Cars races ahead in first week sales

About 8 million DVDs sold, also available as a download

By Jennifer Netherby -- Video Business, 11/15/2006

Cars sold an estimated 8 million DVDs in bricks-and-mortar stores in its first week.

NOV. 15 | Disney/Pixar’s Cars has parked itself ahead of all other DVD releases this year, based on first week sales.

Consumers bought an estimated 8 million DVDs in bricks-and-mortar stores, according to Rentrak Retail Essentials. Sources say adding online sales and DVDs sold into the rental market would push first week sales above 9 million units.

Those numbers motor the DVD ahead of first week sales on Disney’s The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Warner Home Video’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, each of which sold through more than 7 million units in stores their debut week.

Cars also debuted as a digital download on iTunes and CinemaNow last week.

Disney DVD arm Buena Vista Home Entertainment wouldn’t comment on Cars’ first week DVD sales. Last week, Disney CEO Bob Iger said consumers bought 5 million DVDs of the film in the first two days.

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