5 ms·

People going to theaters is on the decline. If MoviePass reverses that trend they will have shown their value. I'm going to wager they're at a tipping point.

AJ007 9y ago
But Moviepass’s investors won’t be the ones walking away with anything of value. The big theater chains & Disney were just delivered a product market fit for free. Better than free, because all of the Moviepass money went to them.
sixothree 9y ago
I received a MoviePass as a Christmas give. I've learned a few things. 1. I hadn't been to my local theaters in a long time. 2. I was surprised just how convenient it had become now that nobody else is visiting. 3. I am thoroughly enjoying this movie subscription service model combined with the lack of crowds at theaters.
- sharkweek 9y ago
  I think I saw maybe 2-3 movies in theaters in 2016, maybe 2-3 up through October of 2017. I got MoviePass when they had that special deal at Costco, and have gone to ~15 movies (try to go once a week) since.
  - kbenson 9y ago
    If I had more free time, I would get it in a heartbeat (and install/uninstall as needed to keep my privacy). My first job was at a movie theater, and I saw 5-7 movies a month from age 16 through 21. I miss seeing movies in theaters, but with kids and work, it's hard to find the time, and when I do it's about $75 to get the family in. That's not cheap.
- murukesh_s 9y ago
  "lack of crowds at theaters" > I am also not a crowd lover, i too love it when visiting not so popular theaters where i could stretch myself in between the movie, but sad thing is it won't last long isn't it.. either the theatre closes down or the maintenance goes really low it starts to stink..
  - lumberingjack 9y ago
    That is strange to me. For me there is no other feeling like enjoying a movie with hundreds of strangers. Everyone laughing at the same time, people choking back tears, the "class clown" that hoots and hollers at the appropriate time. When the local theater started serving dinner and beer my friends and I became regulars again. Maybe it's just a nostalgic Oregon Trail Generation thing?
    - jrnichols 9y ago
      I like those things too, except for the crying baby and teens that won't put their bright cell phones away. those are the things that keep me out of theaters. it was happening often enough to be an issue. (larger city)
      - koshersalt 9y ago
        At our local theaters it now seems like the older generation can’t put away their cell phones either.
    - drusepth 9y ago
      Complimentary anecdote: I grew up playing Oregon Trail on the Macintosh, yet I also make a point to always wait at least a week before seeing any movie release so 1) the crowds die down, and specifically 2) so everyone there is there to see the movie and is unlikely to make any sort of noise (ESPECIALLY the class clown, who IMO ruins the movie-going experience)--ideally so I feel like I have the gigantic screen all to myself. If I _did_ have a theater-sized screen all to myself, I'd never go to the movies. Maybe it's something like an introvert/extrovert thing, rather than a generational thing?
    - lsaferite 9y ago
      > the "class clown" that hoots and hollers at the appropriate time This is exactly why I don't like theaters. I go to enjoy the movie, not have a shared social event. The extend of the 'social' aspect is my wife or friend next to me maybe getting an ear whisper, but even that is rare. If I want a shared social movie event I'll go watch The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Edit: I also grew up playing Oregon Trail
Feniks 9y ago
Reverse that trend by giving away tickets? Is that sustainable?
beagle3 9y ago
Theatres will have to find some other way to draw crowds, or they will be replaced by stores and restaurants that make more money per unit area. I suspect if they do find some other way, it will be based on some relatively new technology (perhaps already existing, like smartphones, or up-and-coming like some kind of AR), or it would have happened already. I've been trying to thing of a movie theatre / lan party combo, but haven't been able to come up with anything useful.
- vorpalhex 9y ago
  There's a theater chain in my area that is always crowded and does really well: Alamo Drafthouse. Their pitch? Pretty much comes down to good service including food and cocktails, at low prices, and a no-noise policy. You buy a ticket ahead of time picking your exact seats. Tickets are about $11. The pre-show instead of being ads are usually short videos or clips from earlier movies. Food is around $12-16 an entree, alcoholic beverages are between $6 and $20 with most cocktails around $12. Oh, and if they see your phone or if you're talking during the movie, you get kicked out with the option to be banned. It's an amazing movie experience, and I regularly go at least once a month. Their food is genuinely good restaurant quality and their drinks are creative, often times with special cocktails or entrees to go along with big releases. It's obviously not an every day thing, but it's cheap enough to be a once a week kind of thing.
  - leetcrew 9y ago
    > You buy a ticket ahead of time picking your exact seats. the whole package sounds great, but I would be sold on this detail alone. I hate having to choose between sitting in the theater for 30-45 mins and getting a bad seat at popular films.

AJ007 9y ago

But Moviepass’s investors won’t be the ones walking away with anything of value. The big theater chains & Disney were just delivered a product market fit for free. Better than free, because all of the Moviepass money went to them.

sixothree 9y ago

I received a MoviePass as a Christmas give. I've learned a few things. 1. I hadn't been to my local theaters in a long time. 2. I was surprised just how convenient it had become now that nobody else is visiting. 3. I am thoroughly enjoying this movie subscription service model combined with the lack of crowds at theaters.

sharkweek 9y ago
I think I saw maybe 2-3 movies in theaters in 2016, maybe 2-3 up through October of 2017. I got MoviePass when they had that special deal at Costco, and have gone to ~15 movies (try to go once a week) since.
- kbenson 9y ago
  If I had more free time, I would get it in a heartbeat (and install/uninstall as needed to keep my privacy). My first job was at a movie theater, and I saw 5-7 movies a month from age 16 through 21. I miss seeing movies in theaters, but with kids and work, it's hard to find the time, and when I do it's about $75 to get the family in. That's not cheap.
murukesh_s 9y ago
"lack of crowds at theaters" > I am also not a crowd lover, i too love it when visiting not so popular theaters where i could stretch myself in between the movie, but sad thing is it won't last long isn't it.. either the theatre closes down or the maintenance goes really low it starts to stink..
- lumberingjack 9y ago
  That is strange to me. For me there is no other feeling like enjoying a movie with hundreds of strangers. Everyone laughing at the same time, people choking back tears, the "class clown" that hoots and hollers at the appropriate time. When the local theater started serving dinner and beer my friends and I became regulars again. Maybe it's just a nostalgic Oregon Trail Generation thing?
  - jrnichols 9y ago
    I like those things too, except for the crying baby and teens that won't put their bright cell phones away. those are the things that keep me out of theaters. it was happening often enough to be an issue. (larger city)
    - koshersalt 9y ago
      At our local theaters it now seems like the older generation can’t put away their cell phones either.
  - drusepth 9y ago
    Complimentary anecdote: I grew up playing Oregon Trail on the Macintosh, yet I also make a point to always wait at least a week before seeing any movie release so 1) the crowds die down, and specifically 2) so everyone there is there to see the movie and is unlikely to make any sort of noise (ESPECIALLY the class clown, who IMO ruins the movie-going experience)--ideally so I feel like I have the gigantic screen all to myself. If I _did_ have a theater-sized screen all to myself, I'd never go to the movies. Maybe it's something like an introvert/extrovert thing, rather than a generational thing?
  - lsaferite 9y ago
    > the "class clown" that hoots and hollers at the appropriate time This is exactly why I don't like theaters. I go to enjoy the movie, not have a shared social event. The extend of the 'social' aspect is my wife or friend next to me maybe getting an ear whisper, but even that is rare. If I want a shared social movie event I'll go watch The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Edit: I also grew up playing Oregon Trail

Feniks 9y ago

Reverse that trend by giving away tickets? Is that sustainable?

beagle3 9y ago

Theatres will have to find some other way to draw crowds, or they will be replaced by stores and restaurants that make more money per unit area. I suspect if they do find some other way, it will be based on some relatively new technology (perhaps already existing, like smartphones, or up-and-coming like some kind of AR), or it would have happened already. I've been trying to thing of a movie theatre / lan party combo, but haven't been able to come up with anything useful.

vorpalhex 9y ago
There's a theater chain in my area that is always crowded and does really well: Alamo Drafthouse. Their pitch? Pretty much comes down to good service including food and cocktails, at low prices, and a no-noise policy. You buy a ticket ahead of time picking your exact seats. Tickets are about $11. The pre-show instead of being ads are usually short videos or clips from earlier movies. Food is around $12-16 an entree, alcoholic beverages are between $6 and $20 with most cocktails around $12. Oh, and if they see your phone or if you're talking during the movie, you get kicked out with the option to be banned. It's an amazing movie experience, and I regularly go at least once a month. Their food is genuinely good restaurant quality and their drinks are creative, often times with special cocktails or entrees to go along with big releases. It's obviously not an every day thing, but it's cheap enough to be a once a week kind of thing.
- leetcrew 9y ago
  > You buy a ticket ahead of time picking your exact seats. the whole package sounds great, but I would be sold on this detail alone. I hate having to choose between sitting in the theater for 30-45 mins and getting a bad seat at popular films.