarÆ Winner A Beautiful Mind. At the same time, the company has consistently demonstrated its ability to build on the momentum generated by Universal's hit theatrical franchises including The Mummy, American Pie, Bourne Identity and Meet the Parents.Along with handling domestic DVD and VHS marketing and distribution for Universal film and television product, the unit is also responsible for home entertainment releases from Universal Pictures' specialty arm, Focus Features, and its recently formed genre division Rogue Pictures. Focus Features' releases have included OscarÆ winners The Pianist (2003 - Performance by an actor in a Leading Role, Achievement in directing, Screenplay based on material previously produced or published) and Lost in Translation (2004 - Original Screenplay), as well as this year's critically hailed romantic comedy Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet. Rogue Picture's debut home entertainment release will be Seed of Chucky, the upcoming sequel to the successful horror franchise. Universal Studios Home Entertainment also services DreamWorks SKG product, including the animated blockbuster Shrek and its sequel Shrek 2. Upcoming releases include director Michael Mann's Collateral starring Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx, and Steven Spielberg's The Terminal, starring Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta-Jones. The company has also taken the industry by storm with its DVD releases of such movie classics as Brian DePalma's Scarface, Steven Spielberg's E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial and Robert Zemeckis' Back to the Future. In March 2004, in a monumental tribute to reach all generations and to celebrate the film's legacy, Universal Studios Home Entertainment embraced one of the most honored, award-winning films, Schindler's List, by releasing the film on DVD for the very first time. Additionally, the newly renamed unit has been a leader in bringing much-loved television series to DVD consumers. TV collections have included such red-hot current hits as Monk and the Law & Order franchise as well as audience favorites including Northern Exposure, Magnum P.I., Quantum Leap and The Munsters. Looking ahead, Universal Studios Home Entertainment will continue to deliver an exciting mix of contemporary theatrical fare and selected gems from the Universal and NBC archives. In addition to The Bourne Supremacy, Van Helsing and The Chronicles of Riddick, the studio's fourth quarter slate includes horror hit Dawn of the Dead and the hilarious comedy Meet the Parents - available in a special edition with all new features and a free movie ticket to see the highly anticipated sequel, Meet The Fockers (Valid from 12/22/04 thru 1/9/05, see store and packaging for details). In addition, Universal Studios Home Entertainment will open its vaults to release The Marx Brothers Silver Screen Collection. This elaborately packaged collectible boxed set includes five zany masterpieces, The Cocoanuts, Animal Crackers, Monkey Business, Horse Feathers and Duck Soup, the first and only films to star all four lovable comic maestros, Groucho, Chico, Harpo and Zeppo, together. For comedy of a different kind, this fall, Universal will release the Dazed and Confused Flashback Edition and Fast Times at Ridgemont High, two hilariously irreverent comedies that take on the sex, drugs and rock-n-roll of American high school life, together in the Ultimate Party Collection. And, consumers will be treated to a double dose of side-splitting laughter as two of Adam Sandler's best-loved comedies, Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison, team up together as better-than-ever DVD special editions. Television series making their debut on DVD include HBO's sexy comedy Dream On and the classic sci-fi favorite Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. Additionally, following the runaway success of the Quantum Leap and Northern Exposure Season One collections, Universal is releasing the second seasons of both series. Then, in early 2005 comes the long-awaited DVD release of director Michael Mann's groundbreaking police drama Miami Vice.For more information visit http://www.universalstudios.com/

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