How do the movie studios decide which catalog titles to release to HDM? Each studio probably has their own system, but I'm curious what goes through their minds as they are making these decisions.

Sometimes when I see a title announced and/or released, it makes me ask "why are they releasing X before Y?" I realize that everybody's tastes in movies is different. There are some movies and movie franchises that have a huge fanbase, but there is no official word when they might be released to HDM. (For example, LOTR, SW, ST, James Bond 1-20, Aliens, Predator, Indiana Jones, Dirty Harry, Batman 1-4, the original Planet of the Apes, etc.)

I've heard that some directors have to give the "OK" before one of their movies can be released.

I guess it is a little bit of a chicken vs. egg problem. It seems like they don't want to release the big franchise movies on HDM until more players are out there. But with the catalog titles of movies that didn't do as well in the theaters, it doesn't have as large of an impact on player sales and mass adoption as blockbusters would.

There are definitely some great movies released to HDM, so this is not a blanket accusation. But when I look at some of the titles released to HDM and think of others that aren't yet released to HDM, it makes me wonder.

I've been scratching my head on this topic also. Sometimes it appears almost randomly done.

Comes down to royalties paid to actors, directors and producers. Everytime a studio has a home media release, that studio must pay royalties to various people if it is in their original contracts. Many of the more famous actors and directors have a percentage of royalties on movie ticket sales and home media sales. This helps offset a possible larger upfront contract payment to said actor/director. I imagine that studios will release the movies that have no major royalties to be paid, first. Then work on the others as time goes on. Big directors, such as Spielberg and Lucas have major royalties to be paid on most of their films. Which is a reason that we may not see the bigger blockbuster type titles until there is a bigger overall market to sell them too.

I'm starting to think it involves blindfolds, a spinning office-chair and darts.

I'm starting to think it involves blindfolds, a spinning office-chair and darts.

LOL! Perhaps a OUIJA board and a bottle of tequila. :)

Alas, the dart board is the consumer.

I think one issue is if they already have a descent HD master. Then the cost of releasing a HDM would be minor.

I'm starting to think it involves blindfolds, a spinning office-chair and darts.

+1

Crystal ball dudes.... Crystal Ball

"You want Godfather? No! You get Pathfinder!"

http://www.orbitcast.com/archives/magic-8-ball.jpg

Monkey's and a dartboard.

That's exactly what most CEO's and upper executives are, right?

They ask the manatees?