Every hardcore movie lover knows the name The Alamo Drafthouse. The theater chain serves some of the best food to moviegoers, has some of the comfiest chairs, and coolest of all, their theaters are practically shrines for movies. They have a real love and joy for film unlike most major theater chains, which tend to dim images and provide cruddy sound. Nowadays, the Drafthouse has a great atmosphere. For either the price of $14.99 or $29.99, depending on location, subscriptions are available to fans of the theater chain.
The Season Pass
The Alamo Drafthouse, born in Austin, Texas, has 41 locations across the United States. Right now, the subscription plans are available in “New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, Denver, Phoenix, Raleigh, San Antonio, Kansas City, Yonkers, Springfield, and New Braunfels.” Like AMC Ticket Stubs, you pay a monthly fee and get to see a ton of movies for the price or a ticket or two. At the Drafthouse, you can see a movie a day with their subscription. Compare that to AMC, which only allows three movies a week with its subscription plan.
Per the press release, here’s more info on how the subscription plan works:
Season Pass subscriptions renew monthly, with no annual commitment. Pricing varies by location and corresponds to each Alamo Drafthouse location’s average ticket pricing, with pricing ranging from $14.99 to $29.99 per month in big cities like Los Angeles and New York. The membership also works for screenings in 3D, 70mm, Dolby Atmos, and The Big Show premium large format, with a $1.99 surcharge per ticket. Members with accompanying friends and family members can always purchase additional regular-priced tickets at the same time, or they can add up to four Extra Seats – similar to “Plus Ones” – to their monthly Alamo Season Pass subscription at a discounted price.
A Win for Movie Lovers
If anyone is sick and tired of talkers and texters during movies, go to the Alamo Drafthouse. They’re famous for kicking people out for either moviegoing sin. They even have filmmakers and actors record videos warning audiences about it. It’s an excellent policy the theater doesn’t mess around about. People typically follow the house rules.
In the press release, the theater’s founder and CEO, Tim League, calls the pass a “win for movie lovers”:
“This is a huge win for movie lovers. The entire reason we opened the Alamo in the first place was to share the movies we love with as many people as possible, and Season Pass is the perfect means for folks to explore more and more films.”
One Downside
Like almost everyone and everything on the planet, The Alamo Drafthouse isn’t perfect. There is one serious flaw that doesn’t always make it a great experience: the delivery of the food. More often than not the food is delicious, especially the desserts, but to have waiters constantly hunched over and running back and forth in front of you during a movie, it is distracting. Not as distracting as talkers and texters, but not too far off.
It’s especially annoying during foriegn films when subtitles are blocked by someone, again, passing by with a plate of wings. Constantly watching someone walking back and forth in front of you during a movie just isn’t the ideal cinematic experience. The whispering about orders is almost always in earshot, too. That’s why the theater isn’t always the best place to watch a new movie, but it is the best place to go for anniversary screenings, events, or the festival they host, Fantastic Fest.
Is the Season Pass Worth Buying?
Absolutely. If an Alamo Drafthouse is in anyone’s hometown or city, it’s a must-visit theater. The price of the season pass averages around the cost of one or two tickets at the theater, so as long as a customer goes a handful of times a month, they’re benefiting. To sweeten the deal, after a movie a moviegoer can grab a nice cocktail or beer at the bar or roam the shop and buy themselves a Mondo poster. There’s so much to do, see, and drink at their locations, which often host must-attend events. It’s a good place to socialize and meet fellow movie nerds. There’s a sense of community at the Alamo Drafthouse unlike any other theater chain.
