Starz Digital Media and Dimension Films will give horror fans a chance to watch Piranha 3DD via video on demand and on Facebook on Friday, the same time it's released to theaters.
The movie, a sequel to the 2010 Piranha 3D ($25 million in box office revenue), will be available for a 48-hour VOD rental for a suggested price of $6.99 in standard and high definition and $7.99 in 3D, said Starz Digital, the digital and on-demand licensing arm of Starz Media, LLC. Consumers have 30 days from the time of purchase to begin viewing.
While studios have begun to offer movies on VOD at the same time as their home video releases, day-and-date VOD and theatrical movie debuts have been mostly limited to independent films.
"Fans of the Piranha franchise are in for a ‘feeding frenzy' of viewing options, with so many opportunities and ways to enjoy the campy and thrilling sequel," said Mara Winokur, senior vice president of digital media distribution at Starz Media in a statement. "We have been looking at experimenting in the premium VOD space; Piranha 3DD provided the perfect title in terms of genre and installed fan base."
Starz Digital Media will als offer Piranha 3DD in VOD to Facebook, with the first-ever 3D Facebook VOD app for rental, said Starz. The app allows users to transform the online movie-viewing experience into a social experience by letting consumers comment and share clips, stills, and quotes, said the company.
