MoviePass just pivoted from movie subscriptions to fantasy film mogul - and it's already got 400,000 people wanting to play studio executive. The company's new platform Mogul launched out of private beta today, letting users draft actors, directors, and movies with virtual currency while competing for a $100,000 prize pool during awards season.
MoviePass is betting its future on fantasy - not the cinematic kind, but the sports variety applied to Hollywood. The subscription service that famously crashed and burned before resurrecting itself just opened Mogul, its film studio fantasy platform, to public beta after months of private testing.
The timing couldn't be more strategic. MoviePass founder Stacy Spikes told TechCrunch the platform launches right as awards season kicks off, giving players 12 weeks to compete during Hollywood's biggest box office and prestige period. Over 400,000 users have already joined the waitlist, with 5,000 beta testers providing early feedback.
Here's how it works: players create their own film studio and receive one million "Mogul Coins" - the platform's virtual currency - to draft teams of actors, directors, and movies. Think fantasy football, but instead of Tom Brady, you're betting on whether "Wicked: For Good" at $100,000 will outperform indie darlings at a fraction of the cost. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande each cost $25,000, while director Jon M. Chu runs the same price.
But this isn't just about picking the biggest blockbusters. Spikes emphasized that Mogul rewards net profitability over gross revenue, creating opportunities for savvy players who spot undervalued assets. "It's important to keep an eye out for up-and-coming stars," he explained, suggesting players look beyond Marvel franchises to Bollywood films and independent cinema that bigger fantasy players might overlook.
The strategic element extends to real-world Hollywood drama affecting player decisions. Take "Tron: Ares" star Jared Leto, who's currently facing sexual misconduct allegations according to Variety - exactly the kind of industry turbulence that could tank a film's performance and smart players need to factor into their roster moves.
Mogul runs on the Sui blockchain, recording every trade and selection while offering digital collectibles like signed posters as players climb the leaderboard. The inaugural fall season comes with a $100,000 prize pool in tokens, clearly designed to generate buzz and user acquisition. MoviePass is also dangling exclusive badges and "Founding Member" status for users who activate accounts by Halloween.
