Vudu/Fandango Distribution
A major VOD platform offering transactional distribution to millions of viewers
Overview
Vudu, now part of the Fandango family, is a prominent video-on-demand platform where viewers can rent and purchase films and TV shows. It offers independent filmmakers another significant digital storefront alongside iTunes and Amazon.
Distribution to Vudu is typically handled through aggregators or established distribution companies rather than direct submission. Filmmakers working with partners like FilmHub, Distribber, or Gravitas can include Vudu as part of their distribution strategy.
How It Works
The platform has a loyal user base of VOD enthusiasts who regularly browse and purchase digital content. Vudu's integration with Fandango's movie ticketing platform creates cross-promotional opportunities for theatrical and digital releases.
Contact Vudu or work through an approved distribution partner to discuss terms. Revenue splits and fees depend on the distribution partner and the specific deal negotiated.
Who Uses It
Worth including in your distribution strategy as part of a multi-platform approach. Working through an aggregator like FilmHub is often the easiest path to getting your content listed on Vudu.
Pricing & Plans
Distribution to Vudu/Fandango is almost exclusively handled through aggregators or established distribution companies, meaning there is no direct submission portal or fee structure for individual filmmakers to navigate. When distributing through FilmHub, Vudu is included as one of many available platform channels at no additional cost beyond FilmHub's standard 20% revenue share. Through Distribber, placing your film on Vudu is part of the upfront distribution fee package, with the filmmaker retaining 100% of Vudu revenue after the initial investment. Revenue on Vudu is generated through transactional video-on-demand (TVOD), meaning viewers pay per rental or purchase rather than through a subscription model, which typically yields higher per-transaction revenue than ad-supported or subscription-based platforms. Vudu's standard pricing for new releases ranges from $5.99-6.99 for rentals and $14.99-19.99 for purchases, with the platform taking its standard percentage before distributing revenue to the filmmaker's distribution partner. The transactional model means that marketing and discoverability directly impact revenue, as your film generates income only when individual viewers actively choose to rent or purchase it.
Pros & Cons
What's Great
Vudu's integration with the Fandango ecosystem creates cross-promotional opportunities that connect theatrical moviegoers with digital content, providing a unique marketing funnel where audiences who buy movie tickets may discover your film through Fandango's recommendation algorithms. The transactional VOD model means higher per-view revenue compared to ad-supported platforms like Tubi, where individual streams generate fractions of a cent, making Vudu particularly attractive for films with dedicated audiences willing to pay premium prices. The platform's user base includes dedicated digital movie collectors who regularly browse and purchase content, providing an audience that is already conditioned to pay for individual titles rather than expecting everything to be included in a subscription. Vudu's Movies On Us free ad-supported section also provides an additional discovery channel where your film can reach viewers who might later purchase it or explore your other work. Including Vudu in a multi-platform distribution strategy ensures your film is available across every major digital storefront where consumers might look for it, reducing the chance of losing potential sales to platform exclusivity gaps. The platform's family-friendly content options and genre categorization help viewers discover independent films within their preferred categories.
What Could Be Better
The inability to submit directly to Vudu means filmmakers must work through an intermediary, adding a layer of cost (either revenue share or upfront fee) and reducing the filmmaker's control over pricing, positioning, and promotional strategy on the platform. Vudu's market share in the transactional VOD space is significantly smaller than iTunes/Apple TV and Amazon, meaning the volume of sales and rentals on the platform tends to be lower than on the dominant storefronts. The transactional model means your film generates zero revenue unless viewers actively choose to pay for it, unlike subscription or ad-supported platforms where passive viewership still generates income through subscriber fees or ad revenue. Vudu's recommendation algorithms and editorial curation tend to favor major studio releases and well-known titles, making discoverability challenging for independent films without significant marketing support or name recognition. Revenue reporting from Vudu through distribution aggregators can be delayed by 60-90 days, meaning filmmakers must wait months to understand how their content is performing on the platform. The platform has experienced ownership changes and corporate restructuring as part of its transition from Walmart ownership to the Fandango family, and future strategic direction may shift focus away from independent content.
Our Recommendation
Vudu/Fandango should be included as part of any comprehensive multi-platform digital distribution strategy, as there is no reason to exclude it when distributing through aggregators that offer it as an included channel at no additional cost. The platform is most valuable as a supplementary storefront rather than a primary distribution channel, adding incremental revenue to your overall digital sales rather than serving as a standalone commercial strategy. If you are using FilmHub for distribution, simply select Vudu as one of your distribution channels during the setup process — there is no additional decision or cost involved. For filmmakers weighing whether to invest in Distribber's upfront-fee model versus FilmHub's revenue-share model, the potential Vudu revenue alone is unlikely to tip the decision either way, so make that choice based on your overall distribution strategy and commercial projections. Focus your marketing and promotional efforts on the higher-volume platforms (iTunes/Apple TV and Amazon) while treating Vudu as beneficial additional coverage that captures sales you would otherwise miss.
Pro Tips
Ensure your film's metadata, artwork, and descriptions are optimized for Vudu's browsing interface, as the platform's genre categories and search functionality are how most viewers discover content. Set competitive pricing that aligns with comparable independent titles on Vudu — check what similar films in your genre charge for rentals and purchases and price accordingly to avoid being significantly higher than your competition. Monitor your Vudu performance data through your distribution partner's dashboard to understand whether the platform is generating meaningful revenue for your specific content, as performance varies significantly by genre and audience. Consider timing your Vudu release to coincide with any marketing campaigns or press coverage, as transactional platforms benefit most from promotional pushes that drive viewers to actively seek out and purchase your film. If your distribution partner offers promotional pricing options on Vudu, take advantage of temporary price reductions or featured placement opportunities to boost visibility and generate initial sales momentum.
