While HBO Max pulled Gone With the Wind –temporarily — from its streaming offering on Tuesday, Amazon has reaped the rewards of the controversy that ensued.
The 1939 classic shot to the top of Amazon’s movies and TV bestseller list overnight and on Wednesday occupied the number 1 slot, the number 8 slot and the number 9 slot. It did so in different iterations: DVD, Blu-ray and the 70th Anniversary Edition.
With the exception of what seem to be single copies being offered — and immediately snapped up — on the site, Victor Fleming’s Civil War-era film has sold out in every format. One Blu-ray copy was being offered for $334.01.
On one hand, the frenzy is not surprising given the film’s enduring popularity and status as the highest-grossing movie of all time when box office numbers are adjusted for inflation. But on the other hand, the run on copies is surprising given that HBO Max has said it will restore the film to its service as originally created but “with a discussion of its historical context.”
Notably, Gone With the Wind is still available to rent or own via Amazon’s digital Prime Video service.
For the full story, visit Deadline.com/Film/BreakingNews.
