AMC to charge subscription fee for access to the best seats in theaters

Moviegoers looking to secure the best seats in the house at AMC Theatres will soon need a subscription.

The company announced that later this year it will introduce “preferred premier seating,” a system that reserves prime auditorium seats exclusively for members of its premium subscription tiers, A-List and Stubs Premiere, at no extra cost for those subscribers.

According to AMC CEO Adam Aron, the goal is to ensure the best seats are initially held for loyal customers who pay for membership benefits. While those members can access the designated seat block, they still must pay regular ticket prices in most cases.

A Stubs Premiere subscription costs $17.99 per year and provides access to reserved premium seating along with other perks. The higher-tier A-List subscription ranges from $19.99 to $27.99 per month depending on location and includes admission to up to four films per week, plus additional benefits such as discounted tickets on select days and waived fees for premium formats.

Critics have compared the move to airline-style add-on pricing, where extra advantages come at an added cost. Supporters argue it rewards frequent moviegoers with meaningful perks while helping theaters drive membership revenue.

The policy is set to roll out later this year across AMC locations.