People going to theaters is on the decline. If MoviePass reverses that trend they will have shown their value. I'm going to wager they're at a tipping point.
1. I hadn't been to my local theaters in a long time.
2. I was surprised just how convenient it had become now that nobody else is visiting.
3. I am thoroughly enjoying this movie subscription service model combined with the lack of crowds at theaters.
This is exactly why I don't like theaters. I go to enjoy the movie, not have a shared social event. The extend of the 'social' aspect is my wife or friend next to me maybe getting an ear whisper, but even that is rare. If I want a shared social movie event I'll go watch The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Edit: I also grew up playing Oregon Trail
Maybe it's something like an introvert/extrovert thing, rather than a generational thing?
those are the things that keep me out of theaters. it was happening often enough to be an issue. (larger city)
I got MoviePass when they had that special deal at Costco, and have gone to ~15 movies (try to go once a week) since.
I suspect if they do find some other way, it will be based on some relatively new technology (perhaps already existing, like smartphones, or up-and-coming like some kind of AR), or it would have happened already.
I've been trying to thing of a movie theatre / lan party combo, but haven't been able to come up with anything useful.
Their pitch? Pretty much comes down to good service including food and cocktails, at low prices, and a no-noise policy.
You buy a ticket ahead of time picking your exact seats. Tickets are about $11. The pre-show instead of being ads are usually short videos or clips from earlier movies. Food is around $12-16 an entree, alcoholic beverages are between $6 and $20 with most cocktails around $12.
Oh, and if they see your phone or if you're talking during the movie, you get kicked out with the option to be banned.
It's an amazing movie experience, and I regularly go at least once a month. Their food is genuinely good restaurant quality and their drinks are creative, often times with special cocktails or entrees to go along with big releases. It's obviously not an every day thing, but it's cheap enough to be a once a week kind of thing.
the whole package sounds great, but I would be sold on this detail alone. I hate having to choose between sitting in the theater for 30-45 mins and getting a bad seat at popular films.