7 ms·

Seems like this is the direction the industry is going, however the actual service here is much worse than MoviePass' (seemingly unsustainable) model. MoviePass

Seems like this is the direction the industry is going, however the actual service here is much worse than MoviePass' (seemingly unsustainable) model. MoviePass is $9.95 for one movie per day. FTA: >...customers who pay a monthly fee of $8.99 will receive a credit for one movie ticket a month. Subscribers can also buy additional tickets for $8.99 each and get a 20% discount on food and drinks.

ryandrake 9y ago
That doesn't sound like a subscription. That sounds like you're paying $8.99 for a ticket once a month. Why wouldn't you just buy an $8.99 ticket as-needed?
- icebraining 9y ago
  Can you get a $8.99 ticket without a subscription? These models (subscribe and get 1/month free) are not that uncommon - e.g. Audible. Usually you get a cheaper price, since you're more likely to keep paying and are therefore more profitable overall. Here even more, due to potential spending on concessions.
  - ryandrake 9y ago
    From the article: "The average domestic ticket price (including matinee showings) reached a near record level of $8.93 in the quarter that ended in September, according to the National Assn. of Theatre Owners"
    - icebraining 9y ago
      I don't know how it works in the US, but here that would include a lot of discounted tickets (students, seniors, promotions, etc). The average for a middle-aged adult going after work or on weekends would be much higher than the overall average.
  - Jemmeh 9y ago
    Heck, if I go on Bargain Tuesday it's $5.75 and you get a free popcorn with each ticket. It's a really nice theatre too. Regular price is $9.50, but that's still not much more.
    - prawn 9y ago
      In Australia, US$5.75 would only get you the popcorn. Until a recent price war, movie tickets for adults have been approaching AU$20.
      - gscott 9y ago
        Bandwidth providers in Australia crack down more on piracy
        Gustomaximus 9y ago
        Im not sure about that. But eve if true clearly not very effectively as AU is one of the highest piracy nations in the western world. http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-10/movie-piracy-12-17yos-illegally-download-films-doubles-australia/7918808 http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-10/movie-piracy-12-17y...
      - King-Aaron 9y ago
        The last time I went to the movies, I spent nearly AU$50 for my single ticket, a box of popcorn, a chocolate bar and a drink.
      - praneshp 9y ago
        Heh, quick googling tells me that it's less than 400$ to go to Kuala Lumpur. If I were so inclined, I'd go once a year, get pirated DVDs of all the movies I want, have some awesome food and come back.
        curun1r 9y ago
        While you're in Kuala Lumpur, seeing movies in the theater is also quite reasonable. When I was there last year it was anywhere between RM9.50 and RM22 (~RM4 = 1 USD) depending on theater options. Some of the movies were even released there prior to the US release. I'd stopped going to theaters in the US since I don't think most movies are worth the US price, but I rediscovered how enjoyable it can be...the theaters were all very modern and comfortable and for some bizarre reason, Malaysians like to sit all the way in the back and to the sides. I'd have ticket takers look at me incredulously when I chose seats that would be considered perfect in the US (dead center, just far enough back to not have to crane my neck). Totally agree on the food too...I miss roti telur!
  - godelski 9y ago
    Costco sells Regal tickets for $9. But I also live in a small town and can get them for $8.50
  - jsight 9y ago
    The local Cinemark charges $8.00 for a evening admission to a 3D movie. Non-3D is $5.50, and a matinee is $3.50. Amusingly enough, the website still tried to pitch me the $8.99 monthly subscription for one movie in a month. Um, no thanks. :)
  - praneshp 9y ago
    When I joined Yahoo in 2013, there was a store on campus that sold AMC tickets for 8.50. I got 300 of those mid-2014, and am a handful of tickets away from running out now. I may go back and visit a friend if they are still selling those. I think tickets are around 12 or so in AMC, and sometimes higher for 3D movies (I don't think there have been more than a handful in the recent past) or certain releases (Star Wars pre-order on Fandango is 19$ now). Those stubs are always 1:1 though.
    - matte_black 9y ago
      You’ve watched 300 movies at AMC in the past 3.5 years??? Or are you playing some arbitrage here
      - praneshp 9y ago
        Shitty arbitrage I guess, but it wasn't my goal. I just stocked up so I won't have to go get tickets again. I've definitely watched more than 300 movies in English Hindi and Tamil, but not at AMC alone. I use the tickets for my friends, wife, etc too.
    - vinay427 9y ago
      It may be worth it in some areas, though in others during off-peak times the normal adult price is $5.
      - praneshp 9y ago
        Yeah I live in the bay area, tickets are very rarely $5 here.
- baddox 9y ago
  In some places, 2D tickets cost more than that. You also get 20% off concessions.
- perseusprime11 9y ago
  Looks like some bozo MBA crunched some numbers and came up with a bad business model for cineMark. Go MoviePass!
_JamesA_ 9y ago
Plus upcharges 'may apply': "Valid on all regular 2D movies. Upcharges may apply for premium formats like XD, 3D or IMAX. Upcharges may apply in Cinemark reserve dine-in - 21 and over theater in Bellevue, WA and Cinemark Playa Vista and XD in Playa Vista, CA"
- firloop 9y ago
  To be fair, Moviepass only allows standard 2D movies - no premium formats either. So that's at least the same between the programs.
  - TylerE 9y ago
    Actually, I'd say this is better. Moviepass doesn't even give you the option to pay (the difference, presumably) more and see the "better" (chortle) version.

ryandrake 9y ago

That doesn't sound like a subscription. That sounds like you're paying $8.99 for a ticket once a month. Why wouldn't you just buy an $8.99 ticket as-needed?

icebraining 9y ago
Can you get a $8.99 ticket without a subscription? These models (subscribe and get 1/month free) are not that uncommon - e.g. Audible. Usually you get a cheaper price, since you're more likely to keep paying and are therefore more profitable overall. Here even more, due to potential spending on concessions.
- ryandrake 9y ago
  From the article: "The average domestic ticket price (including matinee showings) reached a near record level of $8.93 in the quarter that ended in September, according to the National Assn. of Theatre Owners"
  - icebraining 9y ago
    I don't know how it works in the US, but here that would include a lot of discounted tickets (students, seniors, promotions, etc). The average for a middle-aged adult going after work or on weekends would be much higher than the overall average.
- Jemmeh 9y ago
  Heck, if I go on Bargain Tuesday it's $5.75 and you get a free popcorn with each ticket. It's a really nice theatre too. Regular price is $9.50, but that's still not much more.
  - prawn 9y ago
    In Australia, US$5.75 would only get you the popcorn. Until a recent price war, movie tickets for adults have been approaching AU$20.
    - gscott 9y ago
      Bandwidth providers in Australia crack down more on piracy
      - Gustomaximus 9y ago
        Im not sure about that. But eve if true clearly not very effectively as AU is one of the highest piracy nations in the western world. http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-10/movie-piracy-12-17yos-illegally-download-films-doubles-australia/7918808 http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-10/movie-piracy-12-17y...
    - King-Aaron 9y ago
      The last time I went to the movies, I spent nearly AU$50 for my single ticket, a box of popcorn, a chocolate bar and a drink.
    - praneshp 9y ago
      Heh, quick googling tells me that it's less than 400$ to go to Kuala Lumpur. If I were so inclined, I'd go once a year, get pirated DVDs of all the movies I want, have some awesome food and come back.
      - curun1r 9y ago
        While you're in Kuala Lumpur, seeing movies in the theater is also quite reasonable. When I was there last year it was anywhere between RM9.50 and RM22 (~RM4 = 1 USD) depending on theater options. Some of the movies were even released there prior to the US release. I'd stopped going to theaters in the US since I don't think most movies are worth the US price, but I rediscovered how enjoyable it can be...the theaters were all very modern and comfortable and for some bizarre reason, Malaysians like to sit all the way in the back and to the sides. I'd have ticket takers look at me incredulously when I chose seats that would be considered perfect in the US (dead center, just far enough back to not have to crane my neck). Totally agree on the food too...I miss roti telur!
- godelski 9y ago
  Costco sells Regal tickets for $9. But I also live in a small town and can get them for $8.50
- jsight 9y ago
  The local Cinemark charges $8.00 for a evening admission to a 3D movie. Non-3D is $5.50, and a matinee is $3.50. Amusingly enough, the website still tried to pitch me the $8.99 monthly subscription for one movie in a month. Um, no thanks. :)
- praneshp 9y ago
  When I joined Yahoo in 2013, there was a store on campus that sold AMC tickets for 8.50. I got 300 of those mid-2014, and am a handful of tickets away from running out now. I may go back and visit a friend if they are still selling those. I think tickets are around 12 or so in AMC, and sometimes higher for 3D movies (I don't think there have been more than a handful in the recent past) or certain releases (Star Wars pre-order on Fandango is 19$ now). Those stubs are always 1:1 though.
  - matte_black 9y ago
    You’ve watched 300 movies at AMC in the past 3.5 years??? Or are you playing some arbitrage here
    - praneshp 9y ago
      Shitty arbitrage I guess, but it wasn't my goal. I just stocked up so I won't have to go get tickets again. I've definitely watched more than 300 movies in English Hindi and Tamil, but not at AMC alone. I use the tickets for my friends, wife, etc too.
  - vinay427 9y ago
    It may be worth it in some areas, though in others during off-peak times the normal adult price is $5.
    - praneshp 9y ago
      Yeah I live in the bay area, tickets are very rarely $5 here.
baddox 9y ago
In some places, 2D tickets cost more than that. You also get 20% off concessions.
perseusprime11 9y ago
Looks like some bozo MBA crunched some numbers and came up with a bad business model for cineMark. Go MoviePass!

_JamesA_ 9y ago

Plus upcharges 'may apply': "Valid on all regular 2D movies. Upcharges may apply for premium formats like XD, 3D or IMAX. Upcharges may apply in Cinemark reserve dine-in - 21 and over theater in Bellevue, WA and Cinemark Playa Vista and XD in Playa Vista, CA"

firloop 9y ago
To be fair, Moviepass only allows standard 2D movies - no premium formats either. So that's at least the same between the programs.
- TylerE 9y ago
  Actually, I'd say this is better. Moviepass doesn't even give you the option to pay (the difference, presumably) more and see the "better" (chortle) version.