In a thrilling turn of events, films set in non-Earth planetary worlds have taken the lead in home viewing. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” has claimed the top spot on VOD charts, including iTunes, Google Play, and Vudu, with a price tag of $19.99. Meanwhile, “65,” which was released theatrically four months ago and has been performing well on VOD, now dominates Netflix’s movie chart.
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” enjoyed a two-month window for home release, following Disney’s strategy of gradually rolling out its films. Rather than opting for immediate streaming, the movie was made available on PVOD (Premium Video on Demand). Despite being available for only three days during the full-week rankings, it still managed to lead Vudu’s revenue-based list.
Netflix’s exclusive streaming deal with Sony, which began last year, has proven to be immensely successful, generating over a billion dollars for the studio. Sony’s films, such as “Bullet Train,” “Where the Crawdads Sing,” and “A Man Called Otto,” have performed exceptionally well on the platform. Upcoming releases like “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” “The Pope’s Exorcist,” and “Insidious: Red Door” are expected to continue this trend. Unlike other studios struggling with losses due to dedicated streaming sites, Sony is reaping the benefits from licensing revenue.
“Asteroid City” is set to debut on Tuesday after its fourth weekend in theaters. Following Focus’ usual release strategy, the film is expected to gross around $28 million domestically, with PVOD results playing a crucial role in its overall profitability.
At Netflix, “65” dethroned “White House Down” to claim the #1 position. Last week’s top film, the Australian horror flick “Run, Rabbit, Run,” has dropped off the list. This week, the top original Netflix title is the Adam Sandler-produced comedy “The Out-Laws,” featuring Adam Devine, Pierce Brosnan, and Ellen Barkin at #2. The re-entry of the classic film “Titanic” at #3 and “Rush Hour” at #4 marks the arrival of older titles on the list.
The world of home viewing continues to be an exciting realm, with audiences embracing otherworldly adventures and a mix of new and classic titles.