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AOL Moviefone
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 The behemoth AOL Moviefone serves 9,000 movie screens nationwide. |
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Blockbuster features
Even before AOL bought Moviefone in May 1999, it was big. Formed in 1989, the company began offering nationwide phone service for movie times. After moving to the Web in 1995, the site partnered with theater chains and now serves more than 9,000 screens coast to coast.
The site itself reveals the force behind the AOL moniker. Features such as original articles; feedback video in which fans sound off outside the theater; a national, comprehensive database of show times (not just for the theaters it's partnered with); and advanced ticketing will keep you hanging around after the box office is closed. And with size comes breadth: in San Francisco alone, AOL Moviefone serves nine theaters.
 Despite the opening day crowds for Jurassic Park III, AOL Moviefone ushered me into the theater safe and sound. |
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But advance tickets weren't easy to come by for Jurassic Park III in the city, even though the site claims you can buy tickets three to six days before show time. The day before opening night, I typed Jurassic Park III and San Francisco into the search box. The Metreon didn't show up, nor did any other SF theaters that I could buy tickets for online.
On the day of the show, however, it finally appeared, playing at three theaters, including the Metreon. What did I miss? To make sure it wasn't user error, I immediately searched for America's Sweethearts, which was opening two days later. Nothing. On the day of the show, however, bingo: it was playing at the Metreon.
A few weeks later, I searched for Rush Hour 2 four days before opening (nothing), three days before opening (nothing), and two days before opening (nothing). I called AOL, and Jay Jay Nesheim, communication manager for AOL Moviefone, explained that the problem was likely that the Metreon didn't update its system until the day of the show. I called the Metreon, and a representative said that she would correct the problem. She did. On the day before Rush Hour 2 opened, AOL Moviefone had it listed for the Metreon.
Moviefone's advance ticketing at the Metreon isn't foolproof, but I did manage to buy tickets to Jurassic Park III on the day of the show, although the $1 service charge per ticket didn't seem like money well spent.
Opening night
I wanted a good test, so I showed up at the Metreon at 3:41 p.m., exactly 9 minutes before the showing of what was arguably the biggest movie of the summer season on opening day in downtown San Francisco. Good news (from my perspective): Jurassic Park III was sold out. Better news: the theater was mobbed; the Metreon's many screens were drawing huge afternoon crowds. After some confused wandering and a visit to the Information desk, I found three ATM-like ticketing kiosks surrounded by a small, disorganized crowd. I dug in for a long wait--and 2 minutes and 30 seconds later, I had my ticket in hand and was on my way to find a seat (the last one remaining).
But I wasn't letting Moviefone and the Metreon off that easily. Two days after Jurassic Park III opened, I bought tickets for the opening night of America's Sweethearts at the Metreon, which fell on a Friday. Expecting frenzied crowds, I strolled in like a movie star 4 minutes before the curtain rose.
Again, it was mobbed. Again, my movie was sold out. Again, a small, disorganized crowd surrounded the ticket machine. And, once again, I held tickets for a sold-out show in less than 3 minutes. Upstairs, I found three more ticket machines with nobody waiting in line. I felt like I had beaten the system (albeit a very small system).
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• AOL Moviefone • Fandango |
• MovieTickets.com • Epilogue: Almost famous |
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