As 2023 draws to a close, Universal Pictures’ “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” is on course to clinch the title of the year’s best-selling physical media home entertainment release.
This animated adaptation of Nintendo’s iconic “Super Mario” video game series has seen a meteoric rise in popularity since its disc release on June 13, available earlier at select retailers.
Since its launch, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” has dominated sales charts. It swiftly ascended to the top-selling title of the year by June’s end, impressively maintaining its lead by topping the weekly sales chart for five of its first eight weeks and reigning as the monthly number one for both June and July.
The Competition Heats Up
Close on its heels is “John Wick: Chapter 4” from Lionsgate, released concurrently with the Super Mario movie. It has consistently trailed Mario in sales but secured the second spot in annual sales by the end of June.
Another noteworthy contender is 20th Century’s “Avatar: The Way of Water,” which, despite a slower start, firmly held the third spot by July’s end. A special collector’s edition of “Avatar” released on December 19 could bolster its sales, although it’s unlikely to surpass its current third-place ranking.
Circana’s VideoScan, tracking sales data, reported “Super Mario,” “John Wick,” and “Avatar” as the top three sellers through November. The final charts for December and the entire year are expected in mid-January, but initial insights suggest potential surges from recent releases like “Barbie,” “Oppenheimer,” and “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.”
“Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” released on disc in October and November, respectively, show promise in breaking into the year’s top 10. Although not in the top 10 as of November, December sales trends indicate a strong finish for both titles.
Projected Top Sellers of 2023
Based on Media Play News Research and sales data, the projected top 10 disc sellers for 2023 are:
- “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” (Universal)
- “John Wick: Chapter 4” (Lionsgate)
- “Avatar: The Way of Water” (20th Century)
- “Barbie” (Warner)
- “Fast X” (Universal)
- “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” (Disney/Marvel)
- “Oppenheimer” (Universal)
- “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” (Disney/Marvel)
- “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” (Sony Pictures)
- “Black Adam” (Warner)
In summary, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of Mario and his world, leading the pack in a year marked by stiff competition in the home entertainment sector.
