Disney's 'Pirates' sells 5 mln DVDs in first day

Scott Caylor takes the plunge into a 10,000-gallon tank of water to earn a free copy of the Pirates of the Caribbean "Dead Man's Chest" in Hollywood, December 5, 2006. Holiday shoppers in North America snapped up nearly 5 million DVD units of "Dead Man's Chest" in the hit title's first day in release, Disney said on Wednesday.[REUTERS/Gus Ruelas]

LOS ANGELES- Holiday shoppers in North America snapped up nearly 5 million DVD units of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" in the hit title's first day in release, Walt Disney Co. said on Wednesday.

The strong start for "Dead Man's Chest," which was released as a single DVD and a two-disc box set on Tuesday, means that Disney's Buena Vista Worldwide Home Entertainment could have the three best-selling DVDs for 2006, Disney said.

"Dead Man's Chest" also is on track to unseat the previous live-action record holder for DVD sales, "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl", which sold about 16 million DVD and 2 million home video units, a Disney spokesman said.

DVD sales can account for as much as half of a film's total sales. "Dead Man's Chest", the follow-up to "Black Pearl", grossed more than $1 billion in worldwide box office revenue.

"Black Pearl" pulled in about $654 million at box offices worldwide. A second "Pirates" sequel is set for release in May.

The top DVD sellers for 2006 now include Disney-Pixar's "Cars," with 13 million DVDs sold since its Nov. 7 release, and "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," with 12 million sold since its release by Disney and Walden Media on April 4, Disney said.

Other contenders for the top DVD slots are Warner Bros. "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", and "X-Men: The Last Stand."

The biggest-selling DVD of all time was Disney's and Pixar Animation Studios' "Finding Nemo," which sold about 27 million units, Disney said.