The rise and fall of MoviePass is one of those stories that begs for the documentary treatment, and HBO has you covered. The platform has set the premiere date for May 29 documentary film director Muta’Ali and .
The film chronicles the “meteoric rise and weirder-than-fiction explosion” of the movie ticket subscription platform that set the world on fire when it first launched in 2011. But it wasn’t long before the company adopted an all-you-can-eat approach that worked so well with gyms and other membership clubs. , especially at the low price point of the service. In just eight years, the company has become the fastest-growing subscription service since Spotify .
As the trailer suggests, the documentary will feature interviews with many of the key players involved in the various stages of MoviePass. That includes original co-founder Stacy Spikes and former CEO Mitch Lowe. There will also be numerous interviews with journalists who have covered the service, FTC staff and former subscribers. By the way, the trailer promises an anecdote about a customer sending a box of poo to the MoviePass offices, and we don’t want to miss it.
While it premieres on May 29 at 9pm ET on HBO, the documentary will also be available on demand through Max. The director has made several good documentaries, including Muta’Ali Joseph Hawkins: Storm over Brooklyn and Cassius X: To be Ali.
As for MoviePass, it’s a long and complicated story. The app won the hearts of theatergoers in 2011 by promising unlimited trips to the cinema for a monthly subscription fee. The love affair did not last. The company ceased operations in 2019 and filed for bankruptcy in 2020. Between these dates securities fraud and , among other strange scenarios. In short, it’s perfect fodder for a documentary.
MoviePass . Co-founder Spikes recently bought the company’s assets, bringing in new investors and . However, the updated pricing model is on the confusing side with credits and tiers and doesn’t seem to catch lightning in a bottle the second time around.
This article contains affiliate links; we may earn a commission if you click on such a link and make a purchase.
