MoviePass Users: The Unlimited Plan Is Back (Yes, Already)
Update: The MoviePass unlimited subscription service that was on the chopping block last week is back again. And despite the back-and-forth, it seems to be here to stay. MoviePass CEO Mitch Lowe told Wired the company is “absolutely committed” to keeping it.
All good things must come to an end, and your MoviePass plan is no exception.
The app-based, movie-ticketing service allowed customers to see one movie a day for the flat fee of $9.95 per month, or $6.95 a month with an annual subscription.
The subscription model has seen many iterations, including tiered and unlimited options ranging from $15 to $30 a month. However, it looks like the good ol’ unlimited viewing days are over… for now.
What Changed in the MoviePass Subscription
The biggest blow is that MoviePass discontinued its unlimited movie plan for new subscribers on April 13. New customers will no longer have the option to see a movie every single day. Instead, they are limited to seeing four movies a month for the same $9.95 price tag. Plus, they have to pay for a full three-month subscription up front and then pay quarterly after that.
To make matters worse, MoviePass updated its terms of service and made it so all MoviePass customers can only see the same movie one time.
That pretty much stops the Marvel and Star Wars super fans right in their tracks and forces them to use their pass to see something different, aka MoviePass promoted movies.
And the icing on the cake? Some users now have to upload pictures of their ticket stubs to safeguard against abuse and fraudulent activity — otherwise they risk permanent cancellation of their subscription.
To soften the blow, MoviePass bundled a three-month iHeartRadio All Access trial subscription with the offer.
Additionally, existing unlimited customers who signed up on the old plan will be unaffected by the changes to new subscribers, according to TechCrunch.
Is MoviePass Still a Good Deal?
At the end of the day four movies a month — or one per week — for $10 is still a good deal — if you don’t buy movie snacks. Most folks can’t buy a single movie ticket for less than $10 outside of some special matinee pricing.
Essentially, the old plan was 30 movie tickets for the price of one. How could that even be sustainable long term, especially with two million subscribers? Needless to say, many are not surprised.
Everyone seems to be Finding Emo right now, when really it’s not that big of a deal.
MoviePass reports that 88% of its users see fewer than two movies a month. No harm, no foul for the majority, but a possible deal breaker for the minority.
Maybe this new approach will help keep MoviePass afloat until it work outs some growing pains and finds the best movie model for fans and their finances.
Plus, it’s unclear if the unlimited plan is gone for good, so keep your eyes open for its reincarnation or the next chapter in the ongoing MoviePass saga.
Stephanie Bolling is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She had a MoviePass for six months and only tried to use it once — but the app was down.
