Top 10 bestselling BFI DVDs of 2014

Leopards, ghosts, samurai and giant lizards dominate the top spots in this year-end chart of our most popular DVDs and Blu-ray releases.

Updated:

10. Akira Kurosawa – The Samurai Collection

Throne of Blood (1957)

Throne of Blood (1957)

This popular DVD set – first issued in 2010 – was joined by a Blu-ray reissue in September, again proving a hit with fans of classic Japanese cinema.

9. The British Transport Films Collection Volume 12

Speedrail to the South (1967)

Speedrail to the South (1967)

Every volume in this long-running series has been snapped up by fans of British railways and documentaries alike. Volume 12 was no exception when it was released in February.

8. The Epic of Everest

The Epic of Everest (1924)

The Epic of Everest (1924)

In January, this became the quickest selling British silent film ever released on DVD/Blu-ray. Simon Fisher Turner’s brilliant score won a prestigious Ivor Novello award in June.

7. London: The Modern Babylon

London: The Modern Babylon (2012)

London: The Modern Babylon (2012)

The Olympic legacy lived on with the continued popularity of director Julien Temple’s excellent 2012 archive-based documentary.

6. The Leopard

The Leopard (1963)

The Leopard (1963)

One of the bestselling BFI releases ever, Lucino Visconti’s epic remains essential for any serious world cinema DVD/Blu-ray collector.

5. The Changes

Watch the trailer for The Changes (1975)

Voted Uncut magazine’s TV and film DVD of 2014 (beating the likes of True Detective and Twin Peaks), The Changes was also the best selling of our BBC sci-fi releases.

4. That Sinking Feeling

That Sinking Feeling (1979)

That Sinking Feeling (1979)

Bill Forsyth’s low-budget debut was finally released with the original dialogue restored. Unsurprisingly, it was a huge hit in Glasgow and the cast reunited for a sold-out launch event at the Glasgow Film Theatre in April.

3. Godzilla

Godzilla (1954)

Godzilla (1954)

Boosted no doubt by the latest Hollywood remake, this year’s sales proved that Toho’s Godzilla (1954) remains the king of the movie monsters.

2. Ghost Stories for Christmas

A Warning to the Curious (1972)

A Warning to the Curious (1972)

As the winter nights drew in, sales of this box set rocketed. Put on the fire, pour yourself a whisky and enjoy some of the finest British TV of the 1970s.

1. Seven Samurai

Seven Samurai (1954)

Seven Samurai (1954)
Credit: Toho Co., Ltd

Kurosawa’s masterpiece was the BFI’s first-ever release on DVD back in 2001. It reclaimed the top spot in 2014 due to our newly remastered DVD, as well as being available on Blu-ray for the very first time.

Based on Official Charts Company figures.

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