It's been a bumpy road for the fledgling 'Netflix for theaters' startup, MoviePass.
A testbed planned for the July 4th weekend was abruptly canceled when theater chains claimed they never agreed to take part. Months later, the company secured a new deal with movie gift certificate maker Hollywood Movie Money that would allow subscribers to print out unlimited box office tickets.
This week, MoviePass announced it would gift 100 people free invites to the closed beta, paving the way for a still-unannounced launch.
The freebie giveaway was the result of MoviePass making BusinessInsider's Top 20 Innovative Startups list, it said via Twitter. The company landed in the number 12 spot.
MoviePass has also posted a tutorial video demonstrating how the entire process works at its official blog.
Not unlike buying tickets online, members can browse by theater location or movie, said MoviePass. After making a selection, they need only print out an emailed certificate that contains the member's name, the movie and showtime and present it at the box office.
The video confirmed that a MoviePass certificate tops out at a $15 value. Some theater chains charge slightly more for tickets to 3D-enabled films, potentially leaving fans who wanted that experience out of luck.
It's likely MoviePass will circumvent the "no pass" rule instituted in the early weeks of a film's release to prevent sneaky theatergoers from seeing it for free. Hollywood Movie Money said its arrangement with the company means each printed certificate is paid in full, so theaters don't lose out on any revenue.
It's unknown if MoviePass is still targeting a $50/month subscription fee. The price has proven to be a considerable hurdle for those who've otherwise voiced interest in the service.
What would be the perfect asking price for an unlimited monthly pass to theaters? Let us know in the comment section.
