Is Alamo Drafthouse’s New All in Plan Worth the Extra $10?
If you haven’t been to the movies in a while, you probably won’t be surprised to learn that, like everything else, tickets are getting more expensive. According to The Numbers , the average movie ticket in the U.S. now costs $11.31, up from $9.16 in 2019. Depending on where you live or whether you have a premium version, the price can be significantly higher. (In Brooklyn, I consider myself lucky if I can get into a Saturday night show for under $20.)
That’s why a movie theater subscription like AMC Stubs A-List can be a big money saver. For a flat fee, you can watch a certain number of movies per month. If you go often enough—at least twice—it can pay for itself, but you’ll need to do your homework (and account for all the associated costs) to avoid losing money.
And for one popular subscription program , the Alamo Drafthouse Season Pass , the math just got a little more complicated.
The Hidden Cost of Theatre Ticket Subscriptions
Hypothetically, I’ve always thought the Alamo season pass was a great deal. For $19.99 a month (or $29.99 if you live in some pricier metropolitan areas, including Chicago and New York), you can see one movie a day. But there’s a catch: You’ll also have to pay a $2.19 “transaction fee” per ticket—the same surcharge you’re probably used to when buying tickets online through a service like Fandango. It’s not much compared to the cost of a ticket, but it adds up if you go to the movies every day. Instead of a $20 or $30 pass, you’re paying $80 or $90 total, and that’s before you factor in extra fees for 3D, 70mm, and other special screenings.
This week, Alamo introduced a new “All In” plan that waives ticket fees, even for special screenings, but it’s only for frequent moviegoers. Let’s do the math.
How many movies do I need to watch to qualify for the Alamo Drafthouse All In plan?
Announced via email today and available now in the Alamo Drafthouse app and online , the so-called All In Season Pass costs $29.99 (you’ll have to pay $39.99 for the All In+ plan in some major markets) — that’s $10 more than the previous plans, now known as “Classic” and “Classic+.”
At $2.19 per ticket, that means you’d have to go to the movies at least five times a month to justify the cost of the plan based on ticket prices alone. (As a parent of two young kids, that sounds like both a dream and a high bar, but maybe your life isn’t so kind.)
But what if you want to go all-in and watch movies in 3D? There used to be an extra $1.99 for those showings, so you’ll save money, too. Personally, I haven’t watched a movie in 3D by choice in years, but the discount applies to other special formats, too, including 70mm, Dolby Atmos, and The Big Show.
And that’s not all! If you typically go to the movies with friends (humble brag), additional full-price tickets purchased through your All In membership account will be covered, too . That means you’ll recoup the $10 upgrade cost in just three movie nights or get-togethers with friends.
You can also save a lot on food and drinks.
I go to the movies so infrequently these days that I always choose a theater with a full menu, even though it means spending at least another $25. However, the All-Inclusive plan also includes 10% off food and drinks, which is pretty significant for a theater with a full menu. If you like to snack during the show, the membership will pay for itself much faster. (Here’s the catch: The discount does not apply to alcoholic beverages.)
Bottom line
So is the Alamo All In pass worth the extra $10? I’d say yes, if you go to the movies often. Just five movies a month will break even, but if you always order at least a drink and an appetizer (which will cost you at least $15), you can recoup that $10 after just three showings. If you always go to the movies with at least one other person, you can also recoup the cost in just three showings, without having to buy food.