While not a core feature of most credit cards, movie benefits can be valuable for film enthusiasts. Typically extended as Buy One Get One offer or direct discounts on popular platforms, these benefits are available across a range of credit cards—from entry-level to premium.
However, some cards go beyond discounts and offers, and make movie ticket benefits their primary feature. In this comparison, we analyze two such co-branded movie credit cards—RBL Bank Play Credit Card and PVR INOX Kotak Credit Card. Both offer free movie tickets every month, but which one delivers better value? Let’s 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 solely offer benefits on movies. Beyond that, no additional benefits are offered across rewards, travel, or other lifestyle categories. Hence, these cards can be a good addition to your wallet only when you own credit cards focused on other spends and you just expect only movie benefits.
Choosing on the basis of brand preference
Choosing between these two credit cards is easy for card users who have clear brand preference between BookMyShow and PVR.
Since BookMyShow is the most popular online ticketing platform, the RBL Play card co-branded with BookMyShow stands as a more versatile option. Consumers can choose to book tickets across multiple theatre chains like Cinepolis, Wave, Miraj, PVR, and more. This means more options for locations, show timings, and dates. Its benefits extend to streams, plays, concerts, sports events, and activities, making it ideal for those seeking entertainment experiences beyond movies.
In contrast, Kotak PVR INOX credit card is best suited for those who prefer PVR INOX theatres, as co-branded benefits are restricted to these cinema chains. However, considering PVR INOX is India’s largest multiplex chain, this exclusivity should not be seen as a drawback—it simply comes down to personal preference.
Comparing Free Ticket Benefits: Capping vs. No Capping
The RBL Bank Play Credit Card offers 2 free movie tickets on a comparatively lower monthly spend threshold of Rs. 5,000, in comparison the Kotak PVR INOX Card that offers just 1 free ticket on spending Rs. 10,000.
However, the real game-changer is not the milestone spend but the capping on the number of free tickets allowed per month.
- With the RBL Card, free tickets are capped at two per month (of Rs. 250 each). This means that no matter how much you spend beyond Rs. 5,000 monthly, you cannot earn more than 2 free tickets.
- Whereas, no such capping is applicable on the PVR INOX Kotak Card. It offers 1 free ticket on every Rs. 10,000 spent, irrespective of the spend value in a month.
Here is an example to help readers understand this better:
| Monthly Spends | Number of Free Movie Tickets | |
| RBL Bank Play | PVR Inox Kotak | |
| Rs. 5,000 | 2 | 0 |
| Rs. 10,000 | 0 | 1 |
| Rs. 20,000 | 0 | 1 |
| Rs. 50,000 | 0 | 3 |
| Rs. 70,000 | 0 | 2 |
| Rs. 1 Lakh | 0 | 3 |
| Total Spends: Rs. 1 Lakh | Total Free Tickets: 2 Total Value: Rs. 500 |
Total Free Tickets: 10 Total Value: Rs. 3,000 |
So, which card is better?
For Moderate Spenders:
RBL Bank Play Credit Card is a suitable choice for moderate spenders, who can spend Rs. 5,000 every month. To maximize benefits, it is advisable to split your spends across multiple credit cards– putting up to Rs. 5,000 on this card to earn 2 free tickets while putting other expenses on credit cards that provide better value-back through rewards or cashback.
Since the card offers a value-back of Rs. 500 on spending Rs. 5,000–effective 10% return, which is quite good for those who want to save on movies. In comparison, Rs. 10,000 spent with a PVR card would yield only 3% return with a ticket worth Rs. 300.
For High Spenders:
For those with higher spending capacity, the PVR INOX Kotak Credit Card could be a better choice. The card gives 1 free ticket for every Rs. 10,000 without any capping. Hence, the more you spend, the more you earn.
For example, on spending Rs. 1 Lakh, you earn 10 tickets, summing up to a value-back of Rs. 3,000. However, it’s important to consider whether your spending could earn better returns on other cards. On a Rs. 1 lakh spend, premium all-rounder or travel-focused cards might offer better value in rewards, cashback, or air miles—many of which also include movie benefits as an add-on. Strategic spending is key to maximizing overall benefits.
Ultimately, choosing between these cards depends on your brand preference, movie-going frequency, and spending habits. If you are a moderate spender seeking maximum value per rupee, the RBL card is the smarter pick. However, if you spend heavily and want unlimited movie benefits, the PVR card could be a better choice.
