Bigscreen and Paramount have teamed up for a series of special VR screenings of 80s classic Top Gun. Set to run for a 24-hour period starting at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT) on December 29, the screening will serve up Top Gun 3D at multiple showtimes in a virtual social space dressed up to simulate the experience of going to a theater.
According to Bigscreen, this is the first of several virtual screening events it plans to throw over the coming year. As for why the company opted to go with set showtimes instead of creating an experience more akin to video-on-demand, the company says it's looking to curate events in a way so as to recreate the social experience of sitting down for a movie with others. From Bigscreen:
We want to curate events with amazing 3D movies and video content that people love. Events give VR users a reason to put on the headset every week at a specific time, bringing a critical mass of people online at the same moment and making our social VR events feel alive.
Hanging out with 2–3 friends in Bigscreen is fun, but watching a live Bigscreen event with thousands of fans feels exhilarating.
Bigscreen has an app available for Windows Mixed Reality headsets, but it's also available across the major VR platforms, including Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, and the Top Gun screening will be available on each of those platforms as well.
If you happened to snag a Windows Mixed Reality headset during the holidays, what better way to spread your Mighty Wings and rush Through the Fire on a journey to a Destination Unknown than with Maverick and Goose? Just be sure to steer clear of the Danger Zone. Unfortunately, this event is limited to folks in the U.S. Hopefully, Bigscreen will open up its future events to those in other regions. If you're ready to jump in, however, you can head to Bigscreen's website for a list of showtimes.
