It may have finally died out in an epic blaze of popcorn-flavored glory, but there’s no denying the fact that MoviePass massively disrupted the theater industry during its brief run as the leader of the Far West of movie subscription services.
But with the service back under the control of original founder Stacy Spikes and charting a path back to operations, including eye-tracking ad tech and a points system, it will return to a market it both launched and quickly left unchecked for the main players. to resume. Multiplex stalwarts like AMC and Regal have stepped in over the years since MoviePass disrupted the market before collapsing, creating a new status quo.
With the film industry finally showing signs of rebounding from the pandemic, it’s a good time to take a look at the market, see what your monthly subscription is worth and what benefits their apps offer – from the selection Order seats at the concession right from your phone.
A key point that could give MoviePass a path to potential relevance is that virtually every new service today is built by and around a specific theater company, which means your Regal subscription doesn’t do you much. fine if there’s only an AMC theater nearby, or vice versa.
So if you’re looking for a Swiss army knife of movie services, there simply isn’t a major player to fill that void. At least not now. But there are still great options tied to specific movie channels, and they offer a lot of innovative perks and perks in the app.
The OG service that started it all is coming back, but for now, version 2.0 isn’t actually available. If you want the credibility to release a MoviePass card (assuming they still use cards this time), you’ll just have to wait. That said, this might be a service to watch once it actually launches. The developers are considering some unique features, including credits for in-app ad monitoring, an in-app point system for users who would require more points for larger releases (e.g. Spider-Man: No Way Home on opening night), and fewer points for off-peak niche films (i.e. an under-the-radar indie hit on a Tuesday afternoon). There’s also rumble of some Web3 elements, which seems a little… confusing for a movie subscription service. It’s definitely something to watch over the next few months, especially since it’ll likely work with most theater channels.
If you live in a market with AMC theaters, which is most places, the company’s A-List subscription service is a solid option. It allows users to watch up to three movies per week without interruptions or limits (meaning you can watch three movies in one day and there is no limit on new releases, weekends opening hours, etc.) at any AMC theater. If you have a really good AMC theater nearby, that’s even more helpful, as you can book tickets for premium screenings on Dolby Cinema, RealD 3D, and IMAX screens. Users can also use the AMC app to select and reserve specific seats, as well as pre-order concessions and snacks for quick pickup. There are also concession upgrades, and each trip to the movies earns points for free concessions.
AMC’s A-List app also recently launched its new A-List Entourage option, which is the first step in solving one of the biggest problems with these subscription services – most people go to the movies with it. friends, and these services are generally designed for solo bookings. Entourage options allow members to order for each other (with permission) to make it easier to book group tickets and select seats together. It’s not perfect, but it makes it easy to organize a group trip that takes advantage of A-List memberships, and anyone who isn’t a member can add a regular-priced ticket to round out the group as needed.
If you’re already a frequent patron of the Alamo Drafthouse, you’re probably familiar with the high-end theater company’s season ticket plan. But that being Alamo — a chain known for having one of the best theater experiences in the country — it’s also one of the more expensive options available. You can get one regular movie per day and you can use the app to book 7 days in advance. There are convenience fees that you still have to pay, but you can earn points that can be used for perks like concessions and discounted tickets. You can use the app to skip the queues and head straight to your seat, by scanning your digital ticket directly in the app, and if you need to cancel, you can get a refund up to an hour before the projection.
To be clear, this is the most expensive — and arguably most restrictive — option for moviegoers, but if you see at least 2-3 movies a month in your Alamo region, it will pay for itself. And there are few cinematic experiences that can compete with the Drafthouse’s robust menu, drafts and premium offerings.
If you have a Cinemark nearby and consider yourself more of a casual movie fan (i.e. show up for Jurassic World and Fast & Furious comic book movies and sequels, but not much between the two), the Movie Club is an excellent option. It averages around $10 per month and includes one standard movie ticket per month. The best part? If you don’t make it that month, you can have one carry over ticket at a time, which means it will carry over and you’ll have two to use the following month. Users also get waived online fees and a 20% discount on concessions. Although it’s designed more for casual use, power users can also earn points for discounts and advanced screenings.
When it comes to app benefits, the Cinemark app is robust. Users can book tickets, reserve seats and order concessions from the app to avoid queues. The app also offers a watchlist that you can update to track new releases and receive notifications when they open, to make it even easier to decide when and how to use that monthly ticket (more a roll).
If you have a Regal Cinema nearby, this service is probably the closest thing you’ll find to realizing the future of “unlimited movies” that MoviePass promised us all. Regal Unlimited users get unlimited movies at over 550 company locations across the US, with the caveat that you can’t watch the same movie on the same day in the same format. Considering Regal is one of the biggest movie theater chains in the country, this is very helpful. If you want to see a boatload of movies, this will do, as long as you stay within the Regal ecosystem. It also gets a little confusing with additional processing and upgrade fees for movie tickets (i.e. for upgraded screens etc.), but overall it’s a good deal if you see more than a few movies a month.
As is common practice these days, users can also order tickets and select their seats from the app, as well as browse and order concessions to skip the lines and just grab your popcorn. and your favorite candies and snacks. The app will even ping you when your dealership order is ready for pickup. Users also earn points for concession coupons and discounts. It also has movie reviews and ratings, just in case you are still deciding what to see.
