3 ms·

It’s a few bucks like video rental shops back in the old days. Of the top 10 in Apple’s current Top Movies Chart in the TV app, 3 cost $5.99 to rent while the

• api 3y ago
  Inflation adjusted that’s about right. It was like $4 to rent a new release in 1993.
• al_borland 3y ago
  Generally speaking, the ones that cost $19.99 to rent are still in theaters. The price will drop once they are out of theaters and a more normal home release. This wasn’t an option in the days of video rental shops. If a family, or even just a couple, was going to go to the movies, buying popcorn and drinks, it’s not cheap. $19.99 is still usually cheaper than going out. I remember when they started doing this. I think it was a response to theaters being closed during the pandemic, but could be misremembering slightly. Beyond that, I think the general idea was that people have nice big screens and home and don’t feel the need to go to movie theaters anymore, so this gives people an option to see new releases in the comfort of their home. The extra cost is for the early home access.