'Christmas' furture: Quick bow to DVD

Underperforming DreamWorks laffer rushed to stores

By SCOTT HETTRICK

'Surviving Christmas,' which sustained a dismal $4 million opening weekend, will get to video stores 8½ weeks after its theatrical debut.

"Surviving Christmas" survived for such a short time in theaters that DreamWorks is rushing the holiday movie to DVD faster than any major studio release in memory.

After the Christmas movie's dismal $4 million opening weekend in theaters nine days before Halloween, the movie will get to video stores just in time for the holiday it depicts on Dec. 21, just 8½ weeks after its theatrical debut.

DreamWorks says the movie that has grossed slightly more than $10 million is being turned around so quickly in order to capitalize on the holiday theme right away instead of having to wait a year.

The DVD release would have been delayed until next year as has been the case with other holiday movies such as "Elf" and "The Grinch" that were released in theaters later in the fall and had stronger box office throughout the holiday season.

It's not clear if this was a contingency plan all along.