Not current-run movies, either! “Home Premiere”, as it’s being called, only includes movies that are up to two months removed from their theatrical debuts. Shut. the. front. door.
I’m trying to think of what would possibly inspire me to pay more than twice the cost of a movie ticket to watch Adam Sandler’s Just Go With It – seriously, that’s one of the launch titles – in June from my couch. Brain trauma? Bad quaaludes? Unconventional hostage situation? I mean, for goodness sake, that’s more than it costs to buy and own most Blu-rays, which have the added consumer benefit of tons of bonus features, reliable playback, and not disappearing after two days.
And don’t worry, it’s not like the studios are going to be releasing movies you might actually want to watch, according to Variety:
The majors also say they wouldn’t release any films via Home Premiere that are still performing well at the [box office] .
PHEW.
The good news is, Home Premiere will only be unleashed on DirecTV’s 20 million customers, although Comcast is going to give it a whirl next month in select markets. Hopefully it’ll shrivel up and die before it contaminates any other VOD offerings. I’d pay $US30 to watch the funeral.
Anonymouse
Friday, April 1, 2011 at 12:11 PMCan’t trust anything on the internet today, being April 1 and all.
Mr Odd
Friday, April 1, 2011 at 1:43 PMYeah, but this is kind of dumb stuff movie companies would do for real, so not a funny joke if is one.
Keith Drain
Friday, April 1, 2011 at 12:22 PMThe only way this would be compelling is if you could watch ALL movies from home on the Box office release date. That way you could choose to pay $30 to watch a movie from home or go to the cinema and pay $40+.. Funny thing is that the movie companies would make more if you streamed it from home since most cinemas get charged 55% of the total box office take for a day in date release.
JT...
Friday, April 1, 2011 at 2:19 PMIf you think about it $30 isn’t that much I mean for the most part most of us go to the cinema with at least one other person (apart from Jonny no mates) so thats a min of two tickets. But watching it at home you can have as many as you can fit in your home theater room for one price.
I don’t see new releases being streamed though as piracy would just explode unless the law changed so you would have to give up your first born if caught with a pirated copy.
Captain Yarr
Friday, April 1, 2011 at 1:25 PMI couldn’t hear the rest of the article after $30 as the sound of torrent sites the world over laughing hysterically drowned it out.
Tomas Medina
Friday, April 1, 2011 at 1:50 PMIn Australia, with film ticket prices as insanely high as they are, 2 people sitting down to a home premiere is actually a saving, even before popcorn and 2 cokes.
Kelsey Brookes
Saturday, April 2, 2011 at 9:48 AMDid you miss the bit where they say they won’t be showing movies that are still doing well in theatres?
It *might* be a deal if you were getting to see same-day cinematic releases, but for stuff that’s about to be sent to DVD? Not a chance.
Nodeity
Friday, April 1, 2011 at 2:21 PMDid they even do any research? at all? Jesus I can rent a Blue Ray for half that from “Blockbuster” (it’s still alive in OZ) and only five bucks for DVD. Why in the hell would any one,.. even some brain dead wanker with too much money, pay that much for a movie… These big movers in the movie world need to get in some real people to do their research,… seriously :{
Cameron
Friday, April 1, 2011 at 2:33 PMApril Fools?
th3Pil0t
Friday, April 1, 2011 at 2:52 PM…and the four major studios continue to stoke the piracy fire…
Chris
Friday, April 1, 2011 at 3:02 PMNot to mention that you can get movie tickets for 8-10 dollars if you’re a member of MBF or your States version of RACQ.
60 dollars worth of movie money, 6 tickets for a year. There’s no way I’d ever pay full price.
And there’s definitely no way in hell I’d pay 30 dollars per STREAM. Really hope it’s a joke.
Miguel
Friday, April 1, 2011 at 4:50 PMNot an April fools, was discussed on buzz out loud awhile back
Carolyn Paterson
Friday, April 1, 2011 at 8:26 PMNot sure what everyone is complaining about.
$30 is nothing when I can have my wife, the kids, the neighbours and friends come over and watch an ultra new release in my cinema room. If you weigh up the cost vs how many people come and watch, its a pretty hefty saving in my house hold.
For me though, the #winning is going to be in the quality. If its not in 1080 HD, then bugger off.
adam smolkowicz
Monday, April 4, 2011 at 1:28 PMyeah i find this to be really amusing