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
 

ExitWounds

I don't have rage.
I don't recall hearing much about Belly of the Beast, Out for a Kill or The Foreigner as far as commercials and such go. At least not here in the US. I usually keep an eye out for his films via imdb or action kings.

I liked The Foreigner because it felt kind of cold and moody. I just went out and bought the DVD when it was released.
 

Serena

Administrator
ExitWounds said:
I don't recall hearing much about Belly of the Beast, Out for a Kill or The Foreigner as far as commercials and such go. At least not here in the US. I usually keep an eye out for his films via imdb or action kings.

I liked The Foreigner because it felt kind of cold and moody. I just went out and bought the DVD when it was released.

You're right about that, ExitWounds. Here in Michigan, his home state, there is nothing as far as promotion for upcoming DVDs. Not posters in the video stores, not even a little blurb in those pamphlets they hand out at the video stores. Still, amazingly, though, his movies are consistently rented off the shelves for quite a long time after the release.

And I liked The Foreigner myself, although I don't think a lot of people did.
 

Reservoir Dog

MRKD4DTH
Where i live, they advertise in the local best buy ads for every new movie. Its hard to rent it at the local blockbuster, but I always manage to rent it the first night, then buy it the next.
 
Franchise presell all their movies to cable TV, foreign video/DVD before they make them. By the sounds of it, anything the film makes after release is gravy to them.

The fact The Foreigner and Out of Reach were low budget movies for Franchise means they probably made their money back quickly. It could also mean they would want to make more since they were a semi reliable source of revenue.
 

Lotussan

I Belong To Steven
Foreigner was featured on USA channel
as I remember, an exclusive to them, I guess...
Nice to know...
Maybe Out Of Reach will be, too...
 

TOF1977

Steven Seagal Fan
Great news, but all of his movies are good. No matter what the critques have to say about it.
 

Littledragon

Above The Law

Littledragon

Above The Law
TOF1977 said:
Great news, but all of his movies are good. No matter what the critques have to say about it.


Most of his movies are good all except Half Past Dead, Belly Of The Beast, Out For A Kill, Ticker. :p
 

tenshinaikidoka

Martial Art Student
I personally like all of his movies. I guess I can pick the good out of all of them, even The Patriot..LOL. But seriously, there are good parts to all his movies. Like the fight scenes!!!!! LOL!!!!!
 

tora

Funmaker
Umm...there are good parts...like legs,arms,ponytail,bandana,tight jeans,CARS!...:D
Well,if I'm gone off topic feel free to edit my post.:D
 

MuffinMagic

New Member
the Foreigner is a awesome movie as with all of Seagals films i got the dvd the first day it came out in adelaide I bought it at a video store they got 2 in sold me 1 copy and put the other one to rent. I remember the owner saying to me that direct to video movies don't rent good. I'm going get the article print it frame it and shove down his throat lol
 
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