Subscription services for movie tickets are all the rage, although not all services are created equal. On one hand, you have MoviePass, which made this kind of service popular, but dropped from 3 million customers to a paltry 225,000 due to shifting plans, unexpected price hikes, and other minor scandals. On the other, theater-specific upstart AMC Stubs A-List continues to grow, with more than 860,000 subscribers and counting.
Just because those two services are making all the headlines doesn’t mean they’re the only options for people who go to the movies regularly and want to save a few bucks. Several other movie ticket subscription services are available in the United States. They allow members to get discounted rates on movie tickets every month, and offer a variety of perks and other elements that make them worthy of consideration for anyone who regularly attends movies or would like to do so more often.
To make the decision between movie ticket services a little easier, we put together a comparison of each of the major subscription plans, so you can figure out what makes the most sense for your viewing habits.
AMC Stubs A-List
What it is: Launched in June 2018, A-List added a subscription-based monthly ticket service to the chain’s existing loyalty program following years of public feuds with MoviePass.
Monthly price: Between $20 and $24, depending on location.
How many movies: Subscribers can see three movies each week.
Restrictions: A-List subscribers are limited to AMC theater locations, and there are no deals for purchasing additional tickets for the same screening (if you want to bring a friend, for example). Members of the Stubs loyalty program don’t get reward points for movie tickets purchased through A-List, but they do get points for food and drinks purchased during their visit. Members must agree to a three-month minimum term.
Extra perks: Tickets for premium-format screenings — such as 3D and IMAX — are treated just like standard-format tickets, without any extra charges or limitations. You can also see the same movie multiple times, including in-demand blockbusters, and purchase tickets in advance. A-List members can make free online reservations for movies in advance and get 10 percent back on food and drink purchases.
What else to consider: The entire service is managed through the AMC Theaters app, making it one of the more convenient services available. While A-List requires a three-month commitment at initial sign-up, it guarantees its original monthly cost for the first 12 months.
More info: amctheatres.com/amcstubs/alist
Cinemark Movie Club
What it is: Theater chain Cinemark launched its own subscription service in 2017, riding the wave created by MoviePass.
Monthly price: $9 to $10, depending on location.
How many movies: Subscribers can see one movie each month.
Restrictions: Screenings are limited to Cinemark theaters, which are primarily located in Texas, Ohio, and California. Non-standard-format screenings like 3D and IMAX carry additional subcharges.
Extra perks: Subscribers get a 20 percent discount on food and drinks at Cinemark theaters, and unused tickets carry over to the next month. Subscribers can purchase additional tickets at their “Member Price” (i.e., $9 or $10, depending on location), and can get one extra ticket for a companion at the discounted price for each screening. Buying tickets for upcoming movies is allowed.
What else to consider: Although the ticket-purchasing process is relatively simple and conducted online or in-person in much the same way as AMC’s A-List service, the proximity of a Cinemark theater is likely to be the most limiting aspect of the service.
More info: cinemark.com/movieclub
Regal Unlimited
What it is: Regal Unlimited launched in summer 2019, offering an unlimited number of tickets but requiring users to pay more to see films in certain theaters.
Monthly price: Unlike some other services, which charge more for extra features or service in crowded locations, Regal Unlimited bases its pricing on the number of theaters you want to access. The more you pay, the more Regal Cinemas locations you can visit. Regal’s theater list breaks down which theaters are included in each plan.
- Regal Unlimited: $18 for access to 200 theaters.
- Regal Unlimited Plus: $21 for access to 400 theaters.
- Regal Unlimited All Access: $24 for access to all 550+ Regal theaters.
How many movies: Subscribers can see as many standard, 2D movies as they want.
Restrictions: Screenings are limited to Regal theaters, which are plentiful in some locations but hard to find in others. A $0.50 booking fee might apply to tickets purchased through the Regal Unlimited app. Non-standard movies like 3D and IMAX screenings and special events like marathons can be booked through the service but cost extra. You can only buy tickets for yourself, and you can only reserve tickets for three advance screenings at a time.
Extra perks: Subscribers get a 10 percent discount on food and non-alcoholic drinks at Regal theaters, plus a free large popcorn and soda on your birthday.
What else to consider: If you watch a lot of movies, Regal Unlimited’s all-you-can watch offering is a very good deal, but you’ll need to have a participating Regal theaetr nearby. Some states, like New York, have plenty. Others, like Utah and Arizona, only have one.
More info: www.regmovies.com/static/en/us/unlimited
MoviePass
What it is: The original subscription-based movie ticket service, MoviePass launched in June 2011, the service has changed its plan repeatedly — and often controversially — in an effort to remain profitable. As of July 2019, the service is on hiatus as MoviePass revamps its technical back-end, with no word on when it’ll be back. Given MoviePass’ well-documented financial woes, industry analysts think that it may never return.
Monthly price: MoviePass is currently closed to new subscribers (and existing ones will reportedly get refunds for the any prepaid time they’re missing). Before the shutdown, MoviePass’ prices looked like this.
- Select Plan: $10/$13/$15, depending on location, with three movies per month, chosen from a curated selection of 2D movies
- All Access Plan: $15/$18/$20, depending on location, with an unlimited selection of three 2D movies per month
- Red Carpet Plan: $20/$23/$25, depending on location. Same as All Access, but with the ability to see one IMAX or RealD 3D movie per month instead of a 2D movie
How many movies: Subscribers could see three movies each month.
Restrictions: As noted above, MoviePass is currently not operating — even when it was running, there were a number of limitations. See above for plan-specific restrictions. The option to purchase tickets days in advance wasn’t available for all theaters, and some locations required you to physically be in the building before you could purchase a ticket. There were no deals for buying additional tickets to the same screening, as well as no unused ticket rollovers.
Extra perks: The MoviePass debit card was accepted at just about every theater in the U.S. that accepts credit cards. The service also offered discounts on additional tickets (depending on the subscriber’s location, the specific theater, and the movie) after subscribers saw their three monthly movies.
What else to consider: MoviePass as we know it might be gone for good. We’ll have to wait and see. If it does come back, be wary: In the past, MoviePass’ rules have fluctuated significantly over time, and there’s no guarantee that the plan you sign up for will be the same one offered a month — or even a week — down the road. The MoviePass website and mobile app also have a long history of problems, so there’s a relatively high level of risk that comes with a MoviePass subscription.
More info: moviepass.com
Sinemia
What it was: A lesser-known service that arrived in the U.S. in May 2018, Sinemia established itself in the U.K. and Canada several years earlier with a format similar to MoviePass but more stable in its terms. It didn’t last long. Sinemia ceased all U.S. operations in April 2019, leaving prepaid subscribers scrambling for refunds.
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