Tag: Atom Tickets

Atom Tickets Partners With Amazon Pay for ‘Contactless’ Movie Ticket Purchases

Atom Tickets along with Amazon Pay is looking to jumpstart “contactless” movie ticket purchases as exhibitors emerge from the coronavirus pandemic shutdown. As theaters re-open across the country, Atom found that 87% from more than 16,000 U.S. digital moviegoer survey respondents said purchasing digital tickets from their own device (i.e. cell phone or iPad) is an important safety measure.

After selecting tickets to a movie on the app, Atom users can choose Amazon Pay as their payment option to complete the transaction using the information already stored in their Amazon account. At the theater, users skip the box office lines and go directly to the ticket attendants where they scan a QR code on their phone (or Apple Watch) to redeem their order.

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Amazon Pay is now available for streamlined checkout on the Atom Tickets app and at atomtickets.com. The Atom Tickets skill for Amazon Alexa is another way that Amazon Pay is making it easier to go to the movies by letting fans buy reserved seats and checkout entirely by voice without ever having to remember a card number. Thanks to a separate integration with ‘Login with Amazon,’ movie fans who are also Amazon users can easily sign into Atom Tickets across web and app.

“With safety measures in place, movie fans are more confident to return to their local theaters,” Matthew Bakal, co-founder/chairman of Atom Tickets, said in a statement. “We understand that offering a critical feature like contactless payment is important to our users, so we’re thrilled to work with a long-time partner and trusted platform like Amazon Pay to deliver the convenience, familiarity and security they want.”

Report: Online Ticketing Key to Theatrical Re-Openings in COVID-19 Era

With movie theaters slowly re-opening in the COVID-19 era, online ticketing is being viewed as more than a convenience.

The business, which is spearheaded by Atom Tickets, Fandango, Big Tree Entertainment and all the major exhibitor chains, is poised to grow by $14.8 billion through 2024, progressing at 7% annual growth rate during the period, according to new data from Technavio.

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Although the coronavirus pandemic continues to transform the growth of various industries, the immediate impact of the outbreak is varied. While a few industries will register a drop in demand, numerous others will continue to remain unscathed and show promising growth opportunities.

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As has been oft reported, theaters have put a premium on sanitation, social distancing and related healthcare measures to instill a sense of preparedness and normalcy to consumers. Technavio found emphasis on better customer experience within the movie industry is a key trend to driving market growth going forward. Online ticketing is one of those experiences.

“The increased use of mobile applications will offer immense growth opportunities,” read the report. “To make most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.”

Atom Tickets Survey: Three-Quarters of U.S. Moviegoers Ready to Return to Theaters in a Month

Moviegoers are more eager to return to theaters than they were back in May, according to a new Aug. 17 “Return to Moviegoing” survey from ticketing service Atom Tickets.

Nearly three-quarters (74%) of consumers said they were ready to return to theaters within one month and 40% said they are ready to return to theaters immediately, up from 59% and 25% respectively, in a May survey. On the flipside, only 0.8% said they never plan to return to theaters and 15% said they would wait until there is a vaccine for the coronavirus, down from 21% in May.

The August survey received more than 16,000 U.S. digital moviegoer responses, according to Atom.

When asked to identify the most important safety measure to make them feel confident about going back to a movie theater, having spaced seating in the theater auditorium remained the most critical safety feature with 34% saying this was a key condition. The next most critical safety measure noted by moviegoers was staff and guests wearing masks at 30%, more than doubling in importance from Atom’s May survey (14%) and rising in importance over heightened theater cleaning procedures at 13% (down from 21% in May). Of note, 85% of August moviegoers surveyed said that they plan on wearing a mask even if it is not required by the theater or local government.

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The contactless trend that’s surging in the food and retail industries continues to be top-of-mind for moviegoers, with 87% of moviegoers surveyed in August saying that purchasing digital tickets from their own device and eliminating the need to interact with a cashier is an important safety measure, relatively flat with May findings (88%). Concessions may also look different in a post-COVID world, with customers leaning into ordering ahead and picking up their items instead of waiting in lines and being served directly over the counter. Of those who had never pre-ordered movie theater concessions, 68% said they are now likely to try it (up from 61% in May). Among those that had previously preordered their movie snacks, 90% said they would do it again.

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“We’re encouraged by this new survey and believe it’s a good sign for the movie industry. Our data also showed that eagerness to return to the movies has more to do with how often you went to the movies before the pandemic rather than by age or region,” Matthew Bakal, chairman and co-founder of Atom Tickets, said in a statement. “I’m pleased to see the heightened interest in safety measures including pre-ordering tickets and concessions. We know people want to enjoy the movies together with friends and family and will do so responsibly.”

The survey also revealed new films will get most moviegoers to return to the big screen, with 49% of those surveyed saying they would rather wait for new movies to be released before returning versus 35% who said they would return to cinemas to see re-releases of classic movies. Also, according to the survey, the 2020 films that moviegoers were most excited to see on the big screen were Black Widow, Wonder Woman 1984 and the “James Bond” movie No Time to Die. For 2021, moviegoers were eager to see The Eternals from Marvel Studios, The Batman and Jurassic World: Dominion.

Complementing new safety and cleaning guidelines by movie theaters, Atom has launched new buffered seating maps and Safety Guidelines on their app and website.

Survey: 77% Ready to Return to Theaters in a Few Months

An Atom Tickets survey found 77% of respondents were ready to return to theaters within a few months, with 25% willing to return immediately. Only 1% said they never plan to return to theaters.

Digital movie ticketing platform Atom surveyed more than 1,500 moviegoers about their moviegoing intentions in the midst of theaters’ temporary closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

When asked to identify the most important safety measure to make them feel confident about going back to a movie theater, having spaced seating in the theater auditorium was by far the most critical safety feature at 42.2% or respondents. The next most critical safety measure was heightened theater cleaning procedures at 21.14%, followed by staff and guests wearing masks at 14.36%. Only 6.41% of moviegoers said taking staff and guest temperature readings before screenings was the most important condition that must be met before they would feel comfortable returning.

More than 88% said that purchasing digital tickets from their own device and eliminating the need to interact with a cashier was an important safety measure. As far as concessions, customers were interested ordering ahead and picking up their items instead of waiting in crowded lines and being served directly over the counter. Of those who have never pre-ordered movie theater concessions, 61% said they are now likely to try it.

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“Moviegoers are telling us that they miss the experience of going to the movies and they’re ready to get back, but that the experience needs to look slightly different than before,” said Matthew Bakal, chairman and co-founder of Atom Tickets, in a statement. “We anticipate a rapid acceleration in digital ordering, just as we have seen in other industries, in order to reduce the amount of person-to-person interactions. We’re eager to resume being together with friends and family, but we want to do so responsibly. Atom is working with our theater partners to roll out spaced seat maps so that guests can see the steps being taken in order to provide a safe environment.”

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In terms of films moviegoers were looking forward to seeing, the female superheroes led the pack with Black Widow and Wonder Woman 1984 taking 58% and 51% of votes, respectively. The James Bond installment No Time to Die, Disney’s Mulan and Top Gun: Maverick rounded out the top five. Millennial moviegoers weighed in slightly differently, with John Krasinski’s A Quiet Place Part 2 coming in third.

Atom Tickets Seeks to Work with Exhibitors Rolling Out Subscription Platform

Online ticket platform Atom Tickets announced a new service, Atom Movie Access, enabling exhibitors to develop custom theatrical ticket subscription plans for consumers.

The move represents an effort to incorporate movie theaters with the consumer-popular concept of ticket subscriptions, while not alienating exhibitors as was done by subscription pioneer MoviePass.

MoviePass has cited fraudulent use of its $9.95 monthly subscription – not a flawed business model – for the service’s fiscal challenges.

App-based Atom Movie Access affords exhibitors the ability to offer subscribers reserved seating, pre-order concessions, invite friends via social media and check-in using portable media devices.

“We’ve always believed in being a valuable partner to exhibitors, starting with the core functionality of our app, which allows for marketing promotions at specific locations and integrating exhibitor loyalty plans,” Matthew Bakal, co-founder of Atom Tickets, said in a statement.

The service, which is co-owned by Lionsgate, Disney/Fox and Fidelity Management & Research Co., also offers backend support, including payment transactions, customer service and fraud detection.

“Atom Tickets is an innovative ticketing platform that enables exhibitors to reach and engage new and incremental audiences,” Bakal said.

 

Survey: ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Most-Anticipated Movie in 2019

Avengers: Endgame topped multiple lists of fans’ most anticipated movies to see in 2019, according to a survey by Atom Tickets, the social movie ticketing platform.

The “Avengers” film was the overall top “most anticipated,” “most anticipated superhero movie” and “most excited ensemble cast to see” in the survey.

“Although we expect to see some movement in preferences as release dates near and studios ramp up marketing efforts, there were clear winners in each category. The battles for box office dominance between Dwayne Johnson, Lupita Nyong’o, The Avengers, and Star Wars will be epic, and the 2019 slate looks great overall,” said Matthew Bakal, chairman and co-founder of Atom Tickets, in a statement. “Despite all the headlines about streaming formats dominating the industry, our survey found that consumers are still very enthusiastic about seeing movies in the theater. In fact, an overwhelming 86% of survey respondents said they are likely to see movies in theaters in 2019. Interestingly, a large majority of consumers — 76% — plan to watch the movies they loved and saw in the theater again at home.”

According to the Atom Tickets survey:

The top 10 overall most anticipated movies for 2019 are:

  1. Avengers: Endgame
  2. Captain Marvel
  3. Spider-Man: Far From Home
  4. Toy Story 4
  5. The Lion King
  6. Star Wars: Episode IX
  7. Aladdin
  8. X-Men: Dark Phoenix
  9. Glass
  10. Jumanji sequel

 

The most anticipated superhero movies for 2019 are:

  1. Avengers: Endgame
  2. Captain Marvel
  3. Spider-Man: Far From Home

 

The most anticipated family films for 2019 are:

  1. The Lion King
  2. Toy Story 4
  3. Aladdin

 

The most anticipated horror films for 2019 are:

  1. It: Chapter 2
  2. Pet Sematary
  3. Annabelle 3

 

The top three ensemble casts fans are most excited to see in 2019 are:

  1. Avengers: Endgame with Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans and Mark Ruffalo
  2. Star Wars: Episode IX with Oscar Isaac, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Lupita Nyong’o and John Boyega
  3. Jumanji sequel with Karen Gillan, Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black and Kevin Hart

 

According to the survey, fans are most excited to see the following actors in 2019:

  1. Ryan Reynolds
  2. Chris Pratt
  3. Dwayne Johnson
  4. Will Smith
  5. Keanu Reeves

 

Moviegoers are most excited to see the following actresses in 2019:

  1. Kristen Bell
  2. Lupita Nyong’o
  3. Brie Larson
  4. Beyoncé
  5. Zendaya

 

Fans are most excited to see the following actors/actresses in their breakout movie roles:

  1. Sophie Turner in X-Men: Dark Phoenix
  2. Mena Massoud in Aladdin
  3. Millie Bobby Brown in Godzilla: King of the Monsters

 

Amazon Prime Jumpstarts ‘Aquaman’ Domestic Theatrical Release with $3 Million Sneak Screening

Amazon continues to flex third-party revenue opportunities through its Prime membership base.

The e-commerce behemoth reportedly helped generate almost $3 million in ticket sales for Warner Bros.’ upcoming DC superhero movie Aquaman, following a Dec. 15 sneak screening. The tally beat Amazon’s previous $1.8 million collaboration with Sony Pictures for Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.

Working with Atom Tickets, Amazon enabled Prime members to purchase up to 10 tickets for the special screening available at more than 1,200 theaters nationwide,including AMC, Regal, National Amusement Theaters and ArcLight Cinemas.

Paid sneak screenings – unlike free previews – reportedly offer studios a better estimate how movies will perform under general release.

Directed by James Wan (Saw, The Conjuring, Insidious), Aquaman stars Jason Momoa in the title role, in addition to co-stars Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Nicole Kidman, among others.

The movie, which opens Dec. 21, has already generated $261.3 million in foreign box office revenue.

Amazon, which has more than 100 million Prime members, first began leveraging its user base via Prime Video Channels (formerly Amazon Channels) affording third-party streaming video platforms such as Starz, Showtime OTT and HBO Now direct access to its members, while handling billing and backend support in exchange for a percentage of revenue.

Indeed, parent companies of Showtime, CBS All Access, Starz and HBO Now have attributed much of their subscriber gains to Amazon.

 

 

AMC Theatres A-List Subscription Ticket Service Partners with Fandango, Atom Tickets

AMC Theatres A-List, the theatrical chain’s ticket subscription service and loyalty program, Sept. 17 announced a marketing partnership with online ticket services Fandango and Atom Tickets.

Under terms of the deal, A-List members who may use Atom Tickets and Fandango for movie tickets can now enter their A-List membership number during checkout, securing a ticket reservation with their membership, which is applied as one of the subscriber’s three-movies-per-week allotment.

A-List, which was launched this summer by AMC for $19.95 monthly as competition to MoviePass ($9.95) and Cinemark’s Movie Club ($8.99) subscription platforms,

Because A-List members receive the benefits of AMC Stubs Premiere, the online ticketing fee is waived. A-List subs can also purchase additional tickets in the same transaction on both sites, allowing them to bring along friends and family members to the movie.

“The guest feedback and membership sign-up rate have far exceeded our expectations, but we’re constantly looking for ways to provide more opportunities … through A-List,” Stephen Colanero, chief marketing officer, AMC, said in a statement.

Adding Fandango and Atom Tickets, the latter co-owned by Lionsgate, ups the profile of online ticketing across all platforms – and helps drive more moviegoers into their theaters.

“Fandango and AMC Theatres have worked together for more than a decade to innovate the moviegoing experience for AMC’s guests across online, mobile and social media platforms,” said Kevin Shepela, chief commercial officer, Fandango.

“Recognizing A-List membership is … a natural extension of our support for exhibitor loyalty programs,” added Matthew Bakal, cofounder and chairman of Atom Tickets.

Atom Tickets Bows First National TV Ad Featuring Anna Faris

Atom Tickets, the online movie ticket service funded by Lionsgate, Disney and 20th Century Fox Film, among others, May 23 rolled out its first national marketing campaign, which includes a TV spot featuring actress Anna Faris (“Mom”), and directed by Peter Berg (Lone Survivor, The Kingdom, Patriots Day).

Designed to appeal broadly to all audiences, the campaign positions Atom as a fan’s passport to an “elevated experience” that can only be delivered by the platform’s app – and social media.

The spot showcases Faris playfully scanning her Atom digital ticket to enter the theater, enjoying popcorn in her seat, and feeling thoroughly delighted by the experience.

“The campaign reinforces our key value propositions of share-ability, flexibility and convenience in purchasing movie tickets using Atom,” Amber Tarshis, head of marketing for Atom Tickets, said in a statement.

The ad will also run in theaters and online on Hulu and YouTube. Additionally, Atom is partnering with ESPN and PopSugar to specifically target the entertainment male and female audience.

The campaign follows actor Dwayne Johnson, his ex-wife and business manager Dany Garcia, and their production company, joining Atom’s advisory board.

Atom Tickets Adds Muscle to Advisory Board

Atom Tickets, the online movie ticket service backed by Lionsgate and 20th Century Fox, among others, May 21 announced the addition of Dwayne Johnson and his production company to its advisory board.

Johnson, his business partner/ex-wife Dany Garcia and Seven Bucks production company will provide their “expertise” to the ticket startup. Other advisory board members include Steven Spielberg, J.J. Abrams and Tyler Perry.

Matthew Bakal, co-founder of Atom Tickets, said Johnson brings a “unique and impressive connection” to moviegoers, that apparently will translate into ticket purchases.

“We’re honored to have the opportunity to tap into his passion for the motion picture industry to ideate the possibilities,” Bakal said in a statement.

For Johnson, star of myriad action movies, including Sony Pictures’ Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, New Line’s Rampage and upcoming Universal Pictures actioners, Skyscraper and Red Notice, partnering with Atom Tickets bring the moviegoing experience to consumers before they enter the theater.

“We are … revolutionizing the business of ticket buying as a whole,” Johnson said. “The Atom Team is an amazing group of individuals, who like us, are purely focused on the audience first.”

The free Atom Tickets app and website provide relevant movie reviews, trailers and synopses to help consumers make the best decision on what to see. App users can invite friends (via their contact lists) to purchase their own Atom tickets, among other features.