Blu-ray, 3D, DVD Release: Hotel Transylvania

Blu-ray & DVD Release Date: Jan. 29, 2013
Price: DVD $30.99, Blu-ray/DVD Combo $40.99, Blu-ray 3D Combo $55.99
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment


Hotel TransylvaniaAnimated comedy Hotel Transylvania celebrates our love of monsters.

In the family film, Adam Sandler (That’s My Boy) voices Dracula, who has built the Hotel Transylvania as a place where all monsters, especially his daughter Mavis (Selena Gomez, Monte Carlo), can be away from the terrible humans and their pitch forks, garlic and wooden spears. But Mavis wants to get out and see more of the world.

Frankenstein (Kevin James, Zookeeper), Wayne the Wolfman (Steve Buscemi, TV’s Boardwalk Empire), Murray the Mummy (CeeLo Green, Sparkle) and others arrive for her 118th birthday party, as well as an uninvited guest, human hiker Jonathan (Andy Samberg, What’s Your Number?). Trying to convince his daughter that all humans are bad, Dracula tries to hide Jonathan, disguising him as a member of the Stein family, but Jonathan’s infectious enthusiasm makes the monsters like him too much.

Fran Drescher (TV’s Happily Divorced), Molly Shannon (Casa de mi Padre), David Spade (Grown Ups) and Jon Lovitz (Casino Jack) also lend their voices to the PG-rated movie. The film is the first feature directed by Genndy Tartakovsky, who’s known for his TV work, including Star Wars: Clone Wars and Dexter’s Laboratory.

Hotel Transylvania grossed a tidy $143 million when it was in theaters, but it wasn’t received warmly by critics. While Toronto Star‘s Bruce Demara said the film is “a fast, funny and wildly inventive animated tale with enough laughs and heart to appeal to audiences of all ages,” ReelViews‘ James Berardinelli wrote, “Not since Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein have the great Universal monsters been subjected to such dismal treatment.” Ouch.

For my part, I liked the movie. It’s not brilliant, but I agree with Demara that it has enough laughs and heart to keep viewers entertained. And it’s definitely the best Sandler film in the last few years.

Hotel Transylvania Blu-ray boxThe DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo and Blu-ray/DVD/Blu-ray 3D Combo will include special features. On all three:

  • “Goodnight Mr. Foot” mini movie directed and animated Genndy Tartakovsky
  • three deleted scenes
  • “Problem (Monster Remix)” music video by Becky G Featuring Will.I.Am
  • Behind the scenes of “Problem (Monster Remix)”
  • DVD-ROM link to the Hotel T website
  • commentary with director Tartakovsky, producer Michelle Murdocca and visual effects supervisor Daniel Kramer

The Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D combos add these extras:

  • three progression reels
  • two featurettes: “Meet the Staff and Guests: Voicing Hotel Transylvania” and “Making the Hotel.”

A downloadable digital copy of the movie and instant streaming through UltraViolet also is available with all disc versions.

Buy or Rent Hotel Transylvania
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About S. Clark

Sam Clark is the former Managing Editor/Online Editor of Video Business magazine. With 19 years experience in journalism, 12 in the home entertainment industry, Sam has been hooked on movies on since she saw E.T. then stared into the sky waiting to meet her own friendly alien. Thanks to her husband’s shared love of movies, Sam reviews Blu-ray discs in a true home theater, with a 118-inch screen, projector and cushy recliners with cup holders.