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The Best Movie Subscription Services Come Pretty Close to the Magic of MoviePass


Daniel Varghese

GQMarch 4, 2020, 4:28 PM EST

The Best Movie Subscription Services Come Pretty Close to the Magic of MoviePass
The Best Movie Subscription Services Come Pretty Close to the Magic of MoviePass
MoviePass might have been one of the worst run companies in the world, but the idea of movie subscription services really stuck for people like me: people that have Netflix and Hulu and Disney+ subscriptions but would vastly prefer to watch Movies on Screens if they weren't quite so expensive. And now, all the theaters that were once forced to work with the nincompoops running MoviePass have started their own movie subscription services. None of them are even remotely as cheap as MoviePass, nor do any of them give you the flexibility to watch movies at any theater you want. These movie subscription services basically make you (and by extension they friends and family members you typically go to the movies with) exclusive customers of one movie theater chain. But, that's honestly okay. If you're the kind of person who would ideally go to several movies a month, any subscription you choose would save you money—especially if you sneak in snacks. Here are all the best movie subscription services that have risen from the ashes of MoviePass.

AMC Stubs A-List: The Best Unlimited Movie Subscription Service
Why it's good: Largely unrestricted access to any showing at a ubiquitous theater chain with no extra convenience fees. The closest thing to a MoviePass successor we'll likely ever see.

What you get: AMC Stubs A-List gets you three free movies a week at any AMC theater. While other services only allow you to reserve seats a week or a few days in advance, A-List will let you reserve seats for any showing that is available online, even if that showing isn't for weeks. No longer will you be barred from competing against the plebs without a subscription for the primo seat for [insert new MCU movie here]. AMC A-List members get access to a special lane in the concessions line at the theaters, as well as 10% back on food and drink purchases. If that happens to be popcorn and fountain drinks, you get a free size upgrade. You also get a free large popcorn and fountain drink on your birthday. But maybe the best thing about it is that you're able to watch movies in any format (Dolby Cinema, IMAX, or 3D) without paying anything additional.

What you pay: Pricing for AMC Stubs A-List varies depending on where you live and whether you plan to see movies in other states. If you're based in New York, where you must choose the plan that gives you access to all states, it is $23.95 a month. If you only plan to see movies in Kentucky, you can become an A-List member for $19.95. Either way, you don't have to pay any convenience fees when you're reserving your tickets.

Where you can get it: There's basically an AMC theater everywhere that isn't Brooklyn. You can see the full list here.

Alamo Drafhouse Season Pass: The Upgraded Unlimited Movie Subscription Service (for Cities That Actually Have a Drafthouse Location)
Why it's good: Alamo Drafthouse theaters offer a better theater-going experience (as long as you don't mind servers nimbly walking around doing a show) than any others right now. The subscription isn't cheap and does include additional fees, but if you go to two showings a month, it's worth it.

What you get: For its price, Alamo Season Pass is a pretty restrictive unlimited movie subscription service service. You get access to one regularly priced screening per day, though you can reserve it up to seven days in advance. You don't get any special discounts on the theater's excellent food or drinks, but your tickets still rack up points with the company's rewards system that can translate to free food and drinks.

What you pay: The season pass is not cheap. If you are so lucky as to live in New Braunfels, TX, you can get the Big Boat plan for $15 a month, though you'll have to pay for tickets at any other theaters. If your main theater is in a different city (that isn't New York, Los Angeles, or San Francisco), you can get the Bigger Boat plan for $20 a month, but you'll have to pay extra for screenings in those two larger size locations. If you do live in New York, LA, or San Francisco, the Season Pass will cost you $30. And at any plan, you'll still have to pay the same convenience fees you'd pay if you weren't a season pass member, which is annoying. But if you plan to watch two movies a month at any of the plans, they still end up saving you a little money.

Where you can get it: The Season Pass is available in all the cities with a Drafthouse location. See the full list of locations here.

Cinemark Movie Club: The Best Movie Subscription Service for Seeing One Movie a Month
Why it's good: Just because you like movies, doesn't mean you need unlimited movies. If you only see one movie a month, or don't want to be locked in to seeing every movie you want to see at one theater chain, the Cinemark Movie Club will automatically save you money every month.

What you get: The Cinemark Movie Club isn't an unlimited movie subscription service, but that might actually be what you want. Being a member of the club gets you one redeemable ticket credit per month, which you can use for any standard 2D screening. You can use those credits to reserve seats in advance or pay an upcharge to see a movie in a premium format. Any credits you don't use roll over to the next month. Being a member also gets you 20% off concessions and special pricing on a companion ticket.

What You Pay: The service costs $10 a month for the service. There are no convenience fees charged.

Where you can get it: You can see the full list of Cinemark theaters here.

Regal Unlimited Movie Subscription Services: A More Restrictive Alternative
Why it's good: It offers you most of the features of a movie subscription service that you probably care about, but it's a bit more restrictive.

What you get: The Regal Unlimited movie subscription service is fairly straightforward. You can use the service to see as many standard showings of movies you want, you just can't see the same movie on the same day in the same format. You are able to use your subscription to access showings in the more premium formats, but you'll have to pay a surcharge. Your membership also gets you a 10% discount on food and non-alcoholic drink purchases and a free large popcorn and soft drink on your birthday.

What you pay: Depending on where you live, you might be forced into the top tier Regal Unlimited All-Access plan, which is $23.50 a month. At its base that's cheaper than AMC Stubs A-List, but you have to pay a $0.50 convenience fee to reserve any ticket through the system. That means that watching one movie makes it more expensive. The Regal Unlimited Plus subscription includes fewer theaters for $21 a month. And the base Regal Unlimited plan is $18 a month. Regardless of the plan you're on, you'll have to pay that convenience fee anytime you book a ticket. And when you sign up, you're locked in for an entire year.

Where you can get it: You can see the complete list of Regal theaters, which includes information about which plans work at which theaters, here.

Originally Appeared on GQ



Source: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/best-movie-subscription-services-come-212819928.html