Maybe this time will be the charm? If not, at least you’ll still get to see a lot of movies.
Once upon a time, MoviePass was a heavenly subscription-based service that allowed customers to see unlimited theatrical releases for the low price of $10 per month. In legal terms, that’s what you call a freakin’ steal. Like all things that are too good to be true, though, that deal didn’t last long. The company began hemorrhaging money, and the too-good-to-be-true service had to make some unwelcome changes that went down about as well as a smelly fart in a crowded elevator.
First, the company limited the number of times subscribers could see each movie per month. After that, they upped the monthly fee, followed by limiting the amount of movies people could see to a mere three that also had to be chosen from a curated selection. On top of this, parent company Helios and Matheson saw its stock plummet in 2018. Naturally, we all assumed that marked the death knell for MoviePass.
However, through all the drama, MoviePass has managed to survive, albeit by clinging on to life support. This month, though, the company introduced a three-tier subscription plan with the aim of ensuring financial sustainability for years to come. In regions where tickets are cheapest, a monthly deal starts at $9.95. Unfortunately, this option limits customers to three movies per month during their theatrical run. Furthermore, the available movies are restricted to a rotating daily selection. The second-tier, which costs $14.95, is also limited to three flicks per month but offers customers access to any movies at any time. Finally, the most expensive plan costs $19.95 and also allows people to see any three movies of their choosing at any time, including in IMAX and 3D. The prices for all three tiers are higher in cities where cinema tickets are generally more expensive.
Sadly, the halcyon days of lots of movies for $10 are over, but the company wants to bring back an unlimited option for a fixed monthly price. According to Variety, Khalid Itum, the executive vice president, has revealed that plans are currently in motion to reintroduce a new agreement. At the time of writing, however, the price of that plan is unknown. If it’s any consolation, though, Itum claims that the new strategy will allow the service to “stabilize, optimize, and grow.”
The big question is whether or not MoviePass deserves a second chance. With services like Sinemia and AMC A-List offering similar discount alternatives and more stability, there are other options out there. MoviePass needs to prove itself before we can feel confident about its survival chances. But that doesn’t mean we can’t still make productive use of its benefits until the end of days.
(Excerpt) Read More at: FilmSchoolRejects.com