After the huge retail success of Universal's Mamma Mia two weeks ago, figures just released from the British Video Association, according to Official Charts Company data, indicate that Warner's The Dark Knight sold a staggering 513,000 units in one day with 21% on Blu-ray disc.

Recent releases such as Paramount's Iron Man, Disney's Wall.E, and Sony Pictures' Hancock have also all seen a sizeable proportion of their initial Week 1 total sales on the Blu-ray format, demonstrating that the next generation of home entertainment is establishing itself with consumers even in these challenging economic times, says BVA, director Lavinia Carey.

It appears that it is not just big blockbusters that are now proving popular on Blu-ray. Titles such as 2Entertain's Planet Earth and Elevation Sales' Earth have seen 25% of their sales this year sold on the new format.

The past three months have seen Blu-ray volumes increase sharply. In November 2008 alone, Blu-ray sold almost 463,000 discs – a 66% increase on the previous month.

Recent comment published in the men’s weekly magazine Shortlist suggests that The Dark Knight, will "do for Blu-ray what The Matrix did for DVD." Back in 1999, 21% of total Week 1 sales of The Matrix were on DVD.

Blu-ray titles sales to date
Hancock (released on 3 December 2008) – 37,000 units
Wall E (released on 28 November 2008) – 60,000 units
Iron Man (released on 29 October 2008) – 95,000 units
Planet Earth (released 27 November 2007) – 58,000 units
Earth (released on 17 March 2008) – 13,000 units

Total Blu-ray sales November 2008:
2.5 million units: +396% (52 Weeks rolling)
2.2 million units: +337% (Year-to-date).

Total video sales
257 million units: +4.4% (52 Weeks rolling)
204 million units: +3.9% (Year-to-date)

Story filed 21.12.08