MoviePass Program Changes Terms and Adds

Billed as a way to watch dozens of theatrically released films for one monthly fee and seeming to taking notes from Darth Vader, “MoviePass” is changing the terms of its deal with customers. While MoviePass customers will experience no price change to the the service’s monthly subscription, three changes have developed in what customers can enjoy from the service.

1. Subscribers are limited to four movie tickets per month, rather than the previous policy of one film a day.
2. Subscribing to MoviePass automatically enrolls users to a three-month trial of “iHeartRadio All-Access.” After those three months elapse and unless they explicitly tell iHeartRadio that they wish to unsubscribe from the service, users are converted to a $9.95 monthly subscription.
3. An addendum to the MoviePass service’s Terms of Service stipulates, in all capital letters, repeat viewings of the same movie through the service are prohibited.

According to Engadget.com, MoviePass and iHeartRadio declared the bundled deal on April 13th, pitching it as a new option for existing subscribers to MoviePass. Despite this statement, users must navigate the labyrinthine FAQ section of MoviePass’s website to even learn that it automatically enrolls them into a transitional subscription to iHeartRadio. iHeartRadio filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection a full month prior to the bundle’s announcement.

The additional prohibition of repeat viewings seems especially well-coordinated with the fresh release of “Avengers: Infinity War,” Disney’s Brobdingnagian comic book film that has been built up over 18 films and a decade of time. In a comment, MoviePass stated that the prohibition was to minimize fraudulent use of their app. In a recent interview, Mitch Lowe, CEO for MoviePass, seemed unsure of ever returning the service to the previous a-film-a-day policy. The MoviePass TOS has since been updated to comment that it has the right to change its terms and stipulations for usage at any time. It also suggests changing the subscription price if users exceed a certain number of films watched in a month.

When Helios and Matheson Analytics, a data firm, purchased MoviePass in August, they dropped the subscription price to its current $9.95. Since Helios and Matheson acquired the service, membership jumped from 20,000 users to an excess of 2 million. While the subscription has been a loss leader, Variety reported that Helios and Matheson lost over $150 million last year, it has used its capital for pursuits like buying the film “American Animals” and acquiring “Moviefone.”