MoviePass Inc. kicked off Memorial Day weekend with the national relaunch of its movie subscription platform. Previously, subscribers had to sign up for a waitlist and be invited to join. Though the website still shows that MoviePass is in beta, it is now available to subscribers across the US. After a tumultuous history, under new ownership, the company hopes to attract subscribers and bring them back to movie theaters for summer blockbusters like The Little Mermaid, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts and Barbie.
Flexible subscription plans
Under the new business model, MoviePass offers four subscription plans, starting at $10 a month.
| Basic | Standard (Best-selling plan) | Premium | Pro (Limited supply) |
| $10/month | $20/month | $30/month | $40/month |
| 1-3 movies a month | 3-7 movies a month | 5-11 movies a month | 30 movies a month (1 movie a day) |
| 34 credits a month | 72 credits a month | 113 credits a month | 640 credits a month |
| Available in 4,000 theaters | Available in 4,000 theaters | Available in 4,000 theaters | Available in 4,000 theaters |
| 2D standard screenings* | 2D standard screenings* | 2D standard screenings* | 2D standard screenings* |
*Access to large format and premium screens is coming soon.
Currently available at over 4,000 US theaters, MoviePass subscribers can use their movie subscription plans for tickets at any theater that accepts debit or credit cards. Because subscribers can see films in any of the available theaters, they are not tied to a specific movie theater chain. Plans can be changed or canceled at any time.
“By opening up MoviePass to film lovers nationwide, we are expanding our support of the movie theater industry by helping drive traffic to all theaters during the critical summer season,” said Stacy Spikes, MoviePass co-founder and CEO, in a May 25, 2023 news release. “Our newly designed service offers our members greater choice and flexibility for how they use their monthly credits, while continuing to encourage them to watch movies in theaters.”
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How movie credits work
MoviePass uses a credit system for its tiered movie subscription plans, so subscribers can choose the plan that best suits their budget and movie viewing habits. Each month, their subscription fee gives subscribers access to a certain number of credits which can then be used to buy movie tickets. Unused credits roll over to the next month, up to two months maximum.
According to the MoviePass website, a movie’s credit value varies based on demand, time of day, day of week and other factors. For example, midweek matinees require fewer credits than weekend evening and opening weekend movies.
“Credits are your MoviePass currency,” said MoviePass. “Use them however you like to create a personalized plan that fits your moviegoing habits.”
In its news release, MoviePass did not mention its partnership with Walmart. According to The Street, the retailer and MoviePass are teaming up to give the subscription service more visibility. Walmart will sell MoviePass subscription cards this summer, but no official launch date has been set.
Insider Take
MoviePass’s previous owners made a mess of the company, driving it into bankruptcy, destroying the company’s reputation, and stirring up controversy along the way. Co-founder Stacy Spikes was able to buy the company out of bankruptcy, and he seems genuinely interested in seeing it succeed. We hope it does. The concept itself is intriguing and has a lot of potential. What didn’t work before was the business model. Spikes is keeping it simple, and as long as the movie credit formula is profitable for the company and movie theaters, and subscribers feel they are getting value.
Copyright © 2023 Authority Media Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.
