Like most Disney properties, the Marvel Cinematic Universe had a 2016 to remember. The franchise's two releases last year - Captain America: Civil War and Doctor Strange - were both critically acclaimed box office hits that proved the brand is still going strong eight years after it started. In the case of the latter, it successfully introduced a new hero to the MCU, as Doctor Strange brought in $657.8 million worldwide. The film currently ranks 10th on the 2016 domestic charts with $230.3 million, an impressive haul for a comic book adaptation that some thought might have been too "weird" to appeal to the mainstream.
Now that Doctor Strange is nearing the end of its commercial run, fans will be looking forward to catching the movie on home media. Marvel Studios is beginning to make preparations for this, as the Doctor Strange Blu-ray is slated to hit store shelves next month.
According to the listing on Best Buy, the fourteenth installment of the MCU will be available on February 28, 2017. Viewers can pre-order it now. As has become customary for Marvel releases, Best Buy has exclusive Steelbook packaging, which collectors will surely want to pick up. The standard 2D version runs for $29.99, while the 3D Blu-ray Steelbook costs $34.99. That seems fairly pricey for a Blu-ray, but with the Eye of Agamotto at the center of the design, it looks to be worth it.
No other details about the Blu-ray release are currently known, meaning the various supplements and special features remain a mystery for now. However, it's reasonable to assume that there will be some short featurettes exploring the magic and mysticism of the source material, a gag reel, deleted scenes, and a tease for an upcoming Marvel film such as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 or Spider-Man: Homecoming. History also suggests that other retailers will come through with their own exclusives (be it packaging or bonus content), so it will be interesting to see what other editions become available as the release date draws nearer. If the Blu-ray is set for February, soon Disney/Marvel will have to make an official announcement.
Critics and audiences alike enjoyed Doctor Strange, so it seems like a foregone conclusion that it will sell well on home media. Marvel has big plans for the Sorcerer Supreme through the end of Phase 3 and beyond, as Benedict Cumberbatch is set to reprise the character in this year's Thor: Ragnarok and 2018's Avengers: Infinity War. Those who missed Stephen Strange's debut in theaters will want to catch up before his role expands, which just means several copies will be bought between now and then.
Source: Best Buy
