Dope was a major hit at Sundance. And now it's the first movie you can pay for in Bitcoin.


On Friday, you'll be able to pay to see the Sundance hit Dope... with Bitcoin.
Dope, a coming-of-age teen comedy that sparked a dramatic all-night bidding war between Open Road and Sony in Park City last winter, is director Rick Famuyiwa's fourth feature, about a trio of geeky teens who accidentally find themselves with a stash of drugs to dispose of (or, rather, sell). Breakout star Shameik Moore plays the lead, Malcolm, but Bitcoin, too, has a featured role in the film:
Early in the film, Malcolm says, "I just read that money as we know it is dead. Soon the world is only going to buy and sell products using Bitcoins. It's like a complicated math equation." When Malcolm and his friends get in a jam and need to sell drugs quickly and quietly, they look to Bitcoin. [The Wrap]
Dope opens on 2,000 screens nationwide, with over 900 theaters accepting tickets from MovieTickets.com, which will allow Bitcoin purchases using the payment platform GoGoin. The transaction is "similar to a credit-card purchase," according to The Wrap.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Bitcoin is an integral part of Dope and we could not be more excited to bring this unique new opportunity to moviegoers," Open Road Chief Marketing Officer Jason Cassidy said in a statement.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
May 27 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Tuesday's political cartoons include Donald Trump's relationship with Vladimir Putin, death of a penny, and more
-
Bomee Ki's Kugelhopf madeleines recipe
The Week Recommends Fluffy, sweet sponge cakes with a zesty, rum twist
-
Hôtel du Couvent: a tranquil hideaway in the French Riviera
The Week Recommends Find pared-back luxury in the heart of Nice within the walls of a beautifully restored former nunnery
-
Shakespeare not an absent spouse, study proposes
speed read A letter fragment suggests that the Shakespeares lived together all along, says scholar Matthew Steggle
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster show
Speed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
-
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar take top Grammys
Speed Read Beyoncé took home album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter' and Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' won five awards
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own room
Speed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia