A movie subscription service is now offering unlimited movies in theaters for a monthly fee, a decision that might appeal to frequent movie-goers but one that a national theater group deemed unsustainable.
Through the MoviePass app, viewers can see one movie a day in theaters without blackout dates for $9.95 a month, according to a news release. The service is available in more than 91 percent of theaters in the U.S. and is offered at Regal, Cinemark and AMC locations.
“MoviePass was founded to make it easier for passionate moviegoers and casual fans to see films the way they’re meant to be seen — in the theater,” MoviePass CEO Mitch Lowe said in a statement. “Our vision has always been to make the moviegoing experience more affordable and enjoyable for our subscribers.”
However, AMC said in a news release Tuesday that it’s exploring whether it can block the service and prevent it from being available to use at AMC locations.
Because MoviePass will be paying AMC theaters regular prices for tickets without a discount, the group believes the subscription service “will be losing money on every subscriber seeing two movies or more in a month.”
“While AMC is not opposed to subscription programs generally, the one envisioned by MoviePass is not one AMC can embrace,” AMC said in a statement. “We are actively working now to determine whether it may be feasible to opt out and not participate in this shaky and unsustainable program.”
MoviePass was established in 2011 as a “technology company dedicated to enhancing the exploration of cinema,” according to the release.
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Most recently, the price of the subscription service was dependent on location and how many movies subscribers opted to see, according to Business Insider.
NBC 6 has contacted Regal and Cinemark for comment. MoviePass said in an email that it didn’t have a reaction to AMC’s statement.
