Starbucks in movie deal with Lions Gate

SEATTLE — Starbucks Corp. said today it has partnered with film studio Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. to jointly market and distribute the upcoming film "Akeelah and the Bee."

The agreement marks the first film deal for Starbucks, which has been percolating the entertainment industry by distributing music at its more than 5,000 coffee shops nationwide.

The company plans to host movie screenings and in-store promotions leading up to "Akeelah's" April 28 release date.

"While we are a coffee company at heart, Starbucks provides much more than the best cup of coffee — we offer a community gathering place where people come together to connect and discover new things," Chairman Howard Schultz said in a statement.

"We are always looking for innovative ways to surprise and delight our customers, which is why we are so pleased to be working with Lions Gate on 'Akeelah and the Bee' as the first film to introduce to our customers," he said.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Starbucks shares rose 26 cents to $31.38, and Lions Gate gained 46 cents, or 5.4 percent, to $9 in premarket trading.