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Geared towards comic book and genre fans, Agent DVD Insider scoops DVD and Blu-Ray release announcements and news, along with commentary from industry experts and fellow comic fans.


Agent DVD Insider
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24 Mar, 2015

'Battle' for Blu-ray Shoppers

Target's 'Hobbit' Blu-ray with Lego
Target's 'Hobbit' Blu-ray with Lego

The quest to attract buyers for Warner’s The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies and other new releases March 24 led to a fervor of retailers rallying the troops in the form of several exclusive promotions.

Target offered an edition of the 2D Blu-ray combo pack of the concluding chapter of the “Hobbit” trilogy with pack-in Lego figures of Bard and Bain.

Best Buy offered steelbook packaging for both the Battle of the Five Armies Blu-ray and The Hobbit: The Motion Picture Trilogy Blu-ray boxed set.

Walmart offered a single-disc DVD edition of Armies with special box art and almost none of the extras in the widely available two-DVD set. In fact, Walmart didn’t offer the two-DVD set, and sold its single-disc version at about the same price the other stores offered the two-DVD version. However, the DVDs weren’t tagged with a Walmart exclusive sticker, so shoppers who picked up the DVD at Walmart might not have realized there was a version available with substantial bonus features.

Walmart also offered a DVD gift pack of Universal’s Monster High: Haunted, with a Scaremester Collection DVD containing 18 episodes.

In addition, Walmart has a $24.96 preorder for Anchor Bay’s Paddington Blu-ray with an in-store box containing a plush bear and the ability to stream the movie via Vudu.com 10 days before the April 28 street date. The film will be widely available on Digital HD April 17.

For Universal’s Unbroken, Walmart offered a version of the Blu-ray containing a booklet and 30 minutes of exclusive bonus features viewable through Vudu.

Of course, Universal made available a “Legacy of Faith” DVD special edition of Unbroken exclusively through faith-based outlets Family Christian Bookstores, Mardel Christian Bookstores and ChristianBook.com, with a bonus DVD containing an additional 90 minutes of interviews.

Target offered the Unbroken Blu-ray with a collectible bookmark, while Best Buy had a steelbook version of Unbroken as well.

In anticipation of Universal’s Furious 7 in theaters, Target offered a $10 discount off any “Fast & Furious” Blu-ray ($8 each) and a remote-control car toy ($22.99) based on the franchise. The Blu-rays contain a $7.50 coupon to see the new movie, which hits theaters April 3.

Target also had in-store signage touting an additional 10% off new DVDs and Blu-rays via its Cartwheel coupon app.

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17 Mar, 2015

Targeting Disney's 'Dalmatians'

'101 Dalmatians II' Blu-ray exclusive to Target
'101 Dalmatians II' Blu-ray exclusive to Target

Target March 17 had exclusive availability of the Blu-ray version of Disney's animated sequel 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure. The 2003 film was a direct-to-video follow-up to the 1961 animated classic, and the new Blu-ray is timed as a companion to the "Diamond Edition" release of the original film earlier this year. The London Adventure Blu-ray was advertised in Target's weekly ad circular for $17.99 and upon its release was available only in stores and not listed on Target's website.

Among the other new releases, DreamWorks Animation’s Penguins of Madagascar received the most attention. All the retailers sold the special packaging configurations with wind-up penguin toys, though only Walmart varied the price.

Best Buy offered a $7.99 Penguins lunchbox, though lowered the price to $4.99 when purchased at the same time as a Penguins disc.

Target offered the Blu-ray combo pack with the exclusive featurette “Are You Smarter Than a Penguin?”

For Fox’s Exodus: Gods and Kings, Best Buy offered the 3D Blu-ray combo pack with 30 minutes of additional footage.

Sony Pictures’ Blu-ray of the Annie remake at Target came with a bonus disc of exclusive extras, plus a $5 savings when the Annie movie was bought at the same time as the soundtrack CD. Target’s version of the soundtrack contained two exclusive songs.

Best Buy touted a Facebook coupon with a $5 savings off the Annie Blu-ray.

Walmart offered the Annie Blu-ray with a plush toy of the dog Sandy.

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10 Mar, 2015

'Mockingjay' Catches Fire at Retail

Target's 'Mockingjay — Part 1' Blu-ray exclusive edition
Target's 'Mockingjay — Part 1' Blu-ray exclusive edition

The huge Friday, March 6, rollout of Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1 carried over to overwhelm some of the March 10 new releases.

Target offered the Blu-ray combo pack with an exclusive bonus DVD containing four behind-the-scenes featurettes running about 45 minutes total, plus special box art and a booklet.

Best Buy offered the film in a steelbook case, while Walmart offered a slimmed-down Blu-ray edition with special box art, no DVD version and minimal extras.

For the March 10 titles, a couple new kidvid titles drew the most promotional interest. Walmart offered a DVD gift set of Fox’s “Air Bud” spinoff Russell Madness with a doggie plush, while Target offered a $5 discount when Warner’s The Flintstones and WWE: Stone Age Smackdown! was purchased with a 6-inch WWE action figure (priced at $9.99).

Best Buy has an exclusive window on the Blu-ray edition of Image Entertainment’s Wolfcop, which will be available elsewhere May 12.

Walmart had an exclusive version of the two-disc Blu-ray of The Sound of Music: 50th Anniversary Edition with a booklet, as well as a Peppa Pig: Muddy Puddles gift set with a plush toy.

Among Best Buy preorders, Universal’s Unbroken includes steelbook packaging and Paramount’s Interstellar includes exclusive bonus content, as does Warner’s American Sniper.

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3 Mar, 2015

Barbie, 'NeverBeast' a Snack for 'Mockingjay'

Walmart's 'NeverBeast' gift set
Walmart's 'NeverBeast' gift set

Two direct-to-video animated movies dominated the spotlight Tuesday, March 3, as retailers prepared for the latest "Hunger Games" disc on Friday, March 6.

Walmart offered a special gift pack of Disney's Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast Blu-ray with a Make Music With Bleu DVD, which instructs kids on how to make musical instruments from everyday objects.

For Universal's Barbie in Princess Power, Target offered a free mini pal with purchase of the movie or the Super Sparkle doll (priced at $18). Walmart offered the movie with a downloadable party pack.

Universal also offered a packaging variant for Princess Power, including a superhero mask inside specially marked copies of the DVD and Blu-ray.

However, the biggest title touted by the weekly ad circulars was the Friday release of Lionsgate's The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1. Best Buy offered the film in a steelbook case, while Target offered 45 minutes of exclusive bonus content and a booklet.

Other Target promotions included a $10 instant savings with the purchase of Outlander: Season 1 Vol. 1 on disc and the book upon which the show is based, and a free Minion stamp set with the purchase of any "Despicable Me" movie.

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24 Feb, 2015

Sizing Up a 'Big Hero'

Walmart's 'Big Hero 6' gift set
Walmart's 'Big Hero 6' gift set

When it comes to retail exclusives, animated fare and superhero movies are usually the best bet, and Disney’s Big Hero 6 just happens to be both.

Among the Big Hero 6 exclusives available upon its disc debut Feb. 24, Walmart  offered a deluxe gift set of the Blu-ray combo pack with a “Science of Big Hero 6” bonus DVD.

Target offered Big Hero 6 in a steelbook case, plus a $5 savings on toys based on the film.

Best Buy had the film with exclusive lenticular box art.

The Disney store had offered preorders of Big Hero 6 with speical lithograph giveaways.

Among other films, Walmart stocked a DVD two-pack of the “Horrible Bosses” films upon the release of the second movie, while Best Buy offered a $7 savings with the purchase of both films on Blu-ray.

Target offered the final season of “Sons of Anarchy” on disc with exclusive box art and previous seasons for $14.99 each. Best Buy offered $10 off the seventh season with the purchase of any previous season on disc.

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17 Feb, 2015

Exclusives for the 'Throne'

Best Buy's 'Game of Thrones' Season 4 exclusive covers
Best Buy's 'Game of Thrones' Season 4 exclusive covers

The popular new release Feb. 17 in terms of retail exclusives was easily HBO’s Game of Thrones: The Complete Fourth Season, which drew incentives from each of the big three brick-and-mortar chains.

Both All three offered exclusive bonus content. Target offered a photo book and a 20-minute featurette about the show’s costumes, while Walmart packed its exclusive edition with a King Joffrey Funko mini-doll and a featurette about the season’s royal wedding episode.

Best Buy offered the “Thrones” season set with a choice of exclusive box art depicting the various family sigils seen on the show, plus a visual effects featurette.

Walmart offered a Dumb and Dumber To gift set with a T-shirt.

Otherwise, stores were anxious to promote the upcoming release of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1. Target offered a $5 gift card, a free fabric poster and 45 minutes of exclusive bonus content with a preorder of the film, while Best Buy offered a Blu-ray steelbook case with its $19.99 preorder.

Best Buy also offered a $29.99 bundle that included the Blu-ray steelbook and Digital HD copies of all three films. Details are available at .

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10 Feb, 2015

The Dog Days of February

Walmart's '101 Dalmatians' with bonus disc
Walmart's '101 Dalmatians' with bonus disc

Walmart offered a gift set of the Feb. 10 Blu-ray of Disney’s 101 Dalmatians: Diamond Edition with a bonus DVD of animated content called Kanine Krunchies: Dog Show.

While the regular Walmart price for 101 Dalmatians is $22.96 for the Blu-ray and $2 more for the gift pack at $24.96, the first week both were offered for $18.96, meaning the bonus DVD was essentially free with purchase.

Best Buy set its focus on preorders, offering 100 My Best Buy points for preorders of select titles, with exclusives such as a steelbook for Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1 and Warner’s The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, and a lenticular cover for Disney’s Big Hero 6.

For Game of Thrones: Season Four, Best Buy will offer five exclusive covers, including an online exclusive. Details are at .
Target touted a $5 coupon off the purcase of music, books or movies totally $25 or more.

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3 Feb, 2015

The 'Best' of 'Untold' Exclusives


Fox’s home video release of the latest romantic drama based on a Nicholas Sparks novel, The Best of Me, inspired a few retail exclusives.

Target offered the Blu-ray of The Best of Me with a bonus disc containing a half-hour of additional behind-the-scenes featurettes, while Walmart paired the DVD in a two-pack with another Sparks movie, Safe Haven.

The only other notable exclusive on a Feb. 3 new release was Walmart’s steelbook Blu-ray edition of Dracula Untold.

Among other promotions, Best Buy offered a limited-edition minion hat for $1.99 with the purchase of a select title for $9.99 each.

In addition, Best Buy offered a $10 gift card with the purchase of two select TV seasons, and triple My Best Buy membership points on any movie purchase.

Walmart offered a $12.96 DVD (with Vudu digital copy) movie called A Little Game, starring F. Murray Abraham, Ralph Macchio, Janeane Garofalo and Olympia Dukakis.

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27 Jan, 2015

'Fury' Over Retail 'Throne'

Best Buy's 'Justice League: Throne of Atlantis' with Aquaman figurine
Best Buy's 'Justice League: Throne of Atlantis' with Aquaman figurine

The two big titles Jan. 27 in terms of retail exclusives were Sony Pictures’ World War II drama Fury and Warner’s animated superhero adventure Justice League: Throne of Atlantis.

For Fury, Best Buy offered several exclusive extras, including additional behind-the-scenes documentaries. Target offered Fury with steelbook packaging, while Walmart offered a two-pack of Fury with Company of Heroes.

Best Buy offered a Blu-ray edition of Throne of Atlantis with a pack-on Aquaman figurine. Target offered the film with a steelbook case, while Walmart had an exclusive early window on a Throne of Atlantis two-DVD special edition.

For PBS’s Downton Abbey: Season 5, Target offered the disc with an exclusive “Music of Downton” CD.

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20 Jan, 2015

Retailers Love 'Lucy'


Universal Pictures Home Entertainment’s sci-fi actioner Lucy took retail by storm Jan. 20, with exclusives offered by each of the three major brick-and-mortar chains.

Two of them offered special packaging options for the Blu-ray — Target offered a steelbook case and Best Buy offered a lenticular cover.

Walmart offered a version of the Lucy Blu-ray with an interactive screenplay of the film accessed at LucyScript.com/Walmart using a code found in the packaging.

Another Universal title, The Boxtrolls, came with character cards in Target’s special edition of the Blu-ray combo pack.

Walmart offered a DVD of the football drama 23 Blast for $12.96, the story of high school football star Travis Freeman, who must decide whether or not to keep playing after going blind.

Looking at preorders, Walmart is offering a preorder exclusive for the Blu-ray The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1. The $19.96 purchase includes access to the film on Vudu.com two weeks before the disc streets, plus a behind-the-scenes featurette on Vudu and a preview of the Divergent sequel, Insurgent.

The Disney Store is offering a preorder on the Feb. 24 Big Hero 6 Blu-ray with an exclusive lithograph set.

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