Dealflicks

Dealflicks was a U.S. entertainment service company focused on discounted movie-ticket sales. Based in Los Angeles, California, it operated an online and mobile platform through which customers could find and purchase lower-priced admissions at participating cinemas. Its business model was designed to help theaters fill otherwise empty seats while giving consumers access to cheaper moviegoing, positioning the service as a marketplace with similarities to dynamic-discount and demand-matching platforms. The idea originated with co-founder and chief executive Sean Wycliffe after he attended a screening of The King's Speech in 2010 and noticed that the auditorium was largely empty. The observation led to the concept of a service that could function as a “Priceline for movie tickets,” using discounts to stimulate demand for selected screenings. Wycliffe subsequently launched the company with Kevin Hong and Zachary Cancio. Dealflicks began testing its service in April 2012 with two independent California theaters. The public website followed in July 2012. Early growth depended heavily on persuading individual cinemas to adopt a new distribution channel. During its first ten months, the company added approximately 100 theaters, but the founders and sales team considered that pace insufficient. Hong and colleagues then traveled around the country in a minivan to meet theater operators. These sales trips, referred to by the company as “Man Van” journeys, produced 45 additional theater sign-ups over a three-month period and illustrated the operational challenge of building a two-sided marketplace in a fragmented cinema industry. The service expanded beyond small independent venues and eventually developed relationships with a number of larger U.S. theater groups. In March 2016, Dealflicks announced an agreement with Carmike Cinemas, then described as the fourth-largest theater chain in the United States. The arrangement was expected to make Dealflicks available at more than 750 theaters nationwide. That opportunity was short-lived: AMC Theatres announced its intention to acquire Carmike in the same month, completed the transaction in December 2016, and soon afterward canceled Carmike's agreement with Dealflicks. The cancellation removed the Carmike locations from the platform and materially changed the reach of the service. By August 2016, Dealflicks reported partnerships with 13 of the 50 largest U.S. theater chains, including B&B Theatres and Bow Tie Cinemas. The company had also reported raising $1.7 million in seed funding by July 2014, although the available reference material does not identify all investors or provide later financing data. Dealflicks ultimately ceased operations. On August 14, 2018, it notified customers by email that the service was ending, with service terminating the same day. No current website, successor owner, public listing, or continuing operating business is identified in the supplied sources.

Dealflicks emerged from an observation about unused cinema capacity. In 2010, Sean Wycliffe attended The King's Speech and found that the theater was mostly empty. He saw an opportunity to connect cinemas with consumers through targeted discounts, creating a marketplace that could increase attendance without relying solely on standard ticket pricing. The proposed model was compared by Wycliffe to a Priceline-like service for movie tickets. Wycliffe developed the company with Kevin Hong and Zachary Cancio. Dealflicks began operating a beta platform in April 2012, initially working with two independent theaters in California. The public website launched in July of that year. Its core service allowed customers to purchase discounted admissions online and through mobile devices, while participating theaters gained an additional method for promoting screenings with available capacity. Building the theater network was a central challenge. The company reportedly added about 100 theaters during its first ten months, but its founders believed a more aggressive sales effort was needed. Kevin Hong and the sales team traveled across the United States in a minivan to meet theater operators directly. The company called these sales excursions “Man Van” trips. The visits generated 45 additional theater partnerships in three months and helped Dealflicks move beyond its initial California base. The company obtained early-stage financing and had raised $1.7 million in seed funding by July 2014. The available reference does not identify the complete investor group, later funding rounds, valuation, or revenue. Dealflicks continued expanding its theater relationships and sought to work with both independent cinemas and larger chains. Its platform represented a two-sided business: consumer adoption depended on having enough attractive theaters and screenings, while theater participation depended on the platform's ability to deliver incremental ticket sales. A significant expansion announcement came in March 2016, when Dealflicks signed Carmike Cinemas. Carmike was described at the time as the fourth-largest theater chain in the United States, and the agreement was expected to bring the service to more than 750 theaters nationwide. The arrangement was disrupted by consolidation in the cinema industry. AMC announced its intention to acquire Carmike in March 2016, completed the acquisition in December, and soon afterward canceled Carmike's agreement with Dealflicks. As a result, the Carmike theaters were removed from Dealflicks' offering. Despite that setback, Dealflicks reported in August 2016 that it partnered with 13 of the 50 largest U.S. theater chains. B&B Theatres and Bow Tie Cinemas were among the chains identified. The company therefore reached a broader theater base than its early independent-cinema focus, although the loss of Carmike demonstrated the dependence of its distribution network on decisions made by theater-chain owners. Dealflicks eventually discontinued its service. On August 14, 2018, it notified customers by email that the business was ending and stopped operating the same day. The supplied reference material does not describe a successor platform, an acquisition of Dealflicks, a formal bankruptcy proceeding, or the reasons for the shutdown. It is consequently best characterized as a defunct online movie-ticketing company whose principal historical contribution was an early attempt to use discounted, digitally distributed admissions to match moviegoers with unused theater capacity.

• 2018

  Service discontinued

  [1]Dealflicksen.wikipedia.org

  Dealflicks announced the end of its service to customers on August 14, with operations ending the same day.

• 2016

  Carmike partnership announced

  [1]Dealflicksen.wikipedia.org

  A deal with Carmike Cinemas was expected to expand Dealflicks' availability to more than 750 theaters.

• 2016

  Carmike agreement canceled after AMC acquisition

  [1]Dealflicksen.wikipedia.org

  Following AMC's acquisition of Carmike, the theater chain ended its agreement with Dealflicks.

• 2014

  Seed financing reaches $1.7 million

  [1]Dealflicksen.wikipedia.org

  The company had raised $1.7 million in seed funding by July 2014.

• 2012

  Beta platform begins

  [1]Dealflicksen.wikipedia.org

  Dealflicks began beta operations in April with two independent California theaters.

• 2012

  Public website launches

  [1]Dealflicksen.wikipedia.org

  The company's online ticketing service officially launched in July.

• 2010

  Concept for the service develops

  [1]Dealflicksen.wikipedia.org

  After noticing a largely empty auditorium during The King's Speech, Sean Wycliffe developed the idea for a discount marketplace for movie tickets.

A demand-generation and discount-ticketing platform for movie theaters, positioned around filling underused seats and helping consumers obtain lower-priced cinema admissions.

• Online movie ticketing · 2012

  Dealflicks online ticketing platform

  The company's primary product was a web-based marketplace for discounted cinema admissions. Customers could browse participating theaters and purchase lower-priced tickets for eligible screenings. The service was intended to increase attendance at screenings with unused capacity while giving moviegoers a price incentive. It initially worked with independent theaters and later expanded its chain partnerships.

• Mobile movie ticketing

  Dealflicks mobile ticketing service

  Dealflicks also distributed its discounted-ticket offering through mobile devices. The mobile channel extended the company's digital purchasing model beyond its website and allowed customers to obtain participating-theater admissions electronically. Specific application names, operating systems, and technical features are not identified in the supplied reference.

• 2012California beta launch

  United States

  Dealflicks tested its discount-ticket concept with two independent California theaters before opening its public website.

  Outcome. The beta phase preceded the company's broader public launch in July 2012.

  Source
• 2012Man Van theater outreach

  United States

  Kevin Hong and the sales team traveled across the country in a minivan to recruit theater partners, turning direct operator visits into a distinctive business-development effort.

  Outcome. The trips generated 45 additional theater sign-ups over three months.

  Source

• 2018

  End the Dealflicks serviceOther

  Background

  After operating as a U.S. discounted movie-ticket platform, the company decided to discontinue its customer service.

  Action taken

  Dealflicks notified customers by email on August 14 and ended service that same day.

  Aftermath

  The brand became defunct; the supplied sources do not identify a successor, acquisition, or formal insolvency process.

  Source

• 2016

  Expand through the Carmike partnershipStrategy

  Background

  Dealflicks sought to move beyond smaller theater relationships and increase national reach through a major chain.

  Action taken

  The company signed an agreement with Carmike Cinemas, potentially extending availability to more than 750 theaters.

  Aftermath

  AMC's acquisition of Carmike led to cancellation of the agreement, removing Carmike theaters from the service.

  Source

• 2012

  Launch a discounted movie-ticket marketplaceProduct launch

  Background

  The founders sought to address empty theater seats by connecting cinemas with consumers through targeted ticket discounts.

  Action taken

  Dealflicks tested the platform with two California theaters and then launched its public website.

  Aftermath

  The company expanded its theater network and later pursued relationships with major U.S. chains.

  Source

1. 1Dealflicksen.wikipedia.org