MoviePass - Subscription Service for Films

[CMH]

MoviePass is a new service which will allow subscribers to watch an unlimited number of theatrical releases for just $50 a month. There is also a 4-movie a month limited service for $30.

Basically, you sign up, pay the fee and then "purchase" tickets online. There are additional fees for 3D. Think of it like Netflix, but with new releases in the theater.

The questions are:

1. Does this service make sense for you?
2. Would you use this service if it does?

In NYC the average ticket price is $11. Go to Manhattan and you're looking at $13 tickets. If you go to the theater over 4 times a month, this deal is an obvious money-saver.

But, many people go to the movies during matinee-hours or have other services that offer half-day deals, free-day deals and more.

So does this work for you and would you use it?


*Right now it's launching in the Bay Area, California. A nation-wide launch is expected in the Fall.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: MoviePass - Subscription Service for Films

I usually don't see more than 3 movies a month on average throughout the year. Summer months I might go once a week...maybe.

With that said, I like this idea especially with the way ticket prices go up every 6-12 months.

[CMH]

Re: MoviePass - Subscription Service for Films

I get free Tuesdays thanks to OptimumRewards (the one benefit to the crappy cable service in the Bronx) and half-off other days in the week.

Right now, as long as I have that, I see no benefit to this service. It doesn't take a genius to figure out which day of the week I'm usually at the theater, so why pay money when I pay nada?

However, if and when I finally cancel cable, I won't have this deal and possibly, I can see this service working for me. I know that I would be more open to watching movies I don't care for and I'd be at the theater more often as well.

I wonder how this would tally ticket sales for each film.

[DaveDQ]

Re: MoviePass - Subscription Service for Films

I wonder how this would tally ticket sales for each film.

When you "purchase" them online they would attribute that as the factor in determining the tally.

I think it's a good idea and will work for younger single people. My wife and I might not see it as useful as we rarely go to the movies. But still, $50 a month is a bit much if it's all year long.

[The GIGGAS]

Re: MoviePass - Subscription Service for Films

I think I've gone to one movie in the theater this year (Thor). I'll just wait for a lot of things on Netflix.

[HealyMonster]

Re: MoviePass - Subscription Service for Films

MoviePass is a new service which will allow subscribers to watch an unlimited number of theatrical releases for just $50 a month. There is also a 4-movie a month limited service for $30.

Basically, you sign up, pay the fee and then "purchase" tickets online. There are additional fees for 3D. Think of it like Netflix, but with new releases in the theater.

The questions are:

1. Does this service make sense for you?
2. Would you use this service if it does?

In NYC the average ticket price is $11. Go to Manhattan and you're looking at $13 tickets. If you go to the theater over 4 times a month, this deal is an obvious money-saver.

But, many people go to the movies during matinee-hours or have other services that offer half-day deals, free-day deals and more.

So does this work for you and would you use it?


*Right now it's launching in the Bay Area, California. A nation-wide launch is expected in the Fall.

Makes sense to me. Comparing this to what directv is trying to do (Home premium 29$ per movie) its a thousand times better as these are films in the theater and you can get 4 movies for the directv price of 1.

I would be all over the 4 for 30 option as Im not a movie goer normally but I would watch a lot of these movies if I could do it from home. the whole movie experience just isnt my cup of tea. Every movie theater is just pandemonium, kids everywhere, long lines, like 30 bucks for a bag of twizzlers.

[CMH]

Re: MoviePass - Subscription Service for Films

When you "purchase" them online they would attribute that as the factor in determining the tally.
.

You can tally tickets sold, but this affects box office dollars is what I mean.

You can't say this movie made $13 off my purchase if I paid $50 for a membership fee.

I can see this service hurting BO numbers in the long run. Though, I'd bet the reason this service is available is because Hollywood is already trying to find ways to save their declining BO numbers.

If people won't go to the theater then charge them before they go to the theater.

[DaveDQ]

Re: MoviePass - Subscription Service for Films

You can tally tickets sold, but this affects box office dollars is what I mean.

You can't say this movie made $13 off my purchase if I paid $50 for a membership fee.

I can see this service hurting BO numbers in the long run. Though, I'd bet the reason this service is available is because Hollywood is already trying to find ways to save their declining BO numbers.

If people won't go to the theater then charge them before they go to the theater.

Maybe there is a requirement that percentages remain the same as if it were in the theater? I don't know.

[CMH]

Re: MoviePass - Subscription Service for Films

Maybe there is a requirement that percentages remain the same as if it were in the theater? I don't know.

It intrigues me either way.

I imagine much like people don't always rent enough movies to cover the cost of a Netflix subscription, people will spend $50 and not always watch enough movies to cover the cost of a MoviePass subscription.

Since Netflix is in business and making loads of cash, I think we can assume that most people are in this predicament. That's how these companies basically make money.

So, if that is the case, and remains the case, perhaps MoviePass passes over the price of the ticket in the selected theater over to the theater and it is registered as a purchased ticket at full price. Then MoviePass basically profits from the extra membership money that isn't used by the majority of subscribers.


edit: Adding to that, the $50 fee must come from somewhere. There has to be lots of market research involved in this. There will be people that watch enough movies to cover the cost, but they must know that the average movie-goer does not watch enough movies to cover the cost of a membership. So, you mark it up a bit and catch the fish.

We are in an age where most are satisfied having something already paid for and then picking up the product later. If you gave people the option to have an EA membership where they pay $60/year to pre-order Madden Football, I'd say many would do it. One less thing to worry about if it's an annual purchase.

[Sandman42]

Re: MoviePass - Subscription Service for Films

It's a good service for those that go to the movies a lot. I go probably 3 times a month, maybe 4, and the tickets around here are $10 so its not really worth it for me.

The main theater around me though is AMC and they have some sort of reward system that's $12 a year and you get $10 back for every $100 you spend, whether on tickets or concessions. Been meaning to sign up for that.

[Blzer]

Re: MoviePass - Subscription Service for Films

This is perfect, and I'm from the Bay Area as well.

I just don't know if there are enough movies I would want to see, though. I don't want to see every film that's out, obviously.

[The Chef]

Re: MoviePass - Subscription Service for Films

Stupid question, this wouldnt be 50.00 per person would it? Meaning if my girlfriend and I wanted to go see movies it would still be 50.00 per month and not 100.00 because we would be buying 2 tickets per movie usually?

[Blzer]

Re: MoviePass - Subscription Service for Films

Stupid question, this wouldnt be 50.00 per person would it? Meaning if my girlfriend and I wanted to go see movies it would still be 50.00 per month and not 100.00 because we would be buying 2 tickets per movie usually?

Sounds like it's for individuals, I'm not sure how one could manage group passes out of this.

That does seem to be the big downfall to this, and in fact I was thinking the exact same thing right after I posted. The difference(s) between this and Netflix are, not only can multiple people watch the movie you're playing in your home, but multiple people can even be logged on the same account at the same time if you so desire (although it's technically unethical, but I'm sure they are understanding of a family sharing account and not necessarily being at the same place and time).

I wouldn't mind testing the waters with the 4-move/$30 deal, but we buy movie tickets already from Costco, and I'm sure those bundled packs aren't much more expensive than what this is that they're offering. They make it sound like it's a groundbreaking deal, and by all means it most certainly can be (I wouldn't mind watching the same movie five times in theaters in a month, if I really enjoyed it). Since they seem to be field-testing in the Bay Area first though, we'll see how well it's received before it's expanded to other locations. I'm sure people will go for it, but it might not be all that it's hyped up to be. For the most part, you just have to pick and choose which months have the most movies that you want to see, and how convenient it would be for you to go there all of the time.

[Scott]

Re: MoviePass - Subscription Service for Films

I probably see 4 movies a month and always go to the early-bird showing, which is only $6.50. So $26 compared to $50, no thanks.

[Blzer]

Re: MoviePass - Subscription Service for Films

I probably see 4 movies a month and always go to the early-bird showing, which is only $6.50. So $26 compared to $50, no thanks.

Yeah, compare it to my $11.50 in the Bay Area (matinee might be around $9.50, don't know if we have early-bird prices). I can see why it would be worth my while, but the problem with these deals is that I tend to go out of the way to make it worth my while. Think of my PS+ subscription. I absolutely love it, and I'm getting my money's worth out of it... but I'm playing games that I normally wouldn't play, simply because I have a valuable opportunity to play it. Is this good, or is this bad? I really don't know, but I make the point that it's better value than what I before would consider something I wouldn't purchase.