MoviePass has officially opened its film studio fantasy platform, Mogul, to the public this Wednesday, transitioning the service out of its private beta phase.
Designed to mirror the high-stakes world of Hollywood, Mogul allows players to act as studio heads, drafting teams of actors, directors, and films to compete for points based on real-world performance. The platform applies the mechanics of daily fantasy sports to the entertainment industry, tasking users with managing their own virtual studios.
The web-based platform is now accessible to the more than 400,000 users previously on the waiting list, with a wider public rollout currently underway.
Early testing by approximately 5,000 users suggests the interface is intuitive, even for those without a background in fantasy sports. Despite the lack of active leaderboards during the pre-season phase, the core gameplay loop remains straightforward for participants.
How to Build Your Virtual Studio
Upon creating a studio name, players are granted an initial budget of one million “Mogul Coin”—a virtual currency used to assemble a roster. This budget is the primary tool for drafting talent and projects.
For example, current market valuations include the sequel “Wicked: For Good” at $100,000, while individual talents like Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and director Jon M. Chu are priced at $25,000 each. Players are given one week to finalize their lineups and are permitted two free swaps per week to adjust their strategy.
MoviePass founder Stacy Spikes emphasizes that the game is designed to force players to think like actual studio executives. Strategic decision-making is vital, as external factors—such as sexual misconduct allegations surrounding actors like Jared Leto—can impact a film’s real-world performance and, consequently, a player’s studio success.
Spikes suggests that long-term success requires looking beyond major franchises like Marvel. Identifying up-and-coming talent, tracking independent films, and monitoring international markets, such as Bollywood, are key strategies for maximizing returns. Furthermore, scoring is based on net profitability rather than raw box office revenue, and timing purchases is essential, as assets often become more expensive as their release dates approach.
Mogul leverages the Sui layer 1 blockchain to record all trades and selections. High-ranking players on the leaderboard can earn digital collectibles, including memorabilia and signed posters.
The inaugural 12-week fall season runs through December, aligning with the industry’s awards season. To drive adoption, MoviePass has introduced a prize pool of up to $100,000 in tokens. Users who activate their accounts before 11:59 p.m. ET on October 31 will also receive “Founding Member” status and exclusive in-app badges.
Looking ahead, the company is developing private league functionality and dedicated mobile applications for iOS and Android. Plans are also underway to secure licensing deals by next year that would allow for competitive play involving real-money stakes.
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