MoviePass, MovieCrash is now streaming on Max.
From the outside, the downfall of the movie ticket subscription app MoviePass seems like a complex story that could fill a feature-length film. However, documentary filmmaker Muta’Ali simplifies it by attributing the demise to greed. This insatiable desire for growth transformed MoviePass from a small startup with noble ideals to a corporate giant and eventually a cautionary tale. Muta’Ali traces the company’s journey through the eyes of those who were part of its inception, highlighting how a once-promising dream turned into a nightmare in 2018.
The Employee Perspective
In MoviePass, MovieCrash, three different viewpoints shed light on what led to the company’s collapse. Instead of focusing solely on executives and investors, Muta’Ali directs attention to employees like programmers and customer service agents. Their firsthand experiences offer valuable insights into the internal struggles of MoviePass, showcasing the impact of executive decisions on lower-level staff.
Mitch Lowe’s Role
Former executive Mitch Lowe, known for his work at Redbox and Netflix, plays a significant part in MoviePass’s narrative. Alongside hedge fund investor Ted Farnsworth, Lowe’s leadership ushered in an era of extravagant spending that ultimately contributed to the company’s downfall.
These two men were true disruptors.
The Founders’ Story
Interestingly, MoviePass was founded by two Black men, Stacy Spikes and Hamet Watt. Despite facing challenges in securing financing and closing deals, Spikes and Watt’s innovative approach brought MoviePass to the brink of success. However, their eventual ousting from the company paved the way for its eventual collapse.
Muta’Ali’s Critique
While MoviePass, MovieCrash serves as a captivating oral history of the rise and fall of the company, it also delves into deeper themes of systemic racism in the entrepreneurial world. Muta’Ali highlights how establishment greed overshadowed the work of Spike and Watt, leading to the demise of their brainchild.
Muta’Ali weaves in a subplot of Black work undermined by establishment greed.
The Legacy of MoviePass
Despite the company’s tumultuous journey, the documentary leaves viewers reflecting on the original vision of MoviePass and the untapped potential it once held. Through a combination of interviews, audio recordings, and animations, Muta’Ali paints a vivid picture of a company that succumbed to corporate greed and mismanagement.
Final Thoughts
As the documentary unfolds, showcasing the series of missteps and questionable decisions that led to MoviePass’s downfall, viewers are left contemplating the legacy of a once-innovative idea marred by greed and incompetence. The narrative serves as a stark reminder of the perils of unchecked ambition and the importance of staying true to one’s vision, even in the face of adversity.