Video Games Beat Blockbuster Movies Out of the Gate

Red Dead Redemption 2, one of the most anticipated video games of the year, is off to a blockbuster start. According to a statement put out by Rockstar Games last week, the game had the second-highest grossing launch of any entertainment product in history. With over $725 million in worldwide retail sales during its first three days of availability, the massive Western-themed open world game trails only Grand Theft Auto V, also made by Rockstar Games, in terms of three-day launch sales.

The fact that Rockstar Games celebrates the game's success as the "second-highest grossing entertainment launch of all time" rather than just calling it the second-highest grossing video game launch, says a lot about where video games stand today. They are no longer a time-waster for teenagers slumped in front of their computer screens but global entertainment properties, competing with the biggest blockbusters Hollywood can muster.

As the following chart shows, both GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2 have made more money in three days than the biggest movie openings of all time.