Over the past five years, moviegoing has become more about seeing a film than the film itself. With box office sales that haven’t recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic and rising ticket prices, it’s certainly a vulnerable time for the film industry. Streaming now stands as the primary method of movie watching, and it seems audiences save their trips to the theater for special occasions. In an attempt to draw audiences back to the classic cinematic experience, the two largest movie theater chains in the country — AMC Theatres and Regal Cinemas — introduced comprehensive membership programs.
But which membership gets you more bang for your buck? And which chain provides the greater theatrical experience? To make this decision for myself, I decided to watch a new release at each theater.
I started with “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” at Regal Essex Crossing in the Lower East Side. It’s a theater near and dear to my heart and one of the cleanest I’ve encountered. I thought it would be the perfect atmosphere to watch a critically panned love story, since my misery would at least be accompanied by a popcorn kernel-free seat. In New York City, sanitation is no laughing matter, especially when some of the city’s theaters are reputed to be home to rat infestations.
For this occasion, I decided to redeem my free small popcorn, a perk of accumulating points with my free Regal Crown Club membership. As a Crown Club member, I receive 100 points for every dollar I spend on tickets and concessions. Regal also has a paid subscription: Regal Unlimited, where members get more discounts and entry to early screenings, all for $21.49 per month. But there’s a catch: Regal upcharges for IMAX showings, so for a more exciting watch, it’ll cost you an extra $10 per movie on top of the subscription.
Membership plans aside, my screening had a lack of energy because of the blatant disinterest from the audience. Regal’s six-year-old introduction video, which takes you on a rollercoaster of theater etiquette, desperately needs an update. Not even Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell could save the theater’s tired atmosphere.
While I love the cleanliness of the Essex Crossing, I’ve never had a memorable time watching a film here. To me, the best part is collapsing onto the firm recliner, hoping the film I’m watching will keep me awake. Regal is clearly focused on comfort and functionality, but forgets excitement along the way. It gets the job done, but fails to capture the thrill of the cinematic experience.
The next evening, I arrived at the AMC Village 7 for a screening of “Him.”
After an unengaged audience at the Regal, I wanted something energetic. AMC Village 7 has much smaller auditoriums, no IMAX screen and hasn’t been renovated in a decade, but none of this detracts from its nostalgic allure.
On the technical side, AMC Stubs A-List, the chain’s frequently-praised top-level subscription, is worth every penny. For a monthly fee of $28, you can see up to four movies every week, which as a busy college student is practically unlimited access. AMC’s A-List subscription makes moviegoing accessible, guaranteeing great benefits for every screening with no wait times. Better yet, there’s no upcharge for any premium format like IMAX or 3-D — and members get free refills on popcorn and fountain drinks every visit. Regal could never.
As I sat down in the back of the theater, I knew I was in for a treat. The room was filled to the brim with large groups and solo moviegoers alike, ready to detach themselves from reality for 90 minutes. As the lights dimmed, everyone put their phones away and AMC officially brought the audience together with the most iconic commercial ever created. God, the way Nicole Kidman sashays into an AMC theater to remind us all of the importance of cinema is simply unmatched.
While “Him” itself was a complete disappointment, I still left the theater feeling grateful for the experience. AMC had the kind of atmosphere that’s absent at Regal: lively screenings and intense audience engagement. The A-List benefits made a mediocre film worth my time, a feat not even a quality Regal theater can achieve. For this very reason, there’s no doubt that AMC is superior to Regal. Like Kidman says, they “make movies better.”
Contact Andrew Kilroy at [email protected].