MoviePass, the subscription-based movie ticketing service, has sparked concerns among its customers by surveying them about their interest in web3 technology. The email blast, sent out on Wednesday, asked customers about their familiarity with web3, including whether they own any assets like NFTs or have a digital wallet. The move has raised questions about the company's relaunch strategy and potential pivot to blockchain technology.
The survey's questions, which also inquired about customers' beliefs in the promise of blockchain technology and their desire to learn more about it, have left many wondering if MoviePass is planning to integrate web3 features into its service. This would mark a significant shift for the company, which has been working to rebuild its brand after a highly publicized implosion in 2020.
However, MoviePass's possible pivot to web3 didn't come out of nowhere. When the company relaunched in 2023, it raised seed funding from Animoca Brands, a Hong Kong-based software company and venture capital firm that specializes in blockchain technology. Additionally, MoviePass partnered with the Sui blockchain to allow subscribers to make payments with USDC, a cryptocurrency pegged to the price of the U.S. dollar. At the time, MoviePass co-founder Stacy Spikes stated that the company intended to use web3 as a means of "making moviegoing more accessible and able to reach a wider audience through deeper fan engagement."
Despite these efforts, it's unclear whether fans want web3 features integrated into MoviePass. The company's previous attempts to offer on-chain rewards for seeing movies or allowing users to invest in the movies they see have been met with skepticism. In fact, adding crypto elements to a company that functions perfectly fine without it can alienate users rather than entice them. Patreon, a creator membership platform, faced a similar backlash when it surveyed its users about their interest in crypto.
It's worth noting that MoviePass has already achieved a significant milestone without incorporating web3 features. The company announced that it had turned its first-ever profit in 2023, suggesting that its current model is working. The new iteration of MoviePass operates on a credits system, where each movie showing can be redeemed for a certain number of credits, which fluctuate depending on the time of day and the format of the screening.
While MoviePass has made progress, the company's decision to explore web3 integration raises questions about its long-term strategy. Will the company's pivot to blockchain technology alienate its existing user base, or will it attract a new wave of customers interested in web3 features? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – MoviePass's move into web3 is a development worth watching in the rapidly evolving world of blockchain technology.