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Comment by firloop | Hacker News Reader

Seems like this is the direction the industry is going, however the actual service here is much worse than MoviePass' (seemingly unsustainable) model. MoviePass is $9.95 for one movie per day.

FTA:

>...customers who pay a monthly fee of $8.99 will receive a credit for one movie ticket a month. Subscribers can also buy additional tickets for $8.99 each and get a 20% discount on food and drinks.

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That doesn't sound like a subscription. That sounds like you're paying $8.99 for a ticket once a month. Why wouldn't you just buy an $8.99 ticket as-needed?

Can you get a $8.99 ticket without a subscription?

These models (subscribe and get 1/month free) are not that uncommon - e.g. Audible. Usually you get a cheaper price, since you're more likely to keep paying and are therefore more profitable overall. Here even more, due to potential spending on concessions.

From the article:

"The average domestic ticket price (including matinee showings) reached a near record level of $8.93 in the quarter that ended in September, according to the National Assn. of Theatre Owners"

I don't know how it works in the US, but here that would include a lot of discounted tickets (students, seniors, promotions, etc). The average for a middle-aged adult going after work or on weekends would be much higher than the overall average.

Heck, if I go on Bargain Tuesday it's $5.75 and you get a free popcorn with each ticket. It's a really nice theatre too. Regular price is $9.50, but that's still not much more.

In Australia, US$5.75 would only get you the popcorn. Until a recent price war, movie tickets for adults have been approaching AU$20.

Bandwidth providers in Australia crack down more on piracy

Im not sure about that. But eve if true clearly not very effectively as AU is one of the highest piracy nations in the western world.

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-10/movie-piracy-12-17y...

The last time I went to the movies, I spent nearly AU$50 for my single ticket, a box of popcorn, a chocolate bar and a drink.

Heh, quick googling tells me that it's less than 400$ to go to Kuala Lumpur. If I were so inclined, I'd go once a year, get pirated DVDs of all the movies I want, have some awesome food and come back.

While you're in Kuala Lumpur, seeing movies in the theater is also quite reasonable. When I was there last year it was anywhere between RM9.50 and RM22 (~RM4 = 1 USD) depending on theater options. Some of the movies were even released there prior to the US release.

I'd stopped going to theaters in the US since I don't think most movies are worth the US price, but I rediscovered how enjoyable it can be...the theaters were all very modern and comfortable and for some bizarre reason, Malaysians like to sit all the way in the back and to the sides. I'd have ticket takers look at me incredulously when I chose seats that would be considered perfect in the US (dead center, just far enough back to not have to crane my neck).

Totally agree on the food too...I miss roti telur!

Yes many movies are released internationally before they are in the US. When I lived in India I got to see most major releases before the US release. I assume Malaysia is a pretty similar market.

Ha, all the way back and to the sides are my favorite type of movie neighbors.

Tickets in Seattle are about $12-15 at the usual theatres. Nicer places can be $17-20.

For me $9 seems like a steal (I usually go see at least one movie a week)

To be fair I live in a medium sized town in the southeast US near Chattanooga, TN. Things here tend to be cheaper. It's kind of funny, everyone here gets mad at paying $14 or so for IMAX. "Too much!" they say.

Costco sells Regal tickets for $9. But I also live in a small town and can get them for $8.50

The local Cinemark charges $8.00 for a evening admission to a 3D movie. Non-3D is $5.50, and a matinee is $3.50.

Amusingly enough, the website still tried to pitch me the $8.99 monthly subscription for one movie in a month. Um, no thanks. :)

When I joined Yahoo in 2013, there was a store on campus that sold AMC tickets for 8.50. I got 300 of those mid-2014, and am a handful of tickets away from running out now. I may go back and visit a friend if they are still selling those.

I think tickets are around 12 or so in AMC, and sometimes higher for 3D movies (I don't think there have been more than a handful in the recent past) or certain releases (Star Wars pre-order on Fandango is 19$ now). Those stubs are always 1:1 though.

You’ve watched 300 movies at AMC in the past 3.5 years??? Or are you playing some arbitrage here

Shitty arbitrage I guess, but it wasn't my goal. I just stocked up so I won't have to go get tickets again.

I've definitely watched more than 300 movies in English Hindi and Tamil, but not at AMC alone. I use the tickets for my friends, wife, etc too.

It may be worth it in some areas, though in others during off-peak times the normal adult price is $5.

Yeah I live in the bay area, tickets are very rarely $5 here.

In some places, 2D tickets cost more than that. You also get 20% off concessions.

Looks like some bozo MBA crunched some numbers and came up with a bad business model for cineMark. Go MoviePass!

Plus upcharges 'may apply':

"Valid on all regular 2D movies. Upcharges may apply for premium formats like XD, 3D or IMAX. Upcharges may apply in Cinemark reserve dine-in - 21 and over theater in Bellevue, WA and Cinemark Playa Vista and XD in Playa Vista, CA"

To be fair, Moviepass only allows standard 2D movies - no premium formats either. So that's at least the same between the programs.

Actually, I'd say this is better. Moviepass doesn't even give you the option to pay (the difference, presumably) more and see the "better" (chortle) version.

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