Retailers merchandise around Watchmen tie-ins
Related product includes Warner's Tales of the Black Freighter
By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 3/13/2009
MARCH 13 | Packaged media retailers generally see little action on box-office blockbusters until the titles are released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc. But with two companion DVDs to theatrical hit Watchmen in stores this month, as well as the original graphic novel and other merchandise, the film is proving to be a boon to retailers during the theatrical window.
Watchmen’s graphic novel source, plus the book’s animated March 3 DVD/Blu-ray spin-off Watchmen: The Motion Comic, were in stores at the time the film bowed in theaters. Additionally, stores are planning to promote around the March 24 release of made-for-DVD/Blu-ray Watchmen side story Tales of the Black Freighter.
The Motion Comic and Black Freighter are both distributed by Warner Home Video.
In the weeks leading up to Watchmen’s theatrical bow, Amazon.com debuted an all-things Watchmen boutique. Slated to remain open through the film’s expected summer DVD and Blu-ray bow, the boutique is filled with all the available Watchmen tie-ins, as well as posted video from director Zack Snyder’s production diaries.
“While Watchmen has had a loyal fan base for over 20 years, it’s an entirely new property in theaters,” said David Horiuchi, editor for movies and TV at Amazon.com. “What our Watchmen boutique provides is a place for both fans and novices to find any product—books, DVDs, Blu-ray Discs, video-on-demand, music, toys, apparel, etc.—related to the original book or the movie.”
Barnes & Noble has capitalized on the Watchmen book, a bestseller at the chain, as well as the related DVD/Blu-ray titles.
Hastings Entertainment created a Watchmen event area in front of its stores. The section will remain intact through the month, with Black Freighter becoming key to the merchandising when it’s released.
“The publicity and attention around the movie makes for excellent marketing and customer awareness for the books and related product,” Barnes & Noble spokeswoman Carolyn Brown said. “And it’s bringing customers into the stores as well as attracting new readers to the graphic novel genre.”
