Release News

Twilight Blu-ray exclusive to Best Buy, Target

By brenden ⋅ January 22, 2009 ⋅  Email This Post ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

I’ve given this a think, since reading the news this morning that Twilight on Blu-ray would be available exclusively at Best Buy and Target from March 21st until May 5. I’ve got to tell you, it doesn’t make a whole heck of a lot of sense to me. The news broke over at Video Business with the announcement that Summit Home Entertainment would be focusing on selling the 2 disc Special Edition DVD, keeping the Blu-ray for exclusive sale and rental and the single DVD for the rental market. Steve Nickerson, president of the company seems to think that the best way to sell the film is to focus in on where and how it’s young female fan group consume media - DVD and downloads.

“This is an unprecedented place, where you have the size of the [Twilight] box office versus this targeted audience,” said Nickerson.

Is this a battle? How does limiting availability help anyone? Sure, the majority of Blu-ray buyers are statistically male, according to recent NPD Group surveys but how is ostracizing any part of a fan base good for business? I’ve had a passing interest in picking this up but seeing as how I live nowhere near a Best Buy (we don’t even have Target up here in the great white north) and I’m sure my enthusiasm won’t stretch into May (yes, I’m fickle) I can safely say that Summit has sacrificed one potential sale right here. I’ve got to imagine I’m not the only one…

Announced extras for this release include:

• Audio Commentary by director Catherine Hardwicke, and stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart
• 5 Extended Scenes with introductions by the director
• 5 Deleted Scenes with introductions by the director
• 3 Music Videos from Muse, Paramore and Linkin Park
• “The Adventure Begins: The Journey from Page to Screen” — A seven-part documentary
• Comic-Con Phenomenon featurette

Tags: Best Buy, Stephenie Meyer, Target, Twilight