Alamo Drafthouse Opts Out of Meta Second-Screen Experience for ‘M3GAN’ Rerelease, No Phones Policy Will Be Enforced (EXCLUSIVE)

At the Alamo Drafthouse cinemas, phones will remain switched off during the nationwide rerelease of Blumhouse’s horror film “M3GAN” on April 30. However, it has been verified by EbMaster that Alamo locations won’t participate in the synchronization of this event screening with Movie Mate, Meta’s innovative tech feature designed to enhance cinema-going by providing audiences with real-time access to exclusive content on their personal devices during the movie.

The Alamo Drafthouse chain of specialized theaters has long been cherished by film enthusiasts for its in-house dining, regular movie programming, and strict no-phone policy. According to an Alamo representative, their screenings for “M3GAN” on April 30th will adhere to these guidelines, even though Universal Studios is advertising a second-screen experience alongside the movie. If audience members try to use Movie Mate during screenings, they’ll be asked to leave by staff.

This year, Blumhouse’s “Halfway to Halloween” campaign is re-releasing the film “M3GAN”. This special occasion marks the 15th anniversary of Blumhouse, a renowned horror movie producer. In addition, the classics “Annabelle” and “Ma” will be shown for one-time screenings in May. Among these three films, only “M3GAN” is set to work with Movie Mate. This re-release serves as Meta’s debut use of this technology. If successful, Meta might expand its application to other theatrical showings in the future.

According to Meta’s explanation, viewers of the “M3GAN” re-release can interact with Movie Mate by sending a direct message to the film’s official Instagram account. This will initiate a chatbot that enhances and elevates the ‘second screen’ viewing experience by providing sneak peeks, exclusive messages from directors and cast, and surprise special appearances in certain locations. All of this happens simultaneously as the movie is being shown.

The re-release of “M3GAN” coincides with Blumhouse and Universal Pictures’ upcoming debut of “M3GAN 2.0,” its sequel, slated for theater release on June 27.

Read More

2025-04-14 23:17