To encourage customers to do away with rolls of wrapping paper, tape and high shipping costs this holiday season, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has launched an online shopping destination, the Sony Pictures Gift Store, powered by Movie eWrap.

This first-ever gift-giving destination and Movie eWrap gift-wrapping technology allows shoppers to purchase and gift any of the nearly 500 UltraViolet digital movies available in the Sony Pictures Store to provide "a personalised and interactive experience."

Compatible with tablets and computers and optimised for touch interfaces, gift recipients simply swipe or click to see and hear decorative digital ribbon and wrapping paper "tear off," revealing an UltraViolet digital movie selected from a broad collection of Sony Pictures titles. Sony Pictures Gift Store and Movie eWrap are.

The Sony Pictures Gift Store also features a unique "Gift-Finder," which sources the best titles to give any friend or family member based on a combination of criteria selected such as release date, genre, and box-office performance

Favorites from classics including Lawrence of Arabia to recent blockbusters such as The Amazing Spider-Man, Men in Black 3 and Arthur Christmas are available.

Movies as gifts are in demand according to Deloitte's 2012 annual holiday survey, as movies and music rank among the "top five" gifts that consumers surveyed plan to purchase this year. "The combination of Movie eWrap with UltraViolet titles becomes the ultimate fun, eco-friendly and widely accessible gift that can be purchased last minute without leaving the house, avoiding holiday crowds and shipping costs," says Sony.

Story filed 13.12.12