AOL Moviefone Offers Advance Tickets for New Line Cinema's 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring' Starting Today.

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 3, 2001

Tickets for Highly Anticipated Epic Film Are On Sale via Phone and

the Web Two Weeks Prior its December 19 Opening

AOL Moviefone, the nation's leading movie guide and ticketing service, today announced the kick off of its advance ticketing campaign for New Line Cinema's "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," two weeks prior to the movie's December 19 national opening.

Moviegoers in most major markets are now able to get showtimes and buy tickets by either visiting Moviefone.com or by calling the AOL Moviefone telephone service, known by familiar local numbers such as 777-FILM.

"Our goal has always been to make going to the movies easier and more convenient for consumers by giving them a comprehensive guide of movie information, showtimes and the ability to buy tickets in advance," said Tommy McGloin, Senior Vice President and General Manager at AOL Moviefone. "This is especially important for highly anticipated movies such as this one where we know there is a huge amount of interest in the film. With advance ticketing through AOL Moviefone, moviegoers can ensure they'll be able to see this film when they want and avoid the disappointment of a sold-out show."

AOL Moviefone, through its exhibitor partners and strategic alliance with MovieTickets.com, provides consumers with online access to tickets for 8,000 movie screens, or more than 80 percent of North America's movie screens that currently offer Internet ticketing capability. These screens include United Artists, Loews Cineplex Entertainment, AMC Entertainment, Harkins Theatres, General Cinema Theatres, Mann Theatres, City Cinemas, Clearview Cinemas, and many others.

"'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring' has been generating excitement among moviegoers since the announcement of the film's production," said Gordon Paddison, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Interactive Marketing for New Line Cinema. "Working with AOL Moviefone is a great way for us to satisfy fans by enabling them to be among the first to buy tickets to the film."

In addition to showtimes, tickets, and entertaining features on Moviefone.com, the AOL service features a special AOL Keyword: Lord of the Rings area that offers fans an array of information, previews, behind-the-scenes footage, games, screensavers, fan clubs, message boards and much more.

Based on J.R.R. Tolkein's epic novel, "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy will collectively re-tell the story of Frodo Baggins, who battles against the Dark Lord Sauron to save Middle-earth from the grip of evil. In the films, Frodo and The Fellowship embark on a desperate journey to rid the earth of the source of Sauron's greatest strength, the One Ring, a ring of such power that it cannot be destroyed. His extraordinary adventures across the treacherous landscape of Middle-earth reveal how the power of friendship and courage can hold the forces of darkness at bay.

About AOL Moviefone

AOL Moviefone, a wholly owned subsidiary of AOL Inc., is the leader in providing online, telephone and wireless movie listings, information, and ticketing to consumers anytime, anywhere. Through its online service Moviefone.com, its 777-FILM telephone service, and numerous wireless devices, including Sprint PCS phones, AT&T PocketNet, and Palm handheld computers, the company serves one in every five U.S. moviegoers each week with a complete, free directory of movies, showtimes, theater locations, the ability to purchase tickets, and other content of interest to moviegoers. AOL Moviefone is a part of the AOL Web Properties Group, an online network of leading web brands that also includes Netscape, CompuServe, AOL (R) Instant Messenger (SM) service, ICQ and MapQuest.