Which theater subscription is the best?

NEW YORK (AP) – A movie a day in movie theaters for $ 10 a month seemed too good to be true. And that was.

MoviePass, which was trying to offer Netflix-style subscriptions to the movie theater, canceled its contract last summer. MoviePass has been a success for the consumer, but a financial disaster. MoviePass had to pay the cinemas the total price of most tickets, which quickly exceeded $ 10 a month.

Today, MoviePass offers an offer for three movies per month from the same $ 10 rate. But he faces competition from theater chains and a Turkish start-up that brings back a movie a day, at least temporarily – this time to $ 20 a month.

Here is an overview of the main subscription offers for theaters in the United States:

Passage

You receive a debit card that MoviePass charges with money when you show up at the movies and you register on the MoviePass app. The card works in most movie theaters, but not necessarily with all movies. You can only get tickets for performances of the day.

The monthly fee of $ 10 limits you to a rotating list of about six movies a day, only one or two of which is a major studio release. It's good if you like independent movies, but horrible if you live without independent movies. If movie tickets tend to cost more where you live, the price of the subscription can go up to $ 13 or $ 15.

For $ 5 more per month, MoviePass will allow you to see the movie of your choice. Another $ 5 – a total of up to $ 25 – gives you an Imax or 3D projection per month.

Movie credits disappear if you do not use them before the end of the billing month. If you watch all three movies, MoviePass is cheaper than ordinary tickets. But you can often approach it by choosing mornings and other discounted programs, or by buying discount coupons from theaters or retailers such as Costco.

There is no long-term commitment, but if you cancel, you are not allowed to return for nine months.

Sinémie

Sinemia, a Los Angeles-based Turkish company, offers a service that looks a lot like MoviePass, except you pay a one-time fee of $ 25 to get a debit card for same-day tickets in theaters. There are no restrictions on the movies you can watch.

Without a card, or for future dates, you can get tickets online. Sinemia echoes the ticketing fees charged by Fandango and other online services. It also adds "processing fees" of $ 1.80 per film. These fees are removed, at least for the time being, when you buy tickets in person at the theaters. Therefore, paying for a debit card is cheaper in the long run.

Prices and packages change frequently. If you see one that you like, grab it immediately. In recent weeks, Sinemia has had a $ 20 movie plan per month, excluding 3D movies and premium movies. But Friday morning, Sinemia was offering eight movies a month at this price. Other non-premium plans range from $ 4 for a $ 8 movie to three. You can pay more for premium plans.

Although Sinemia occasionally offers monthly payment options, all plans currently require a one – year commitment, paid in advance. An unused ticket may be carried over to the next month.

AMC A-LIST

The largest chain of movie theaters in the country offers three films per week, including an unlimited number of premium formats, starting at $ 20 per month. Subscription fees are higher – $ 22 or $ 24 – in states where ticket prices are higher.

You get same day tickets and tickets in advance via an app at no cost, and you can cancel your purchases until the show time. Getting tickets is easier, compared to Sinemia and MoviePass. But the plan is only good if you live near an AMC theater and like the major studio releases that are usually presented there. Independent films are limited.

There is a three-month commitment, although you are still billed monthly. If you cancel, you will not be able to return for six months. AMC offers $ 5 bills on Tuesdays. So it can be cheaper if you do not watch at least four movies a month.

OTHER THEATER CHAINS

With Cinemark Movie Club, $ 9 brings you a non-premium ticket per month, which is not necessarily cheaper, knowing that the average ticket price in the US is $ 9. Unused tickets can be carried forward in the coming months. You also get 20% off concessions.

Alamo Drafthouse is testing his own subscription offer, initially in Yonkers (New York) and Raleigh (North Carolina). Prices and conditions vary during the test period.

Sinemia, meanwhile, helps other theater chains to create their own subscriptions, separate from Sinemia's main service. Studio Movie Grill and Cinemas Showcase offer plans this way.