Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Apple today announced that MGM is now offering titles from its prestigious catalog of feature films for purchase and download on the iTunes Store. Beginning today, iTunes customers will be able to purchase legendary films such as “Dances With Wolves,” “Mad Max,” “The Great Train Robbery” and “Rocky,” with other titles to be added in the coming weeks.

This is great news for Apple TV owners, MGM has a huge library of films, from Gone with the Wind and Wizard of Oz to Poltergeist and Legally Blonde. Their real strength was back in the 1920 – 1950, when they dominated the industry. Many of their older films are out of print on DVD and VHS, and the option to download them from iTunes is very attractive.

In kind of a side announcement, Apple announced that more than two million movies have now been downloaded from iTunes. Look for downloads to explode as the Apple TV becomes more popular.

“More than two million movies have now been downloaded from the iTunes Store making it the world’s most popular online movie store,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of iTunes. “We’re absolutely thrilled so many legendary MGM films are joining an iTunes film catalog that now has over 500 movies.”

Popularity: 7% [?]