Flixster/UltraViolet was the distribution service chosen by the filmmakers that should have allowed users to watch the movie online using a multi-platform digital rights management and storage system called UltraViolet.
The problem is, it didn't work - but fans who weren't a part of the Kickstarter campaign were easily able to pay a small fee to watch the film on Amazon or iTunes. When Flixster wasn't working, many fans who had already paid via Kickstarter ended up just downloading the movie for a fee, or seeing it in theaters. But they weren't happy about it, and expressed their displeasure via Twitter.
I 100% agree with the conspiracy theory that Veronica Mars is on Flixster to force Kickstarter backers to buy it again on iTunes/Amazon.
- Justin Coleman (@jcoleman) March 14, 2014
I had never heard of Flixster before the Veronica Mars download-thing. I now understand why I had never heard of it. #notgood
- Christopher Whitaker (@CivicWhitaker) March 15, 2014
I've enjoyed every part of being a Veronica Mars Movie backer until the UltraViolet/Flixster part. I was hoping to never use UV. Ever.
- Jimmy Bouma-Holtrop (@JamesLightning) March 15, 2014
"We are, of course, working diligently to ensure that all the 'Veronica Mars' backers have a great experience," said Warner Bros. Pictures' spokesperson in response.
In order to try and make amends, Warner Bros. Pictures sent out an email on Saturday offering their assistance by giving viewers three options from "Veronica Mars" movie customer support (via E! Online).
Option 1: If you wish to use Flixster and need help with technical issues, customer support will do their best to help you ASAP.
Option 2: If you wish to download Veronica Mars from another service, such as iTunes or Amazon, go ahead and then email the receipt to Veronica Mars customer service and you'll receive a refund for the full amount paid.
Option 3: Receive a $10 refund (the amount pledged via Kickstarter to get a digital download) through Amazon Payments.
Despite the technical glitches, the much-hyped "Veronica Mars" movie managed to rake in $2 million its first weekend in theaters.
Although with a record-breaking $5.7 million collected on Kickstarter to fund the film, the movie barely made it onto the list of top-10 highest earning films at the box office this weekend.
But Jeff Goldstein, executive vice president of theatrical distribution at Warner Bros., is still impressed, telling EW, "Our result starting with our Thursday fan events was $260,000. You add that together with our weekend for a total of $2 million from 291 theaters? That's pretty significant."