Transactional VOD Archives - Media Play News

Horror Comedy ’Cocaine Bear’ Again Tops Weekly Vudu Chart

The Universal Pictures horror comedy Cocaine Bear again topped the chart of the 10 most-popular films on Fandango’s transactional digital service Vudu the week ended March 26.

Available for premium digital rental and sale, the film, directed by Elizabeth Banks, is based on the true story of drug smuggler Andrew Thornton II, who on Sept. 11, 1985, jumped from an auto-piloted Cessna after dropping packages of cocaine in the forest near Blairsville, Ga. Thornton died when his parachute failed to open, while much of the coke was believed to have been ingested by a bear, who promptly died. In the movie version, the bear does not die; instead, he becomes addicted to the white powder and embarks on a killing spree while chasing after more.

Debuting at No. 2 on the chart was Lionsgate’s Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre, available for premium digital rental and purchase. The actioner, starring Jason Statham, Aubrey Plaza, Hugh Grant and Josh Hartnett, follows special agent Orson Fortune and his team of operatives who recruit one of Hollywood’s biggest movie stars to help them on an undercover mission when the sale of a deadly new weapons technology threatens to upend the world order.

Falling from No. 2 to No. 3 on the chart was A24’s The Whale, available for digital purchase and digital rental. The film, based on the play about an obese man attempting to reconnect with his daughter, recently earned Brendan Fraser a Best Actor Oscar.

Rising from No. 10 to No. 4 on the chart was Lionsgate’s Plane, newly available for regular digital purchase after a premium run. In the film, pilot Brodie Torrance (Gerard Butler) saves his passengers from a lightning strike by making a risky landing on a war-torn island. When most of the passengers are taken hostage by dangerous rebels, the only person Torrance can count on for help is Louis Gaspare (Mike Colter), an accused murderer who was being transported by the FBI.

Follow us on Instagram

Rising to No. 5 from No. 6 on the chart was the Universal Pictures thriller Knock at the Cabin, newly available for regular digital purchase March 24 after a premium run. The film from director M. Night Shyamalan follows a young girl and her parents who, while vacationing at a remote cabin, are taken hostage.

Subscribe HERE to the FREE Media Play News Daily Newsletter!

Vudu’s top 10 titles for the week ended March 26, in terms of revenue, were:

‘John Wick 4’ Box Office Success Spurs Home Entertainment Run on Movie Franchise

On the heels of Lionsgate’s explosive box office success for action thriller John Wick: Chapter 4, consumer appeal for home entertainment access to the movie franchise — starring Keanu Reeves as a former hitman who returns to the trade after his pet dog is murdered — is on overdrive.

NBCUniversal-owned Vudu platform cited the original 2014 John Wick, John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017) and 2019’s John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum among the platform’s top-selling/renting weekly titles. The movies are priced from $3.99 for digital rental.

Redbox offers all three titles for rent on DVD for $2.25, in addition to the aforementioned digital rental fees. The platform is also offering a “John Wick Triple Feature” transactional VOD bundle featuring all three movies for $19.99.

The original John Wick ranked No. 10 on Reelgood’s weekly streaming chart through March 16. The chart tracks real-time data from 5 million platform users living in the United States across SVOD and AVOD services for original and acquired streaming programs and movies.

The three movies are also available to stream on NBCUniversal’s Peacock platform, Sling TV and Fubo, which all require a subscription.

Retailers, meanwhile, are offering various exclusive “John Wick” movie sets featuring extras such as player cards and discounts on a ticket to John Wick 4.

The box office success of John Wick 4 suggests the home entertainment window of the franchise won’t close anytime soon.

“When you make a fourth in an action franchise, you have to expect it to go down. That is the nature of these franchises,” Joe Drake, chairman of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, told the Washington Post. “But we kept seeing signals, and it was wonderful to see the movie they delivered. We saw the audience wanting more.”

Subscribe HERE to the FREE Media Play News Daily Newsletter!

The franchise has spawned a movie spin-off co-starring Oscar-nominated Ana de Armas (Blonde) and Reeves, with Prime Video set to debut a prequel series, “The Continental,” starring Mel Gibson.

Drake said the physicality of making the movies is taking its toll on the 58-year-old Reeves, who reportedly declares each new “Wick” movie his last due to the physical demands.

“As best they can, [the producers] will continue to try to seduce Keanu to come back and do things,” Drake told the Post. “So, we’re going to continue to look for ways to meet that demand.”

Horror Comedy ’Cocaine Bear’ Tops Weekly Vudu Chart

The Universal Pictures horror comedy Cocaine Bear debuted atop the chart of the 10 most-popular films on Fandango’s transactional digital service Vudu the week ended March 19.

Rising from No. 9 to No. 2 on the chart was A24’s The Whale, available for digital purchase and newly available for digital rental. The film, based on the play about an obese man attempting to reconnect with his daughter, recently earned Brendan Fraser a Best Actor Oscar.

Remaining at No. 3 on the chart was the Sony Pictures drama A Man Called Otto, available for digital purchase and newly available for digital rental. It stars Tom Hanks as a man who no longer sees purpose in life after the death of his wife and is ready to end it until he meets an unlikely friend. The film is based on the best-seller A Man Called Ove.

Another Oscar winning title, A24’s Everything Everywhere All at Once, returned to the chart at No. 4. Available for digital purchase, the hyperkinetic multiverse actioner won seven Academy Awards, for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Ke Huy Quan), Best Supporting Actress (Jamie Lee Curtis), Best Actress (Michelle Yeoh), Best Film Editing, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert).

Follow us on Instagram

Falling from No. 2 to No. 5 on the chart was the Sony Pictures mystery Missing, available for digital purchase. In the film, when her mother (Nia Long) disappears while on vacation in Colombia with her new boyfriend, June’s (Storm Reid) search for answers is hindered by international red tape. Stuck thousands of miles away in Los Angeles, June creatively uses all the latest technology at her fingertips to try and find her. When June unravels secrets about her mom, she discovers that she never really knew her at all.

Subscribe HERE to the FREE Media Play News Daily Newsletter!

Vudu’s top 10 titles for the week ended March 19, in terms of revenue, were:

Tom Hanks Drama ‘A Man Called Otto’ Tops Weekly Vudu Chart

Sony Pictures’ A Man Called Otto, starring Tom Hanks, topped the chart of the 10 most-popular films on Fandango’s transactional digital service Vudu the week ended March 5.

The drama, available for digital purchase, stars Hanks as a man who no longer sees purpose in life after the death of his wife. He is ready to end it until he meets an unlikely friend. The film is based on the best-seller A Man Called Ove.

The Universal Pictures thriller Knock at the Cabin, available for premium digital rental and purchase, fell from the top spot to No. 2 on the chart. The film from director M. Night Shyamalan follows a young girl and her parents who, while vacationing at a remote cabin, are taken hostage.

A couple of sequels landed at No. 3 and No. 4 on the chart.

Debuting in the third spot was Warner Bros.’ Magic Mike’s Last Dance, available for premium digital rental and purchase. In the third installment in the franchise, “Magic” Mike Lane (Channing Tatum) takes to the stage again after a lengthy hiatus, following a business deal that went bust, leaving him broke and taking bartender gigs in Florida.

Landing at No. 4 was Sony Pictures’ Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, the 21st film in the anime franchise. It is available for digital purchase.

Follow us on Instagram

Falling two spots to No. 5 on the chart was Universal Pictures’ Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, available for digital purchase. The DreamWorks animated film is a sequel to Puss in Boots and the sixth installment in the “Shrek” franchise. It follows the continuing adventures of the character Puss (voiced by Antonio Banderas). The film will start streaming on Peacock March 10.

Subscribe HERE to the FREE Media Play News Daily Newsletter!

Vudu’s top 10 titles for the week ended March 5, in terms of revenue, were:

M. Night Shyamalan Thriller ‘Knock at the Cabin’ Tops Weekly Vudu Chart

The Universal Pictures thriller Knock at the Cabin topped the chart of the 10 most-popular films on Fandango’s transactional digital service Vudu the week ended Feb. 26.

Newly available for premium digital rental and purchase, the film from director M. Night Shyamalan follows a young girl and her parents who, while vacationing at a remote cabin, are taken hostage.

Debuting at No. 2 on the chart was the A24/Lionsgate drama The Whale, which earned Brendan Fraser an Oscar nomination for Best Actor and is newly available for digital purchase. Based on the play by Samuel D. Hunter, it follows the story of a reclusive English teacher who attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter.

Remaining at No. 3 on the chart was Universal Pictures’ Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, available for digital purchase. The DreamWorks animated film is a sequel to Puss in Boots and the sixth installment in the “Shrek” franchise. It follows the continuing adventures of the character Puss (voiced by Antonio Banderas).

Follow us on Instagram

Dropping from the top spot to No. 4 on the chart was Lionsgate’s action thriller Plane, which became available for premium digital purchase and rental Feb. 3. In the film, pilot Brodie Torrance (Gerard Butler) saves his passengers from a lightning strike by making a risky landing on a war-torn island. When most of the passengers are taken hostage by dangerous rebels, the only person Torrance can count on for help is Louis Gaspare (Mike Colter), an accused murderer who was being transported by the FBI.

Falling from No. 2 to No. 5 on the chart was the Universal Pictures horror thriller M3GAN. The Blumhouse film, newly available for digital purchase starting Feb. 24 (after a premium run), is about a life-like artificial intelligence doll given to a young niece (Violet McGraw) by her robotics engineer aunt (Allison Williams) after the girl’s parents are killed in an automobile accident.

The Universal Pictures Academy Awards contender Women Talking, available for digital purchase staring Feb. 21, entered the chart at No. 10. The film has been nominated for two Oscars, Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Subscribe HERE to the FREE Media Play News Daily Newsletter!

Vudu’s top 10 titles for the week ended Feb. 26, in terms of revenue, were:

DEG International Renews ‘Les VODays’ Showcasing Hollywood Movies in France

The Digital Entertainment Group International (DEGI), and the Syndicat de l’Edition Vidéo Numérique (SEVN), Jan. 16 announced the return of “Les VODays,”’ a week-long marketing campaign to jumpstart digital retail sales of Hollywood and European movies in the French market.

French consumers will be offered a selection of new and classic movies at discounted prices from Universal Pictures Video France, Sony Pictures Entertainment France, SND Films and Warner Bros. Discovery France.

Titles will be available across both digital sellthrough and transactional VOD, allowing consumers to buy or rent movies. The selection of both Hollywood and local movies include Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, the “Spider-Man” saga, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and Joyeuse Retraite! 2, among others.

Participating digital platforms include the Apple TV app, CanalVOD, Filmo, Microsoft Movies & TV, VOD from Orange TV, Premiere Max, Prime Video, Rakuten TV, UniversCine and VIVA.

“Les VODays” is backed by a nationwide media campaign that includes Facebook, Instagram and Catch-up TV on MyTF1 & 6play, with additional visibility across the ALLOCINE network.

“‘LesVODays’ in 2022 was a bold activation that delivered new and lapsed customers to the French market,” Liz Bales, CEO at DEG International, said in a statement. “The next iteration of the campaign will benefit from the learnings of last year, and will see the 2023 activity designed to highlight the breadth of titles across the digital format as well as the convenience of digital transaction.”

‘Violent Night’ Again Tops Weekly Vudu Chart

Universal’s Violent Night again led the chart of the 10 most-popular films on Fandango’s transactional digital service Vudu the week ended Jan. 1.

Available for premium digital rental and purchase, Violent Night follows mercenaries who attack the estate of a wealthy family, but who run up against Santa Claus. It stars David Harbour and John Leguizamo.

Rising to four spots to No. 2 was Top Gun: Maverick, available for digital rental and on sale for digital purchase. The sequel features Tom Cruise reprising his role as daring pilot Maverick, who is assigned to train a new generation of pilots how to complete a difficult mission.

Falling a spot to No. 3 on the chart was Warner Bros.’ superhero film Black Adam, based on the DC Comics. In the actioner, available for digital purchase, nearly 5,000 years after he was bestowed with the almighty powers of the ancient gods — and imprisoned just as quickly — Black Adam (Dwayne Johnson) is freed from his earthly tomb, ready to unleash his unique form of justice on the modern world.

Reappearing at No. 4 on the chart was Lyle, Lyle Crocodile, available for digital rental and on sale for digital purchase. In the film, when the Primm family moves to New York City, their young son Josh struggles to adapt to his new school and new friends. That changes when he discovers Lyle — a singing crocodile who loves baths, caviar and great music — living in the attic of his new home.

Follow us on Instagram

Remaining at No. 5 on the chart was Lionsgate’s Prey for the Devil, available for digital purchase and newly available for digital rental. The horror film follows a nun who believes she is answering a calling to be the first female exorcist.

New to the chart at No. 6 was Disney’s Strange World, which became available for digital purchase Dec. 23. It’s also streaming on Disney+. The animated adventure follows three generations of the legendary Clade family as they attempt to band together and navigate an uncharted, treacherous land beneath their world. It features the voices of Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, Jaboukie Young-White, Gabrielle Union and Lucy Liu.

As Glass Onion started streaming on Netflix Dec. 23, its predecessor Knives Out (unavailable on any streaming service) entered the chart at No. 7. The title is on sale for digital rental and purchase.

Subscribe HERE to the FREE Media Play News Daily Newsletter!

Vudu’s top 10 titles for the week ended Jan. 1, in terms of revenue, were:

Sony’s ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Most-Viewed Film Debuting on Vudu in 2022

Sony Pictures’ Spider-Man: No Way Home was the most-viewed movie that debuted on Vudu in 2022.

The Marvel Studios film takes place after Spider-Man’s identity is revealed, bringing his superhero responsibilities into conflict with his normal life and putting those he cares about at risk, including M.J. (Zendaya). When he enlists Doctor Strange’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) help to restore his secret, the spell tears a hole in the world, releasing Spider-Man villains from other universes.

Universal Pictures’ animated Sing 2 came in at No. 2 on the most-viewed movie chart in 2022. The Illumination film follows the animal singers as they plan a new show and try to persuade the world’s most reclusive rock star, Clay Callaway (voice of Bono), to join them. The film also features the voices of Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson and Taron Egerton.

Landing at No. 3 on the most-viewed of 2022 chart was Paramount Pictures hit Top Gun: Maverick. The sequel features Tom Cruise reprising his role as daring pilot Maverick, who is assigned to train a new generation of pilots how to complete a difficult mission.

Coming in at No. 4 on the most-viewed of 2022 chart was Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Sony’s relaunch of the iconic series. The film, from director Jason Reitman and produced by his late father, is a sequel to the two 1980s “Ghostbusters” movies. It follows a single mom and her two kids who arrive in a small town and begin to discover their connection to the original Ghostubusters. Ivan Reitman died on Feb. 12, 2022.

Subscribe HERE to the FREE Media Play News Daily Newsletter!

Landing at No. 5 on the chart was Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog 2. The sequel follows Sonic (voice of Ben Schwartz), who after settling in Green Hills is eager to prove he has what it takes to be a true hero. His test comes when Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) returns, this time with new partner Knuckles (Idris Elba), in search of an emerald that has the power to destroy civilizations. Sonic teams up with his own sidekick, Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey), and together they embark on a globe-trotting journey to find the emerald before it falls into the wrong hands.

Most-Viewed Movies Debuting on Vudu in 2022:

Spider-Man: No Way Home (Sony Pictures)
Sing 2 (Universal Pictures)
Top Gun: Maverick (Paramount Pictures)
Ghostbusters: Afterlife (Sony Pictures)
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Paramount Pictures)
Jurassic World Dominion (Universal Pictures)
Minions: The Rise of Gru (Universal Pictures)
The Bad Guys (Universal Pictures)
Uncharted (Sony Pictures)
Morbius (Sony Pictures)

‘Violent Night’ Tops Holiday Film-Packed Weekly Vudu Chart

Universal’s Violent Night led the chart of the 10 most-popular films on Fandango’s transactional digital service Vudu the week ended Dec. 25, which saw numerous other holiday-themed titles appear on the chart.

Available for premium digital rental and purchase, Violent Night follows a group of mercenaries who attack the estate of a wealthy family, but run up against Santa Claus. It stars David Harbour and John Leguizamo.

Falling to No. 2 after four weeks at No. 1 on the chart was Warner Bros.’ superhero film Black Adam, based on the DC Comics. In the actioner, available for digital purchase, nearly 5,000 years after he was bestowed with the almighty powers of the ancient gods — and imprisoned just as quickly — Black Adam (Dwayne Johnson) is freed from his earthly tomb, ready to unleash his unique form of justice on the modern world.

Other holiday-themed films among the top 10 included the 2000 live-action How the Grinch Stole Christmas, starring Jim Carrey; the 2018 animated The Grinch; Elf; and The Polar Express, which took the third, fourth, seventh and ninth spots, respectively. All are available for digital rental and purchase.

Follow us on Instagram

Falling from No. 2 to No. 5 on the chart was Lionsgate’s Prey for the Devil, available for digital purchase. The horror film follows a nun who believes she is answering a calling to be the first female exorcist.

Subscribe HERE to the FREE Media Play News Daily Newsletter!

Vudu’s top 10 titles for the week ended Dec. 25, in terms of revenue, were:

‘Black Adam’ Again Takes Top Spot on Weekly Vudu Chart

Warner Bros.’ superhero film Black Adam again led the chart of the 10 most-popular films on Fandango’s transactional digital service Vudu the week ended Dec. 4.

The film, based on DC Comics characters, became available for premium digital purchase and rental Nov. 22 and debuted at No. 1 the previous week. In the actioner, nearly 5,000 years after he was bestowed with the almighty powers of the ancient gods — and imprisoned just as quickly — Black Adam (Dwayne Johnson) is freed from his earthly tomb, ready to unleash his unique form of justice on the modern world.

Also repeating, in the No. 2 spot, was Sony Pictures’ historical drama The Woman King, starring Viola Davis. The film, available for digital purchase Nov. 22, is inspired by true events that took place in the kingdom of Dahomey, one of the most powerful states of Africa in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Rising from No. 6 to No. 3 on the chart was the horror film Smile, which is available for digital purchase and newly available for digital rental. The Paramount hit stars Sosie Bacon as a therapist who begins to experience an overwhelming terror that takes over her life after witnessing a patient’s bizarre suicide.

Falling from No. 3 to No. 4 on the chart was Sony Pictures’ comedy Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, available for digital purchase Nov. 22. In the film, when the Primm family moves to New York City, their young son Josh struggles to adapt to his new school and new friends. That changes when he discovers Lyle — a singing crocodile who loves baths, caviar and great music — living in the attic of his new home.

Follow us on Instagram

Rising from No. 7 to No. 5 on the chart was Paramount’s series juggernaut Yellowstone: Season 5, Part 1. The series follows family patriarch John Dutton (Kevin Coster), who is determined to protect his ranch and his family’s legacy.

With the holidays approaching, the holiday titles The Grinch, 2000’s live-action How the Grinch Stole Christmas (both from Universal) and Warner’s Elf landed at No. 8, No. 9 and No. 10, respectively, on the chart for the week.

Subscribe HERE to the FREE Media Play News Daily Newsletter!

Vudu’s top 10 titles for the week ended Dec. 4, in terms of revenue, were: