While you can see it as the marketing trick that it is, you can also see things drying up a bit come early 2012. At the end of 2011, Warner Bros. will stop shipping copies of the Harry Potter films to retail/distribution outlets, including the more recent releases of the second Deathly Hollows movie and the 8 film collection. The reason for the moratorium isn’t given, but you can expect a grand relaunch of it again in 2012 to be sure. So if you’re missing one of the titles, it might not hurt to grab it soon if you want consistency in packaging. The Potter movies have often been used as Black Friday deals, but with a lower level of them potentially available by the end of the year, retailers might hold back a bit as well on deals for them.
Harry Potter, the #1 motion picture franchise of all time, will soon disappear from shelves, as Warner Bros. stops shipping all Harry Potter theatrical film titles (including Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ – Part 2, and Harry Potter: The Complete 8-Film Collection) as of December 29, 2011 (moratorium does not include digital – Electronic Sell-Through & VOD – or games). The Harry Potter franchise has grossed more than $12.1 billion for Warner Bros. Entertainment – with $7 billion at the worldwide box office for Warner Bros. Pictures and $5.1 billion for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.
The Digital Bits reported that this IS because they are planning on releaseing a super-ultimate-anthology collection with new features and premiums in 2012:
“Hard-core Potter fans will be pleased to know that 2011 is not the end of the Harry Potter film franchise on DVD and Blu-ray. Warner Home Video plans to release a comprehensive Harry Potter film collection, with even more extras and collectible premiums in 2012. More details about the collection will be available at a later date.”
http://www.thedigitalbits.com/mytwocentsa198.html
Also there’s no word if this means that the Ultimate Editions of the Deathly Hollows that were planned for 2012 are canceled or not.