Studio Screening Programs: How to Sign Up for Disney, Warner Bros, Sony and More

Most advance screening passes flow through aggregation platforms like Gofobo and Advance Screenings, but several major studios also operate their own dedicated screening portals. These studio-run programs exist for a few reasons. First, they let the studio control the audience experience end to end, from registration through post-screening surveys. Second, they build a direct relationship between the studio and its audience, capturing email addresses and demographic data that third-party platforms do not share. Third, studio portals sometimes distribute passes before they appear on aggregation sites, giving registered users a time advantage.

For moviegoers, signing up for these programs means access to screenings that may not appear anywhere else, earlier notification when passes drop, and occasionally exclusive perks like premium venue screenings or post-film events. The downside is fragmentation: you need accounts on multiple studio sites to stay comprehensive. This guide walks through every major studio program, how to sign up, and what to expect from each one.

Disney does not operate a single centralized screening portal in the way some other studios do. Instead, Disney and Marvel screening access comes through a combination of channels. D23, Disney's official fan club, is the most reliable path. D23 Gold Members ($99.99 per year) receive priority access to special screenings, premiere events, and exclusive experiences. D23 has hosted advance screenings of Marvel, Pixar, Lucasfilm, and Disney Animation titles at venues including the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank.

I have attended screenings at Walt Disney Studios five times, and the experience of watching a Disney film on the studio's own lot is something special.

El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, which Disney owns and operates, regularly holds special advance screenings and premiere events for Disney releases. These are sometimes open to the public on a first-come basis and other times distributed through D23 or promotional partners. Check elcapitantheatre.com for upcoming events. I have been to El Capitan four times, and the pre-show presentations with live performers and themed props make it one of the best screening venues in the country.

Beyond D23 and El Capitan, Disney routes many of its standard promotional screenings through Gofobo, so maintaining accounts on both the studio channels and the aggregation platforms gives you the widest coverage.

Warner Bros. Discovery operates WBTickets, a dedicated screening portal for Warner Bros., New Line Cinema, and HBO Films theatrical releases. Visit wbtickets.com, create a free account, and browse available screenings by city. The portal covers most major US markets and posts screenings roughly 7 to 10 days before the event date.

WBTickets tends to handle the studio's larger releases while routing some mid-tier films through Gofobo instead. The platform uses a standard claim system: find a screening in your city, select the number of passes (usually admit-two), and receive a confirmation email with your unique code. Passes are first-come-first-served, and popular titles move fast.

Warner Bros. has one of the largest release slates of any studio, covering DC films, horror from New Line and the Conjuring universe, franchise sequels, original dramas, and prestige awards contenders. Having a WBTickets account ensures you catch screenings that may post there before (or instead of) appearing on Gofobo. Set up email notifications so you hear about new listings promptly.

Sony Pictures operates sonyscreenings.com, which handles advance screening distribution for Sony Pictures, Columbia Pictures, and TriStar releases. Create a free account, select your city, and browse upcoming screenings. The interface is clean and straightforward, similar to Gofobo but exclusively for Sony titles. Sony Screenings typically posts events 5 to 10 days before the screening date, and passes are distributed first-come-first-served. The platform covers most major and mid-tier US markets. Sony has a diverse release slate that includes the Spider-Man franchise (in partnership with Marvel Studios), Jumanji sequels, horror titles, adult dramas, and animated features. During busy release periods, Sony may run screenings through both its own portal and Gofobo simultaneously, giving you multiple chances to snag passes. One tip: Sony occasionally runs social media campaigns where following their official accounts and engaging with promotional posts can lead to exclusive screening invitations outside the standard portal system.

Amazon MGM Studios has invested heavily in theatrical releases since acquiring MGM, and their screening program reflects that commitment. Amazon Prime Premiere offers advance screening access for Amazon's theatrical releases, sometimes with perks exclusively for Prime members. Screenings have been held at premium venues, and Prime members occasionally receive guaranteed seating or early entry benefits. I attended the F1 screening at Apple Park, which was technically an Apple venue but illustrates the kind of premium experience that studio-direct programs can offer. Amazon similarly leverages unique venues and high-production events for their screenings. Amazon routes many of its screenings through Gofobo and Advance Screenings, but the studio also distributes passes through Amazon-specific channels, including promotions on Prime Video, the Amazon app, and targeted emails to Prime subscribers. Keep your Amazon account's movie preferences updated, as the platform uses viewing history to target screening invitations. Watch for announcements on Amazon Studios' social media accounts, particularly around major releases.

Searchlight Pictures, the specialty division of 20th Century Studios (now under the Disney umbrella), operates its own screening program for its award-contending releases. Searchlight films tend to be smaller, character-driven dramas and comedies that rely heavily on word-of-mouth and critical acclaim rather than franchise recognition. Titles like The Shape of Water, Nomadland, and The Banshees of Inisherin exemplify the Searchlight brand. Searchlight Screenings posts advance screening passes for select markets, with a focus on LA, New York, and other cities where awards-season buzz matters most. Screenings typically happen during the fall and winter awards corridor (September through February), though the studio runs summer screenings for its lighter releases too. Signing up is free. Because Searchlight's audience skews cinephile, their screenings tend to attract a more engaged and film-literate crowd. Post-film Q&As with directors and cast are more common at Searchlight screenings than at other studios. If you are serious about awards-season films, having a Searchlight Screenings account is essential.

Lionsgate does not maintain a single permanent screening portal the way Sony and Warner Bros. do. Instead, Lionsgate distributes screening passes through a rotating mix of partner sites, social media campaigns, and promotional partnerships. Following Lionsgate on Twitter and Instagram is the most reliable way to catch their screening announcements. The studio also routes many screenings through Gofobo. Lionsgate's slate includes the John Wick franchise, horror titles, Tyler Perry films, and occasional prestige releases. Focus Features, Universal's specialty label, handles screenings through a combination of Gofobo, Advance Screenings, and its own social media promotions. Focus titles tend to be smaller but critically acclaimed films that benefit from early screening buzz. UA Releasing (United Artists Releasing), a joint venture between MGM and Annapurna Pictures, distributes screening passes through Gofobo and occasionally through its own channels. The lesson across all these smaller distributors is the same: check the aggregation platforms first, follow studio social accounts for exclusive giveaways, and use SeeItEarly as your central dashboard to catch listings that appear across all sources.

Beyond the major studios, a growing number of independent and specialty distributors run their own screening programs. A24, which has built a devoted fanbase through films like Everything Everywhere All at Once and Hereditary, runs screenings primarily through Gofobo but occasionally distributes passes through its own mailing list and social accounts. Neon (distributor of Parasite and Anatomy of a Fall) takes a similar approach. IFC Films, Magnolia Pictures, and Bleecker Street route most of their screenings through Gofobo and Advance Screenings but occasionally run direct giveaways through social media and their email lists. Signing up for email newsletters from your favorite independent distributors is a low-effort way to catch these opportunities. The independent screening scene is particularly active during awards season (October through February) and festival corridor season (January through March, September through November), when smaller distributors are pushing for critical attention and audience awareness. These screenings tend to be in LA and New York primarily, with occasional expansion to major secondary markets.

The most comprehensive approach to studio screening access combines accounts on the major aggregation platforms with registration on studio-specific portals. Start with the big three: Gofobo, Advance Screenings, and 1iota. These cover the majority of publicly available screening passes across all studios. Then layer in studio-specific accounts based on which studios' films you care about most. If you are a Marvel and Disney fan, invest in a D23 membership and monitor El Capitan's calendar. If you follow horror closely, make sure you have WBTickets (New Line) and Sony Screenings (Screen Gems) set up. If awards-season prestige is your thing, add Searchlight Screenings. Finally, use SeeItEarly as your daily dashboard to catch everything in one view. The site aggregates listings from all of these sources, so you can quickly scan what is available in your city without logging into a dozen separate accounts. The combination of aggregation platform accounts, studio-specific portals, social media follows, and SeeItEarly as your hub gives you the widest possible net for catching free screening opportunities.

Awards season transforms the studio screening landscape. From September through February, studios ramp up their FYC (For Your Consideration) screening campaigns, and many of these events are accessible to the public through the channels described in this guide. Disney screens its contenders at the El Capitan and through D23 events. Warner Bros. and Sony expand their portal listings. Searchlight goes into overdrive with screenings in every major market. Amazon and Apple host premium FYC events at high-end venues. During this period, the number of available screenings in LA and New York roughly doubles. Even secondary markets see increased screening activity as studios push for wider audience awareness before nomination voting. If you have registered on the studio portals and aggregation platforms described in this guide, awards season is when that preparation pays off most dramatically. Check all your sources more frequently from October onward, and be prepared to see some of the year's best films weeks before they reach wide release.