The movie theater experience is expensive. Taking your partner and kids to the movies has become an event due to the high costs. But worry not! Some of the major studios have heard your cries and they are here to help.
Variety is reporting that Warner Bros, Sony, Universal and 20th Century Fox are working together to create Home Premiere, an official industry branded on-demand service. For $30 you’ll be able to sit in the comfort of home and enjoy a movie only 2 months after they hit theaters.
Sounds great right? No, you’re right, it doesn’t…it sounds insane!!
WHY WOULD ANYONE DO THIS??
The first argument to this I get, and that argument is families. It’s going to cost a lot more than $30 to take a family to a theater. Now you’ll be able to spend less money, not be annoyed be fellow movie goers, the kids can be as loud as they want…all this I understand.
The problem with the argument is paying $30 after waiting two months! The window between a movie’s theatrical release and home video release has been shrinking and shrinking. Why would anyone who is willing to wait 2 months not just hold out 1 more month and rent or buy it on Blu-ray/DVD? Yeah, if you pick the buy option it’ll probably still cost you $20 to $30, but at least you’ll own it for that price.
I just can’t see this working. Most people either need to see a movie as soon as it’s released (or want to movie theater experience, and I’m right there with them), or they’re willing to wait a few months and use Netflix, Amazon or Redbox to watch it at a much cheaper price. Paying $30 after waiting 2 months is just…crazy.