Letterboxd launches new movie rental feature in December

Social movie discovery platform Letterboxd is set to launch a new digital video store in early December, allowing users to rent movies directly on the platform. The company first announced the feature in March during the Cannes Film Festival but did not provide a specific launch date at the time.

Recently Blog postThe company shared more details about the “Video Store,” which will include a collection of films. The selection will include “Festival Highlights” that have not yet been widely distributed, films that were not yet widely available but have been repeatedly viewed by users, recent restorations, and other limited-time special releases.

Launching a video store seems like a natural progression for Letterboxd, allowing users to rent movies instantly without having to step away from the platform. One of the main advantages of renting from Letterboxd, compared to other established platforms like Apple or Amazon, is the social discoverability features. If you notice that one of your friends has recorded a movie, you can check out their review and decide to rent it at that time.

Movie selection will also be based on what members actually want to watch, using data from their watchlists and platform-specific activity. Instead of offering a random mix like some streaming services, the selection will be more curated.

Letterboxd has not yet announced its initial lineup of movies or rental prices, but the company said users can expect rental availability and costs to vary by location. It is worth noting that the platform will not operate according to the subscription model, and there will be no late fees.

The new feature will be compatible with iOS and Android devices, as well as Apple TV, Android TV, Chromecast, and AirPlay, with additional smart TV apps added later.

Since its acquisition by Canadian company Tiny for approximately $50 million in 2023, Letterboxd has been actively updating its platform to improve discovery for movie buffs. Recently, it was introduced “Featured listings“, which helps users discover movie collections organized by genre, studio, and topics such as female directors. Last year, the company also updated its system Search function Being more advanced, able to understand abbreviations, and even correct spelling errors.