Just tried it with the free movie ELF, same problem. Out of curiosity i tried out Netflix, and it worked perfect. I tried to find something but only thing I found was this:
Not able to play Movies rented from Google Play on android tablet

but that doesn't seem right. Also read some reviews for Google Play Movies and some blamed it on being rooted. I have no idea.

 

Very interesting. I guess only solution is sending an email to Google to report the problem. Good sign is that audio works.

 

Sounds exactly right to me. I have movies that the default player plays nicely. I also have movies that the default player won't handle correctly, but other players I've downloaded will. It sounds like the default player doesn't have the codecs needed for the Google Play and some other movies. (VLC plays just about anything, and there are a few other good ones on those lists.)

 

I installed MX player and disabled the default video player and it still didn't work. I believe they were talking about movies already saved in the phone, not streaming movies from Google Play Movies. Unless I have to do something special?

 

Mx player is best. I dont watch movies on play store.. but i watch P**n. Stream live. It works best on various popular sites... Default player of android sucks tbh..

 

LMAO. This just made my day!

 

Lol merry christmas

 

Google Play movies will work if you uninstall the update... just go to the apps and under Google Play Movies & TV go in and uninstall updates... The Play store still looks the same, but when you do movies it looks like the older layout. Obviously since it works with the old version then it is something that Google did in the most recent changes.

Also just tried Flixster.... it won't let me stream the free movie it gives out for some reason (says unavailable right now) but trailers work fine.