APRIL 2014 - WEEK BY WEEK OVERVIEW
TITLES FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION...
BEST POTENTIAL FOR RETURN ON INVESTMENT
Week #1 - 7 recommended titles (allocate approx 23% of your DVD budget and 22% of BD budget).
- Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues #2, 47 Ronin #7, At Middleton #17, Knights of Badassdom - Anchorman 2 (3 Disc BD Combo, Sequel, Star power)
#19, The Little Rascals Save the Day #22, Seal Team 8: Behind Enemy Lines #28 and - Little Rascals Save the Day (Combo, Franchise)
- Takedown: The DNA of GSP (Star power, combo)
Takedown:The DNA of GSP #31
- Flowers in the Attic (Good Cast, Book awareness, <$13)
Week #2 - 7 recommended titles (allocate approx 33% of your DVD budget and 32% of BD budget).
BUY DEEP, SELL OFF FAST!
- The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug #1, Grudge Match #5, August: Osage County #6,
- Anchorman 2 (Sell off Theatrical version BD on street date)
Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones #11, Bad Ass 2: Bad Asses #21, Justin Bieber’s
- Ride Along (Urban comedy overperformed theatrically)
Believe #23 and Snake and Mongoose #24
- The Nut Job (Overperformed at the box office)
Week #3 - 10 recommended titles (allocate approx 29% of your DVD budget and 29% of BD budget). - 47 Ronin (Satisfy early demand, poor reviews)
- Secret Life of Walter Mitty #3, Ride Along #4, The Nut Job #8, Philomena #10, Better Living MAJOR COPY DEPTH, NOT A PRIORITY
Through Chemistry #14, Date and Switch #25, Black Nativity #26, After the Dark #27 and Flowers - Black Nativity (more urban appeal, musical)
in the Attic #30
- Justin Bieber’s Believe (negative publicity)
- Devil’s Due (lack of star power, found footage flick)
Week #4 - 2 recommended titles (allocate approx 2% of your DVD budget and 3% of BD budget).
- Legend of Hercules (lack of star power, poor reviews)
- The Bag Man #15 and The Suspect #29
SATISFY DEMAND! HAVE A LITTLE DEPTH!
Week #5 - 5 recommended titles (allocate approx 13% of your DVD budget and 14% of BD budget).
- Philomena (older demo. appeal, Academy Awards hype)
- Labor Day #9, The Legend of Hercules #12, Devil’s Due #13, Bad Country #16 and A Case of - At Middleton (older demo. appeal, star power)
You #18
- Better Living Through Chemistry (ensemble cast)
- Bad Country (Ensemble cast, true story, crime drama)
APRIL 2014 - NEED TO KNOW PURCHASING INFO
SLEEPER PICKS - LOW COST APPEAL
- Not that you need reminding but just in case... April is traditionally the worst revenue generating month After the Dark (Buy 3 & Save pack, good trailer & story)
of the year. However, we do have some good news, compared to 2013, the box office for titles releasing - Knights of Badassdom (Fanboys flick, cast, <$16)
this year generated almost 80% more total dollars at the box office ($840 million vs $470 million). We are - Snake and Mongoose (origin story of pro drag racing)
- The Suspect (good indie psychological thriller)
fortunate to have 8 titles to work with that earned over $30 million with 3 earning over $100 million.
- Schedule staff and budget accordingly as there are three events worth noting in April: (1) The NHL Playoffs THEATRICAL SCHEDULE - STOCK UP ON LIKE TITLES
begin on Wed. April 16th. (2) Good Friday and the Easter long weekend is April 18th to 20th; (3) The baseball - Captain America: Winter Soldier (Marvel) - 4th
season begins on March 31st so the Blue-Jays will be back in action.
- Draft Day (Kevin Costner football drama) - 11th
- Similar to 2013, April is a 5 week release month which has us recommending 31 titles with another - Oculus (Horror - Midnight Madness Festival winner) - 11th
- Rio 2 (Animated sequel from Fox) - 11th
9 films “Worth Considering”.
- Transcendence (Johnny Depp sci-fi thriller) - 17th
- Be prepared to invest 85% of your total monthly budget in the first 3 release weeks.
- A Haunted House 2 (Spoof comedy sequel) - 18th
- There are 14 recommended titles that have a Blu-ray/DVD combo with 2 also being available in 3D - Brick Mansions (Paul Walker - District 13 remake) - 25th
(The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and 47 Ronin).
- The Other Woman (Cameron Diaz comedy) - 25th
- 3 genres account for 19 of the 31 recommended titles: What a Rush (7), Loads of Laughs (7), Live, Laugh, - Walk of Shame (Elizabeth Banks rom.comedy) - 25th
Love (5).
- There are 12 recommended titles with an average cost per copy below $18 including 5 films under $14.
TITLES BY GENRE (RVS THEME)
- Barring any changes to the release schedule, Week 4 (Apr. 22) – the first Tuesday after the Easter - Compelling Characters - 2 titles (Labor Day)
long weekend – has only has two recommended titles and one of those is from VVS Films (The Bag - Crime Time - 3 titles (The Bag Man)
Man) for which we recommend ordering only 1 copy on DVD and Blu-ray.
- Family Fun - 3 titles (The Nut Job)
- We recently exchanged emails with VVS requesting they reconsider their position and return to - Fright Night - 2 titles (Paranormal Activity:Marked Ones)
providing marketing support to us for their films. VVS has two other releases this month, one we are
- Live, Laugh, Love - 5 titles (August: Osage County)
recommending (A Case of You) you buy a single copy of and another title we are not recommending
- Loads of Laughs - 7 titles (Anchorman 2)
(The Outsider).
- Thrills & Chills - 2 titles (After the Dark)
NOTE: As part of our commitment to provide members with the best possible information and tools to assist with purchasing movies, we encourage
you to use this Tip Sheet along with the interactive versions of both the Purchasing Recommendations spreadsheet and the eOne Planner Buying - TV When You Want It - 0 titles (3 Worth Considering)
Guide to help you with the monthly ordering process and most importantly maximize your revenues on each title. The Tip Sheet is based on a variety - What a Rush - 7 titles (The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug)
of information and analysis but should only be used as a guide. The final buying decisions rest with the individual retailer, who must take into account
other factors unique to their store. Movie Experts Inc. can not be held responsible for the use or misuse of our various purchasing tools.
Top title in genre shown in italics.
**Please note that this document is mailed to all members who receive our monthly envelope from Canada Post but is also emailed and
made available for download (on or before the 3rd Friday of each month) from the Purchasing section on the Movie Experts Discussion Board.***
April 1st New Releases - Overview
There are 7 recommended titles releasing the first week of the month including 2 films ranked in the top 7 by the Purchasing Committee. This is third strongest
release week of the month with a suggested budget allocation for the week at 23%. The top ranked comedy in April releases this week (Anchorman 2) while What
a Rush (action) titles are the dominant genre with 3 recommended films.
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (Ranked #2) - From Paramount comes the sequel to the 2004 comedy with the all-star comedic cast returning for even
more laughs. The super-sized R-Rated version is being released in theatres on Feb. 28th. The BD/DVD combo sku is 3 discs which includes the DVD and 2 BD’s
versions of the film (theatrical and uncut). Suggest splitting the pack and selling off the theatrical cut Blu-ray disc on street date for $19.99. A 12 pack EVP is
also available on DVD for stores with bigger budgets. The title is also available on Rentrak. Rated 74% on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.1 on imdb.
47 Ronin (Ranked #7) - From Universal comes the seventh cinematic adaptation of the 47 Ronin incident but the first produced in Hollywood. This Keanu Reeves
film had a $175 million budget and was a major box office disappointment generating less than $40 million. In addition to BD/DVD combo there is also a 3D BD combo
sku which features 3 discs (3D BD, BD & DVD). Don’t be too scared off by the bad reviews just don’t buy too deep. Rated 12% on Rotten Tomatoes and 6.6 on imdb.
At Middleton (Ranked #17) - From Anchor Bay comes this romantic comedy that enjoyed a limited theatrical release but generated most of its positive buzz on
the festival circuit. Terrific star power (Garcia & Fermiga) for a title that will appeal to the 35+ crowd. Having at least a few copies will give the title shelf
presence and help generate solid revenues. Title has been available on Video On Demand since January 31. Rated 58% on Rotten Tomatoes and 6.7 on imdb.
Knights of Badassdom (Ranked #19) - From eOne Films comes this fantasy/comedy about live action role playing. Both the cast and the fact it’s a comedy will
give it appeal with mainstream customers but the film will truly be appreciated by geeks and fanboys. Both the DVD and Blu-ray benefit from having a great
low cost (under $15 and $18 respectively). A couple of copies should suffice for most stores. Not Rated on Rotten Tomatoes and 6.5 on imdb.
The Little Rascals Save the Day (Ranked #22) - From Universal comes a PG comedy adventure from the beloved franchise that is suitable for the entire family
(Kids 4 to 12). Available on DVD and in a BD/DVD combo pack, so we suggest buying at least a couple of DVD copies and splitting a combo or two to reduce
your average cost per copy to around $13. Not rated on Rotten Tomatoes or on imdb.
Seal Team Eight - Behind Enemy Lines (Ranked #28) - From Fox comes the fourth installment in the Behind Enemy Lines franchise, with the story set in
Africa with Tom Sizemore at the helm. Available on DVD and Blu-ray at a pretty decent price so a copy or two will do for every store. Also available on Rentrak.
Not Rated on Rotten Tomatoes or imdb.
Takedown: The DNA of GSP (Ranked #31) - From Universal and the Emmy award winning producer of Life and Planet Earth comes an intimate portrait of the
UFC champion, who is also one of the most popular athletes on the planet. A limited theatrical release in late February will help with awareness as the film
will be available on DVD and in a BD/DVD combo pack 5 weeks later. Not Rated on Rotten Tomatoes or imdb.
April 8th New Releases - Overview
There are 7 recommended titles releasing the second week of the month including 3 films ranked in the top 6 by the Purchasing Committee and all 7 in the Top 24.
This is THE strongest release week of the month with a suggested budget allocation for the week at 33%. The top ranked film in April releases this week (The
Hobbit:The Desolation of Smaug) while the rest of the recommended titles are made up from four other genres.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (Ranked #1) - From Warner comes the second film in the trilogy and the #8 box office title of 2013 ($256 million) which is
about $50 million less than The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. We suggest ordering the DVD rental sku $16.99, splitting a few BD/DVD combos and splitting at
least one 3D BD/BD/DVD combo. Also available on Rentrak but given the DVD rental sku and the BD/DVD combos, which you can split, you should seriously weigh
the flexibility of selling off PV after the first week or two if you buy as deep as we recommend vs the potential of a slightly lower cost via rev. share. Rated 75% on
Rotten Tomatoes and 8.2 on imdb.
Grudge Match (Ranked #5) - From Warner comes a boxing comedy that I think will be a guilty pleasure as it pits Raging Bull (DeNiro) vs Rocky Balboa (Stallone).
The film features a very likeable supporting cast, will have appeal with our core customer base and similar to The Hobbit, we suggest ordering the DVD rental
sku $16.99 and splitting at least a few BD/DVD combos. Also available on Rentrak but again given the DVD rental sku and the BD/DVD combo, which you can split,
buying on Rentrak is an option to consider if you plan on buying very deep. Rated 29% on Rotten Tomatoes and 6.7 on imdb.
August: Osage County (Ranked #6) - From eOne Films comes a touching drama, based on the Broadway play and starring two of the most well-liked actresses
in Hollywood (Streep & Roberts). The #1 film for women in April and nominated for 2 Academy Awards. Available on DVD and Blu-ray. Still awaiting confirmation
of a requested EVP pack on DVD. Rated 64% on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.4 on imdb.
Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (Ranked #11) - From Paramount comes the fifth installment in the horror series and the first to be shot in found
footage style. Available on DVD and in a BD/DVD combo which you should split. Available on Rentrak which could be a good way to get some depth and most
importantly reduce your risk and cost on this title given the performance of the horror genre at most stores. Rated 39% on Rotten Tomatoes and 5.1 on imdb.
Bad Ass 2: Bad Asses (Ranked #21) - From Fox comes the sequel to the 2012 action film starring the two Danny’s: Trejo and Glover. Available on low-priced DVD
and Blu-ray. Available on Rentrak for stores on the Fox Output deal. Having a couple of copies will do for most stores. Not Rated on Rotten Tomatoes or imdb.
Justin Bieber’s Believe (Ranked #23) - From eOne Films comes the follow-up to Never Say Never (2011). Having a few copies to satisfy fans of the Canadian pop
icon will do for most stores. Only available on DVD. Rated 57% on Rotten Tomatoes and 1.5 on imdb (remember my comment about haters on imdb).
Snake and Mongoose (Ranked #24) - From Anchor Bay comes the true story of how professional drag racing came to be. Combine a very recognizable ensemble cast
with the genre means having a couple of copies will work great for most stores. Available on DVD and Blu-ray. Not Rated on Rotten Tomatoes but rated 7.6 on imdb.
April 15th New Releases - Overview
There are 10 recommended titles releasing the third week of the month including 4 films ranked in the top 10 by the Purchasing Committee. While this week has
more recommended titles than any other we suggest a budget allocation for the week of 29%. Of the 10 titles, 4 films are Loads of Laughs (comedy) releases. Given
the very light release week that follows (only 2 recommended titles on April 22nd) you should ensure adequate copy depth for the higher ranked titles this week.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (Ranked #3) - From Fox comes an adaptation of the 1939 James Thurber's short story which was made into a film starring Danny
Kaye in 1947. Despite having good star power (Stiller) this version underperformed theatrically as a result of a confusing marketing campaign which bodes well for
rentals. Also available on Rentrak for stores on the Fox Output Deal. Rated 50% on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.5 on imdb.
Ride Along (Ranked #4) - From Universal comes the surprise $120 million hit buddy comedy starring Ice Cube and Kevin Hart. While the title should perform well
for most stores do not overbuy this title by treating it like a traditional $100+ million film as it did not over index at the box office in Canada. Bring in enough DVD’s
to satisfy rental demand and split the BD/DVD combo to lower your average cost per copy to under $18. Rated 17% on Rotten Tomatoes and 6.4 on imdb.
The Nut Job (Ranked #8) - From eOne Films comes another surprise box office hit. This animated comedy filled a gap in the theatrical schedule and over performed
so be careful going too deep on the #1 family comedy in April. Film will have its highest appeal with kids aged 6 to 12. Still awaiting confirmation of an EVP pack
on DVD. Also available on Blu-ray. Rated 11% on Rotten Tomatoes and 5.7 on imdb.
Philomena (Ranked #10) - The critically acclaimed true story from eOne Films that is based on the 2009 investigative book and earned 4 Academy Award nominations.
Starring Judi Dench, this film is a revenue generator in waiting that we expect will have the best rental legs of any film released in April. Still awaiting confirmation
of an EVP pack on DVD. Also available on Blu-ray. Rated 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.8 on imdb.
Better Living Through Chemistry (Ranked #14) - From Universal comes a quirky comedy with a very good ensemble cast. Having at least a few copies on DVD
along with 1 or 2 copies on Blu-ray is highly recommended given the star power and low priced DVD and Blu-ray. Not Rated on Rotten Tomatoes or imdb.
The Invisible Woman (Ranked #20) - From Sony comes a film based on Claire Tomalin’s non-fiction book The Invisible Woman: The Story of Nelly Ternan and
Charles Dickens. Starring and directed by Ralph Fiennes. Only available in a BD/DVD combo. Also on Rentrak. Rated 76% on Rotten Tomatoes and 6.7 on imdb.
Date and Switch (Ranked #25) - From eOne Films comes an enjoyable coming of age comedy that is only available on DVD. Having a copy or two at most will help
maximize your revenues on this title. Rated 43% on Rotten Tomatoes and 5.6 on imdb.
Black Nativity (Ranked #26) - From Fox and based on the Langston Hughes Broadway play comes a musical drama set in present day Harlem. While the star power
and box office cannot be overlooked, having a DVD copy and splitting a combo should be more than enough depth. Rated 48% on Rotten Tomatoes and 4.0 on imdb.
After the Dark (Ranked #27) - From Phase 4 comes an apocalyptic sci-fi adventure with a recognizable cast. Take advantage of the Buy 3 & Save pack to enjoy a
cost per copy of $13. The trailer will play well on our in-store loop and help generate awareness and demand. Rated 75% on Rotten Tomatoes and 5.8 on imdb.
Flowers in the Attic (Ranked #30) - From eOne Films comes a made for TV adaptation of V.C. Andrews' controversial cult-classic novel. A talented and well-known
cast will help give the film added appeal. Having a copy or two of this low-priced DVD (under $13) should work for all. Rated 47% on Rotten Tomatoes and 5.9 on imdb.
April 22nd New Releases - Overview
As a result of the Easter long weekend there are only 2 recommended titles releasing the fourth week of the month. This is obviously THE weakest release week of
the month with a suggested budget allocation for the week of just 2%.
The Bag Man (Ranked #15) - From VVS Films comes a crime thriller with good star power (DeNiro & Cusack). As this title will not be promoted in any of our
marketing materials, we suggest ordering only 1 DVD copy and splitting one BD/DVD combo. Not Rated on Rotten Tomatoes or imdb.
The Suspect (Ranked #29) - A potential sleeper from eOne Films. An indie psychological thriller with terrific performances (Phifer & Sadler). A single copy or two
at most on DVD will work for all stores while those with bigger budgets should also consider adding a Blu-ray. Not Rated on Rotten Tomatoes rated 5.7 on imdb.
April 29th New Releases - Overview
There are 5 recommended titles releasing the final week of the month, all of them are ranked in the top 18 by our Purchasing Committee and each is in a different
genre. Given the small release slate the previous week, ensure you have some depth for the films releasing this week and use up your budget allocation of 13%.
Labor Day (Ranked #9) - From Paramount and director Jason Reitman (Juno, Up in the Air) comes a crime drama based on the N.Y. Times best-selling book. Very
good star power (Brolin & Winslet) will help generate awareness and rental appeal. Also available on Rentrak. Rated 32% on Rotten Tomatoes and 6.8 on imdb.
The Legend of Hercules (Ranked #12) - An epic origin story from eOne Films. A young cast, loads of action and plenty of CGI did not play well for theatre audiences
or critics. Look for audiences to flock to the Hercules live action flick starring The Rock this summer. Available on low priced DVD and Blu-ray and despite the poor
reviews having a little bit of depth will be necessary given the light offerings the previous week. Rated 3% on Rotten Tomatoes and 4.3 on imdb.
Devil’s Due (Ranked #13) - From Fox comes a found footage-inspired film that comprises elements from both Rosemary’s Baby and Paranormal Activity that despite
very little star power still generated over $15 million at the box office. A few copies on DVD and splitting the BD/DVD combo will work for most stores. Also available
on Rentrak for stores on the Fox Output Deal. Rated 19% on Rotten Tomatoes and 3.9 on imdb.
Bad Country (Ranked #16) - From Sony comes a gritty crime story based on real people and featuring a well-known ensemble cast. Available on DVD and Blu-ray
so a couple of copies will work for most stores across the country. Also on Rentrak for stores on the Sony Output Deal. Not Rated on Rotten Tomatoes or imdb.
A Case of You (Ranked #18) - From VVS Films and the creator of Wonderland, comes a romantic comedy with a very good ensemble cast. As this title will not be
promoted in any of our marketing materials we suggest ordering only 1 DVD copy and/or 1 Blu-ray copy. Rated 44% on Rotten Tomatoes and 5.6 on imdb.