Miramax makes friends with Facebook

LONDON -- Miramax looks set to be the latest company to start making its films available to users on Facebook, launching the largest movie-streaming venture yet on the social media site. Following hot on the heels of Warner Bros., Paramount and Universal, "Miramax eXperience" will go live first on Facebook with 20 titles available for rent in the U.S. and 10 each in Blighty and Turkey, according to paidContent.com.Titles available in all three countries include "Good Will Hunting," "Cold Mountain," "Spy Kids" and "Chicago," while "No Country for Old Men" is limited to U.S release on the site. Facebook users can rent Miramax titles for 30 Facebook credits, which is equivalent to $3 and watch on Facebook, the iPad and Google TV. The rental is active for 30 days and will expire 48 hours after viewing has commenced. Earlier this year, Miramax reached a deal with Lionsgate and StudioCanal on worldwide distribution rights to more than 550 library titles. As StudioCanal operates in three European territories -- Blighty, France and Germany -- launches of the Facebook app in Gaul and Germany look likely. Titles are expected to be available on Facebook from September. The move is a further sign that Miramax is ramping up its activity on digital platforms and embracing digital distribution: In May, the company signed a multi-year non-exclusive distribution deal with Netflix, which covered titles including "The English Patient," "Shakespeare in Love," Clerks," "Pulp Fiction" and many of the "Halloween," "Scary Movie" and "Scream" titles. Last week, U offered "The Big Lebowski" for rental via Facebook, coinciding with the pic's debut on Blu-ray, while Warner Bros. and Par began releasing pics on the social media site back in March. WB began experimenting with rentals via the site with "The Dark Knight," before expanding its offerings with pics including "Inception," "Life as We Know It," "Yogi Bear," "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets."Par started renting the "Jackass" franchise through the "Jackass" fanpage on Facebook from July. Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com