Amazon Goes to the Movies

Amazon (www.amazon.com) has launched a personalized movie listing service in association with Buena Vista Pictures. The service, called In Theatres, offers movie theater showtime listings based on users' ZIP codes, and online movie trailers.

Amazon is currently partnering with Buena Vista Pictures to promote Pearl Harbor, but the company would not disclose relationships with other studios. Jeff Bezos, Amazon CEO, said that In Theatres was an effective marketing channel for theatrical releases from movie studios.

In addition to showtimes, Amazon will recommend specific films to its customers based on their purchase history. Amazon will also make personal recommendations to its customers in the form of a weekly e-mail. In Theatres was created in collaboration with movie database site IMDb.com. The service includes a viewer favorites list, and customer reviews and ratings.