MoviePass Goes Back To Their Movie-Per-Day Plan, Refuses To Die
SomehowMoviePassis still a thing that exists. After a long history of constantly changing subscription plans and the rules users had to follow in order to be able to use it, not to mention the significant loss of money and severe hits to their reputation, you would think MoviePass would be dead. Instead, the service is going back to its roots by bringing back their movie-per-day subscription plan.
But of course, since this is MoviePass we’re talking about, there’s a catch.
Deadlineis reporting that MoviePass isrolling out a new “uncapped”(not unlimited) subscription plan that will allow users to see a movie every single day again for $9.95. However, in order to take advantage of that price point, you’ll have to pay for an entire year’s subscription upfront. So for roughly $120, you get the ability to see a movie every day for a whole year. Or if you want, you may pay $14.95 each month for the same plan. That’s assuming that MoviePass is actually up and running, has a movie available for you to see, and will still be in business in a year.
If you’re duped into signing up for MoviePass again (or for the first time), you’ll be able to see a 2D film each day as long as they’re “within the MoviePass network.” That means the movie must be one of the roughly 30,000 screens in the United States that still accepts MoviePass, and it must be within their “large selection of blockbusters and independent films.” That seems to imply that the restrictions on first-run releases and other movies are still in place from their last subscription revamp, so not every movie and every showtime will be available.
Plus, these price points are only around for a limited time. After this promotional period, the price will go back to the standard $19.95. But that’s not the worst part about the new subscription plan.
Furthermore, the ability to use your MoviePass is “subject only to managing network demand and availability as detailed in the MoviePass terms of use.” That means if you try to use your MoviePass, and the service happens to be down, they’re not obligated to pay for that ticket. What a service!
But there’s even more to this seemingly promising new subscription plan that makes it just as undesirable as MoviePass had previously become. If you look at the MoviePass website right now, there’s an asterisk that says, “Your movie choices may be restricted due to excessive individual usage which negatively impacts system-wide capacity. SeeTerms of Usesection2.5for further details.” And here’s what that section says in the Terms of Use:
So if you’re a user who ends up seeing a lot of movies, resulting in MoviePass spending too much money, your ability to check in to a movie each day could be impeded at any given time. Basically, you’re paying for a service, and MoviePass has the right to make that service worse whenever they want to, without notice, and you can’t do anything about it. Cue Ted Farnsworth, chairman and CEO of MoviePass parent company Helios, trying to make you feel good about MoviePass again:
