Apple is now selling JJ Abrams' Star Trek Into Darkness on the iTunes Movie Store three weeks ahead of its September 10th general release.
The film is available in HD for $20 and SD for $15, or as a $25 HD bundle with the prior Star Trek film. There is no rental option -- rentals will be available September 10th -- and it appears to only be available to U.S. iTunes customers.
J.J. Abrams STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS is the best-reviewed blockbuster of the year. When a ruthless mastermind known as Khan (Benedict Cumberbatch) declares a one-man war on the Federation, Captain Kirk (Chris Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto), and the daring crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise will embark on the greatest manhunt in history. It will take all of their skills and teamwork to defend Earth and eliminate Khan’s threat in this “sleek, thrilling epic.” (Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly)
A number of independent or smaller-budget films have launched day-and-date or even ahead of their theatrical release on iTunes, but the three-week early purchase window ahead of a DVD/Blu-Ray release is part of an effort by the major studios to jumpstart more profitable digital sales. Apple has offered early streaming access to music albums in the past.
Star Trek Into Darkness is available in HD on iTunes for $20. [Direct Link]
Top Rated Comments
Could It be that the studios are finally catching on to where their customers are, technologically?
$20? No thanks.
Ditto. The physical copy, while available later, will cost less and be higher quality. If you want to upcharge for digital, you need to make it available same day as the theatrical release.A $150 Million movie for $20 on iTunes 3 weeks before it comes out on obsolete-ray...SOLD.
And 3 weeks later it would be nothing but regret because you could have waited a bit longer and you can get an obsolete ray for cheaper. Might as well get the Digital Copy on iTunes, better uncompressed tracks and great looking video.
And no I don't care if the copy on obsolete ray weighs 30, or 40 GB. I don't download it, it doesnt affect my data cap. Unlike iTunes download. :rolleyes:
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Not sure if serious.
And why shouldn't it be?
The bluray copy (http://www.amazon.com/Star-Trek-Darkness-Blu-ray-Digital/dp/B00AZMFK3K)would be offered $19.99 and comes as BD, DVD, and Digital Copy (download code for SD version on iTunes, so that's $14.99 for the copy alone).
That's 3 .. yes three copies of the movie! And you don't lose your iTunes cloud convenience because you also get the Digital Copy.
So again, why wouldn't it be serious?
I now have all the Star Trek films digitally from iTunes, all except for Star Trek The Motion Picture, which I'm still waiting for iTunes to have in HD.