DreamWorks Animation SKG and DreamWorks Home Entertainment reported today that DreamWorks Animation's Shrek franchise has generated over $1.6 billion of consumer home entertainment spending since its inaugural launch in 2001 with the record-shattering VHS/DVD release of Shrek. DreamWorks Animation's current video hit, Shrek 2, has sold more than 37 million units worldwide since its November release -- making the third highest grossing feature film in U.S. history the world's #1 home video release of the year.
In North America, Shrek 2 earned the crown of #1 home video and DVD release of the year selling over 24 million combined units, of which 21.6 million were DVDs. The title has also conquered records abroad and is on track to become the biggest home video release of all time in Australia, New Zealand and Mexico; the best-selling DVD of all time in Brazil; the best-selling DVD of all time and the #1 animated home video release of all time in the U.K. Shrek 2 is expected to become the top animated release of all time in South Korea, and the biggest animated DVD release ever in Spain and Germany.
Domestically, Shrek 2 brought in $458 million in home video retail revenue, with consumer sales accounting for $414 million of the total. The DVD category continues to be one of retail's top holiday sales leaders, and Shrek 2 pulled to the front of the pack by ringing up more sales this fourth quarter than any other DVD in the history of the home entertainment industry.
The record sales performance of Shrek 2 around the world demonstrates the continued strength of the Shrek property, which in only 3 years has generated over $1 billion in consumer spending in North America alone. In the international marketplace, the Shrek franchise has delivered $600 million to date, with Shrek 2 yet to release on VHS/DVD in additional major territories.
Shrek 2, which opened on May 18, 2004, was the third highest grossing film of all time in the domestic box office, achieved the highest domestic box office gross of any animated film, had the most successful three-day opening weekend of any animated film and broke the single-day box office sales record for any film grossing $44.8 million and was the most widely distributed film ever in the domestic theatrical market (playing in 4,223 theaters at its peak).
