The News
Thursday 28 of March 2024

MoviePass rival Sinemia kills US movie theater subscriptions


AP Photo, Movie Pass,FILE - This Aug. 23, 2018, file photo shows Movie Pass debit cards and used movie tickets in New York. Sinemia says it's discontinuing operations in the U.S., just months after it started a movie-a-day plan to fill a void left by last summer's fall of MoviePass. Both services were financially unsustainable as they paid theaters full prices for tickets, while charging customers as little as $10 a month. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
AP Photo, Movie Pass,FILE - This Aug. 23, 2018, file photo shows Movie Pass debit cards and used movie tickets in New York. Sinemia says it's discontinuing operations in the U.S., just months after it started a movie-a-day plan to fill a void left by last summer's fall of MoviePass. Both services were financially unsustainable as they paid theaters full prices for tickets, while charging customers as little as $10 a month. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — There’s another casualty among companies offering movies in theaters for a set monthly fee.

Sinemia says it’s discontinuing operations in the U.S., just months after it started a movie-a-day plan to fill a void left by the fall of MoviePass. Sinemia representatives had no comment on whether the service would offer refunds to customers, some of whom paid upfront for the year.

Both services were financially unsustainable as they paid theaters full prices for tickets, while charging customers as little as $10 a month. Sinemia’s cheaper plans for one to three movies a month are ending, too.

What remains are subscriptions offered directly by theater chains, as they can still make money from popcorn and candy. AMC started one last June, while Alamo Drafthouse is testing one.