Entertainment

What is the PVR Inox Passport and how does it fare with movie pass subscriptions from around the world?

Ayaan PaulOctober 16, 2023 | 15:23 IST

PVR INOX has unveiled an exciting new monthly subscription service named 'Passport,' aimed at reinvigorating the cinema experience for moviegoers. This service, which costs Rs 699 per month, allows subscribers to watch up to 10 movies within a calendar month.

What

This innovative offering is part of a limited period deal with only 20,000 subscriptions up for grabs.

Passport users can redeem their multi-use voucher to cover the cost of one movie ticket per day at any participating PVR or INOX theater, making it an attractive proposition for frequent movie buffs.

The primary objective behind Passport is to entice more patrons back to cinemas while addressing concerns related to high ticket prices.

ALSO READ: A viral bill of popcorn at PVR Noida brings back the question: Why do cinema halls charge so much for food?

Terms and conditions

The Passport subscription applies solely to weekdays, that is, Monday to Thursday.
The ticket pricing for Passport holders is capped at Rs 350, meaning they can purchase any PVR INOX ticket priced at or below ₹350, exclusively through the official PVR or INOX app or website.
Additionally, users will need to pay a convenience fee and associated taxes on top of the ticket price.
The Passport cannot be used to book Recliner seats or their equivalents but is applicable to all other seat types, with the exception of premium offerings like IMAX, Gold, LUXE, and Director's Cut.
It is also non-transferable, meaning it can only be used by the subscribed account holder.

Where

This subscription service covers all PVR and INOX cinemas across India, except in the Southern states (Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Telangana) and certain cities where PVR Inox operates including including Chandigarh, Puducherry, Pathankot, Srinagar, Bharuch, Bhiwadi, Jorhat, Kalka, Siliguri, and Colombo (Sri Lanka)

Why

PVR INOX's introduction of Passport is a part of a broader initiative to draw audiences back to the theaters.

The company has already taken steps to reduce the cost of food and beverages by 40%, offered food combos, and even introduced Trailer shows for just One Rupee.

Gautam Dutta, co-CEO of PVR INOX, emphasized the importance of this initiative, especially for mid-level and smaller budget films.

"The events films are becoming bigger and bigger and bigger. The smaller midsize films are getting squeezed out. So we needed to actually have a kind of a product that worked with consumer sentiment to get them back into the cinema, a lot more and which will propel better smaller films because we have close to about 13 to 16 films, which get released every week,"

By offering a subscription service like Passport, they aim to create a habit among consumers, encouraging them to visit the cinema more frequently. This, in turn, is expected to support a more diverse range of films and foster a healthier film industry.

"The fact is we wanted to truly irrigate the market and get people who are coming to us once, twice or thrice in a month... More films will get consumed. More films will get produced. A larger audience will get created. And after some time, you will create this habit of consumers coming back to the cinema. So it's really a momentum shifter, not just a price promotion"

Ultimately, Passport seeks to cater to time-rich and cash-poor movie enthusiasts, making cinema an accessible and affordable entertainment option for a broader audience.

Movie pass subscriptions around the world

Movie pass subscription models in cinemas around the world vary in terms of pricing, offerings, and availability.

AMC Stubs A-List

Pricing: AMC Stubs A-List offers multiple tiers, with prices ranging from $19.95 (Rs 1,600) to $23.95 (Rs 1,900) per month.
Movie Limit: Subscribers can watch up to 3 movies per week.
Availability: Only in the United States.
Comparison: PVR INOX's Passport is more affordable at Rs 699 (approximately $9) per month. AMC A-List offers a more extensive weekly limit, but it is limited to the USA.

CineWorld Unlimited

Pricing: Prices vary by location, but they typically range from £17.90 (Rs 1,800) to £20.70 (Rs 2,100) per month.
Movie Limit: Unlimited movies within the subscription period.
Availability: Only in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Comparison: CineWorld Unlimited allows unlimited movies, which is a substantial contrast to PVR INOX's Passport, which offers up to 10 movies per month. However, the price is generally higher.

Sinemia

Pricing: Sinemia offered various plans with different price points.
Movie Limit: Plans included options for 2 to 30 movies per month.
Availability: Initially available in various countries, but it faced financial difficulties and ceased operations in some regions.
Comparison: Sinemia provided more flexibility in terms of plans, allowing users to choose the number of movies they wanted to watch per month. However, it faced issues, including sudden closures in some regions.

MoviePass (Defunct)

Pricing: MoviePass offered a single plan at $9.95 per month.
Movie Limit: Initially, it allowed one movie per day, but it later limited movie choices and showtimes.
Availability: Available in the USA, but the service ceased operations.
Comparison: MoviePass gained significant attention for its low pricing, but it faced financial issues and eventually shut down. PVR INOX's Passport has a sustainable pricing model.

In comparison, PVR INOX's Passport stands out for its affordability and simplicity with a fixed price and a specific number of movies per month. It aims to target weekday moviegoers in India.

Other services around the world offer greater flexibility but come at higher prices and may not be available in all regions.

Whether or not this new subscription model has what it takes to revitalise the moviegoing experience in the country is still up for debate, but the prospects so far look lucrative.

Last updated: October 16, 2023 | 15:23

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