AOL Moviefone, Inc., through its Moviefone telephone service (e.g. 777-FILM) and Moviefone.com web site, is the largest interactive movie listing Guide and ticketing service in the country. Together, the services provide millions of moviegoers each week with a complete, free directory of movies, showtimes, theater locations, the ability to purchase tickets in advance, and original movie content, news and reviews. AOL Moviefone and Moviefone.com provide complete coverage of tens of thousands of screens nationwide, working with every major theater circuit including Loews Cineplex Entertainment, United Artists Theatres, General Cinema Theatres, AMC Theatres, Mann Theatres, City Cinemas, Pacific Theatres, Cinemark, Century Theatres and others. AOL Moviefone's listings and information are free to consumers and exhibitors.
A Simple Idea Becomes a Big Business
AOL Moviefone was formed when four entrepreneurs merged their resources in 1989. Simply tired of getting busy signals when they called movie theaters for showtimes, Russ Leatherman and Rob Gukeisen had decided to create a telephone movie Guide in Los Angeles, and Andrew Jarecki and Adam Slutsky were working on an identical new business in New York. Leatherman and Gukeisen had experience and contacts in the entertainment industry, while Jarecki and Slutsky had financial backing and marketing expertise. Thanks to an article that appeared in the Hollywood Reporter in May of 1989, the four entrepreneurs learned of one another and joined together to create Moviefone, Inc.
Since AOL Moviefone's 1989 launch in two cities -- Los Angeles and New York -- it has expanded nationwide and has processed hundreds of millions of calls. Moviefone.com was launched in 1995 (and quickly became the largest service of its kind in the nation). AOL Moviefone was purchased by America Online, Inc. in May 1999. To learn about career opportunities at Moviefone and America Online, click here.
A History of Innovation
Every year since its inception, AOL Moviefone has added new products and services to make moviegoing more convenient. Some of these innovations include:
Advance Ticketing
First Feedback
Reserved Seating
Moviemail ®
Complimentary Tickets Program
Voice Recognition
Advance Ticketing
AOL Moviefone and Moviefone.com enable moviegoers in most cities to purchase tickets in advance using a charge card. This service, which includes a nominal per-ticket service charge, is especially valuable for eagerly-anticipated movies that are likely to sell out. Using this option, moviegoers can be sure to get tickets days or even weeks in advance of a movie's opening.
First Feedback
First Feedback is a video clip of the moviegoers opening night reactions on movies. We know that moviegoers are the ones whose opinions matter most. Each week we go out to the theaters on the day a movie is released to the public. We ask regular moviegoers for their honest reactions -- then we bring it to you in the form of RealVideo. This is an exciting alternative to relying on the critics. We hope you enjoy First Feedback!
Reserved Seating
Reserved Seating offers moviegoers the opportunity to choose their preferred seats in the theater, eliminating long ticket-holder lines and last-minute rushing. Reserved Seating is available at select theaters, at no additional charge, to moviegoers who purchase tickets via AOL Moviefone as well as those who purchase tickets at the theater box office.
Moviemail®
A free, subscription based service, Moviemail® sends moviegoers customized emails that match their preferences and even includes opening weekend showtimes at local theaters. By registering on Moviefone.com and indicating their film genre preferences and zip code, moviegoers will be notified when a film is opening which matches the interests they expressed when subscribing to Moviemail®.
Complimentary Tickets Program
AOL Moviefone, in concert with American Express, has introduced a program that will further enhance the moviegoing experience. For every 10 tickets purchased with an American Express® Card through AOL Moviefone or Moviefone.com, the cardmember automatically earns a complimentary 11th ticket. This program is hassle-free for consumers because AOL Moviefone tracks the number of tickets purchased on each American Express® Card, gives the balance of tickets purchased after every transaction, and then issues the 11th ticket without charging the moviegoer's Card. This program is currently available in Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Houston, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Seattle, and Washington DC.
Voice Recognition
AOL Moviefone callers in certain markets are now able to get movie listings and tickets faster and easier than ever by simply speaking into the phone. Since AOL Moviefone's inception, callers have made selections using the buttons on their touchtone keypad. The enhanced service, created through a partnership with Lucent Technologies, will enable moviegoers to select a movie by saying the title into the phone. Similarly, callers can enter other information like their zip code or credit card number by speaking into the phone. Callers who do not wish to speak their selections will still have the option of entering them using their touchtone keypad.
Date Added to Directory: 6/6/2001, Current Content: 9/6/2008, Days in Directory: 2649
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