Seven and Blade on UMD

The heat is certainly on for movie lovers with yet more film companies coming forward to support PSP’s European launch. Latest blockbusters on PSP’s UMD disc format that will be available from 1 September include creepy thriller Se7en, vampire-action fave Blade, less good vampire-action flick Underworld, as well as Michael-Keaton -hears-the-voices-of-dead-people dud, White Noise. Comedy comes courtesy of the Chris Tucker-Jackie Chan combo Rush Hour, while serious drama is in the safe hands of Pacino and Depp in mafia doublecross Donnie Brasco. All will cost £18 and distributor Entertainment in Video is promising another 21 movies in the coming months.

But with over 70 UMD movies already available, what will be interesting to see will be which are the biggest hitters. Already in the US House of Flying Daggers and Resident Evil: Apocalypse have been the two winners with sales of over 100,000 units each, making UMD a faster selling movie media than even DVD. The first 100,000-selling DVD was Air Force One and that took nine months to rack up the sales.

But with movie studios hoping everyone who buys an European PSP buys at least one UMD to try the experience, Frank Miller's Sin City, Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2 and maybe game-tie in The Punisher seem likely to be the titles to beat.