The Simpsons: The Movie is coming to DVD on December 18th, 2007. Aptly timed for late Christmas shoppers and fans alike, this should be one hot seller. I know I'll proudly add it to my collection when it hits store shelves this week. The animated flick comes hot the heels of its very successful theatrical run, taking in $183.1 million at the domestic box office and $525.1 million worldwide. Its domestic haul has put the film in the top 10 of the year, and it is the highest-grossing animated TV adaptation of all time. Which is amazing for several reasons, especially since the movie's success was nowhere near guaranteed.
"I can't believe we're paying to see something we get on TV for free! If you ask me, everybody in this theater is a giant sucker! Especially you!"
TV movies, animated and live-action, have historically not been the biggest thing at the box office. It seems that the formula for a TV movie's success is to have it as far removed from the series itself as possible. The top 5 live-action TV adaptations (in order: Mission: Impossible 2, The Fugitive, Mission: Impossible, Mission: Impossible III and Charlie's Angels) were films with revamped updates and star-studded casts. They were also based off shows from the 60s and 70s. If you ask me, I don't think the second and third M:I flicks really belong here, because they're based off the first movie, not necessarily off the show. But I digress. While The Simpsons Movie is categorized in the animated TV adaptation genre, for the TV genre as a whole, it would rank 3rd best all-time, just barely below ($700,000 and some change) The Fugitive... and that's still with The Simpsons' original series very much alive and kicking on network TV.
That alone is a feat in itself, especially when you take into consideration the recent box office failure of Reno 911!: Miami ($20.2 million domestic) while the series was still airing and the failed resurrection of Strangers With Candy ($2.07 million domestic), a film which I'm personally thankful for its failure. That show just bugged me... OK, back on track.