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    Redbox Will Have Avatar, 28 Days From Now – Deal With Universal And 20th Century Fox Struck

    James McCormick
    April 22, 2010

    Redbox has now reached a long term distribution agreement with Universal Studios and 20th Century Fox to make DVDs and Blu-Ray titles available in its kiosks 28 days after their home video release, following in the footsteps of Warner Bros. This ends a legal dispute between the studios and Redbox, who say that they were fighting for this waiting period to prevent the discount rental chain from eating away at their higher margin DVD sales and rentals from other chains.

    This is similar to many of the deals the studios have made with Netflix as well, so expect to be able to rent Avatar and future release The Wolfman 28 days after their release date in the home video market.

    Just like the deal with Netflix, Redbox President Mitch Lowe has stated that this distribution agreement ensures other DVDs and Blu-rays from these studios and allowing to keep the $1 a day rental fee. With this new deal in place, Redbox has said they would drop its lawsuits with Universal and Fox.

    What do you think about this huge deal in the rental world? Are you willing to wait 28 days for a new release to watch or will you instead just end up buying a film before renting it in the first place?

    Source: LA Times

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    James McCormick

    Writer. Podcaster. Social Media Enthusiast. James has loved film from the moment he set eyes on the screen. A Brooklyn, New York native, always trying to find a film that will shock and surprise him. Twitter / cineAWESOME

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    20 comments

    • This will not impact shoppers that only want to see the movie once or twice, not own it. We weren't going to buy the dvd except in the bargain bin anyway. But the studios may need to do more advertizing because I will forget about Avatar 28 days from now, maybe tomorrow.

    • Greed. Pure greed and at a very bad time for most consumers in this country. People will remember that. And in case you haven't noticed, Redbox is running most of the major video rental stores out of business. I don't even have a local rental store anymore, so all this means to me is that I have to wait another 28 days to see it. If, at this point, I choose to. That says alot about what people people are willing to pay to see the “quality” movies Hollywood vomits up these days. I've paid $1 at Redbox to see many a movie and been upset I wasted $1 on it.

    • I totally agree with Enzogames completely… I won't remember avatar came out 28 days after its release.. I”m still not going to buy it.. It just means bad news for redbox because i'm going somewhere else for those releases now instead.. Really dissapointed.

    • I was looking forward to watching this since it got good reviews. I was very disappointed to see I couldn't get it on redbox. I checked netflix and time warner instant view also. They all seem to have this deal with the studio. They want to force us to buy the movie. Well I am not buying. I wanted to watch it once not own it. And since I am stubborn I will just wait until it come on HBO and the studios can go hang themselves for all I care.

    • I'm way more interested in waiting until we get some sort of “ultimate edition” blu-ray release. Commentary tracks, deleted scenes, making of documentaries, production art, all that stuff.

    • Redbox was bullied into this deal and should have fought harder. They have found a nitch and have done well only to be bullied by the Universal and WB to add 28 day waiting period.

    • Movie stores were going out of business long before redbox showed up. Movie stores put themselves out of business by raping us with high charges and past due charges… 10 minutes late to blockbuster and you pay $4 – i mean seriously?

    • Torrent search here we come. They could have made some money from us renting from redbox. I don't like being bullied into having to buy a film in order to see it asap, or have to spend 6+Tax for a two night rental. Screw 'em time to DL it for free :D

    • have you check blockbuster express they have it and its only a dollar a day through there kiosk as well

    • i can wait 28 days…i waited this long to see it..it's a convient venue and it's only a dollar a day..

    • Later this year, likely November before the holidays, Avatar will come out in 3D, so will wait for then to buy it. I do think this movie has raise the bar, so will support, but will wait until the 3D extend version comes out. It is disappointing that Redbox and others are delayed for these movies, but I waited this long will wait a bit longer. This happened for BlindSide as well and now its available at Redbox, so we rented that from Redbox. I look at it as if the original release date did not occur. Patience is a virtue.

    • Yep. Gonna wait till it comes to Redbox. $18 vs. $1. The $1 wins. Sure, if I was rolling in cash, maybe…

    • I feel the same as all of you. All this, is to force us into buying the movie for $15.99 – 19.99 plus tax on the new releases, So if you already saw it at the theater and want to have it for your DVD collection, that's another $12 adult admission to the studio. I'm either going to wait or find one of the many websites to watch it for free. I already cancelled my netflix subscription back when they went up on their rates. I REFUSE to be bullied by these corporate giants.

    • The reality is this: If you are a redbox follower, you are looking for a deal. I'm looking for a deal. I(we) weren't ever in the market to buy a movie. We just want to save some dough and pay a $1 to see a recently released movie. If this means waiting 28 days, that's fine too. Whats 28 days, I never saw it at the movies anyway. Even my kids tell their friends they can't see a movie until 3 weeks have passed its 1/2 the price and they have no qualms about it. When changes occur we get used to it. But you really need to see the demographics of redbox customers. We want to save. We will not be forced to buy a movie, we don't buy movies. So until then……we'll wait. And as another commenter said, what Hollywood regurgitates these days aren't even worth going to the movies to see. Its just better to waste a $1, then $10. This tactic here won't increase Universals bottom line, it may decrease redbox's though. I don't see how redbox considers this a win.

    • I heard the movie was a good movie and it made alot of money at the box office, so why make redbox wait? Can we say greedy? Well im going to wait not cause i cant afford the movie but cause its the principal of it. After it comes to Redbox and if I like it I will then buy it and add it to my movie collection.

    • I don't think it's fair that Redbox has had to do this. I had no idea what was going on when the Tuesday after 23rd came and there was no Avatar. Considering how many people do business through Redbox, even though it's cheaper I doubt they're really losing that much. I second everyone else who's said they won't be bullied into purchasing a DVD. I'll wait. There's hardly anything out worth paying the almost 20 bucks for anymore, as it is. And if Avatar is, I'll happily wait for the price to drop, thanks.

    • I don't think it's fair that Redbox has had to do this. I had no idea what was going on when the Tuesday after 23rd came and there was no Avatar. Considering how many people do business through Redbox, even though it's cheaper I doubt they're really losing that much. I second everyone else who's said they won't be bullied into purchasing a DVD. I'll wait. There's hardly anything out worth paying the almost 20 bucks for anymore, as it is. And if Avatar is, I'll happily wait for the price to drop, thanks.

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