The AMC A-List is not an exclusive club. Membership costs $20 to $28 a month and anyone older than 13 can join.

But its nearly one million members brag about the movie subscription service as if they’re part of United Airlines’ invitation-only Global Service status. They post about it on social media, treat it like a core personality trait and try to enlist their friends and family members to join—over and over again.

Savannah Oviedo admits she’s no exception.

“I unfortunately fit the exact archetype of the A-lister,” said Ovideo, a social-media manager who is 25 years old and lives in Brooklyn. “Every time there’s a viral tweet about AMC A-List or being an AMC A-lister—I get it sent to me from at least, at minimum, five different people.”

The main benefit of the AMC Stubs A-List membership is the right to go to up to four movies a week. Members also get to use a special VIP line to buy concessions and can add friends and family members to their “entourage” for a showing—as long as they’re also in the A-list.

Andy Herren’s X bio says, “Proud AMC A-List member. You can see 3 movies a week for only $25 a month!!!”

He once ran the numbers. Since he sees about 10 to 12 movies a month, he estimates he’s probably saved about $10,000 with his membership. He said he’s been able to convert 10 to 20 of his friends to become A-List members and regularly buys tickets for his “entourage.”

The Chicago-based 38-year-old, who runs a dog walking business, regularly tweets about his love for AMC A-List and claims he hasn’t received any eye rolling from his friends. “My cat and AMC A-List are the two best things that have ever happened to me,” he said.

Brenden Horwitz, a 31-year-old account manager in healthcare, is one of those friends Herren was able to convince to join A-List, back in 2018. Now, Herren usually “entourages” Horwitz and books movies for them to watch together.

“I don’t think I’ve ordered my own ticket in so long,” said Horwitz. “Andy is usually the ring leader—he loves doing it.”

To Damilola Laguda, a 32-year-old attorney in Chicago, the A-List feels like the one rewards program that remains super valuable. She’s only been a member for about a year and a half, but she admits she’s a vociferous evangelist. “That is my Roman Empire, my TED Talk,” she said.

Just one issue: She hasn’t actually convinced anyone to join. “I’m not the best cult member,” she said.

Hugo Quintana, a 24-year-old policy worker in Chicago, views being an A-List member as a “side identity,” and goes as often as he can.

“If you have someone in your life that is an A-Lister, they are going to talk to you about it,” he said.

His boyfriend agrees. “It’s a meme online—everyone that got into A-List is a walking advertisement,” said Joe Timmer, 24.

Quintana has encountered one downside to being an A-Lister: It’s hard for some of his friends to find a movie to watch with him since he sees so many."

Kayli Rapozo, a 28-year-old account manager at an insurance company in Los Angeles, joined AMC A-List around November 2023 and recently started tracking her moviegoing experiences with TikTok videos.

“We always joke about it being a pyramid scheme,” said Rapozo.

Rapozo has been able to convince about five people to join. “They probably got sick of me yapping about it,” she said.

Oviedo has also created online videos marking her top theaters, how many movies she’s seen with her entourage and how many peanut M&Ms she’s eaten.

“This is not an accident,” said Adam Aron, AMC’s CEO. “Our company has gone way out of its way to court and attract these people.” He added, “They’re our single best customers of the year and we’re giving them everything we have.”

That includes a clean bathroom.

Abby Seim, a 23-year-old musical theater performer, has no trouble using her allotted four movies a week. “It’s one of the best investments I’ve ever made in myself,” said Seim.

It’s become her favorite hobby, visiting the different movie theaters around New York.

But she’ll also book a movie sometimes if she needs to use the bathroom.

“It’s a Sunday, you have two movies left—you gotta go potty, what are you going to lose?” she said.

Oviedo has recruited at least five people to join A-List and subsequently, her entourage.

“I collect entourage members like infinity stones,” she said, referencing the mythical gems from the Marvel universe.

Andrew Thornton moved to Brooklyn in 2023 and quickly fell into the local cinephile scene. He joined Oviedo’s movie trivia club, where she has “ardently tried to persuade me to join AMC A-List,” he said. But the 26-year-old designer is a holdout: He joined Alamo Drafthouse’s membership pass instead. He liked the selection and proximity to home.

“She’s fully in on AMC and I was fully in on Alamo,” Thornton said. “There was this fun beef we were picking at each other.”

But after Alamo Drafthouse underwent nationwide layoffs followed by strikes in New York, Thornton canceled his membership and is now a “free agent.” He may finally join Oviedo’s entourage.

“My barrier to entry is much lower,” he said.