Go Network launches Movies.com

GO.com Premieres Movies.com; Team Behind Mr. Showbiz Creates New Site for Movie Lovers Business Editors, High-Tech Writers

The team behind GO.com's award-winning Mr. Showbiz raises the curtain this week on the ultimate site for movie lovers of all passion levels with the launch of Movies.com. Part daily destination, part deep database, and part arsenal of clever tools and utilities, Movies.com covers films future, present, and past--from the initial casting of upcoming movies to their eventual release on DVD--with a smart and cohesive presentation not found elsewhere on the Web.

"There is an endless supply of insider information about movies on the Web and fans are clearly hungry for it, but it has always been presented in a disorganized and fragmented fashion. People want to read the casting rumors for the next installments of The Matrix or find out what special footage is hidden on the Sixth Sense DVD. What we've done with Movies.com is pull it all together in a format that actually makes sense to every user, not just Web-savvy movie junkies, among whom I count myself," said GO.com's VP of Entertainment, Erik Flannigan.

At Movies.com, every major film in production has its own dedicated page that includes plot overviews, projected release dates, detailed cast and credits, production rumors, news updates, and links to related official and fan sites. As the theatrical release approaches, trailers, reviews, showtimes, photo galleries, and more are added to the mix. When the emphasis shifts to a home-video release, the movie page expands to include DVD-specific details down to aspect ratios and the latest on which cut scenes, alternate endings, or interviews will be included. And at every step along the way, users are encouraged to add their own reviews and ratings, be it their interest in a forthcoming film or their critical assessment of the transfer quality of a 35mm print to disc.

In addition to the wealth of detailed information about current and upcoming films, Movies.com offers daily film-related news powered by its editorial partner Mr. Showbiz; a collection of movie trailers past and present; a personalized theater-showtimes finder; detailed box-office results and charts; and cast and credits information and reviews for well over 30,000 movies from the past.

Rounding out Movies.com's content offerings are unique tools and features that help movie fans stay abreast of the buzz, keep track of upcoming releases, save information, and more.

• The Bee Hive: Movies.com charts the buzz around the Top 20 upcoming films every week based on user interest and the inside scoop. Find out which films will be blistering the box office this summer--the Bee Hive is where the buzz begins.
• Showtimes Locator/SnipIts: Use the showtimes tool to look for movie times at theaters near you. Set up a personalized list of favorite theaters for quick access to pertinent information, or use our SnipIts application to create a custom collection of showtimes that you can print out, save, e-mail to friends, or, in the near future, import to your PDA device.
• Customizable Movie Calendar: A master calendar of theatrical and home video release dates and other film-related milestones to watch for, including awards shows and film festivals. Users can create their own calendars that combine the movie information they want and their personal schedules.
• Cheat Sheet: Every new-release page features an at-a-glance guide to reviews and ratings from an assortment of national critics and Movies.com users.

Contests, games, promotions, and special events are also a part of Movies.com, and in the coming months, online ticketing and other complementary features will be added to the site.

-- Posted May 23, 2000

Source: Company Press Release