Stacy Spikes

Source: Screen File

Stacy Spikes

Cinema subscription service MoviePass has set its relaunch date and announced pricing tiers.

The service is returning after its previous iteration imploded when former owner Helios and Matheson offered low monthly costs and was unable to sustain demand, eventually filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in January 2020.

CEO and original co-founder Stacy Spikes said in a message emailed to potential members on Tuesday (August 23) that the service would return on or around September 5. Spikes was fired in 2018 after he disputed the low monthly cost and subsequently acquired MoviePass at a bankruptcy auction late last year.

According to the service’s website monthly cost will vary by market, although the general price over three tiers will be $10, $20 and $30. Depending on the level, members will receive credits to apply towards films each month.

Membership is open to anybody who signs up to a waitlist on a first-come, first-serve basis. The list opens for five days on August 25 and those on it will receive 10 friend invites, which for the foreseeable future will be the only way to join once the waitlist expires.

MoviePass will launch in waves across the US, depending on waitlist engagement levels in each market and the location of exhibition partners. The website said all major exhibitors that accept credit cards will be included on the app and said further details would be forthcoming.

It remains to be seen what the early adoption rate will look like. Since MoviePass was last in business, national and regional US cinema subscription services have established themselves. Major chains AMC, Cineworld-owned Regal and Cinemark all operate their own plans.