‘Notorious’ Makes a Name for Itself on Sales Chart

Notorious

By : Thomas K. Arnold | Posted: 29 Apr 2009
tarnold@questex.com

Notorious, the biopic on rapper Notorious B.I.G. from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, was the surprise winner in the weekly home video sales derby, debuting at No. 1 on the Nielsen VideoScan First Alert chart for the week ended April 26.

Favorite The Wrestler, also from Fox, had to settle for a No. 2 finish, selling 81% as many copies as Notorious, according to Nielsen data. The Mickey Rourke starrer about a has-been wrestler, which was nominated for two major Academy Awards (best actor for Rourke and best supporting actress for Marisa Tomei), did bow at No. 1 on both the Home Media Magazine rental chart and the Nielsen VideoScan Blu-ray Disc sales chart.

According to Nielsen data, 19% of the film’s total sales volume came from the Blu-ray Disc version, while Notorious saw just 12% of its sales come from Blu-ray Disc. Notorious grossed $36.8 million in theaters, while The Wrestler took in $26.2 million.

The only other theatrical feature new in stores last week was Universal Studios’ Frost/Nixon, at $18.6 million, a theatrical underperformer. The film debuted at No. 6 on both the sales and rental charts and No. 8 on the Blu-ray Disc sales chart.

The previous week’s top seller, Fox’s Marley & Me, slipped to No. 4 on the sales chart, while top renter The Day the Earth Stood Still, also from Fox, dipped to No. 2 on the rental chart.