Columbia Said to Be Near ‘9/11’ Video Deal

As Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11” began to open in France, Britain and other international markets, Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment was closing a domestic video deal that would put DVDs and cassettes of the controversial documentary in stores by late September, sources close to the negotiations said.

The film, which grossed more than $65 million on Wednesday, could reap half as much or a good deal more at retail in home video.

Because “Fahrenheit 9/11” has outperformed other documentaries, however, the usual formulas for predicting video retail sales don’t necessarily apply, although it is not unusual for feature films to equal or surpass their theatrical revenue.