Online movie tickets were first introduced at the turn of the century, though most companies have become profitable only in the past few years. Fandango, which launched 10 years ago, sold 245,000 tickets in its first year of business but now sells that many for just one movie, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Other corporate websites and cell phone apps let you buy movie tickets days or weeks in advance. The MovieTickets website has a print-at-home option available for some theaters and also offers a paid iPhone app that lets users purchase tickets directly from the phone.
Buying movie tickets from sites or apps such as Fandango, MovieTickets or MovieFone often requires the user to pay a fee, which is normally $2 or more added to the regular ticket price.
A personal account and a credit card are necessary to buy movie tickets through any ticketing service. Tickets should also be confirmed through an email confirmation or your purchase may not be honored at the theater.
Online tickets have become a consistent revenue generator for the industry, and it's hard to see that trend reversing anytime soon as movie buffs crave instant access to tickets the minute they go on sale.