Star Wars breaks DVD records

The film has become one of the most successful ever

Star Wars prequel, The Phantom Menace, has set a new record for DVD sales in America after about 2.2 million copies were sold in its first weeks of release.

The film was released in the US and UK on 15 October and also went to number one on the UK DVD sales chart.

Its sales in America - worth $45m (£32m) - beat the previous record of two million sales in one week, set by The Mummy Returns just two weeks ago.

"This stellar sales performance is even more impressive given that it is nearly three years after its theatrical release and 18 months after its VHS release," Lucasfilm executive Jim Ward told Variety magazine.

Extra footage

Star Wars: Episode One - The Phantom Menace was released in American cinemas in May 1999, and became the second most successful movie of all time around the world, behind Titanic.

When released on video in April 2000, it sold five million copies and earned $100m (£70m) in the first two days of appearing in US shops.

Shrek could threaten the record next month

The two-disc DVD package, priced at $29.98 (£21) includes six hours of extra footage including deleted scenes and behind-the-scenes documentaries.

A spokesman for 20th Century Fox told Variety magazine "it will be close" as to whether shops sell out of the DVD.

"We're doing everything possible to insure that we are not in an out-of-stock situation at retail," executive vice president of sales and marketing Mike Dunn said.

DVD sales are currently rising by 25% per year in America, and there are now five million more DVD players in the country than there were last Christmas.

Star Wars' record will come under threat from pre-Christmas releases of Shrek, on 2 November, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas, on 20 November.