Though not a primary feature on most credit cards, benefits on movie ticket bookings can be an important add-on for movie lovers. In general, these benefits are an add-on perk on all-round cards from entry-level, mid-range, and premium categories and are usually not a deciding factor to avail such cards.
However, beyond add-ons, some cards also offer benefits on movie ticket bookings as a primary feature. Unlike all-round cards that offer selective co-branded benefits with portals like BookMyShow, PVR, Paytm Movies, etc., these cards specifically offer such co-branded benefits. On this page, we compare two co-branded movie credit cards—the RBL Bank Play Credit Card and the PVR Inox Kotak Credit Card. Both cards offer free movie tickets every month. But which one is better? Read on to find out!
| Parameters | RBL Bank Play Credit Card | PVR Inox Kotak Credit Card |
| Partner Brand | BookMyShow | PVR Cinema |
| Annual Fee | Rs. 500 | Rs. 499 |
| Waiver Condition | Waived off on annual spends of Rs. 1.5 Lakh | No fee waiver |
| Movie Ticket Benefits | 2 tickets on spends above Rs. 5,000 p.m. | 1 ticket on every Rs. 10,000 spent p.m. |
| Per Ticket Value | Up to Rs. 250 | Up to Rs. 300 |
| Capping | Maximum 2 tickets p.m. | No capping |
| Co-branded discount | Rs. 500 discount on card activation | Flat 5% discount |
| F&B benefits | Up to Rs. 100 off on booking movie tickets with BookMyShow | Flat 20% discount on F&B at PVR INOX theaters
|
| Others | – | Access to In-Cinema Lounges |
Understand that these cards specifically and solely offer benefits on movies. Beyond that, no additional benefits are offered across rewards, travel, or other lifestyle categories. That way, these cards can be a good add-on to your wallet only when you own other credit cards to cover up for where the card lacks or when you are just expecting movie benefits on the card and nothing else.
Choice on the basis of brand preference:
Choosing between these two credit cards is easy for card users with brand preference between BookMyShow and PVR. However, BookMyShow offers flexibility to choose from multiple theaters like Cinepolis, Wave, Miraj, PVR, etc. Thus, offering users more options, show timings, and days to choose from. Additionally, the card does not specifically limit the benefits to movies but extends them to streams, plays, events, music shows, sports, and activities. Thus, the BookMyShow credit card is a good choice for users seeking flexibility and options for their entertainment.
On the other hand, due to its co-branded benefits limited to just PVR, the PVR Inox Kotak Credit is suitable only for users who strictly prefer PVR or Inox theaters. For some, this could be limiting in the long run.
Having said that, note that while the BookMyShow card offers an additional discount as a one-time benefit on card activation, the PVR card keeps it recurring with a 5% flat discount. Thus, beyond flexibility, it is also important to consider the frequency of benefits.
Analyze your spending potential and go for the highest value back:
The RBL Bank Play Credit Card offers two free movie tickets on a comparatively lower milestone spend threshold of Rs. 5,000, in comparison to Rs. 10,000 as required by the PVR card that offers just one free ticket at this value. However, for these cards, instead of the milestone spend threshold, the bigger game-changer is the capping on the number of free tickets allowed per month.
For the RBL Card, free tickets are capped at two per month (of Rs. 250 each). Thus, no matter the monthly spending, all spending values above Rs. 5,000 will earn just two tickets. Whereas no such capping is applicable on the PVR card. It offers a free ticket on every Rs. 10,000 spent, irrespective of the spend value in a month.
Here is an example of the same:
| Monthly Spends | Number of Free Movie Tickets | |
| RBL Bank Play | PVR Inox Kotak | |
| Rs. 5,000 | 2 | 0 |
| Rs. 10,000 | 2 | 1 |
| Rs. 20,000 | 2 | 2 |
| Rs. 50,000 | 2 | 5 |
| Rs. 70,000 | 2 | 7 |
| Rs. 1 Lakh | 2 | 10 |
So, which card is better?
For Moderate Spenders:
Based on the above example, it is clear that the RBL Bank Play Credit Card is a suitable choice for moderate spenders, who can manage spending Rs. 5,000 each month. To derive the maximum benefits from this card, it is better to plan your spending across multiple credit cards- up to Rs. 5,000 on this card to earn two tickets, remaining on other cards that can offer better rewards or cashback. Considering a value back of Rs. 500 on spending Rs. 5,000, the card gives users a 10% return- decent for moderate spenders. In comparison, Rs. 10,000 spent with a PVR card would offer such customers just a 3% return with a ticket worth Rs. 300.
For High Spenders:
In contrast to the above, for high spenders, PVR Inox Kotak is a better choice. The card gives you a free ticket for every Rs. 10,000 without any capping. Thus, the more you spend, the more you earn. That way, card users looking for just movie ticket benefits on their credit cards can earn good returns. For every Rs. 1 Lakh spent, you earn 10 tickets, summing up to a value-back of Rs. 3,000—a decent return for those who put maximum spends on the card.
On a concluding note, understand that choosing the best cards among these is subjective, based on your brand preference, frequency of movie theatre visits, and spending potential.
