Crank, the non-stop, action-packed theatrical film released on DVD by Lionsgate, reigned supreme among this week’s new DVD releases, opening at #1 on both the DVD sales and rental charts. Earning almost $30 million in domestic box office, the thriller, starring Jason Statham and Amy Smart sold 2 million units in its first week, with 1.4 millions sold on its first day of release. After its first week, Crank appears positioned to significantly overindex its theatrical box office performance on DVD, reflecting another example of Lionsgate’s typically high theatrical box office to DVD conversation rate.
The Crank DVD, breaking new ground for the home viewing experience, moved beyond the traditional special features with the creation of “Crank’d Out Mode,” providing more information (including in-depth interviews, behind-the-scenes- footage, outtakes and more) than has ever been available at one time, all without ever leaving the film. The movie was also released day and date on 50 GB Blu-ray disc in the U.S.
“‘Crank’ was an exhilarating way to start the year for Lionsgate. It features a high-powered cast and is the type of action thriller that we expect will have a strong following in the home entertainment marketplace,” said Lionsgate General Manager and Executive Vice President Ron Schwartz. “Our expectations were extremely high for this release and we put a lot of effort into ensuring that the DVD stood out at retail, including eye-catching packaging that really pops off the shelves. We are looking forward to continuing this success over the next two weeks with the DVD releases of ‘Employee of the Month’ and ‘Saw III.'”
Crank tells the of a hit man (Statham) who, while trying to escape the business to start a new life with his girlfriend (Smart), wakes up to learn that he has been poisoned by his rival with the “Beijing cocktail,” and he must keep moving — literally — to stay alive. The only way to prevent the poison from stopping his heart is to keep his adrenaline flowing. As the clock ticks, he negotiates the streets of Los Angeles, wreaking havoc on those who dare stand in his way. He must rescue his girlfriend from danger, stay two steps ahead of his nemeses as they try to eliminate him, and search for an antidote to save his own life.
