MoviePass Cancels All Annual Subscriptions, Forces Users To Monthly Plans Or Refunds

MoviePass customers were surprised to receive emails from the company today informing them that all annual plans were going to be canceled by the end of the month. This is the latest in a series of changes to the company’s unlimited movie plans as MoviePass continues to struggle to stay afloat.

As previously reported by Inquisitr, customers were already balking at recent MoviePass changes a few weeks ago, which limited users to three movies per month, a far cry from the company’s original $9.95 movie-a-day “unlimited” plan. MoviePass lost $85 million between May and June of this year, resulting in CEO Mitch Lowe trying a number of options to stay profitable.

The Verge reports that members with annual subscriptions received the following terms in an email announcing the cancellation of annual plans, offering them the same benefits as monthly subscribers.

“As of today, aligned with Section 2.4 of our Terms of Use, your annual subscription plan will now allow you to see 3 movies a month instead of the previous unlimited offering, and you’ll receive up to a $5.00 discount on any additional movie tickets purchased. This is the current standard plan now in effect for all current and new subscribers. Unless you choose to cancel your subscription prematurely, your plan will continue within these guidelines through the end of your annual contract.”

The email also stated that MoviePass intends to expand its movie offerings in addition to the membership changes.

Gizmodo reports that MoviePass is being sued by investors for fraud, following a massive loss of $219 million in the second quarter of this year. The new changes to the annual plans will most likely prompt further legal challenges. Annual subscribers have until August 31 to decide if they want to request a refund or accept the monthly membership plans.

According to CNET, MoviePass has always had a history of drastic changes to its membership plans, but the introduction of the $10 movie-a-day unlimited plan in 2017 seemed “too good to be true.” In spring 2018, AMC Theatres left MoviePass in response to the unlimited deal. MoviePass then altered its unlimited plan to a $9.95 monthly subscription that included four movies a month and a three-month trial of iHeartRadio All Access. The company then limited subscribers from seeing the same movie more than once starting in April. In May, subscribers were required to submit photos of their ticket stubs. The most dramatic changes happened in June, when MoviePass introduced surge pricing for popular movies, and then blocked out weekend showtimes for popular movies in July.