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PreShow: The Coolest yet Creepiest Free Movie App Launching on Kickstarter

Leslie Shapiro  |  Mar 25, 2019

“Attend first-run movies in theaters...FREE!” That’s the Kickstarter headline that caught my eye. Who doesn’t love free movies? However, what lengths will you go through to get those free movie theater tickets? PreShow is a new app launching on Kickstarter by the founder of MoviePass. If funded and launched, the PreShow app will play 15-20 minutes of advertisements in exchange for one free movie ticket credit. How they ensure that you watch the ads is completely freaking me out.

PreShow has a way to guarantee to their advertisers that you are watching. Using facial recognition technology built into Apple phones and specifically developed technology on Android, the free PreShow app will only unlock with facial recognition. Then it continues to use facial recognition to make sure you’ve watched the entire 15-20 minute advertisement. That’s right. Their technology will be watching you, making sure you’re watching the video. Put the phone down, cover your eyes or look away and the playback will pause after five seconds of inattention.

The app is free for users. Companies will pay for the app and the movie tickets in exchange for watching their commercials, or as they like to call it, branded content that is targeted to each viewer’s preferences and film choices. Once you’ve completed the required viewing, a credit is stored within your app. Want another credit? Watch more advertisements, although after two credits, you must purchase a ticket before you accruing more credits. Use the credits for online ticket purchases directly through theaters or companies such as Fandango. Right now, the creator is stating that there are no blackouts or restrictions except that it can only be used for 2D screenings; it can’t be used for 3D or IMAX at this time.

The premise of PreShow sounds vaguely familiar. Watch a few ads and get free content. You know, kind of like how broadcast TV works. Soap operas got their name from the exact same premise. Watch the ad for detergent, and we’ll give you free content. However, those early advertisers had no way of knowing if you were watching their ads or wandered off to get a snack during the commercial break. With PreShow, your guaranteed viewing is a lot more valuable to advertisers.

PreShow states that they will NEVER record you while it’s “watching” you, and they state on Kickstarter that they will “NEVER share personally identifiable information. Any data shared with brand partners will be aggregated and anonymized. If a member chooses to opt into a brand offering, they will be connected directly to the brand.”

The actual nitty-gritty of the app is still under development, and the Kickstarter is in pre-launch at the moment. At this time, the creator is planning on allowing users to only stockpile up to 2 credits, so after watching 30-40 minutes of “branded content,” you can take a date to the movies. A free movie in exchange for 15 minutes of ads doesn’t seem too bad, but my date would really have to be frugal to sit through up to 40 minutes of commercials before date night. At what point is “free” not really free? Don’t blink while you think about that.

More information is available kickstarter.com.

COMMENTS
mround's picture
Submitted by mround on April 1, 2019 - 8:47am

So you get to watch 20-40 minutes of commercials at home to get the movie ticket(s), then go to the theater and watch another 20 minutes of commercials (in addition to the trailers) before the movie starts. If it's for a date, can you watch the 40 minutes yourself or does your date have to watch 20 minutes too? Somehow, it seems a bit much when most theaters have deals like lower-priced times or even 5 buck days.

MovieFan91's picture
Submitted by MovieFan91 on March 26, 2025 - 3:30am

I just saw a Kickstarter campaign for this new app called PreShow that promises FREE movie tickets if you watch a 15-20 minute ad before the movie. Sounds too good to be true, right? But there’s a catch – they’ll use facial recognition to make sure you’re actually watching the ads. I'm a little freaked out by the whole "watching me watch" concept. What do you guys think? Is this worth it for a free movie ticket?

Cinephile_777's picture
Submitted by Cinephile_777 on March 26, 2025 - 3:32am

Yeah, I saw that too! Honestly, I’m intrigued by the idea of free movies, but I’m not sure I like the idea of facial recognition tracking me the whole time. It's a bit much, don't you think? I mean, I get that ads are how they make money, but being watched the entire time I watch an ad? Seems a bit invasive. And what happens if you accidentally look away for a second?

FilmBuff22's picture
Submitted by FilmBuff22 on March 26, 2025 - 3:37am

I get what you're saying, @Cinephile_777, but it’s not as crazy as it seems. In a way, it’s just like how TV ads have been forever – you watch the ad, you get free content. It's just that now the technology guarantees you're actually watching it, so advertisers get what they pay for. I found this article on facial recognition tech if anyone’s curious about how it all works. But yeah, it’s definitely a bit of a privacy concern.

MovieFan91's picture
Submitted by MovieFan91 on March 26, 2025 - 3:40am

That article is helpful, @FilmBuff22, but I’m still on the fence. I mean, I can’t just imagine sitting through 15-20 minutes of ads before every movie I go to. And can you really just "opt-out" of their tracking? They say they don’t record anything, but... who knows? :) Plus, it’s only for 2D movies. I guess that’s a deal-breaker for anyone who’s into IMAX or 3D.

Cinephile_777's picture
Submitted by Cinephile_777 on March 26, 2025 - 3:41am

Exactly, @MovieFan91. Imagine taking a date to the movies and you have to sit through almost half an hour of ads. It just doesn’t sound like a fun night out. I think I'd rather pay for my ticket, even if it’s not free. I know the app says it won’t record anything, but who actually believes that? I’ve heard of apps tracking you in way more invasive ways than that.

FilmBuff22's picture
Submitted by FilmBuff22 on March 26, 2025 - 3:43am

Yeah, I agree with both of you, but still, it's an interesting model. It’s kinda like how some online casinos work – you get bonuses or rewards for watching ads or doing small tasks. If you’re interested in that kind of thing, I recommend checking out pin-up https://pin-up.pk/ – they’ve got some cool promotions for new users. But honestly, for movie tickets, I’d still be wary of the whole facial recognition thing.

MovieFan91's picture
Submitted by MovieFan91 on March 26, 2025 - 3:45am

Haha, thanks for the tip, @FilmBuff22, but yeah, I don’t think I’m ready to dive into a new app that tracks my face for free tickets just yet. Maybe if it gets more reviews and I see how it works in practice, I’d consider it. But for now, I’ll stick to paying for my movie tickets the old-fashioned way.

Cinephile_777's picture
Submitted by Cinephile_777 on March 26, 2025 - 3:46am

Totally with you, @MovieFan91. The whole thing is just too much for me. I get the idea behind it, but I’m not cool with the level of monitoring. Plus, I don’t want to sit through a bunch of ads for a movie I already paid to watch. It’s like, is the movie really “free” at that point?

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