Movie theaters are losing millions of customers to Netflix, Amazon Prime and other streaming services. So they’re fighting back with monthly subscription plans like MoviePass, a sort of Netflix in the theater.
But is MoviePass worth considering?
For just $9 a month, you can see a first run movie every day, even movies like the “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” as soon as they are released.Pros of MoviePass:
Cheap movies. If you see one movie a week, that’s just over $2 per movie, a big savings. If you are a real movie lover who goes several times a week, you can see first run movies for just pennies.
Easy to break even. Go to just one movie per month and you still break even.
Wide acceptance: Moviepass is now accepted at 90 percent of theater chains including AMC, Regal, and Cinemark (though Cinemark has its own similar version, called Movie Club).
No blackout dates.Cons of Moviepass:
The pass does have some downsides, especially if you like to reserve your seats ahead of time or buy three or four seats at once to a showing.
Downsides include:
No advance purchase: This is the biggest downside. You can’t use the app and buy your ticket until you are at your local theater, Which means you can’t buy advance seats to a sold out movie.
Risk of sold-out movies: If you get to the theater and Last Jedi is sold out, you are out of luck.
No 3D or IMAX movies: If you like 3D, you’re out of luck: MoviePass is for only 2D movies right now.
Better for singles than couples: MoviePass is designed for one person to buy one ticket. Couples will want the pass on both phones. And forget about trying to buy a group of tickets for a birthday party.
Analysts say Movie Pass will have to raise prices at some point because if too many people join, it will become a money-losing proposition for studios and theaters.
But until they do, it’s a great deal for movie lovers, so you don’t waste your money.
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