Update 2/6/19: Sinemia has added a roll over feature where unused movies can be used the following month. In addition the referral bonus has been increased to $20 for both parties. Hat tip to Miles to Memories
Update 1/24/19: They now have two unlimited plans:
- $29.99 a month for 30 movie tickets per month (really it’s one ticket per day. You can’t use it twice in one day), includes 3D & IMAX-4DX
- $19.99 a month for 30 movie tickets per month (really it’s one ticket per day. You can’t use it twice in one day), doesn’t include special screenings
Keep in mind all of the recent issues with Sinemia. Given you have to sign up for a yearly plan and Sinemia seems intent on making retroactive changes there is no way I’d recommend signing up.
Update: They have added a new ‘unlimited plan’. You get 1 movie per 24 hour period. It costs $29.99 per month, you either pay yearly or pay monthly and pay a $29.99 initiation fee. Keep in mind this is only for 2D screenings. Hat tip to MtM.
Update 08/16/18: You can now get $10 when you refer a friend, your friend also gets $10 (normally it’s $5). This is available to people moving from a competing service such as MoviePass or AMC A-List. Hat tip to Forbes via MtM.
Update 07/30/18: They have added monthly plans. Same pricing as yearly plans but you pay an additional $19.99 set up fee. Hat tip to Bhavik
Update 07/28/18: Prices are down a further $1 per month across all plans. Keep in mind you pay for an annual subscription, might be a bit of a risk considering issues with MoviePass currently.
Sinemia is a competitor to MoviePass, both are subscription services to movies. MoviePass offers unlimited standard movie screenings, where Sinemia has four different plans currently. All Sinemia plans include no black out dates and the ability to purchase tickets in advance.
Pricing
The plans are as follows:
- $3.99: Includes one standard movie ticket per month at any theater
- $6.99: Includes two standard movie ticket per month at any theater
- $8.99: Includes two movie tickets per month, one of these can be a premium screening (e.g 3D/IMAX etc)
- $13.99: Includes three movie tickets per month, one of these can be a premium screening (e.g 3D/IMAX etc)
Other fees:
- $19.99 initiation fee (monthly plans only)
- Activate card immediately: $5-$10 (used to be free).
One thing to note is that the premium ticket is based on a rolling 30 day window. So if you see a movie on May 5th you’ll need to wait 30 days for that movie to clear (rather than it resetting on June 1st). If you’re purchasing tickets in advance you also need to buy the advance ticket surcharge places like Fandango charge.
Sinemia For Two
You can also upgrade your plan to something called ‘Sinemia for two’. This is basically a single membership with double the tickets, meaning you can bring somebody with you every time you see a movie (this person can change). With a regular Sinemia pass you can only purchase on ticket a day, so this let’s you get two for the same screening Prices for this are:
- $7.99: Includes one standard movie ticket per month at any theater
- $13.99: Includes two standard movie ticket per month at any theater
- $17.99: Includes two movie tickets per month, one of these can be a premium screening (e.g 3D/IMAX etc)
- $27.99: Includes three movie tickets per month, one of these can be a premium screening (e.g 3D/IMAX etc)
Sinemia Vs MoviePass
There are three main advantages to Sinemia over MoviePass in my opinion:
- Sinemia can be used internationally (Canada, UK, Australia & others being added), useful if you travel a lot
- Some plans include premium screenings
- Tickets can be purchased in advance
The main upside to MoviePass is that it can be used an unlimited amount of times monthly (although you can’t see the same movie twice). MoviePass normally prices at $9.99 per month, but it has been possible to get it from $7.5 per month when on sale. Another downside to Sinemia is that you have to purchase a yearly plan. I purchased a Sinemia pass when they were charging $7.99 for two movies including a premium ticket. I love going to the movies but it would be rare for me to go more than twice per month so I thought this was better value and more flexible than MoviePass. To begin with the app was total shit and hardly worked, but I think they have fixed the issue because it seems to be working much better now (or maybe I just go used to it?).
I think Sinemia makes sense if you watch 1-2 movies a month, want access to prebooking and sometimes want premium screenings. Otherwise MoviePass is the better deal. It’s also slightly worrying that Sinemia seems to be yearly plans only.
Referral Program
If you’re moving from a competing service you can now get a $10 credit (both parties) if you prove that is the case.
You can refer friends and if they sign up you receive a $5 credit, they also receive a $5 credit for using your link. Feel free to share referral links in this linked thread. I also believe that your full name is given to the person when you sign up, so keep that in mind.
Our Verdict
Normally I hate things where I have to do something on a regular basis to maximize the value, I find it to be restricting and means I make irrational decisions. The nice thing about these services is that going to the movies is something that I enjoy doing but often don’t make enough time for. I’ve made more of enough to do so since having Sinemia so in this case I see it as a plus. Overall I’d recommend Sinemia so far. Feel free to share your own experiences in the comments below.
