Digital Movie Deals.

History

One reason I started this blog was to share what I have learned about purchasing digital movies affordably. The first thing was to get my original DVDs and Blu-ray movies into the cloud. In the past there were different options for doing this but with retailers like Flixster and CinemaNow gone, we are left with Vudu (Walmart owned) that I don't see going anywhere anytime soon.

Convert Your Old Movies

In the past, Vudu had a great deal where you could convert 10 or more movies for $1 each with DVDs converting to standard definition (SD) and Blu-rays converting into high definition (HDX). This was half price from their standard conversion fee which still is $2 per disc conversion. The catch at the time was the conversion had to be done on a computer with the physical disc. The reason this was a catch was most computers did not come with a Blu-ray Disc drive. I had received a USB Blu-ray Disc drive for Christmas one year for this sole purpose of having my movies converted to HDX. This discount on converting 10 or more for $1 was lost when the feature to convert movies from the movie's barcode with your mobile app was added.

Vudu still offers the disc to digital option through your cell phone using the mobile app for android or the website (https://www.vudu.com/content/in_home_disc_to_digital.html) for iOS phones. Both require access to location services and must be converted at your billing address in Vudu. The cost remains $2 + tax for DVDs converting to standard definition (SD) and Blu-rays converting into high definition (HDX). You also have the option to upscale your DVDs to HDX for $5 + tax per movie. Once converted, you could always put the movies in a garage sale to offset the cost of the conversion or keep them as a backup to your digital library.

Where to Find Deals and When

Looking to add older movies that are Movies Anywhere (MA - https://moviesanywhere.com/) compatible, I will typically check each retailer on the weekends. The reason I do this is retailers will offer weekend only deals like Vudu is doing this weekend where you can get $5 Martial Arts movies in HDX like The Karate Kid movies as well as newer movies like Power Rangers. iTunes is having a $5 Robert Redford movies sale. Check out the links below to see if you find a movie you are looking for on sale.

• Vudu (https://www.vudu.com) will have deal links on their main page. 
• FandangoNow (https://www.fandangonow.com/list/deals) weekly and $5 deals. 
• Amazon (https://www.amazon.com) is a little harder to find the deals and I end up using "Amazon prime video deals" in a Google search to find them. 
• Microsoft (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/movies-and-tv) will typically list their movie deals on the main Movies and TV page.
• Google (https://play.google.com/store/movies) will have movie deals on the main video page.
• iTunes (https://www.apple.com/itunes/video/) you will need to look in the app. iTunes does have a "Build Your Collection" page dedicated each week to $8 or less movies by category like action, comedy, and SciFi. The also have some new movies in 4K on sale for $10 -$15. I will offer a bit of a warning with iTunes. Apple recently updated the iTunes Store where it does not show you previously purchased items (music included). So you may want to double check if you own an item or not before purchasing because Apple will charge you for the purchase even if you already own it.
• UltraCloudHD (https://www.ultracloudhd.com) typically offers a 10% off purchase special with a bonus on Sundays each week. UltraCloudHD is actually a market place for buying digital codes to be redeemed at a specific retailer.

For new movies, the first thing to check for is if the movie is MA compatible. You can also make a wish list on the site with your account. Unless the movie is from Paramount or Lionsgate, it is a good probability that the movie is MA compatible. If it is MA compatible, you have several retailers to check prices on. If it is not, you will probably want to stick with the retailer of you preference. It is important to note that most digital movies will be release a full two weeks prior to the Disc version. Movies come out on Tuesdays which is the best time to check to see if your movie has come out and if it is on sale at any of the MA retailers.

Where to Get Digital Codes

If you are looking to shop for digital codes and get out of the house plus get a great deal, I recommend checking out your local Family Video Store. I was amazed to learn they sell digital codes legally in store. Prices are new movies are $8 each or 3 for $21. Releases a month or two old are $5 each. Older movies are $3 each or 2 for $5. They will also have movie sales with the digital codes that are typically new releases 2 for $14 or older movies 3 for $6. If you rent movies anyway, I would make friends with your local Family Video Store where they will print out a list of digital movies for sale upon request. You may be amazed to find some nice deals.

I use typically use Family Video for movies because of the price and shopping local. They also give you the actual digital code sheet from the movie. Why is this nice? Because, you will be able to redeem the codes on reward pages. See some examples below:

• Sony Rewards (https://www.rewards.sony.com) that offers not only points for later use but for their Movie Buff award where purchasing five movies will allow you to redeem a free digital movie.
• Universal has its UPHE Rewards (https://upherewards.com) where on the back of special digital codes is another code that gives you a credit that can be redeemed for one of six select movies. If you find the movies are ones you own or don't want, save the credit because the list cycles every 6-8 months and the credit does not expire in my experience. 
• Disney Movie Rewards (https://www.disneymovierewards.com) gives you point for each movie and movie tickets. New movies usually give you 150-200 points. Movie tickets are usually 50 points per ticket. These points can be used to purchase movies in the their rewards catalog. I will warn you that the Toy Story with digital copy is only SD digital movie. Learned that the hard way. 

I do find myself going to UltraCloudHD for some newer and hard to find digital codes. I have had two issues with codes from the site. Both issues were resolve the same day. One was a code that had already been redeemed. I was promptly given a new code once I submitted an issue. The other was my fault for not reading clearly the code needed to be redeemed on the Canadian iTunes Store which still puts the movie in your US movie library.

Other Legal Methods?

Do you know of some other legal means to get digital codes? I would like to hear about them. Please post in the comments. Thanks.