Scary Movies Are In and the Lights Are Out This Halloween According to a National Survey

Scary Movies Are In and the Lights Are Out This Halloween According to a National Survey

Redbox DVD Rental Kiosks Offer Scary, Seasonal Titles in Time for Halloween

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill., Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- According to redbox's "Halloween Thrillers" national survey, scary movies will play a central role in Halloween celebrations this year. Redbox, the fully automated DVD rental system featuring new release rentals for $1 per night, recently asked customers to share how they plan to celebrate Halloween and which scary movies are a must-watch this season. The survey found that nearly 80 percent of respondents plan to incorporate a movie into their Halloween celebration this year (77.9 percent).

How do Americans plan to celebrate Halloween? Attending Halloween parties (25.7 percent) and watching scary movies (25.1 percent) top this year's list of favorite activities, beating out trick-or-treating (24.4 percent) and visiting a haunted house (14.6 percent). While it's clear that watching scary movies is a Halloween tradition, it also isn't for everyone. More than 23 percent of respondents admit they are too scared to watch scary movies -- 31 percent of females and 10.5 percent of males. For those brave enough to watch frightening flicks, most set the mood (72.9 percent) by turning off the lights.

From classic horror flicks to modern-day thrillers, Halloween revelers have an incredible catalog of scary movie options. According to the redbox survey, the 1978 classic "Halloween" is the favorite scary movie of all time. Other favorites include a more recent thriller, "Saw" (2004), and the 1980 Jack Nicholson hit, "The Shining." When it comes to sequels, respondents felt "Saw II" (2005), "Halloween II" (1981) and "Scream II" (1997) topped the list.

Which scary movie villain raises the most goose bumps? Men and women agreed that Hannibal Lecter from "The Silence of the Lambs" is the scariest villain (22.9 percent). Whereas women respondents found Freddy Krueger from "A Nightmare on Elm Street" to be the second scariest villain (17 percent), men found Michael Meyers from "Halloween" more frightening (19 percent). Though Neve Campbell might disagree, Ghostface from "Scream" was reported as the least scary villain. Every good villain needs a damsel in distress, but the best 'damsel' appears to be a matter of opinion. While men felt Jamie Lee Curtis in "Halloween" played the best role (27.4 percent), women thought Jodie Foster in "The Silence of the Lambs" played a better would-be victim (29.3 percent).

Reserve Your Scary Movie. Redbox is celebrating Halloween this year with a variety of scary and seasonal films for movie lovers everywhere including edge-of-your-seat thrillers such as "The Number 23" and "The Reaping," horror flicks including "28 Weeks Later" and "Night of the Living Dead 3D," and scary ghost stories including "The Haunting of #24."

Each fully automated redbox kiosk holds more than 500 DVDs, representing 90-100 of the newest movie releases, with new titles available every Tuesday. Consumers aged 18 and older can use a touch screen to select their favorite movies, swipe a valid credit or debit card and go. The complete transaction takes less than 60 seconds. Customers can keep the DVD for as long as they'd like for $1 per night plus tax. After 25 nights, rental charges cease and the DVD is the customer's to keep.

In addition, redbox's patented rent-and-return anywhere technology allows consumers to rent DVDs at one location and return them to any redbox nationwide. Consumers also can guarantee their favorite scary movie is in stock and waiting for them this Halloween, by reserving a DVD online at http://www.redbox.com/ and picking it up at the kiosk of their choice.

About Redbox

Redbox Automated Retail, LLC is the nation's leader in automated DVD rental services. Redbox continues to revolutionize the DVD rental industry with kiosks featured in the nation's leading grocery stores, select McDonald's restaurants and other locations nationwide. In September 2006, redbox launched online rentals -- offering guaranteed and immediate access to new release titles with no membership or mailman required. Redbox Automated Retail, LLC is owned by Coinstar, Inc., McDonald's Ventures, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of McDonald's Corporation, and private investors. More information about redbox can be found at http://www.redbox.com/.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Redbox Automated Retail, LLC

CONTACT: Kristin Zanini of JSH&A Public Relations, +1-630-932-9316,
kristin@jsha.com, for Redbox Automated Retail, LLC

Web site: http://www.redbox.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: The Redbox "Halloween Thrillers" survey polled 630 redbox customers nationwide.

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Profile: International Entertainment