Bigscreen expands its offerings as ticket sales exceed expectations.
It was back in December when social VR platform Bigscreen announced a groundbreaking new partnership with Paramount Pictures that would bring blockbuster 2D and 3D films to their VR theater experience. Within the first month, thousands of users jumped into VR to watch flicks like Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, World War Z in 3D, and Minority Report with fellow moviegoers from all over the globe.
The first month was a big success with ticket sales surpassing Bigscreen’s internal expectations. The company didn’t release what those internal expectations were, but we do know that movie fans paid between $3.99 and $4.99 for each virtual movie ticket; 77% of those ticket sales being for 3D films.
Because of these solid numbers and strong feedback from movie watchers, Bigscreen is moving forward to bring you more movies in both 3D and 2D with the announcement of a new batch of awesome movies now available in VR.
Running between January 10th and January 17th, Bigscreen’s “Space Week” introduces a handful of blockbuster sci-fi pictures to the lineup. This includes Star Trek: Beyond 3D, Interstellar, Star Trek: Into Darkness 3D, and Transformers Dark of the Moon 3D; showtimes run every 30 minutes like clockwork. Following Space Week, Top Gun, Terminator Genisys, Transformers the Last Night, and Ghost in the Shell will join Bigscreen’s virtual lineup.
So far movie fans are having an absolute blast taking their significant others out on virtual dates to the movies. In one Reddit thread, user MrLanids wrote, “I watched some stuff with my wife, who was visiting family half a state over. The sense of presence was so strong it shocked me. I honestly felt it was really her physically sitting next to me.”
You can also throw popcorn, soda, and tomatoes at the screen or at your friends, which could be really cool if Bigscreen ever hosts a screening of Rocky Horror Picture Show.
So far, the partnership between Bigscreen and Paramount Pictures is proving to be a big win for the two companies and for movie-goers in general, but that doesn’t mean the current VR movie experience can’t be improved. In the near future, you can expect social VR to play a bigger role in the Bigscreen experience when the company launches a new “Friends” system that will make it easier for you to make new friends and link up in VR.
Other updates to look out for will be a Drive-in movie theater environment, a new feature to rent 3D movies and watch with your friends for free in your own private room at any time, special movie events like “Horror Week,” and of course, more 3D movies from top movie studios. Bigscreen will also be making an effort to expand its offering of international films.
The thing is, in order for the Bigscreen team to bring those updates to you, they need you to continue watching movies in VR and prove to studios that there is an audience demand. One addition current users have requested is access to more recent films, like Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker or Jumanji: The Next Level, and perhaps even one day even the chance to see films on opening weekend.
Until then, you can catch a great selection of action and sci-fi films currently available on Bigscreen for just $3.99 – $4.99.
Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.bigscreenvr.com/cinema; you can browse the full calendar of upcoming movie screenings at www.bigscreenvr.com/cinema/comingsoon.
Bigscreen is available for download free on Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift/Rift S, Oculus Go, SteamVR, and Windows Mixed Reality.
Feature Image Credit: Bigscreen, Inc.
