Disney is riding high on the re-release of The Lion King. Now, the House of Mouse plans to head back to the vault. Disney and Disney-Pixar just announced plans to release four more family favorites into 3D theaters between 2012 and 2013.
The first of the four will Beauty and the Beast, which will come to 3D theaters on January 13, 2012. The 1991 film just made its Blu-ray 3D debut this week, earning Big Picture Big Sound's BIGGIE Award. Our own Chris Chiarella said, "One of the best movies, best Blu-rays, and best 3D conversions I have ever seen (and heard), this Beast is a beauty, a winning special edition made even better with the inclusion of two new platters that take us into the third dimension and anywhere else we want to go with Belle and the gang." Read his entire Beauty and the Beast Blu-ray 3D Review for more about this release.
Disney-Pixar will follow up with a 3D release of Finding Nemo on September 14, 2012. This is the first time that this film will be seen in 3D. With a box-office total of $867.6 million worldwide and a slot as one of the biggest selling DVDs of all time, we have to expect (and hope) that a Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D will follow at some point.
Mark your 2013 calendar (assuming you already have one) for January 18's theatrical 3D debut of Monsters, Inc. The 3D will be a first for the Oscar winner, and the timing is certainly right. Disney-Pixar is planning to unleash the film's prequel, Monsters University, in Disney Digital 3D on June 21, 2013. Currently, Monsters, Inc. is the only other title out of the four that already has a Blu-ray release. Chris Chiarella checked it out back in 2009 saying, "Monsters, Inc. has earned a place among Pixar's most imaginative, most entertaining films." Read his Monsters, Inc. Blu-ray Review for more about this release.
Last, but certainly not least, will be The Little Mermaid, which will be see its 3D debut on September 13, 2013. First released in 1989, this underwater adventure was nominated for three Academy Award, winning for Best Song ("Under the Sea") and Best Score.
Despite debuting on Blu-ray 3D this week, The Lion King is still showing in 3D theaters around the country. Since making its theatrical 3D debut on September 16, 2011, Disney says that the film's domestic box office totals have exceeeded $80 million.
"Great stories and great characters are timeless, and at Disney we're fortunate to have a treasure trove of both," said Alan Bergman, president of The Walt Disney Studios. "We're thrilled to give audiences of all ages the chance to experience these beloved tales in an exciting new way with 3D - and in the case of younger generations, for the first time on the big screen."
Buy Some of These Disney (and Pixar) Titles on Blu-ray:
