AMC launches monthly plan of its own
Subscription doles out perks to challenge MoviePass dominance
National movie theater chain AMC is entering the movie-going subscription plan arena dominated by MoviePass with a more expensive but perk-packed plan of its own.
AMC announced the AMC Stubs A-List plan on Wednesday, which will cost $19.95 a month. The AMC Stubs A-List plan also limits subscribers to three movies a week at most and any unwatched movies will not carry over to the next week. MoviePass, in comparison, charges $9.95 a month for one movie a day.
AMC Stubs A-List is available in all AMC theaters, including the 10 AMC theaters based in the Bay Area.
“AMC Stubs A-List is AMC’s next evolution of delivering amazing benefits to our loyal customers, and we’re excited to continue to grow the program by leaps and bounds,” said AMC CEO Adam Aron.
Despite more than double the cost for a MoviePass monthly subscription, AMC Stubs A-List is packed with perks, according to the company’s press release. AMC Stubs A-List subscribers will receive free upgrades on popcorn and soda, free refills on large popcorn, a free popcorn and soda on their birthdays, express service at the box office and concession stand, no online ticketing fees and an automatic enrollment into AMC’s rewards program.
AMC Stubs A-List also lists key differences between itself and MoviePass, such as the ability to watch IMAX or 3D movies and to watch movies the subscriber has already seen.
MoviePass restricted subscribers to only standard screenings and sometimes revoked their subscription permanently for watching a 3D movie — even when the viewer protested they did not. In May, MoviePass announced it is planning to add the ability to watch special screenings after its audience survey found 72 percent said they’d like the option to pay more to see a 3D movie.
MoviePass in April also announced a new no-repeat policy to cut down on fraud, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
MoviePass did not respond to a request for comment from this news organization.
AMC spokesperson Ryan Noonan said that AMC “has made no move to block MoviePass at our locations and it will continue to be accepted.”
Since MoviePass announced its new subscription plan last August, it immediately butted heads with AMC. A few days after MoviePass’s new subscription plan made headlines, the company called MoviePass a “small fringe player” and threatened legal action.
Earlier this month, MoviePass announced it reached its 3 million subscriber mark and expected to
hit 5 million by the end of 2018.
In January, MoviePass flexed its muscles back against AMC, closing down its access to 10 popular AMC theaters — including one in Santa Clara. MoviePass’s embargo against the 10 AMC theaters was only temporary,
according to The Verge.
MoviePass did not return a request for comment from this news organization.