CNN article:
'Finding Nemo' swims past record
Retailers sell 8M copies of the Disney/Pixar movie on first day, raising possibility of shortages.
November 5, 2003: 3:39 PM EST
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Animated underwater fish movie "Finding Nemo" took a huge bite out of the home video market with a record 8 million DVD and video sales in its first day at retailers, raising the possibility of shortages, an official with Walt Disney Co. said Wednesday.
Disney (DIS: Research, Estimates), in partnership with Pixar Animation Studios Inc. (PIXR: Research, Estimates), produced the film about the little lost fish "Nemo" and his father's adventure to find him. The previous single-day record of 5 million DVD and video unit sales was for their previous collaboration, "Monsters, Inc."
The film was released in May and has been 2003's biggest box office hit with just under $340 million in movie ticket sales in the United States and Canada.
Bob Chapek, head of Disney's Buena Vista Home Entertainment group, which markets videos and DVDs, said the company shipped 25 million units to retailers but underestimated demand. He said Disney is working with manufacturers to get more copies made for retailers who will likely see shortages this week.