The Cineworld Unlimited Membership promises a utopia for film lovers to have the exclusive chance to watch as many films as they wish for a monthly fee.
But is this tempting offer truly worth it? The answer, to put it simply is yes.
However, that being said, you have to make the most of it and plan it out strategically.
As I am unfortunately nearing the end of my three-month subscription, let me walk you through my personal experience of Cineworld Unlimited.
The first question you must ask yourself is: Do you have enough spare time for this? If you have a busy lifestyle or unpredictable viewing habits, you may find it hard to fit in cinema trips with your schedule. Although, if you are a student like me who is obsessed with the cinema, it is the perfect deal!
The key to getting your money’s worth is watching enough films for it to pay off. With the monthly fee at The Gate in Newcastle being £17.99, you would need to watch at least 2-3 films to break even. With singular ticket prices ranging from £6-£9 for students and £10-£13 for a regular ticket, the membership is definitely worth the money!
The biggest factor in making the membership worthwhile is planning. You must ensure that there is a substantial amount of upcoming releases that you know you’ll be eager to see in theatres. I managed to see an average of 5 films per month at Cineworld, which means I saved huge amounts of money!
Personally, I believe the best time of year to purchase the membership is in September because you get the best of all the latest Halloween and Christmas releases.
As an avid horror fan, September and October were perfect months for me. This year was jam-packed with frightful fun, including some incredible releases such as Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Terrifier 3, Smile 2, Speak No Evil and The Substance.
During my subscription, Cineworld was also screening Star Wars Sundays, where each week, they would display a film in timeline order. This allowed many fans to experience these movies on the big screen for the first time. Being able to see Obi-Wan defeat Anakin on Mustafar one week and Luke destroying the Death Star another, immediately made it worth the money in my opinion!
November was a great month for cinema with the adaptation of the Broadway hit Wicked, the action-packed sequel Gladiator II and Hugh Grant’s chilling performance in Heretic. November also saw the beginning of Cineworld’s ‘musical season’, with showings of films Chicago, Moulin Rouge!, The Greatest Showman and Grease.
Image Credit: Cineworld
As we’ve now transitioned into December, Cineworld has released reruns of our favourite festive films. If you attended every screening of their Christmas season, it would cost you £60. With a membership, you could save so much money just this month! Lined up with Christmas classics like Love Actually, The Muppet Christmas Carol and Die Hard, you can certainly get the most bang for your buck with Cineworld Unlimited.
The subscription also includes an array of other member perks, including 10% off in-cinema snacks & drinks and in-cinema Starbucks, advance screenings and premium formats such as Superscreen. After your first 3 month trial period of Unlimited, you are automatically updated to a Cineworld Black Card, where you gain access to significantly better deals, including 25% off snacks & drinks, and you can attend 3D screenings for no extra cost. Furthermore, if you recommend a friend to Cineworld Unlimited, you both receive a whole month extra for free!
My favourite part of Cineworld Unlimited is undeniably the Unlimited members-only advanced screenings. The reason this stands out to me is that it feels like I’m part of an exclusive club with other film lovers. There are none of the usual distractions you typically deal with at a normal screening like people turning up 15 minutes late or going on their phone with their volume turned up. I had the chance a few days ago to see the highly anticipated We Live in Time, starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh, a whole month before its official release date, which was such an awesome experience.
Despite all these encouraging factors, some downsides should be taken into account. The main issue is the minimum contract term of three months. You can’t simply purchase a one-off Unlimited card for the month you know you’ll have a lot of films you want to see. It’s a direct debit that charges you each month, and you can only cancel it after the third. So if the cinema comes to any dry spells where there isn’t much on that peaks your interest, you’re going to feel like you’ve struck a loss.
In comparison to other cinema unlimited offers, Cineworld does fall slightly to Odeon’s My Limitless membership. The cheapest version is £14.99, which includes unlimited movies, 10% off food and drinks and advance screenings. As well as a plus membership, which is £17.99, the same price as Cineworld, which includes even more perks like access to Luxe cinemas, premium seat upgrades and screen upgrades to iSense and 3D. Despite having a cheaper option, Odeon is too far from me to be worth the price of travel, which is why I went with Cineworld. In comparison to Everyman Cinema, which is £59 per month for an unlimited membership, Cineworld offers a much more affordable option at a lower fee and also includes some persuasive factors demonstrated below.
Ultimately, the Cineworld Unlimited Membership is worth it in my eyes. It’s ideal for cinephiles who have the time, interest, and commitment to watch films regularly. For those who thrive on the cinema-going experience, the benefits are plentiful: from advance screenings to discounts and even a free month extra when you refer a friend.
However, for those who find it difficult to commit to consistent cinema visits or who aren’t sure if the latest releases suit your interests, it’s worth being cautious. In slower months, you may find yourself in a dry spell for movies, and the cost of three months might feel like a bit of a drain.
The Cineworld Unlimited Membership can be a fantastic investment if you use it wisely. If you’re careful about timing your purchase and schedule your movie-going around it, you’ll discover that the value greatly outweighs the price. For the right person, it’s not just a membership, it’s an experience that makes films to life in ways streaming services just can’t top. I will certainly be repurchasing Cineworld Unlimited in the future!
