Warner Bros. just issued a press release announcing they will stop shipping all Harry Potter theatrical film titles, including Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 and the Harry Potter: The Complete 8-Film Collection which hits DVD and Blu-ray on November 11, on December 29, 2011. The reason, which is not stated in the release, is to obviously urge fans to buy Deathly Hallows - Part 2 and/or the complete collection before that date or risk having to wait until the studio decides to release some kind of expensive megaset somewhere down the line.
If you thought WB was going to stop trying to milk the Potter franchise for all it's worth just because they aren't making any more films you better guess again. The franchise, which has so far grossed more than $12.1 billion for Warner Bros. Entertainment - with $7 billion at the worldwide box office for Warner Bros. Pictures and $5.1 billion for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, can still be squeezed for more green.
If you want to get on top of it, you can preorder the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 Blu-ray here and the DVD here.
'Blood Ties' (2013) Movie Review - Cannes Film Festival
'Inside Llewyn Davis' (2013) Movie Review - Cannes Film Festival
Cannes 2013: Weinsteins Unveil Footage of 'Grace of Monaco', 'Salinger' and 'Mandela'
Interview: Simon Pegg, John Cho and Alice Eve Talk 'Star Trek into Darkness'
'Star Trek Into Darkness' Box Office Softer than Expect, but Still #1
'Seduced and Abandoned' (2013) Movie Review - Cannes Film Festival
What I Watched, What You Watched #193
'Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues' Official Teaser Trailer
'Jimmy P.' (2013) Movie Review - Cannes Film Festival
'The Congress' (2013) Movie Review - Cannes Film Festival
First 'Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom' Poster, Starring Idris Elba
Does this include the Ultimate Editions? I've been waiting for all of those to come out before buying them (because I'm sure there will be an eventual box set of all 8 of them). The last two aren't even out yet, so I can't imagine they would pull those.
That I'm not sure of since the release is quite specific in that the "theatrical" versions will no longer be available.
I've read somewhere that this shipping thing is only about the US. International sales are not affected. Is this true?
Leave it to Warn-A-Brother, always famous for their dirty tricks.
Honestly not surprising, but also a pretty dirty move on the part of what has become one of Hollywood's worst studios. I guess any type of combined edition of Deathly Hallows is several years away, though I guess we can hope for the Ultimate Edition to come along sometime.
I wonder if they'll do this with Nolan's Batman trilogy as well after he's finished. It wouldn't surprise me.
I don't mind waiting for whenever WB pulls it's Disney trick. I've waned on all the films in light of the disappointing last couple anyway, so I'm in no real rush to buy them anymore sadly.
I can wait pretty much indefinitely for any re-releases.
I wrote a (personal) piece about the edition scam a while back on RoS (thanks again for putting it on the site Brad).
How many times have studios done this allready.
Come on people, this is standard practice.
For instance: How many versions are there of the star wars films already?
Seperate discs, boxsets of either trilogy and 'complete' boxsets. Un-cut, re-cut, remastered, digitalised, re-packed, with bubble-gum, bla bla bla.
And now they've found a new way to keep it going a 'bit' longer. 3D. Yes they can do aaaallllll the versions again but in 3D.
I predict within the next 5 years that will happen with the HP franchise as well.
Although I agree with you on the Disney and HP BS the difference with Star Wars is that they don't stop selling the older versions, they just keep releasing newer ones each time a new technology is developed. You can at least make the argument that you are getting something new with each edition and you can still by the older versions. What Disney and Warner do is very different in that they are just manipulating the supply and demand market.
But with Star Wars they HAVE stopped with certain boxes (I know, it was just when I wanted to order). Only to bring them back after a while.
I'm sure that's what they'll do with HP as wel. Probably when the sales of special versions (who'll stil be available) start to go down.
The theatrical boxsets and films wil then be back to cater to the people who haven't bought the expensive special versions even when the cheaper alternative was not available.
You're exactly right, they are manipulating the supply and demand market. But hey, they're in it to make money, not to entertain us. It's just business.
Why is everyone so upset? You could still buy used copies very cheaply, and not only that, but you can download each movie online for free and burn your own copies. You could also rent them if that's what you want. It's not like WarnerBrothers is getting rid of Harry Potter as a whole.
I thought it had already been announced that an Ultimate Edition of the BluRay editions of HP was being released next year. I had already decided not to buy the BluRay complete set this year and just wait.
I've got them all on dvd, except for Pt. 2, so I can hold off on BluRay for another year.
YEAHHHHHHH!!! GOOD! BYE BYE HARRY!! I’m so sick of Harry Potter. Take it off the shelves, GOOD! Harry Potter isn’t some Disney classic. So what, pull it off the shelves.
The reason why they’re doing this is because THEY AREN’T SELLING!!
Maybe not in the balkans.
These numbers are just US sales per June 7th 2011 (couldn't find world wide) according to the-numbers.com. (not sure this includes boxsets)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Domestic DVD Units: 12,500,000
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Domestic DVD Units: 12,300,000
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Domestic DVD Units: 12,100,000
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Domestic DVD Units: 11,700,000
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Domestic DVD Units: 11,300,000
Domestic Blu-ray Units: 400,000
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Domestic DVD Units: 8,750,000
Domestic Blu-ray Units: 1,500,000
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I
Domestic DVD Units: 5,150,000
Domestic Blu-ray Units: 2,800,000
Not selling eh?
And thanks, Rattker76. You are the sensible one here!
SHUT UP, STUPID! Harry Potter is amazing and it could do you some good, you miserable brat.
They are too selling, stupid. are you too idiotic to read the numbers. Harry Potter might be able to teach you something you lowlife. >:0
I've happily purchased every single one of the Harry Potter films on Amazon.com - they were used and each came new & sealed. I have a feeling I will be able to find plenty of copies of these films over the years to come.
Thems the facts
I cant believe this! I wanna die now! Ugh, this is the most horrible thing to ever happen since twilight came out! They cant put away these movies! I live for these things! I'm so mad at whoever had the idea to do this! They cant take them away from us! Not this soon! **crying**
WB is just a bunch of money hungry jews