Discount Movies: Which Theater Subscription Is Best?

A movie a day in theaters for $10 a month seemed too good to be true. And it was.

MoviePass, which tried to bring Netflix-like subscriptions to the movie theater, pulled back on its deal last summer. MoviePass was a consumer success, but a financial disaster. MoviePass had to pay theaters the full price of most tickets, which quickly exceeded $10 each month.

This week, MoviePass chugs along with an offer for three movies a month starting at the same $10 fee. But it faces competition from theater chains and a Turkish startup that brought back a movie a day, at least temporarily — this time for $20 a month.

Here’s a look at the major subscription offerings for theaters in the US:

MOVIEPASS

You get a debit card that MoviePass loads with money when you show up at a theater and check in on the MoviePass app. The card works at most theaters, but not necessarily with all movies. You can only get tickets for showings that day.

The $10 monthly rate limits you to a rotating list of about six movies each day, only one or two of which is a major studio release. It’s good if you like independent movies, but awful if you live where independent movies aren’t shown. If movie tickets tend to cost more where you live, the subscription price goes up to $13 or $15.

For $5 more each month, MoviePass will let you see the movie of your choice. Yet another $5 — a total of up to $25 — gives you one Imax or 3D screening per month.