Moviefone
{{short description|Movie listing service}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Moviefone Media LLC
| logo = Moviefone logo.png
| logo_size = 250px
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| trade_name = Moviefone
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| type = Subsidiary
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| founded = {{Start date and age|1989}}
| founders = {{Unbulleted list|Rob Gukeisen| Andrew Jarecki| Henry Jarecki| Russ Leatherman| Adam Slutsky}}
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| hq_location_country = United States
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| services = Online media, movie theatre information, movie tickets
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| parent = {{Unbulleted list|AOL (1999-2018)|Helios and Matheson Analytics (2018-2020)|Born in Cleveland LLC (2020-present)}}
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| website = {{url|moviefone.com}}
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Moviefone is an American-based moving pictures listing and information service. Moviegoers can obtain local showtimes, cinema information, film reviews, and advance tickets, as well as TV content and a comprehensive search tool that allows users to find theaters, channels, and streaming services offering movies and television shows.{{cite web|title=About Moviefone|website=Moviefone.com|url=https://www.moviefone.com/about/|access-date=2019-10-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710162948/https://www.moviefone.com/about/|archive-date=2019-07-10|url-status=live}} The service is owned by Born in Cleveland LLC, Cleveland O'Neal III's holding company. O'Neal is creator and producer of Made in Hollywood syndicated daytime entertainment show.
History
In 1987, in Manhattan Beach, CA, Doug Hoitenga conceived the idea and business model for moviefone, and shortly thereafter compiled a founding team. In 1989, Doug Hoitenga, along with Russ Leatherman, Rob Gukeisen, Andrew Jarecki, Pat Cardamone, and Adam Slutsky launched the interactive telephone service, with initial service in Los Angeles and New York City.{{Cite web|last=Goldsmith|first=Jill|date=2020-03-20|title=Moviefone Sold For $1M, MoviePass Next On Block As Bankrupt Parent Dismantled|url=https://deadline.com/2020/03/moviefone-sold-1m-moviepass-next-helios-matheson-1202888787/|access-date=2021-01-31|website=Deadline|language=en-US}} Leatherman provided the voice of "Mr. Moviefone" for the automated phone service.{{Cite web|title=Moviefone voice: 'I'm not bummed' that phone service is ending|url=http://www.today.com/popculture/moviefone-voice-im-not-bummed-phone-service-ending-2D12164196|access-date=2021-01-31|website=TODAY.com|date=25 February 2014 |language=en}} After gaining popularity, the service later expanded across the United States and eventually adopted an online presence as Moviefone.com.
In 1999, AOL purchased Moviefone for $388 million.{{cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/1999/02/01/deals/moviefone/?iid=EL |title=AOL buys MovieFone |work=CNN |date=February 1, 1999 |access-date=March 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402181940/http://money.cnn.com/1999/02/01/deals/moviefone/?iid=EL |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/America+Online+to+Acquire+MovieFone,+Inc.,+Nation's+No.+1+Movie...-a053680139|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528121224/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/America+Online+to+Acquire+MovieFone%2c+Inc.%2c+Nation's+No.+1+Movie...-a053680139|title=America Online to Acquire MovieFone, Inc., Nation's No. 1 Movie Listing and Ticketing Company.|website=Business Wire|publisher=Berkshire Hathaway|via=TheFreeDictionary.com|archive-date=May 28, 2013|date=February 1, 1999|access-date=June 28, 2019}} The acquisition was completed on May 21, 1999.{{cite press release|title=America Online, Inc. Completes Acquisition of MovieFone, Inc.|website=Business Wire|publisher=Berkshire Hathaway|date=May 21, 1999}}{{cite web|url=https://www.warnermediagroup.com/newsroom/press-releases/1999/05/21/america-online-inc-completes-acquisition-of-moviefone-inc|title=America Online, Inc. Completes Acquisition of MovieFone, Inc.|website=warnermediagroup.com|date=May 21, 1999|access-date=August 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824093024/https://www.warnermediagroup.com/newsroom/press-releases/1999/05/21/america-online-inc-completes-acquisition-of-moviefone-inc|archive-date=August 24, 2019|url-status=live}}
In 2001, Moviefone entered into a partnership with MovieTickets.com that crosslinked their ticketing offerings; by 2004, Moviefone's online arm was acquired outright by MovieTickets.com.{{cite web|url=http://www.movietickets.com/press.asp?year=2004&pr_id=42|website=MovieTickets.com|title=Press release|date=2004|access-date=June 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216091410/http://www.movietickets.com/press.asp?year=2004&pr_id=42|archive-date=February 16, 2017|url-status=dead}} However, in 2012, Moviefone announced a partnership with MovieTickets.com's rival Fandango.{{cite news|author= Verrier, Richard |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-fandango-20120523,0,812900.story |title=Fandango and Moviefone dial up new partnership|work=Los Angeles Times|date=May 23, 2012|access-date=June 29, 2019}}{{cite news|author=Shaw, Lucas|url=http://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/-/world/13767140/fandango-and-moviefone-partner-for-ticket-sales/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716080905/http://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/-/world/13767140/fandango-and-moviefone-partner-for-ticket-sales/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 16, 2012|title=Fandango and Moviefone partner for ticket sales|agency=Reuters|date=May 23, 2012|access-date=June 29, 2019}}
On February 23, 2014, it was reported that Moviefone would be shutting down its call-in service and its "777-FILM" phone number, but would maintain its mobile app services.{{cite news|first=Brooks|last=Barnes|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/24/business/media/moviefone-is-hanging-up-but-its-app-will-go-on.html?rref=business&module=Ribbon&version=context®ion=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Business%20Day&pgtype=Blogs|title=Moviefone Is Hanging Up, but Its App Will Go On|work=The New York Times|date=February 23, 2014|access-date=June 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620132524/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/24/business/media/moviefone-is-hanging-up-but-its-app-will-go-on.html?rref=business&module=Ribbon&version=context®ion=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Business%20Day&pgtype=Blogs|archive-date=June 20, 2019|url-status=live}}
On May 5, 2014, Moviefone was relaunched with a new look, an expansion into TV content, and a comprehensive search tool that allows users to find theaters, channels, and streaming services offering movies and television shows.{{cite news|first=Brooks|last=Barnes|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/05/business/media/moviefone-will-add-broadcast-and-on-demand-tv-information.html?rref=business/media&module=Ribbon&version=context®ion=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Media&pgtype=article|date=May 5, 2014|title=Moviefone will add broadcast and on-demand TV information|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129191331/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/05/business/media/moviefone-will-add-broadcast-and-on-demand-tv-information.html?rref=business%2Fmedia&module=Ribbon&version=context®ion=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Media&pgtype=article|archive-date=November 29, 2014|url-status=live}}
On April 5, 2018, Helios and Matheson Analytics, the majority owner of the movie ticketing service MoviePass, announced the acquisition of Moviefone from Oath Inc. for $1 million in cash and $8 million in stock.{{cite news|author=Ben Fritz|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/upstart-moviepass-to-join-with-cinema-service-moviefone-1522930504/|title=Upstart MoviePass to Join With Cinema Service Moviefone|work=Wall Street Journal|date=April 5, 2018|access-date=June 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620131058/https://www.wsj.com/articles/upstart-moviepass-to-join-with-cinema-service-moviefone-1522930504/|archive-date=June 20, 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite news|first=Flora|last=Carr|url=http://fortune.com/2018/04/05/moviepass-buys-moviefone/|title=MoviePass Just Bought Moviefone. Here's What It Means for Moviegoers|work=Fortune|date=April 5, 2018|access-date=June 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709180236/http://fortune.com/2018/04/05/moviepass-buys-moviefone/|archive-date=July 9, 2018|url-status=live}}
In early 2020, Helios and Matheson went bankrupt in deep controversy over multiple changes to the MoviePass service, and at that point had one employee, Matt Atchity, handling Moviefone. The company was worth just $4,379,504, or about 1% of the 388 million when it was purchased by AOL.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/moviefone-bankruptcy-value-1203505129/|title=Moviefone, Worth 1% of Its Former Value, Is Being Run by One Employee After Parent Company's Bankruptcy |last=Spangler|first=Todd |date=2020-02-15 |website=Variety |language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215220152/https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/moviefone-bankruptcy-value-1203505129/|archive-date=2020-02-15|access-date=2020-02-17}} Made in Hollywood Producer Cleveland O’Neal III purchased Moviefone out of bankruptcy in March 2020 via his holding company, Born in Cleveland LLC.{{cite news |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |title=Meet Moviefone's New Owner: 'Made in Hollywood' Producer Cleveland O'Neal III |url=https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/moviefone-acquired-made-in-hollywood-cleveland-oneal-iii-1203544762/ |access-date=May 18, 2020 |work=Variety |date=March 25, 2020 |language=en}}
In popular culture
In the Seinfeld episode, "The Pool Guy" (season 7, episode 8), the character Cosmo Kramer receives misdialed calls meant for a parodied Moviefone after getting a new phone number.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0697758/ The Pool Guy], IMDb.com, Inc.
In an episode of the TV series of Dilbert, the Pointy-haired Boss confuses Moviefone with an automated hotline for checking his stocks, being frustrated that trying to check his IBM stock leads to buying tickets to a horror movie.
In an episode of Family Guy, Marlee Matlin attempts to call Moviephone in "I Dream of Jesus" in order to hear showtimes for The Last Mimzy, but ends up purchasing tickets to 300 because of her impaired speech.
In the 2001 film Josie and the Pussycats, Mr. Moviefone is the voice of subliminal advertising messages planted into pop music by an ominous record agency.
In the 2023 film Beau Is Afraid, Moviefone can be seen in a shot of Beau's recently called contacts.{{cite web |last1=Rife |first1=Katie |title=Beau Is Afraid's Filthiest Jokes Are Hidden in the Background |url=https://www.vulture.com/2023/06/all-of-beau-is-afraids-background-jokes-and-easter-eggs.html |website=Vulture |access-date=12 March 2024 |language=en |date=13 June 2023}}
References
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External links
- {{official website}}
- {{cite web| url=http://www.moviefone.com/777-FILM |website=Moviefone.com|title=777-FILM|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110407083219/http://www.moviefone.com/777-FILM|archive-date=2011-04-07}} List of U.S. states with Moviefone local numbers.
{{Verizon Media}}
Category:American film websites
Category:Information by telephone
Category:American companies established in 1989
Category:Internet properties established in 1989
Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2020