James Gunn has revealed that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 marks the biggest digital release in Marvel Studios history. The sequel was another triumph for Gunn and his talented cast, as Vol. 2 out-earned its predecessor and stands as one of the most successful of all movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The movie has yet to be released on Blu-ray, but saw its Digital HD release on Aug. 8.
It should come as no surprise that Marvel Studios’ super-successful Guardians of the Galaxy franchise continues to rake in the profits as it hits viewers’ homes. But perhaps even the studio wasn’t expecting the sequel to break digital records. According to Gunn himself, Vol. 2 can now call itself Marvel Studios’ biggest Digital HD release yet.
As the Vol. 2 writer/director announced via his Facebook page, the sequel has sold enough digital copies in its first week of release to set a new Marvel Studios record for digital downloads:
“I just learned Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 had the biggest opening week/most digital downloads of ANY Marvel Studios title EVER. Thanks to all of you who have supported us, both through downloading the movie and through posting on social network sites about it.”
Vol. 2 is currently available for digital download on iTunes, Amazon, GooglePlay, Microsoft, Vudu, FandangoNow, and Disney Movies Anywhere. It may have helped Vol. 2’s cause that it is also the first Disney/Marvel Studios movie to be released in 4K Ultra HD, which provides a brighter, sharper picture than even standard Blu-rays. Gunn didn’t reveal any official numbers or further details about the movie’s record-breaking digital release.
As if Marvel Studios weren’t already planning on it, the massive success of Vol. 2’s digital release will only encourage the studio to release future MCU movies in the 4K Ultra HD format, in addition to casting a wide net for digital downloads. The movie’s success on home HD formats, which comes less than four months after the start of its phenomenal theatrical run, shows that the industry as a whole could continue to trend toward bigger, faster digital releases.
It remains to be seen whether Marvel Studios can continue to have the same kind of success when it reaches future digital releases for Spider-Man: Homecoming and other upcoming installments of the MCU. It’s also uncertain whether the future of the MCU will have the same kind of quality as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 in the first place. Still, the sequel’s huge accomplishments on Digital HD certainly cannot be ignored and could assure that the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise will be alive and well for Vol. 3 and beyond.
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