Now Playing for IPhone

If you want to know what's showing at the local movie theater and when it starts, Now Playing has the information you need. But Cyrus Najmabadi's free iPhone and iPod touch app offers much more than just showtimes.

Now Playing sports a variety of features, such as the ability to bookmark theaters within a range of your choosing. It also lets you keep track of movies that are playing now as well as coming attractions. As of this writing, Now Playing lists movies up through November--it's quite a list, as you might imagine. Also, the app lets you view movie trailers, provided that you've got a Wi-Fi connection.

It's never a good idea to waste your money on a lousy movie--especially in this economy--so Now Playing offers ratings from Rotten Tomatoes--arguably the best movie review site on the Internet. You'll find ratings and reviews for movie right next to their titles. Finally, the app lets you keep track of upcoming DVD and Blu-ray releases. (You can filter the list to only show one or the other).

All this functionality takes up little space on your mobile device without putting any dent in your wallet. Now Playing briefly disappeared from the App Store last summer back when it was called Box Office--movie-going iPhone users should be thankful that this feature-filled app is back to stay.

Now Playing is compatible with any iPhone or iPod touch running the iPhone 2.2.1 software update.

[Zach Okkema is a writer and student in Mt. Pleasant, Ontario.]

This story, "Now Playing for IPhone" was originally published by Macworld.