In recent years the movie-going experience has changed. With the rise of subscription-based streaming services and the cost of movie tickets, more people prefer to stay home and save money. Enter MoviePass, a subscription service that allows customers a certain number of weekly tickets. The original service was three movies a week at any theater that participated, excluding premium theaters (iMax) and repeated viewings of a movie. AMC theaters created their service to compete called A-list. MoviePass eventually folded but has returned with a new service. I have used the original MoviePass, used A-list for the last couple of years, and looked into the revamped MoviePass. Here is my comparison of the two services.
Commonalities:
Both services have different price plans for Southern California and New York City.
MoviePass:
The new MoviePass service has different price points, allowing for some flexibility for subscribers. Instead of issuing three tickets weekly, the subscriber is given monthly points, depending on the selected plan. When selecting a movie showtime, the number of points required to purchase a ticket depends on the movie's popularity, day of the week, and time of day, ultimately determining how many movies the subscriber can see in a given month. Unused points can be rolled over for a certain number of months. Subscribers must be within roughly 100 feet of the theater to purchase and ticket and then use the MoviePass credit card to purchase their ticket.
A-list:
A-list subscription is roughly $25.00 a month and gives subscribers three weekly tickets to be used from Friday to Thursday. Subscribers can book any showtime, day, format, and movie they wish to watch. Subscribers can book tickets via the AMC app from anywhere they are and book a movie as early in advance as they want, as long as showtimes are listed. Subscribers can also cancel tickets just as quickly. Along with the tickets, subscribers get service fees waived when booking online, free upsizes for popcorn and soda, and a $5.00 reward for every $100.00 spent.
Both plans are excellent subscriptions if you are an avid moviegoer, but one is better. The AMC A-List subscription is the most bang for the buck, especially if you live close to a participating theater. The best feature is booking movies online and in advance for free. It allows users to schedule and cancel movies with ease and flexibility while allowing them to choose their desired seats. For those moviegoers who enjoy high-quality sound and visuals, A-list gives them access to their premium screens for no additional costs. Whichever plan you decide on will be worth it since you can watch movies at a fixed monthly fee.