Dark Tower’ Debuts at No. 1 on DVD, Blu-ray Disc Sales Charts

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment scored the No. 1 spot on both national home video sales charts the week ended Nov. 4 with “The Dark Tower,” a science-fiction Western based on the Stephen King novellas that earned a disappointing $50.7 million in U.S. theaters.

Despite its poor box office performance and generally negative reviews, the film debuted at No. 1 on both NPD VideoScan’s overall disc chart, which tracks combined DVD and Blu-ray Disc sales, and the dedicated Blu-ray Disc sales chart.

The film knocked 20th Century Fox’s “War for the Planet of the Apes,” the third installment in the science-fiction reboot film series, to No. 2, a week after its debut at No. 1. “War” still sold nearly 85% as many units its second week in stores as “Dark Tower” did in its first week of availability.

Another Sony Pictures film, “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” slipped to No. 3 on both sales charts, down from No. 2 the prior week and No. 1 its first week of availability.

Rounding out the top five on the overall disc sales chart was Sony Pictures’ “The Emoji Movie” at No. 4 and Warner’s “Wonder Woman” at No. 5, back up from No. 7 the prior week.

On the Blu-ray Disc sales chart, “Wonder Woman” finished the week at No. 4 and “The Emoji Movie” came in at No. 5.

Debuting at No. 6 on both sales charts was Universal Pictures’ “Kidnap,” an abduction video with Halle Berry that earned $30.7 million in U.S. theaters.

According to NPD research, “The Dark Tower” generated 58% of its first-week sales from Blu-ray Disc, and 8% from Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc. “Kidnap” generated just 42% of its first-week sales from Blu-ray Disc.

On Home Media Magazine’s rental chart for the week ended Nov. 5, “War for the Planet of the Apes” soared to No. 1 now that its week-long holdback from Redbox is over.

“The Dark Tower” debuted at No. 2, while the previous week’s top rental, “The Emoji Movie,” slipped to No. 3.

“Spider-Man: Homecoming” came in at No. 4, while Warner’s “Annabelle: Creation” remained at No. 5 for the second week.

Thomas K. Arnold is Editorial Director of Home Media Magazine.

Top 20 NPD VideoScan First Alert, powered by Nielsen, chart for the week ended 11/04/17:

1. The Dark Tower (new)
2. War for the Planet of the Apes
3. Spider-Man: Homecoming
4. The Emoji Movie
5. Wonder Woman
6. Kidnap (new)
7. Hocus Pocus (1993)
8. Girls Trip
9. Annabelle: Creation
10. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
11. Baby Driver
12. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
13. Transformers: The Last Knight
14. Stranger Things (Target exclusive)
15. It (1990)
16. The Lion King (1994)
17. PAW Patrol: The Great Snow Rescue
18. Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie
19. The Nightmare Before Christmas
20. The Mummy (2017)

Top 10 Home Media Magazine rental chart for the week ended 11/05/17:

1. War for the Planet of the Apes
2. The Dark Tower (new)
3. The Emoji Movie
4. Spider-Man: Homecoming
5. Annabelle: Creation
6. The House
7. The Mummy (2017)
8. Wonder Woman
9. Baby Driver
10. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales