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Cinderella,' 'Santa Clause' hot videos

BURBANK, Calif., Nov. 13 -- Walt Disney Co. said Monday it has sold more than 10 million videos of 'Cinderella' in its first month in stores, and the fabled clock doesn't even strike midnight until next spring. That's when the current limited release is expected to end for 'Cinderella,' Disney's 1950 animated classic. With more than 17 million copies sold between the current release, launched Oct. 4, and its 1988 home video debut, 'Cinderella' has surpassed 'Jurassic Park' on the list of best-selling feature film videos, moving from No. 6 to No. 5. While MCA/Universal Home Video prefers to release dollar figures instead of unit sales, recent reports showed 'Jurassic Park,' the top- selling live-action video, has sold 16.5 million copies, a figure MCA/Universal did not dispute Monday. Even at that brisk pace, retailers have said 'Cinderella' is falling short of their expectations. Billboard magazine reported last week that Disney's initial shipment of 15 million copies may have saturated the market, especially for a rerelease, and the title is not expected to generate a lot of reorders. Disney also reported Monday that 'The Santa Clause,' the surprise blockbuster of 1994's Christmas season starring 'Home Improvement' star Tim Allen, has sold about 5 million copies in its first two weeks on video shelves. 'Sales of 'Cinderella' and 'The Santa Clause' have gone beyond our expectations, even before the beginning of the heavy holiday buying period,' said Dennis Rice, senior vice president of Buena Vista Home Video.

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'In fact, it is impressive that a Christmas-themed title like 'The Santa Clause' has sold so strongly before Thanksgiving, when consumers traditionally begin their holiday shopping. 'This speaks to the broad appeal of this evergreen title and its potential to become one of the biggest live-action sellers of all time,' he said. Disney dominates the home-video market through savvy marketing of its major animated hit films, making them into 'must-have' items for families with small children. It was a major force in the industry's decision in the early 1990s to start selling home videos at discounted prices with huge marketing campaigns. Best-selling videos of all time, studio, year of release, unit sales. 1. 'The Lion King,' Disney, 1995, 30 million. 2. 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,' Disney, 25 million. 3. 'Aladdin,' Disney, 1993, 24 million. 4. 'Beauty and the Beast,' Disney, 1992, 22 million. 5. 'Cinderella,' Disney, 1988 and 1995, 17 million. 6. 'Jurassic Park,' Universal, 1994, 16.5 million. 7. 'Fantasia,' Disney, 1991, 14 million. 8. 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' Fox, 1994, 14 million. 9. '101 Dalmatians,' Disney, 1992, 13.8 million. 10. 'Pinocchio,' Disney, 1993, 12.8 million.

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