Movie theaters ought to be set up so that when a person comes out of a movie there is a kiosk there which accepts credit cards where the viewer, fresh from being impressed by the movie, can walk up and pre-order the movie on DVD for when its DVD release comes out. The orders could be accepted months before the orders would be filled. The people who order that way could be offered a discount price and even a club membership. The same kiosk function could be offered on web sites. Why not have the web site for the initial movie release also offer pre-order sales even before the movie comes out in theater? After all, at that point the marketing machine is in full bore mode promoting the movie.

What spurred this idea? See Tyler Cowen's post on Edward Jay Epstein's book about the economics of the entertainment industry. My suggestion addresses the problem that the money spent marketing the movie in theaters does not optimally promote the sales of movies once they go to DVD.