LOS ANGELES - Disney-Pixar`s Oscar-winning animated superhero film "The Incredibles" sold five million copies on its first day in DVD and video release in North America, the company said Thursday.
The lightning-fast sales of the film, which tells the story of an ageing superhero`s dramatic re-entry into the business of saving the world, puts it on track to become the best-selling movie title of the year.
"The superheroes at Pixar who created `The Incredibles` have made it even more thrilling in this extraordinary DVD release," said Pixar`s chief executive Steve Jobs.
"We are gratified that millions of fans have rushed to add Pixar`s latest film to their home entertainment collections," he said of the movie that has raked in 261 million dollars at the box office since it opened in November.
Disney-Pixar`s "Monsters, Inc." became the first movie to sell five million copies on video and DVD on its first day in release in 2002.
While the movie`s box office haul did not rival "Finding Nemo`s" 340 million dollars and the 437 million brought in by "Shrek 2," "The Incredibles" was a major hit for Disney and Pixar whose Oscar-winning relationship is drawing to a close.
The companies, which in January announced they were severing their tie-up that has raked in more than 2.6 billion dollars at the box office is due to release its sixth and final collaboration, "Cars," in November 2005.
Negotiations between the giants for a new five-picture deal broke down in January 2004 over Pixar`s demands for bigger share in profits, sending shockwaves through Hollywood.
03/18/2005 00:54 GMT