Dinner and a Moviepass: Startup says it’s bringing couples together with movies

Who doesn’t love a good movie date? They’re easy to arrange, great for meeting new people, and also give couples a simple way to spend time together.

Moviepass, a New York City-based startup that offers an unlimited movie ticket service, noticed that its service is particularly alluring to couples. The company found couples who joined ended up hitting the cinema twice as much, while singles attended 66 percent more often.

The bump in attendance isn’t entirely surprising, as Moviepass caters to movie lovers by letting them view one free movie a day for up to $50 a month (the price depends on the market). But couples surveyed by Moviepass also noted overwhelmingly that the service had a positive impact on their relationship, the company told VentureBeat.

Moviepass is an admittedly expensive service compared to other offerings like Netflix, but with movie ticket prices rocketing upward, it’s useful for anyone who goes to the movies at least four times a month. For couples, that goes doubly so.

One couple, Diana and Stephen Forrer of Myrtle Beach, S.C. (above), told the startup that movies played a fundamental role in their relationship from the beginning. They ended up having their engagement photos at a local movie theater.

“With MoviePass, being able to go [to the movie theater] whenever we want has been great for us! We don’t worry about how much we’re spending when we go, because it’s already paid for, so we can really just relax,” Diana Forrer said in a statement. “In a world where things can be tight and everything’s a big decision, it’s nice to always have a date night we don’t have to worry about. Plus, we love movies!”

An older couple, Gilda and David Ortiz of Miami Beach Florida, also pointed out that Moviepass helped them get used to life as empty nesters.

It may just seem like commonsense, but according to psychotherapist Dr. Brett Kennedy it’s important for couples to take part in simple shared activities like going to the movies.

“Couples who engage in arousing leisure activities are more satisfied in their relationships with one another,” Kennedy said in a statement provided to Moviepass. “To keep a spark in your relationship, it is important you keep “dating” one another and prioritize your time together.   Dinner and a movie should never get old.”

Moviepass has raised $4.7 million so far from True Ventures, AOL Ventures, WME, and others.