Facebook to stream Miramax films

Facebook users can now stream cult classics within their browser, following the launch of a free Miramax App.

The launch follows in the wake of releases The Big Lebowski earlier this month and The Dark Knight earlier this year, signalling an intent on the part of Facebook and the film studios to extend their film services to a wider audience.

In a blog post Miramax explained their decision to launch the app, saying: “We are big believers in Facebook and what it could mean for the future of the content business.” The current version of the software has 20 titles including Gangs of New York, From Dusk Till Dawn and Pulp Fiction. Trailers can be viewed and the film can then be purchased for 30 Facebook credits, or US$3. Once purchased, the films are only viewable for 48 hours.

The film studio’s blog continues by saying that its “ultimate goal is to give consumers the opportunity to buy films and store them in their own cloud-based digital locker — to then access the content anywhere they want, across all devices”.

Currently, the Miramax app only works on the desktop and laptop computers, as well as the iPad and Google TV. Without a TV to view these films on the Miramax app may struggle to find an audience, suggesting the Google TV app may be the best home for these films.

The Miramax app, dubbed the “Miramax eXperience” installs in seconds and integrates itself into the user’s Facebook profile. Miramax encourages its fans to track the progress of this applications development and comment where appropriate. The application was created in under eight weeks, as a result some bugs are expected to emerge.

Facebook is changing the way users view content and, according to Miramax, over 50-million people have mentioned its films or interacted with its profile. Studios in Hollywood are constantly looking at innovative ways of dispensing their films online, with Hulu, iTunes, Netflix, Amazon and many others providing blockbusters from the comfort of the user’s couch.