Fox to sell movie downloads through exclusive new virtual stores in shopping centers countrywide

I relished those days when I could walk into a Suncoast Video and browse obscure cult film titles for hours, or look up film classics from the golden era of cinema (that being 1970’s action movies of course), and then plunk down my cash for a great movie that I hadn’t watched for years – or maybe hadn’t ever seen at all. Yes there are still video sellers out there today, but most only focus on current and mainstream titles that for the most part, I have very little interest in. With the advent of digital downloads and a general contraction of arts culture inside the U.S., I thought for sure that those days were gone forever.

However with news of a unique new partnership between Fox and mall operator Taubman Centers, maybe there’s hope for us movie lovers, yet. I mean, there are still thousands of titles that need to be made available in the burgeoning digital medium, but at least there’s hope. Things could get really cool if every available film has a trailer ready to watch on the fly, along with other cool content to ingest at these new Fox Movie Malls.

If you haven’t already guessed, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment has partnered with Taubman Centers to create a groundbreaking new shopping experience for consumers, with the installation of Fox Movie Mall virtual storefronts. With the introduction of the Fox Movie Mall app available at the iTunes Store and Android Market, shoppers at the mall can simply Stop, Scan and Shop. An industry first innovation, consumers can pick one of the film titles from a wallscape, scan a QR code and instantly be taken online to make their purchase and have it shipped right to their door. Those that download and launch the Fox Movie Mall app can save up to 50 percent on their purchases and have access to the RIO coloring app, additional games, trailers, movie and TV clips and more.

The year-long exclusive partnership will also include home entertainment lounges in central locations with state-of-the-art HDTVs showcasing footage from the upcoming Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked Blu-ray along with many other family-friendly films courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Participating Taubman shopping centers include Beverly Center, Los Angeles, CA; Cherry Creek Shopping Center, Denver, Colo; Dolphin Mall, Miami, Fla; Fairlane Town Center, Dearborn, Mich.; Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax, Va.; Great Lakes Crossing Outlets, Auburn Hills, Mich.; International Plaza and Bay Street, Tampa, Fla.; MacArthur Center, Norfolk, Va.; The Mall at Green Hills, Nashville, Tenn.; The Mall at Short Hills, Short Hills, N.J.; The Mall at Wellington Green, Wellington, Fla.; Northlake Mall, Charlotte, N.C.; Stamford Town Center, Stamford, Conn.; Sunvalley Shopping Center, Concord, Calif.; Twelve Oaks Mall, Novi, Mich.; Westfarms Mall, Farmington, Conn.; The Shops at Willow Bend, Plano, Texas and Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, Ill.

There will be a media day today at the Dolphin Mall in Miami, Florida in celebration of the partnership and the home entertainment release of Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, featuring an exclusive look at the special features available on the Blu-ray, Alvin costumed characters, Fox Movie Mall app demonstrations, games and more.