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Universal to Make Theatrical Movie Releases Available as $20 Digital Rentals on Same Day
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$20 is an incredible bargain price. It costs me 60 to go see a movie, plus any food and drink which easily approaches another 30. I'm not above going to see a movie alone... but let's be honest, it's most often a group activity.
The problem with that "universal" price is that it is worth it for a big event movie like the Avengers.
But I'm not spending $20 to rent Invisible Man (in probably 1080p only) when the 4k will be priced to own at $10 in a few months.
But I'm not spending $20 to rent Invisible Man (in probably 1080p only) when the 4k will be priced to own at $10 in a few months.
Have a buddy/family member swing by and watch it with you, instant savings.
I'd say it's fair to complain about the price. When you go to IMAX you are paying for an immersive experience with a 30+M screen, extraordinary sound system, excellent accoustics and so forth. At home one is most likely in a room not designed for optimal acoustics, perhaps an 85" 4K screen and 7.1 channel system at the fairly high end. Most probably using a 50" HD screen and a $100 soundbar. Either with a low bit rate video compared to what the theater uses.
As I'm not paying for the amenities. I'd expect a price to reflect that. Which is more in tune with $5 the standard rental rate for new movies. The whole point of paying those high movie theater prices is the experience of the theater. Without that experience. It's just some new movie.
Not that it matters to me. The argument is totally academic. Most of what I watch is movies from the 30's through 70's, documetaries, old series and a handful of new series. There haven't been any new movies to entice me to go to a theater nor buy nor rent for quite a while. The last I watched in theaters was SW: TFA, big waste. Given how new movies are such garbage. I'll only risk my time if they happen to show up on Netflix or Prime. Given the value Prime and Netflix offers in a rotating catalogue. I'd only pay $1 to own a 4K movie or entire season of a TV series.
Although I do have some interest in Fathom Events screenings of TCM classics.
I really do understand what you are saying but also in the theater you are paying for sticky floors, nasty seats, over priced snacks, talking people, inability to pause when you gotta pee, sometimes blown out speakers, commercials before the movie that you can't skip. These days there are just too many negatives with the theater experience for me. I haven't been in a really nice theater probably in decades. Now a question I have is the $20 cost what format? Is it 4k with dolby vision or are we simply talking 1080p? We rent a lot through our AppleTV and to be able to get a first run movie on the day it comes out for $20 is super cheap. I add in the cost of driving to the theater, 2 tickets (at least, that is 20+ by itself). Snacks and then also paying for a sitter if its not a kid movie. A sitter along is $60 or so for 2 kids for minimum 3 hours. Going to the theater for a movie for just my wife and I would be almost $100 adding it all in so $20 is a bargain!
$20 is about what it cost per adult where I live. So, for me, this is a great deal. The entire family can watch a new release from home? Yes please. And with a discount iTunes card, it’s an even better deal
Man, theaters... they’re already an unappealing mess compared to what exciting, fun & beautiful places they were when I was a kid, and that too was a sad state of affairs compared to the original mixed-use purpose of theatres served the entire community prior to that. As they are now, they might as well go away completely at this point. Maybe after a while there’ll be enough desire for communal performance spaces to make a few nice ones again.
As an aside, Contagion is now the 2nd most rented movie at itunes
iTunes Top Movies 2025
Chart of the top iTunes movies to rent or buy for iPad, iPhone, and Apple TV. Chart of the most popular and best selling iTunes movies 2025 to download is updated daily.www.popvortex.com
here’s a similar tv show to lift the spirits
Containment | Netflix
In this unsettling, suspenseful series, the residents of a city wage a battle against a powerful pathogen — and hold out hope for a cure.
I used to go to the movies every weekend and I just can't stomach it now. Like you said too many rude people and other annoying distractions. Movies at home are so much more enjoyable to me.
Finally. I've been waiting years for this. I don't go to movie theaters. I won't ever go back to a movie theater. I don't enjoy the experience of uncomfortable seating and rude people talking. Also, I enjoy pausing movies and getting myself food or drink or hitting the restroom. Home viewing is the perfect experience for me. I'd happily pay $50 for this.
For those who don't like the price, hopefully the movie theaters recover and you can continue to go there and save money. But I'd really like to see these movies when they first come out and my friends are talking about them. And that window of "talking about" new movies only lasts a few weeks in my circles. Then it seems most people move on to the next movie. So I'd love this.
Also perfect for anyone with small children.
Very smart move. Should change the industry. I hope.
For those who don't like the price, hopefully the movie theaters recover and you can continue to go there and save money. But I'd really like to see these movies when they first come out and my friends are talking about them. And that window of "talking about" new movies only lasts a few weeks in my circles. Then it seems most people move on to the next movie. So I'd love this.
Also perfect for anyone with small children.
Very smart move. Should change the industry. I hope.
This is only a bad deal if you go alone. Doing this, you can have a family of 5 watch it for $4 each.
i've been a streaming at home convert about 10+ years
only movie i saw at theater in recent memory is last staw wars movie because a younger family memeber wanted to see it on release day
otherwise home streaming is a modern gift
stop movie anytime - use bathroom, fix a snack, drink - bam back to movie - no miss nuthin
only movie i saw at theater in recent memory is last staw wars movie because a younger family memeber wanted to see it on release day
otherwise home streaming is a modern gift
stop movie anytime - use bathroom, fix a snack, drink - bam back to movie - no miss nuthin
Obviously, it is not geared toward low income individuals. Which sucks for you, apparently.
Really reasonable since it costs $12 to see a movie by us and with a family of three or more, will be way cheaper this way.
And this is why we can't have nice things.
Just yesterday I told my wife amid the movie theater closings "I bet studios start offering new movies available immediately to watch for $30-40." Glad I was wrong about the price! I really like this and hope this becomes a more common thing. It would be neat if they leveraged this as part of an app like Disney+ where you can immediately watch new releases for $20 straight from the app, or maybe even rent newer movies that haven't been added to the service yet at a discounted rate like $2.
It cost $12 .. per person. You and a friend watch together, this deal is already cheaper. A family watching will save a bundle.
With all the streaming services available, there is far more high-quality content than I could ever hope to watch. Most new movies become available for inexpensive rental pretty quickly these days. If you feel you absolutely have to see a movie when it's released, then $20 seems reasonable; the studios have to make their money somehow. As for me, I prefer to wait until I can rent it for $6 or see it as part of my Netflix or Amazon Prime subscriptions, and watch something else in the meantime.
That's called ambiance.
While I can see what you are saying. To me watching some movie when it comes out or five years later doesn't really matter. If they'd produce something I'd really like to see. Then I suppose I'd pay it. For me it's all about the writing and acting. I've seen enough wiz bang effects that they are no longer impressive. Even when they dust off old actors and directors. Dramas don't feel like they used to.