MoviePass: What’s the catch?

Andrew Ferralli, staff writer

Do you remember the first movie you saw in theaters? Do you recall an awkward date with that unforgettable buttery popcorn? Whether you recall fond or negative memories, movie theaters hold a special place in the hearts of children and adults. There is one problem though, most people do not want to spend $12 to see a movie they can get from the Redbox months later for a dollar.

2018 holds more than 100 new movie releases with 30 coming out in March. A matinee ticket is about $10 at Regal Stonefield, so if you wanted  to see every film, you would be spending $300 for March alone. What if you were able to see a single movie for only 27 cents? In that case, watching 30 new films would only cost $7.95.

This cost of 27 cents is now a reality with a subscription called MoviePass. MoviePass is a yearly subscription service allowing customers to see one 2D film a day, every day for a year.

According to MoviePass’ website, the service requires customers to pay the full cost of the year ($95.40) plus a $9.95 processing fee. Although the initial cost is a fair bit of money, the savings are noteworthy.

MoviePass’ website says over 91 percent of theaters accept their service. All three Charlottesville theatres accept MoviePass, including the recently built theatre, Alamo Drafthouse. This means you can see Incredibles 2 while on vacation over the summer.

The concept is unique. Customers receive a debit card and use the MoviePass service to select a movie to see that day at the theater. Once selected, all the user needs to do is purchase the ticket with the card.

In the fine print of MoviePass’ terms, it states they have the right to increase their prices. This may be a concern to some, but as long as you pay upfront then you are locked in for that year.

The only complaint heard among college students, including former PVCC student Michael Caldwell, is the wait to receive the debit card in the mail. The site claims it only takes two weeks, but some have waited for over a month.

If you love movies and want to see more in theaters, MoviePass is a nice option. Although the service appears too good to be true, it is not. If interested, jumping on the current upfront cost of $105.35 for 12 months will save you money. The service’s prices have fluctuated over the past few years but are currently one of the lowest ever.

“I love MoviePass,” Caldwell said. He said he is going to see a movie in New York City using MoviePass.