The success of the film in cinemas, coupled with the enduring popularity of Larsson’s novels, should ensure strong sales of Blu ray and DVD copies, making the release significant both for the home entertainment industry and DVD duplication companies. While the Blu ray release is more loaded with additional features, both Blu ray and DVD copies will feature a commentary track by Fincher, who has already indicated an interest in directing the two planned sequels.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which had already been filmed in the author’s native Sweden, centres around the character of Lisbeth Salander (Mara) who investigates a conspiracy surrounding the forty-year old disappearance of a young woman, with the help of an investigative journalist played by James Bond star Craig. The controversy surrounding the explicit violent and sexual content of the film led to its being given an R-rating when released in cinemas.

Russell’s film is an adaptation of a play by John Whiting and a novel by Aldous Huxley. It stars Oliver Reed, then one of the biggest names in British cinema, as Urbain Grandier, a priest accused of putting Sister Jeanne – played by Vanessa Redgrave – under demonic possession. The BFI has confirmed that the two-disc DVD release will be of the original UK cinema version – rated X certificate – and that, as usual with BFI releases, it will boast a range of special features.

Amongst the lavish bonus features to be included on the DVD are both the British and American trailers, two documentaries, exclusive footage from the set, an early short film by Russell, audio commentaries and a 44 page booklet of essays and photographs. The fact that devotees of cinema have waited so long for DVD copies of the film to be made available, coupled with the quality of this release, could well combine to make it a strong seller.

The major sales for the American singer’s release, despite the album receiving middling reviews from music critics in both Britain and America, indicates that her music is certainly appealing to the general public. The success of the album in the UK has been matched elsewhere as it has gone on to top the charts across 14 countries, with huge sales of download and CD copies. Del Rey, who began by singing in the church choir in her hometown of Lake Placid, has thanked her fans on Twitter for making the release such a success:

“Thank you for making the record #1 in 11 countries,” Del Rey tweeted, before going on to add:

“Your sweet words have softened the effect of even the harshest reviews. I love you.”

Del Rey has been subject to criticism from reviewers and on the internet, on the grounds of authenticity; with suggestions that her decision to change her name – having previously recorded under her real name of Elizabeth Grant – coupled with rumours of big label backing, undermines her claims to grass roots independence.

The project represents the first foray into children’s films for Scorsese and met with an exceptionally positive reception from both critics and the general public upon its cinema release, suggesting that it is likely to sell significant numbers of both Blu ray and DVD copies when it becomes available. The film, which was shot in 3D and adapted from the novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick, stars Ben Kingsley, Ray Winstone and Chloe Grace Moretz and tells the story of a young boy living alone in a railway station in Paris.

Scorsese has already enjoyed a Best Director Golden Globe win for the film and Hugo is nominated in this category – as well as Best Film – at the Academy Awards. The strong potential for the film to take both accolades makes it unsurprising that Paramount has scheduled the DVD and Blu ray release to land two days after the ceremony. The release will include a number of special features, with both Blu ray and DVD copies including a documentary about the making of the film, entitled Shoot the Moon.

This made 2011 a disappointing year for rock music artists, with only 29.4% of album sales being by rock bands – a situation attributed by many music critics to the continuing failure of a new, scene-sparking band to emerge, in the manner of previous such trend-setting bands as the Strokes and the Arctic Monkeys during the previous decade. However, despite losing ground to pop music in terms of overall sales, 2011 did nonetheless see major numbers of digital and CD copies sold by established artists like Noel Gallagher, with his new project the High Flying Birds, and Coldplay.

The chief executive of the BPI, Geoff Taylor, said:

“2011 was a vintage year for pop albums so it is hardly surprising that the genre has elbowed rock aside as the nation’s favourite. Although rock’s share is the lowest for eight years, it still accounts for three in ten of every album sold so recent reports of its demise are premature.”

Given the huge popularity of Sherlock, created by Steven Moffat and starring Benedict Cumberbatch in the title role, this release is set to sell large numbers of DVD copies, and have DVD duplication manufacturers working overtime, throughout 2012. The second series saw the show build on the popularity of the initial outing, with Moffat using the greater freedom provided by audience familiarity with the characters of Holmes – and Martin Freeman’s Dr Watson – to devote more time to exploring other characters such as Holmes’ criminal nemesis Moriarty, and the mysterious Irene Adler. The second series also features the adaptations of classic Holmes tales The Hound of the Baskervilles and A Scandal in Bohemia.

Furthermore, with Moffat indicating in a recent interview that viewers had missed a vital clue during the initial television screening of the series, the availability of the DVD will allow avid fans to scrutinise the episodes more closely in an attempt to find it, which is likely to further increase sales of DVD copies. This will keep devotees busy until the third series of the show hits screens – likely to be sometime during 2013.

The four previously unavailable songs set to be included on CD copies of the EP were originally performed by the band during the December 2011 shows for their fan club and were subsequently made available exclusively to members. The presence of these rare songs on the CD release is likely to prove a major additional selling point for a release already set to require significant use of the services of CD duplication manufacturers.

In a statement announcing the release, Metallica stated:

“We’ve been feeling all the love and positive vibes beyond our wildest expectations on the mp3 side, so we decided to go “old school” (!!) and also release those four songs on a CD.”

The band also confirmed that the four songs had originally been recorded for inclusion on their last album – Death Magnetic – but left off the final ten-song track listing, before adding that they wished to make them available to a wider audience:

“These four songs were released as a gift to our closest fans, the members of our Fan Club, to enjoy. Now they’re being made available to you.”

Following the re-release of Dracula Prince of Darkness, a number of other Hammer classics, including The Mummy, The Curse of Frankenstein and Dracula will be given the same treatment throughout 2012. Furthermore, in addition to the greatly improved picture and sound quality that the new high definition releases will have, the reissues will also boast a number of exclusive special features.

With many of the Hammer titles remaining enormously popular amongst fans of horror and cult British films in general, the series of reissues – by the home entertainment distribution company StudioCanal, together with Pinewood Studios, Anolis Entertainment and HTV – are set to be strong sellers in both formats. This will be good news for HD blu ray DVD duplication manufacturers, and for UK retailers.

The CEO and president of Hammer studios, Simon Oakes, said:

“Our decision to restore some of Hammer’s most famous titles not only allows existing fans to experience the films again in high definition, but also encourages a new global audience to discover Hammer for the first time.”

The studio was reborn two years ago, with John de Mol, the founder of Endemol, investing £25 million.

The film is Kemp’s first foray into directing, but the star has previous experience in the British film industry, taking a leading role in the hit crime film The Krays in the early 1990’s. His first directorial effort, which stars former James Bond actor Colin Salmon alongside Anna Brecon, Billy Murray and Jane March, offers an intriguing blend of atmospheric cinematography and solid acting. March in particular, gives a marvellously sinister performance, which is far removed from her notorious debut in the controversial film The Lover.

Stalker was developed by the independent UK company Black and Blue Films, and is centred around a successful novelist – played by Brecon – who attempts to overcome her writer’s block with a visit to a country retreat. However, she finds herself haunted by a frightening figure with whom she has a past. Details of additional features to be included with DVD copies have yet to be made available.

The rise in sales has been attributed to the home cinema release of a number of films which had been smash cinema hits, for the Christmas market. The festive season traditionally represents perhaps the most important period for everyone connected with the home entertainment market – from retailers to DVD replication companies – and 2011 proved no exception to this, with the sales during December accounting for 23 percent of total Blu-ray and DVD sales for the year.

Furthermore, the list of films which sold the highest number of Blu-ray and DVD copies during 2011 included an impressive number of home-grown titles, such as the two-part Deathly Hallows conclusion to the Harry Potter franchise, The King’s Speech and The Inbetweeners. Outside of film releases, the best sellers list also included the latest live comedy release by comedian Peter Kay, further adding to the British flavour of the top sellers. DVD remains the most popular format amongst British consumers, with an overall 6 percent rise in value on that of the previous year coupled with an 87 percent share of total sales across physical formats.