DALLAS, April 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Blockbuster
Inc. (NYSE: BBI, BBI.B) today announced availability of the hit
movie, It's Complicated, from Blockbuster in stores, by
mail, or digitally, a full four weeks before it will be available
through some competitors. Blockbuster's early advantage
reflects its ongoing agreement with Universal Studios to provide
customers with the opportunity to rent hit movies the day they are
released. Blockbuster also has early availability of other box
office hits like Sherlock
Holmes and the highest grossing film of all-time,
Avatar, as well as other upcoming new releases such as
Tooth Fairy, Valentine's
Day, and Invictus.
"Blockbuster is thrilled to give our customers immediate access
to It's Complicated on April 27,
2010 and truly deliver the multichannel options that only we
can provide through BLOCKBUSTER® Stores, BLOCKBUSTER® By Mail, as
well as digitally through BLOCKBUSTER On Demand®. Providing a
four-week advance of new releases for our customers reflects
Blockbuster's strategy to be the leading multichannel provider for
movies and is possible because of our long-standing business
relationships with the major studios," said James W. Keyes, chairman and chief executive
officer, Blockbuster Inc.
It's Complicated is a romantic comedy directed by
Nancy Meyers starring Meryl Streep,
Steve Martin, and Alec Baldwin, about a divorced couple reigniting
their relationship. The movie garnered 2009 Golden Globe® Award
nominations for best actress – motion picture, musical or comedy,
best motion picture – musical or comedy, and best screenplay –
motion picture. The movie was a hit at the box offices, with
more than $112 million in ticket
sales.
"Our customers can make plans now for at-home screenings for
It's Complicated and other hit titles. Customers can expect
to see all types of innovations from Blockbuster as the leading
multi-channel provider of entertainment including the immediate
availability of new movies from the major studios, the addition of
BLOCKBUSTER On Demand® for more than 60 models of Samsung Blu-ray
Players, HDTVs, and Blu-ray Home Theater Systems, and the addition
of BLOCKBUSTER On Demand for smartphones launched recently on
T-Mobile's HTC HD2," said Keyes.
Blockbuster is the only multichannel provider that has every hot
new movie on the day of its release. For example, customers
can rent a movie like Avatar through the BLOCKBUSTER By Mail
service, return it to a BLOCKBUSTER store after watching, and
exchange the movie for It's Complicated for more home
entertainment. In addition, customers can access movies
through BLOCKBUSTER Direct Access, a new service that gives
customers in-store access to the more than 95,000 titles carried in
Blockbuster's distribution centers. Customers can also access
new releases from Blockbuster through any BLOCKBUSTER On
Demand-enabled devices, including PCs, select Samsung products,
most TiVos, and the new T-Mobile HTC HD2.
About Blockbuster Inc.
Blockbuster Inc. is a leading global provider of rental and
retail movie and game entertainment. The company provides customers
with convenient access to media entertainment anywhere, any way
they want it - whether in-store, by mail, through vending kiosks or
digitally to their homes and mobile devices. With a highly
recognized brand and a library of more than 125,000 movie and game
titles, Blockbuster leverages its multichannel presence to serve
nearly 47 million global customers annually. The company may be
accessed worldwide at www.blockbuster.com.
SOURCE Blockbuster Inc.