MoviePass customers took a hit Thursday as they learned their pass would no longer work at certain AMC Theatres.
MoviePass shared the news through a tweet to a dissatisfied customer who complained her MoviePass didn't work at an AMC Theatre in New York City.
According to Deadline, AMC isnt turning away MoviePass. Rather, the subscription service, which allows customers to see one movie a day for $9.99 a month, has stopped allowing people to visit certain theaters, including Empire 25 in NYC, the Universal City Walk, AMC Loews Boston Common and the AMC Century Plaza.
MoviePass already doesnt work with high-priced theaters, such as ArcLight Cinemas, Landmark Theatres or iPic.
MoviePass CEO Mitch Lowe sent out a statement confirming the news.
As of today, youll find a small handful of theaters are no longer available on our platform. Our No. 1 goal as a company is to provide an accessible price point for people to enjoy films the way theyre meant to be seen: on the big screen. Many exhibitors have been receptive to this mission, and were excited to keep working with theater chains that are closely aligned with our customer service values.
"As we continue to strive for mutually beneficial relationships with theaters, the list of theaters we work with is subject to change. We advise customers to always double-check the MoviePass app for the most up-to-date list of participating theaters," he said.
A tweet from AMC confirmed the news.
Ted Farnsworth, chairman/CEO of Helios and Matheson, which owns a majority stake in MoviePass, said in a statement emailed to the Deseret News that "MoviePass subscribers are not theater-loyal; they're happy to drive by a theater that may be closer to a theater that will accept MoviePass because of the MoviePass value."
Insiders told Deadline that MoviePass use has contributed $2 million to ticket sales every week at AMC theater.
AMC has continually questioned whether MoviePass will last over the long term, according to Verge. AMC once called MoviePass a small-fringe player in the movie theater business.
AMC threatened to file a lawsuit against MoviePass as well, saying MoviePass would change the value of movies, which would make theaters unable to charge enough to stay in business, the Deseret News reported.
AMC also believes that promising essentially unlimited first-run movie content at a price below $10 per month over time will not provide sufficient revenue to operate quality theaters, nor will it produce enough income to provide filmmakers with sufficient incentive to make great new movies, the company said in August.
To counter MoviePass or other subscription companies like it, Cinemark announced a new service for movie theater fans, according to the Deseret News.
Cinemark's service costs $8.99 a month and gives customers one free ticket per month, plus other benefits.
MoviePass shared the news through a tweet to a dissatisfied customer who complained her MoviePass didn't work at an AMC Theatre in New York City.
According to Deadline, AMC isnt turning away MoviePass. Rather, the subscription service, which allows customers to see one movie a day for $9.99 a month, has stopped allowing people to visit certain theaters, including Empire 25 in NYC, the Universal City Walk, AMC Loews Boston Common and the AMC Century Plaza.
MoviePass already doesnt work with high-priced theaters, such as ArcLight Cinemas, Landmark Theatres or iPic.
MoviePass CEO Mitch Lowe sent out a statement confirming the news.
As of today, youll find a small handful of theaters are no longer available on our platform. Our No. 1 goal as a company is to provide an accessible price point for people to enjoy films the way theyre meant to be seen: on the big screen. Many exhibitors have been receptive to this mission, and were excited to keep working with theater chains that are closely aligned with our customer service values.
"As we continue to strive for mutually beneficial relationships with theaters, the list of theaters we work with is subject to change. We advise customers to always double-check the MoviePass app for the most up-to-date list of participating theaters," he said.
A tweet from AMC confirmed the news.
Ted Farnsworth, chairman/CEO of Helios and Matheson, which owns a majority stake in MoviePass, said in a statement emailed to the Deseret News that "MoviePass subscribers are not theater-loyal; they're happy to drive by a theater that may be closer to a theater that will accept MoviePass because of the MoviePass value."
Insiders told Deadline that MoviePass use has contributed $2 million to ticket sales every week at AMC theater.
AMC has continually questioned whether MoviePass will last over the long term, according to Verge. AMC once called MoviePass a small-fringe player in the movie theater business.
AMC threatened to file a lawsuit against MoviePass as well, saying MoviePass would change the value of movies, which would make theaters unable to charge enough to stay in business, the Deseret News reported.
AMC also believes that promising essentially unlimited first-run movie content at a price below $10 per month over time will not provide sufficient revenue to operate quality theaters, nor will it produce enough income to provide filmmakers with sufficient incentive to make great new movies, the company said in August.
To counter MoviePass or other subscription companies like it, Cinemark announced a new service for movie theater fans, according to the Deseret News.
Cinemark's service costs $8.99 a month and gives customers one free ticket per month, plus other benefits.
