Universal to Make Theatrical Movie Releases Available as $20 Digital Rentals on Same Day

[MisterSavage]

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.

That's what I was thinking also. When you consider how many eyeballs could be viewing that rental when they would be paying how much per ticket at a movie theater? With 99% of titles I don't mind waiting for a regular home release but I could see myself doing this for a movie that was really important to me. I used to go to the movies every weekend but rude people, high concessions cost, etc just killed it for me.

 

[kazmac]

I can't believe anyone has the cheek to moan about these prices.

It costs around £17 ($21) to watch a movie here in the UK on a IMAX screen, maybe £5 cheaper for standard screenings. $20 USD is more than fair to watch the latest releases from home.

Forget about my moaning about the steep price point (and that most modern movies aren't worth the $5-7 rental fee) to consider this suggeston:

In this worldwide crisis right now, charging less for current releases would go a long way considering that many are without jobs/steady income as result of this mounting pandemic. Charging less than $20 would foster good will and maybe lead to more rentals and purchases.

Such as, if Disney charged an extra $10 to D+ subscribers to watch what should be current movies, that I would do.

 

[Rainshadow]

But it would cost less to see it on the big screen? I don’t get it...

i don’t know what you are talking about. Last time I went to the theater, it cost 12.50 a person. I, for one, don’t go to a movie alone. If you do, I’m sorry. That’s $25 minimum for me and a guest - not including popcorn, drinks, a drive into town, working around the theater schedule, and being surrounded by disrespectful people...

$20 even by yourself is worth it. With a girlfriend, wife - let alone with kids - this is a steal... seriously.

Spend $20 to rent and watch once now or wait a bit and spend less than $20 to buy and own and watch as many times as and whenever I want?

thats not the question being discussed. It’s “Physically go to a theater and spend 25-75 depending on distance, concessions, sitters, etc... to get an arguably ‘better’ sound system OR wear pajamas and watch at home for $20 eating your own snacks with as many people as you can bear” for movies people are going to see right away.

obviously, if you don’t need to see something right away, wait. That has ALWAYS been the case and is not a topic of arguement.

 

[Tech198]

They tried this in 2016 and I guess it failed ?

Movie studios might let people rent films still in theaters for $50

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Now, its $20 ? What's makes them think that will also fly? The only way any of this would work with if you go with a group to a movie theater.. Perhaps two or more. But with theaters not all paying the same price, just shop around, be better

 

[Infinite Vortex]

They tried this in 2016 and I guess it failed ?

Movie studios might let people rent films still in theaters for $50

The Verge is about technology and how it makes us feel. Founded in 2011, we offer our audience everything from breaking news to reviews to award-winning features and investigations, on our site, in video, and in podcasts.

www.theverge.com

Now, its $20 ? What's makes them think that will also fly? The only way any of this would work with if you go with a group to a movie theater.. Perhaps two or more. But with theaters not all paying the same price, just shop around, be better

I think it'll work this time around. $50 was too much, was then, even more now. For me going to the movies is twofold… 1) the social aspect and 2) I'm seeing it better. We're now socialising less as a whole given newer and different distractions. That leaves the 2nd thing and with newer TVs and sound systems, the gap of "better" is become less and less. Add to that the market is different now, being used to streaming, and with better internet I think it'll be a winner at $20… especially when you consider it as a pay per view subscription addition for services like Disney+. It'll go the way of gaming with the loss of gaming stores and theatres will disappear even faster unfortunately.

 

[noone]

We’ve reached the point where 4k TVs are dirt cheap, 8k is on the way, and nearly everyone has a sound bar or surround setup so the benefits of going to the cinema are dwindling. Add the societal changes were going to have with coronavirus and this is the logical next step in moviegoing. Will cinemas go the way of Blockbuster? I doubt it. I think it’ll wind up being like going to a play or Broadway-esque show. You do it once in a while and its a special event.

 

[lec0rsaire]

I welcome the move but I fear it will bring about the beginning of the end for the cinema experience. It’s only a matter of time before the other studios jump on board.

If the scene finds a way to rip these streams then the industry will really be in trouble. In the past I would’ve been really thrilled with this news but today the amount of time from the theater to Blu-ray is shorter than ever with an average of 2-3 months.

However, depending on the volume of purchases they might end up with the same sort of revenue. I don’t worry because I care about studio fat cats making a ton of money. I care because they will not finance the movies I want to watch if they make less.

 

[npmacuser5]

My popcorn and drinks more then makeup the price delta. I would definitely purchase movies using this service.

 

[lec0rsaire]

We’ve reached the point where 4k TVs are dirt cheap, 8k is on the way, and nearly everyone has a sound bar or surround setup so the benefits of going to the cinema are dwindling. Add the societal changes were going to have with coronavirus and this is the logical next step in moviegoing. Will cinemas go the way of Blockbuster? I doubt it. I think it’ll wind up being like going to a play or Broadway-esque show. You do it once in a while and its a special event.

The benefits will always be there. The big screen is the big screen no matter if you have a 4K projector with a 100”+ screen at home. A lot gets lost on average size TVs and as good as OLEDs are, 4K Blu-ray and streaming still doesn’t match DCPs and 35mm/70mm film.

The sound as well. I have a great setup at home and the fidelity is better than ever but theater volume is theater volume. There are no compromises with rooms designed for this sole purpose.

 

[ryanarrr]

I was expecting the studios would make a move like this. Collusion between the theaters and the studios held back streaming in the past. If the studios no longer see the bargain they struck with the theaters as mutually beneficial they will end it. Here's hoping it takes off and they tell the theaters to stuff it.

 

[Buran]

I can't believe anyone has the cheek to moan about these prices.

It costs around £17 ($21) to watch a movie here in the UK on a IMAX screen, maybe £5 cheaper for standard screenings. $20 USD is more than fair to watch the latest releases from home.

It's not an outright complaint, but I do plan to wait til it's possible to outright "purchase" (license with no end date) movies that I want to see. $20 is the normal cost for a permanent license for a new release, not a rental. I'm puzzled as to why they aren't just moving the on-sale date to now, not six months from now. But those who can't wait for some reason now have this option.

Otherwise, it's a great idea to make it possible to see movies that would have lost audiences for six months with theaters having to close. I live in an area that reacted with closings and banning gatherings during the 1918 pandemic, so we know firsthand that these measures are for the best, even though those who actually lived through them are mostly gone now.

I'll watch Onward when it gets to Disney+, and if I like it, pick it up later when it hits $10 as new releases usually do a while after streaming release. I was looking forward to the next Bond flick, but delaying it is really for the best right now.

As for the "big screen" being better than what's at home... eh, for some, I'm sure it is. For me, I'm hard of hearing and having reliable captions is fantastic, and without stereo perception I really can't tell the difference between mono and surround. The picture looks nice on my 2019 Vizio TV, so I'm happy enough. Plus, showtime is whenever I want it to be.