# MoviePass - The more I read, the worse it gets **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 20, 2012, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moviepass-the-more-i-read-the-worse-it-gets/641633 "2012-11-20T18:50:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moviepass-the-more-i-read-the-worse-it-gets/641633/1 "2012-11-20T18:50:55Z")
The Cineworld Cinemas chain in the UK has [a pass that allows the holder to see as many films as they wish](http://www.cineworld.co.uk/unlimited/intro?cookieLevel=1111&locale=GB&secure=false&gbLocale=true&mapApiKey=Aj8bhxskJR1S8CqbKYkL4SpvWzacmzzB2iTfZSwi-HFLHpPN6ISfu8wccbH6Rra4). For those of us who see a lot of movies, this is a great deal. Sadly, my wife and I are not in the UK. So when I got an e-mail this morning about [MoviePass](http://blog.moviepass.com/moviepass-membership-faq/), I though “Great! This program is in the US”. No. No, a thousand times no. Instead, in this shitty deal “unlimited” actually means “one movie per day”. From their FAQ: > [@](#): > > **What does “Unlimited” Mean?** > There are no restrictions or “blackout” dates and MoviePass members are able to see up to one 2D movie per day. Currently the MoviePass does not allow you to unlock your card for 3D or IMAX movies. In return for that mediocre deal, you have to show up at the theater and “check in” with their GPS enabled smartphone app to authorize the transaction. Otherwise, no ticket. Also, unlike the Cineworld system, this obligates you for a year of $30 a month payments, and if you see more movies than they think you deserve, you have to pay them the difference! > [@](#): > > **What happens if I choose to cancel MoviePass within the first year of my annual commitment?** > > There is a $20 fee for cancelling your MoviePass membership during the first year of your annual commitment. You’ll also be charged an additional fee for the difference between your monthly membership fee and the total dollar amount of the movies you attended for the entirety of your membership. Please note that there is no cancellation fee within the first 30-days of membership. > > For example, if your monthly membership is $29.99 per month and after three months you decide to cancel your membership. The total dues paid after three months is $90. If you saw 4 movies per month ($10 per movie), the total cost of the movies you saw in those first three months is $120: > > $120 (3 month total cost of movies) > > $90 (3 month membership fee) > > Difference between membership fee and total cost of movies = $30 > > Plus $20 cancellation fee > > In this example, it would cost this member $50 to cancel their MoviePass membership. Yeah, this is not a good deal at all! To hell with this crap. ---
**Author:** ![Rollo\_Tomasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58956e/32.png) [@Rollo\_Tomasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rollo_Tomasi)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moviepass-the-more-i-read-the-worse-it-gets/641633/2 "2012-11-20T19:17:10Z")
It does suck that it only limits you to one movie a day. I usually see seven or eight movies a month, and a flat $30 a month would definitely be worth it. But I’ll do two movies in a day probably once a month (more in the winter). But honestly, it still doesn’t seem like such a bad deal, as long as it truly is only $30 a month for one movie a day at any showing, regardless of the cost. If they’re handing you a debit card with enough money on it to cover one movie a day at the national average ($7.93 as of 2011), then that’s a no-go, because ticket prices in my area are above the national average. I did submit a request to get on their waiting list. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moviepass-the-more-i-read-the-worse-it-gets/641633/3 "2012-11-20T20:10:03Z")
I really want a US movie chain to start offering a movie pass system like Cineworld offers. My wife and I would be all over that! We’d see five films a day on weekends and one a night during the weekday. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moviepass-the-more-i-read-the-worse-it-gets/641633/4 "2012-11-20T20:26:01Z")
> [@Rollo\_Tomasi](#): > > It does suck that it only limits you to one movie a day. I usually see seven or eight movies a month, and a flat $30 a month would definitely be worth it. But I’ll do two movies in a day probably once a month (more in the winter). > > But honestly, it still doesn’t seem like such a bad deal, as long as it truly is only $30 a month for one movie a day at any showing, regardless of the cost. If they’re handing you a debit card with enough money on it to cover one movie a day at the national average ($7.93 as of 2011), then that’s a no-go, because ticket prices in my area are above the national average. What seems especially sleezy about this offer? Limited only to Discover card, the least accepted credit card in the US. The one year lock in. The GPS smartphone “check in” shit. I have no desire to be tracked. No, just sell me a card that I can pay for month to month that will allow me to show up at the theater and exchange for tickets to the show. In exchange, I’m willing to accept that I’m not going to get into sold out shows - it would be like being on “stand by” for a flight. The thing is, we’re _experienced_ movie goers - we see the huge hits on week nights, and see small Indie films on weekends. This is how we avoid having out movie viewing disturbed by amateur movie goers. A modest proposal? Criminal penalties for abusing the term “unlimited”. I’m thinking of something like public flogging. With a Cat’o’Nine Tails tipped with little metal asterisks. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moviepass-the-more-i-read-the-worse-it-gets/641633/5 "2012-11-20T20:29:03Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Also, unlike the Cineworld system, this obligates you for a year of $30 a month payments, **and if you see more movies than they think you deserve, you have to pay them the difference**! For what it’s worth, from what you quoted the bolded part is _only_ if you cancel early. I assume it’s to prevent people from signing on, seeing 60 movies in two months, then skipping out early and still getting a great deal even with the cancellation fee. If you pay for the full year then you can see 365 movies and they won’t say boo. It is silly to call it unlimited and then restrict it to one a day, though. I’d love to be able to spend a day at the theater just watching movie after movie. ---
**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moviepass-the-more-i-read-the-worse-it-gets/641633/6 "2014-04-19T16:13:27Z")
Sorry to resurrect this “almost zombie” thread, but I just heard about Moviepass. It seems a little bit intriguing to me. My spouse and I see a couple of movies a week. Now, 8 movies a month for $35 per month (they’ve raised their subscription prices) doesn’t seem that bad of deal to me. Yes, the “1 movie in 24 hours” is a bit of an issue, but seems manageable. I’d like to hear anyone’s opinion after Moviepass has been available for a couple more years. How is your experience with it? Good or bad issues? Do you think it is worth it? Would you do it again? Do you recommend it to your friends? What do I need to watch out for? Thanks, J. ---
**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moviepass-the-more-i-read-the-worse-it-gets/641633/7 "2014-04-21T18:00:41Z")
Here’s my one bump… Also to clarify a little: I’m in California, not the UK, and most of my major local theaters seem to participate in Moviepass. I’d really like to hear if anyone in the US participates in Moviepass and how it has worked out for them. Thanks, J.