Movies The Foreigner DVD - A Success!

It looks like The Foreigner has been a great direct to video success:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/usatoday/20030806/en_usatoday/11515607

From the article:

But lately studios are making more original films to capitalize on fan interest in an actor or series. Columbia TriStar's Steven Seagal (news) vehicle The Foreigner (out since June 3) is the top rental for the first half of 2003 among direct-to-video releases. The studio has another Seagal straight-to-DVD action movie (Belly of the Beast) and others starring Jean-Claude Van Damme (In Hell) and James Spader (news) (Alien Hunter) due later this year.

"The buying impulse has increased, so niche products can be released direct to video, whether it's an action film or foreign language film," says Benjamin Feingold, president of Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment.

"We'll look at our library and see particular films that do have a core audience, and we develop those into franchises," Graffeo says.

The production price of direct-to-video films is inexpensive typically starting at $2 million, compared with at least $30 million for a theatrical release. And, without the extra marketing expenses, these films can more easily become modest moneymakers.

Since its release, The Foreigner has brought in $11 million in rentals and sales; the biggest direct-to-video release this year, 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure (out since Jan. 21) has brought in $57 million. In comparison, a theatrical hit such as Catch Me If You Can can bring in $100 million.

So The Foreigner is the top direct to video movie for the first 6 months of the year! Shows there are still many Seagal fans still out there. Hopefully they will support Out For A Kill too.

Craig

 

[suziwong]

Wowwwwwwww !!!!!! Good Newssssssssssss!!
Thank you Craig this is wonderful !!
WE LOVE YOU STEVEN Because YOU ARE THE BEST !!!

sincerely

 

[Lotussan]

I am so happy to hear this news...
I watched the Foreigner again, and I really think it is a good movie...He does a very good job in it...
He very "continental" an international fellow...
Steven I adore you, you are sooooo wonderful!

 

[Nassau Mike]

Did'nt the Foreigner have a 20 million dollar budget? If that is the case they have only made about half of their budget back and that is in sales and rentals..

 

[LIETUS]

Well,we Still Can Change It,nassau Mike

 

[Storm]

It's good going for a STV movie. He must still have a lot of fans who don't come here!

 

[Administrator]

I think that figure is just in the USA. I'm sure it will have made more world wide. It's only the first six months too.

Craig

 

[Nassau Mike]

I think that figure is just in the USA. I'm sure it will have made more world wide. It's only the first six months too.

Craig

I was assuming that the figure was a US figure but even if it made that much in the rest of the world(11 mil), which i doubt; it will only be breakin even if indeed it was made with a 20 mil budget..Its gotta be something that we are missing here because that dont look too good to me..I think that Out for a Kill will do better than The Foreigner though and I'm also looking forward to Belly of the Beast and The Yakuza.

 

[Disciple]

being a top rental among STV releases isn't exactly saying much when your immediate competition is the latest Van Damme travesty, or an action flick starring the guy who got to the quarter finals in UFC last year and almost won his match if only his bum knee hadn't given in.

 

[Storm]

Who's that then Disciple?

 

[Kwan]

thanks Craig!
happy to hear that!

 

[Lotussan]

He's so charming in the movie....
Like when he greets the French woman, 'bonjour'
what a perfect accent he has...
Charming, such a gentleman...

 

[Storm]

I just bought the dvd today. Shame there's no decent extras, just trailers.

 

[gunslinger]

Hi all,

The Foreigner has performed okay in Australia,
I think it went to number three or four on the rental charts, as did HPD, and I know a lot of people who bought it. I think the film will turn a profit when worldwide numbers are factored in.

 

[Lotussan]

Good News, Gun...Thanks...

 

[suziwong]

Wonderful news !! Thank you Gun !!

sincerely

 

[Gino Felino]

Well if that story came out before the USA network got a hold of it and, played in on basic cable tv we can expect that $11 millon to go up. If the story came out previous to it being on tv, that might be the reason it did alright.

 

[Lotussan]

I thought his acting job was great in it,
but the film being so dark bugged me...
I like the scene where he says 'stay away
from me' and then shoots the guy dead, for
not listening...
Well, Jonathan did warn him, LOL....
And besides, it was like shoot or be shot, eh?

 

[Reservoir Dog]

was "belly of the beast" as succesful as the foreigner?

 

[Lotussan]

mmmmm, no idea...There is so little promotion going on...Steven needs to fire some of his "people" you know the ones, like from the official site that never bothered to tell us anything about him....Of course I know they don't have the particular job of promoting the films...