Cinema fans fight inflation with subscriptions like AMC A-List

This year, I have already seen ten films in theaters. If that seems a lot, let me assure you: I get pale compared to my fanatic colleagues AMC A-List.

For example, Marcel English, 25, estimates that in inflation strikes cinema tickets, he saved $ 900 last year with the subscription service. AMC A-List directs moviegoers about $ 20 per month for up to three films per week, according to the location. The Englishman saw 55 films in 2024 and has already seen 29 this year.

One of his favorites last year was a Christmas night evening from the remake of the vampire Horror film “Nosferatu”.

“And when I tell you that I loved these projections – I saw” Nosferatu “at least four or five times and I saw” Wicked “six times before that,” said English, tutor in Alabama.

After Jeremy Chao, 42, had a stroke at the end of 2021, he embodied his recovery on a big goal: he wanted to find his ability to return to his Local AMC theater. In a year, Chao had made his triumphant return. These days, the Parangal de New York aims to see four or five films per month.

Chao, English and I are all members of the loyalty program of the AMC, A-Batcher film chain, but several others exist from Regal, Alamo Drafthouse and Cinemark.

Prices vary from $ 15 to $ 30 per month, and research on the industry indicates that these offers has helped attract moviegoers. The CEO of Cinemark, Sean Gamble, said during a February call for results that the company’s subscription offers film film has nearly 1.4 million members and tickets purchased as part of the program represents 25% of its national box office sales.

Gamble added that the company saw the cinema “Buck the Trends” during periods of inflation, speculating that it can be a more affordable option than other forms of entertainment.

A Cinema United report revealed that the subscription services experienced a 12% increase in members from year to year. While AMC no longer shares the exact membership numbers, the paying A-List level had around 790,000 members in the first quarter of 2019.

“The use and love of the program are strong among our members of list A,” said Carrie Trotter, vice-president of loyalty and brand marketing at AMC Theatres, in a press release.

However, not everyone was returned to theaters. One of the reasons is that prices increased – the average cinema ticket was $ 10.78 in 2023, compared to $ 9.35 at the start of 2020, by box office site, figures – and ticket prices increased by 26% since 2019. Even AMC has increased prices of its level A -List, although it is Also add additional advantages.

In addition, two thirds of The Americans interviewed by Harrisx for Indiewire said they prefer Wait to broadcast movies What to go to the theater. It is a great disappointment for filmmakers and even certain moviegoers.

“The filmmakers continue to make films for the big screen; I know that I will do it,” said Sean Baker, whose “Anora” swept away the Oscars, in his speech of acceptance of the best director. “Distributors, please focus above all on the theatrical outings of your films.” Baker also had another plea: “For all of us, when we can, please watch films in a theater, and keep the great tradition of the cinematographic experience well alive.”

In an economy where Americans are less impatient to go out to drink or party – or have disposable income to launch more sumptuous entertainment – the attraction of cinema becomes clearer for a certain set of superfans.

“Once he reopened after the pandemic, I really wanted the cinema experience to survive,” said Chao. “So, I thought the best way to do it was, even if I couldn’t go there every week, was to register in A-List and see as many films as possible.”

Cinemas are a social outing and subscriptions on the phone help save money

I am not AMC Shill – I simply chose this membership because I like the option to visit the giant IMAX screen in Lincoln Center, and the chain’s locations are practical for me and several of my friends.

Other friends have other subscriptions and the rivalries are deep. A BI publisher likes their Regal Cinemas subscription because it is really unlimited; If they wanted it, they could see up to three films per day for $ 26.49 per month. They believe they saved around $ 624 using their subscription last year. Different models meet different needs. Several BI alerters have spoken have said that having a variety of theater and cinema options would make the subscription even better.

A-visons obtain advantages beyond tickets at reduced prices: it is cheaper to buy tickets for friends, there is a special concessions line and you get free upgrades of popcorn and soda. In addition, you can also see films during traditionally more expensive projections in IMAX or Dolby.

“It was really nice not to worry about the price because it can be like $ 20 for a ticket, and if I already pay 25 for unlimited, I can see one or two I feel like I have the value of my money,” said Chao.

For Austin Martin, 31, AMC A-List has mostly replaced Nights at the bar.

Martin works remotely in North Carolina And more drinks – a growing trend among young Americans – He therefore has more free time and a little additional money. In 2024, he saw 36 films; This year, he has already seen 12. His roommate is in “entourage” from Martin – an A -List functionality which allows you to book tickets in the name of a selected group of friends or family.

“My roommate, literally my best friend, says:” It’s our therapy to get out of the house and not watch your phone, not be distracted “,” said Martin, adding that even his toxicomane boy is focusing on the phone When he is in the cinema.

Having phone experience is also a draw for Taylor Gillman, a 33 -year -old executive assistant at Long Island; She saw around 20 films last year. Unlike Martin, Gillman was never a film buff until he drank the Kool-Aid a-list; She had once proclaimed that she would never go to the cinema. But after being dragged to see the new “nasty girls” then “Wonka”, she obtained the film’s bug.

“It’s like I was on another planet. I put my phone away,” she said. “And I am much less interrupted than I would be at home looking in the background.”

For Gillman and her husband, it became a new shared hobby – they tried everything, from the ax to the golf course, and the two were much more expensive than AMC. Having a new third space – somewhere that is not at home or at work – which allows them to go out was a good experience; Air conditioning in summer does not hurt either.

“It’s different from a streaming platform because you can see whatever you want on Netflix every time, but being able to go somewhere and do something out of the house, I think it’s a very big plus for that,” she said.

Low funds, but always want to go to the movies

Jonathan Van Halem, a 30-year-old television researcher in Brooklyn, is no longer an A-Lister.

He Joined during unemployment and saw about four films per month. However, membership was not as practical for his friends. They should either go from Brooklyn to Manhattan to go to the AMC, or it would lack group events like Barbenheimer if they chose a non -AMC place.

In the end, Van Halem left A-List due to a shorter, shorter time combination for small films and films heading directly to streaming services. If an AMC opened closer to his home – or another service would let him go in several films channels – he could be removed in a new subscription service.

While movie attendance still works at Regal, Cinemark and AMC – in January 2025, it was decreased by 1.7% compared to a year earlier, according to data to place. Attack at Business Insider – February saw growth of 8.9% compared to the previous year.

The rise in subscription services could also cause the community and the third spaces that people like Gillman are looking for. Sierra Hanson, a 29-year-old bartender in AMC in Missoula, Montana, said that the A-Listers brought completely different behavior to the theater. They are effective and always respectful, she said.

A frequent customer came to the theater just after proposing. “We were the first three people he said she said” yes “,” said Hanson. “It’s really special. You really train special links with people entering it.”

But, of course, there are dangers to focus social life on subscription services. Prices can increase or people can get out of the AMC range. And with individual services – like AMC against Recal – forcing moviegoers to choose brand fidelity, there can be divisions when you leave it behind. Look no further than Van Halem.

“My entourage was like seven or eight people and we rolled deeply. It is a significant thing to be around a list of list with someone. It was a sad day when I had to tell them that I was no longer participating,” he said. He told them that the cost no longer made sense.

“They understood, but I never had a text again to go to the cinema with none of them.”

Do you have a story to share on your finances? Contact this journalist at jkaplan@businessinsider.com Or fill this investigation.