Netflix’s Rise, Infographic Style

Via NYT’s DealB%k, a great Online MBA Program infographic on Netflix’s meteoric growth in the DVD and VOD space – chasing Blockbuster then moving past their brick-and-mortar storefronts into how the movie service eats into the pay tv and cable models.

With strong leadership, a great recommendation engine and a service which is considered a “utility” by many, Netflix will need to move internationally and optimize for the social networks to stay ahead of the Amazon Prime VOD bundle.

Reelist: X-Men’s Wolverine, Innovating Film Franchises

So begins the inaugural summer blockbuster release season: Wolverine, the X-Men origins backstory or prequel on the immortal, was superhuman enough to pull away from the pack with $87 million or $21,225 per theater average. From Hugh Jackman’s Oscar hosting to the leaking of a screener, the latest Marvel franchise had plenty of build-up, and many are already saying the leak either didn’t hurt or cost the film $20 million. Read more >>

Anti-Studio: Theatrical Drives Theatrical, Not DVD As Usual

Is DVD on the downturn? During a recent lunch with one of my favorite studio digital media chiefs, we discussed the future of home entertainment – DVDs, Blu-Ray, Netflix, hulu, On Demand, digital downloads, you get the basic idea. We mused what the return would be in the next year or two when more of the consumer world is looking for at-home (“digital home”) entertainment, and not tuned into buying packaged DVDs or renting from brick-and-mortars like Blockbuster. Do people actually still buy and rent this way still, you ask? Yes, but they’re moving towards the $4 on-demand, 24-hour window rental – which is 1/4 what studios are used to based on the current retail environment. So how do they survive? Read more >>