It seems foolish to call a movie that grossed over $240 million domestically (and is currently the top-earning film for the year worldwide) a box office disappointment, but the studio definitely hoped that ‘Transformers: Age of Extinction’ would be a bigger mega-hit than it actually was this summer. Nonetheless, Michael Bay’s latest robo-carnage extravaganza will get the deluxe treatment on Blu-ray, complete with SteelBook and other exclusive collectible releases.
SteelBook
Available at: Best Buy
Release date: Sept. 30, 2014
Price: $19.99
Region code: Should be region-free
I’m a little ashamed to admit that I own all three of Bay’s previous ‘Transformers’ flicks in SteelBook (or comparable MetalPak) Blu-ray cases. I don’t even particularly like the films, but the collector impulse got the better of me.
For consistency purposes, I suppose I’m grateful that the new one will get a SteelBook as well. I wish the artwork weren’t so ugly, but that’s a problem that plagued the prior movies too.
Limited Edition Gift Set
Available at: Amazon
Release date: Sept. 30, 2014
Price: $79.99
Those few fans who really loved this particularly entry and aren’t afraid to shell out some big bucks for it may be excited for this oversized box set that comes with a statue of Optimus Prime riding Grimlock, the robo-dinosaur. This seems like overkill to me, but when it comes to this franchise, overkill isn’t inappropriate.
Transforming Case
Available at: Target exclusive
Release date: Sept. 30, 2014
Price: $22.99
A disc case that transforms into a robot sure sounds like a nifty idea. Sadly, the result looks rather cheap and tacky. And what’s the robot’s alt-mode supposed to be, anyway? It transforms from a robot to… a robot that’s squatting down? Huh?
Bumblebee Mask Case
Available at: Walmart exclusive
Release date: Sept. 30, 2014
Price: $34.96
Walmart has no less than three exclusive Blu-ray collectibles for ‘Age of Extinction’. The first is this case in the shape of Bumblebee’s face.
Bumblebee Mask Case Plus Action Figure
Available at: Walmart exclusive
Release date: Sept. 30, 2014
Price: $44.92
For a little extra money, you can bundle that same Bumblebee mask with a Transformers action figure (which will be shipped separately in its own packaging). This will save you about $9 over ordering the Blu-ray and the toy separately.
The listing page on the Walmart web site is very confusing. It claims that you can choose from among six different action figures, but (at the time of this writing) only the Optimus Prime figure can actually be selected. Did the others already sell out? If you really want them, I’m sure you can get them elsewhere.
Keepcase Plus Magnet and Figurines
Available at: Walmart exclusive
Release date: Sept. 30, 2014
Price: $24.96
The final Walmart exclusive is a standard keepcase bundled with a magnet and three figurines.
IMAX 3D Version
Available at: Amazon
Release date: Sept. 30, 2014
Price: $29.99
All of the above discs are 2D only. If you want the 3D version of the movie, that can only be found in this release, which doesn’t have any fancy collectible packaging. However, the 3D transfer will also include the alternating aspect ratio gimmick as seen in IMAX theaters. I know that at least one of our readers will be over-the-moon about that. He’ll probably buy up 30 copies just on principle.
Shannon Nutt
God help me, but I’m picking up the IMAX 3D version as a blind buy. Don’t worry folks…i still have DARK OF THE MOON unopened, so the chances I’ll actually get to viewing this before I die are slim.
Drew
Hahaha! Well, as someone who watches these in guilty pleasure (emphasis on guilty) mode, I can tell you that this fourth one is infinitely more watchable than the wretched ‘Dark of the Moon’. It really just boils down to this: Would you rather watch Mark Wahlberg do macho action hero stuff, or watch Shia scream like a little girl?
Krawk
Same here Shannon – lol. Walmart exclusive IMAX version and have not opened it yet.
Julian
“It seems foolish to call a movie that grossed over $240 million domestically (and is currently the top-earning film for the year worldwide) a box office disappointment, but the studio definitely hoped that ‘Transformers: Age of Extinction’ would be a bigger mega-hit than it actually was this summer.”
Do you have a source on this, Josh? Wait, that sounds like I’m doubting you. I’m not. I’d just like to read some article in which Paramount expresses disappointment. Quite baffling that they are disappointed at all. They should be happy these movies still make as much as they do, with negative word of mouth and critical bashing.
Josh Zyber
AuthorThe domestic grosses (which are still most important to the studio, because they get the biggest cut of those) for this entry were the lowest of the four Transformers movies. Although I’m sure that Paramount hasn’t made an official statement announcing their disappointment, a lot of articles have been published recently about this summer’s box office being way down from recent years due to the underperformance of big movies like this one. Here are a couple:
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3883&p=.htm
http://deadline.com/2014/09/box-office-end-of-summer-some-profitable-hits-in-an-overall-blah-season-826261/
Drew
Paramount set up a really good deal to receive a bigger cut of the international grosses (especially the Chinese grosses). I’m sure they are over the moon about the billion-plus worldwide gross.
Julian
Thanks! Indeed, I forgot (about) the importance of domestic grosses. That’s why the Pacific Rim sequel is still not a 100% guarantee.
Drew
The ‘Pacific Rim’ sequel is definitely happening. I don’t know how long it has been, since you’ve researched it, but the latest is that it is guaranteed.
Julian
Thanks! Great news!
Regarding the summer box office: ’22 Jump Street’ did very well, considering its modest budget.
Timcharger
“I know that at least one of our readers will be over-the-moon about that. He’ll probably buy up 30 copies just on principle.”
Josh, just a suggestion that you should write this kind of the stuff in the
Comments section, not the article.
For some reason, I think the article itself deserves taking the higher road.
Sucker punch away in the Comments section.
Timcharger
This ISN’T Steelbook alert (just 1 of the 7). This is Transformers 4 alert.
Thanks Josh, can I get 10 minutes of my life back?
Drew
I thought the same thing. This post needs to be re-categorized. It doesn’t belong with the actual SteelBook alerts.
Josh Zyber
AuthorThe first entry is a SteelBook. Putting “SteelBook” in the headline gets better pageviews from SteelBook collectors.
Drew
So you admit to cheating for more hits? 😉
Josh Zyber
AuthorI am unapologetic. 🙂
Drew
Hahaha! I’ll admit that I probably wouldn’t have read a “Transformers 4 blu-ray alert” post.
Timcharger
Be advised. All future article pics will include more cleavage shots, so says unapologetic Josh.