Disney got it right and I’m glad other movie studios are getting on board. I’m talking about digital rights management for movies. See, I’m an iTunes guy, so when I buy a Blu-ray that includes a digital copy, I like downloading a legal digital copy to iTunes. Most of the time anyway; Ultraviolet can go to hell. That was the main reason why I never got a digital copy of The LEGO Batman Movie: Ultraviolet. I started with iTunes for my digital library and planned on sticking with it forever. The prospect of signing up for another service and having my digital library spread out over multiple accounts across different devices and apps was not appealing. Screw that. Who has time to keep track of things like that?
Like I said, Disney got it right. If you ever bought a Disney movie, downloaded a digital copy into iTunes, and had a Disney Movie Rewards account, you may have been prompted to connect your accounts. Doing so would allow you to use the Disney Movies Anywhere service. Meaning, you could stream any of your purchased movies from iTunes or the Disney Movies Anywhere website. And at some point, Amazon Video was hooked into the program too. Disney was making it easy so that you could purchase a Disney movie, and watch it anywhere. And this was fantastic! There have been more than one occasion where I had to entertain the kids on my work laptop away from home and all I had to do was go to the Disney Movies website and start streaming.
Now, more studios are getting on board with Movies Anywhere. It’s the exact same kind of service but with a lot more studios involved. In addition to Disney, you now have access to films from Warner Bros., Sony, Fox, and Universal. The service ties together retailers iTunes, Vudu, Amazon Video, and Google Play. And devices? They got devices: Amazon’s Fire tablets, Fire TV and Fire TV Stick; Android mobile and tablet devices and Android TV, Google Chromecast; Apple, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Apple TV; and finally Roku.
I immediately signed up for the sole purpose of unifying my libraries and FINALLY being able to watch Batman Begins through iTunes. I was gifted a copy of Batman Begins on my Amazon Videos account and would never remember to go over there to watch it. So if all this works, I should see it on my iTunes account.
Step 1: Sign Up For Movies Anywhere
Easy enough. Since the service is spearheaded by Disney, I see all of my Disney purchases on the My Movies page after verifying my email address upon sign-up:
Notice the absence of Batman Begins (the two movies on the bottom row are Toy Story and Toy Story 3).
Step 2: Connect Accounts
Next step is to connect my Amazon account. Before I did that, I logged onto Amazon to check out my measly library:
There is Batman Begins. Like I said, Disney Movies Anywhere was already working with Amazon, so you also see all my Disney movies. Now I’m ready to connect:
Amazon (and the other retailers) asked me to verify. Heck yeah, I’m okay with it! After confirming, I’m back to the My Movies page, and voilà ! Batman Begins is now in my library:
Step 3: Get Free Movies
If you sign up and connect one retailer to your account, you’ll get Ghostbusters (2016) and Ice Age added to your account for free! Connect a second account, and you’ll score Jason Bourne, Big Hero 6, and The LEGO Movie as well.
My freebies immediately showed up once I connected my iTunes account as well as The LEGO Batman Movie which I happily paid for again. It makes special sales like The LEGO Batman Movie for just $2.49 all the sweeter since a) you don’t have to mess with Ultraviolet, b) you can buy your movies from anywhere, and c) you can watch them anywhere!
I did not get paid to write this, and received no kickback whatsoever. I’m just super excited for this service, and you should be too! Sign up for Movies Anywhere and take the headache of managing a digital movie library.
Official Press Release
Your Movies, Together at Last
Announcing the launch of
MOVIES ANYWHERE
Disney, Fox, Sony Pictures, Universal and Warner Bros. On Board Alongside Digital Retailers Amazon Video, Google Play, iTunes and Vudu
BURBANK, Calif., Oct. 12, 2017 — Movie lovers now have a new home for their favorite digital movies as Movies Anywhere launches in the U.S. today with an unprecedented five Hollywood studios and four major digital retailers on board. Featuring films from Sony Pictures Entertainment, The Walt Disney Studios (encompassing Disney, Pixar, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm), Twentieth Century Fox Film, Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. Entertainment purchased or redeemed through digital retailers Amazon Video, Google Play, iTunes and Vudu, Movies Anywhere brings the movies people love together to create a simple, seamless digital entertainment experience across platforms.
Using the free Movies Anywhere app and website, consumers can access all their eligible movies by connecting their Movies Anywhere account with their participating digital retailer accounts. Movies Anywhere syncs users’ libraries across their connected accounts, so consumers can watch their purchased and redeemed digital movies on an array of platforms including Amazon Fire devices; Android devices and Android TV; Apple TV; Chromecast; iPhone, iPad and iPod touch; Roku® devices and popular browsers, with more platforms and retailers to come.
“Movies Anywhere is a massive step forward for the consumer digital media experience, bringing the incredible film libraries of five studios together in a virtual one-stop movie-watching shop,†said Karin Gilford, General Manager, Movies Anywhere, who leads an independent, dedicated cross-functional team of product, technology, marketing and other professionals. “Movies Anywhere means that consumers never have to remember where they purchased a film or which device they can watch it on, because all of their eligible movies will be centralized within their Movies Anywhere library and available across platforms through the Movie Anywhere app and website and also available at their connected digital retailers. And as Movies Anywhere continues to add more studios, retailers and platforms, the entertainment possibilities are endless.â€
Movies Anywhere initially features access to a library of over 7,300 digital movies, along with fresh previews and film extras from the studios responsible for such 2017 global blockbusters as Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,†Warner Bros.’ “Wonder Woman,†Sony Pictures’ “Spider-Man: Homecoming,†Universal’s “The Fate of the Furious†and Twentieth Century Fox’s “War for the Planet of the Apes.â€
In celebration of this exciting new digital entertainment destination, Movies Anywhere is welcoming new users with a limited-time offer to receive up to five digital movies. Activate and connect your account with one of these participating digital retailers— Amazon Video, Google Play, iTunes or Vudu —and you’ll receive a digital copy of both Sony Pictures’ “Ghostbusters†(2016) and Twentieth Century Fox’s “Ice Age.†Connect with a second participating digital retailer and Disney’s “Big Hero 6,â€Universal’s “Jason Bourne†and Warner Bros.’ “The LEGO Movie†will be added to your digital movie collection.
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About Movies AnywhereÂ
Movies Anywhere simplifies and enhances the digital movie collection and viewing experience by allowing consumers to access their favorite digital movies in one place when purchased or redeemed through participating digital retailers. Movies Anywhere brings together the movies from Sony Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox Film, The Walt Disney Studios (including Disney, Pixar, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm), Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. Participating digital retailers at launch are Amazon Video, Google Play, iTunes and Vudu. Movies Anywhere offers a library of over 7,300 digital movies at launch, including new releases, and will continue to expand the consumer experience as more content providers, digital retailers and platforms are added. Using the free Movies Anywhere app and website, consumers can connect their Movies Anywhere account with participating digital retailers and enjoy their favorite digital movies from the comfort of their living room and across multiple devices and platforms, including Amazon Fire devices; Android devices and Android TV; Apple TV; Chromecast; iPhone, iPad and iPod touch; Roku® devices and popular browsers. Consumers can also redeem digital copy codes found in eligible Blu-ray and DVD disc packages from participating studios and enjoy them through Movies Anywhere.
Studios
Sony Pictures – www.sonypictures.com
The Walt Disney Studios – www.waltdisneystudios.com/about
Twentieth Century Fox Film – www.foxmovies.com
Universal Pictures – www.universalpictures.com
Warner Bros. – www.warnerbros.com
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Retailers
Amazon Video – https://www.amazon.com/MoviesAnywhere
Google Play – g.co/play/movies-anywhere
iTunes – www.apple.com
Vudu – https://www.vudu.com/MA
Platforms
Amazon’s Fire tablets, Fire TV and Fire TV Stick – www.amazon.com
Android mobile and tablet devices and Android TV – https://www.android.com/
Chromecast – www.google.com/chromecast
iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV – www.apple.com
Roku – www.roku.com
