If you haven’t been to the movies in a while, you…actually probably won’t be surprised to learn that, like everything else, tickets are getting more expensive. According to The Numbers, a seat for the average movie in the U.S. now costs $11.31, up from $9.16 in 2019. Depending on where you live, or if you’re seeing a show in a premium format, it might be a lot more. (In Brooklyn, I count myself lucky if I can see a Saturday night show for less than $20.)
That’s why theater subscription services like AMC Stubs A-List can save you a lot. For a flat fee, they allow you to see a set number of movies per month. If you hit up the theater often enough—as little as twice—it will pay for itself, but you have to make sure you do the math (and account for all the fees involved) so you don’t wind up losing money.
And for one popular subscription program—the Alamo Drafthouse Season Pass—the math just got a little trickier.
The hidden cost of theater subscription plans
Just speaking hypothetically, I’ve always thought Alamo’s Season Pass program was a great deal. For $19.99/month (or $29.99 if you live in certain pricier metro areas, including Chicago and NYC), you get to see a movie a day. But there’s a catch—you also must pay a $2.19 per-ticket “transaction fee,” the same upcharge you’re probably used to from buying tickets online via a service like Fandango. It’s not a lot of money relative to the price of a ticket, but that adds up if you’re seeing a movie every day. Instead of just your $20 or $30 pass, you’re paying a total of $80 to $90 total, and that’s before factoring in added charges for 3D, 70mm, or other specialty showings.
This week, Alamo introduced a new “All In” plan with no ticketing fees at all—even for specialty screenings—but it’s only a good choice if you see a lot of movies. Let’s do the math.
How many movies you need to see to pay for the Alamo Drafthouse “All In” plan
Announced today via email and already live in the Alamo Drafthouse app and on the internet, the so-called All In Season Pass costs $29.99 (you’ll need to pay $39.99 for the All In+ plan in select major markets)—that’s $10 more than the previous plans, which are now known as “Classic” and “Classic+.”
Given the per-ticket fee of $2.19, that means in order to justify the cost of the plan based on the ticketing fees alone, you’ll need to go to the movies at least five times every month. (That sounds like a both a wonderful dream and a high bar to me, the parent of two youngish children, but perhaps your life isn’t so blessed.)
What do you think so far?
But what if you like to go big and see your movies in 3D? Those showings previously carried an additional $1.99 fee, so you’ll save money there too. I personally haven’t seen a 3D movie by choice in years, but the perk also covers other special format showings, including 70mm, Dolby Atmos, and “Big Show” movies.
And there’s more! If you typically see movies with your friends (humble brag), ticketing fees for additional full-price tickets purchased using the All In pass holder’s account will also be covered, which means you’ll cover the $10 upgrade cost in just three movie dates or bro hangs.
You can also save big on food and drinks
I go to movies so rarely these days that I always choose a theater with full food service, even though that means spending at least another $25—but the All In plan also includes a 10% discount on food and drinks, which is a pretty big deal at a theater with a full menu. If you tend to enjoy a bite during your showing, the pass will pay for itself a lot faster. (There’s a caveat here too, though: Alcoholic drinks aren’t eligible for the discount.)
The bottom line
So is the Alamo All In pass worth the extra $10? I’d say it’s an easy yes, provided you are a frequent moviegoer. Seeing just five movies per month will cover the fee, but if you always order at least a drink and an appetizer when you go (which will cost you at least $15), you could recoup that $10 after just three. If you always see movies with at least one other person, you can likewise cover the fee after just three showings, no food purchase required.
