MoviePass: The $9.95 Dream That Became a Hollywood Scam | Horrorwood: True Crime in Tinseltown

In this episode we dive into the rise, fall and shocking fraud behind MoviePass—the too-good-to-be-true subscription service that promised unlimited movies for just $9.95 a month. From its explosive growth to deceptive business tactics, investor scams and a jaw-dropping federal indictment, we unravel how greed and lies brought down a Hollywood dream. Plus, we explore its unexpected comeback—can MoviePass really rise from the ashes?

Episode Sources:

“MoviePass Ending Its Run, 2 Years After Millions Signed Up” by Julie Creswell, Published September 13, 2019, Updated June 8, 2021, The New York Times

“MoviePass Deceived Users So They’d Use It Less, F.T.C. Says” by Daniel Victor, June 8, 2021, The New York Times

“The Maddening MoviePass Scandal You Didn’t Know About” by Julie Miller, June 3, 2024, Vanity Fair

“Chairman and CEO of MoviePass’ Parent Company Pleads Guilty to Securities Fraud Scheme and Conspiracy” from the U.S. Department of Justice, Updated February 6, 2025, Press Release Number: 25-23

“MoviePass Confirms Data Breach That May Have Exposed Credit Card Numbers” by Abid Rahman, August 22, 20219, The Hollywood Reporter

“MoviePass reportedly changed passwords to keep users from ordering tickets” by Abrar Al-heeti, August 9, 2019, CNET

“MoviePass was even shadier than we thought” by Alissa Wilkinson, June 9, 2021, VOX

“AMC Slams MoviePass, Threatening Legal Action” by Brent Lang, August 15, 2017, Variety

“MoviePass Launches ‘Peak Pricing’ Surcharge” by Dave McNary, July 5, 2018, Variety

“‘MoviePass, MovieCrash’: Founder Stacy Spikes on Mitch Lowe, Racial Bias and Where the Company Stands Today” by Katchy Stephan, May 29, 2024, Variety

“MoviePass co-founders speak their truth in HBO’s new documentary” by Laruen Forristal, May 29, 2024, TechCrunch