The cinema ticket subscription service MoviePass is making a return after being absent for the last few years due to profitability and legal issues, and the waitlist is live for those who want to be first in line. All you need is your email and zip code.
As first reported by Business Insider, the newly revamped beta version of MoviePass will launch around Labor Day – which is on 5 September 2022. Those signed up to the waitlist will be notified. As before, the service will be exclusive to the US.
The subscriptions will cost either $10 per month, $20 per month or $30 per month, depending on your location. However, details of how exactly it will work are rather murky.
Subscribers will be given a specific number of credits to be redeemed for movie tickets at cinema chains – they will be able to use the MoviePass branded debit card or app to get in. Credits can also be used to bring friends along to the cinema, and those who sign up for the beta will be given 10 invites to give out as well.
Previous customers of MoviePass will get some complimentary bonus credits, but the company has not confirmed exact numbers for these. Another big change is that the classic cards will be changed to a black design from the signature red – Jason Guerrasio of Insider has a first look at them below:
MoviePass allegedly has partnerships in 25% of US theatres, but we don’t know how many movies customers will be able to watch with the membership. Previously, memberships cost $10 per month and allowed customers to watch one movie per day.
This was then limited to three movies per month as the company started to encounter financial struggles and soured relationships with theatre chains. This eventually resulted in the company filing for bankruptcy back in 2020, as well as several investigations by the FTC, SEC and district attorneys.
Stacy Spikes bought the company in 2021 and has been building towards a relaunch ever since. Spikes was an original co-founder of the business, which amassed millions of subscribers within a year of launching.
MoviePass could be coming at a much more opportune time for its relaunch, with Cineworld heading towards administration, and other movie chains also facing issues with sales post-COVID and the rise in streaming services like Netflix. More deals for MoviePass subscribers may fill those empty seats.
Author: Hannah Cowton, Senior Staff Writer
Hannah Cowton is a Senior Staff Writer at Tech Advisor and Macworld, working across entertainment, consumer technology and lifestyle. Her interests and specialities lie in streaming services, film and television reviews and rumours, gaming, wearables and smart home products. She's also the creator of The London Geek, a geek culture and lifestyle blog.