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MoviePass, aiming for a comeback after its previous struggles, is launching Mogul, a blockchain-based film prediction game powered by Mysten Labs’ Sui network. This new platform, described as a “competitive entertainment experience,” allows users to engage in fantasy sports-style tournaments by forecasting critical reviews, award wins, and box office success of upcoming films. Winners are rewarded with digital collectibles (NFTs) and in-game currency, with a leaderboard tracking the top performers.

According to MoviePass CEO Stacy Spikes, Mogul is a key component of their Web3 strategy, intended to attract younger audiences by giving them a stake in influencing film culture and the entertainment economy. Mysten Labs CEO Evan Cheng envisions Mogul as a pioneering on-chain consumer experience that redefines fan engagement.

Mogul already boasts a waitlist of over 400,000 users in early access, with beta testers receiving digital wallets for virtual currency storage. Future plans include integration with the MoviePass app, seamlessly combining ticketing, fandom, and speculative gaming.

This venture marks a significant departure for MoviePass, particularly considering its history of bankruptcy and controversies surrounding previous leadership’s investor fraud charges and user access throttling. While the current management prioritizes transparency, this pivot towards NFTs and virtual betting raises questions about whether it truly aligns with MoviePass’s original objective of promoting theater attendance.