Homepage Rebrand
Rethinking and rebranding the Megaplex homepage for the modern age
Challenge:
The Megaplex homepage is the front door to the entire customer journey, where first impressions are made and where users decide whether to stay or leave. We needed to modernize a clunky, outdated design, establish visual consistency, and create a seamless experience that guides customers to what they're looking for quickly.
Role:
Trevor Allen as UX/UI designer in collaboration with Henrique Tedeschi and his dev team (including Daniel Cruz and Deploy Vision)
Tools:
Figma, Photoshop
Overview:
Megaplex is one of Utah’s premier movie theater chains, delivering a premium cinematic experience across multiple locations. As a beloved local brand, its digital presence needed to reflect the same quality, energy, and polish found inside its theaters.
The redesign touched nearly every element of the homepage, from a ground-up brand refresh to meaningful UX improvements informed by real user behavior data. The result is a faster, more intuitive experience that feels as modern as the theaters themselves.
Modernizing:
Updated Branding:
After years with the same visual identity, Megaplex needed a brand expression that reflected where moviegoing is headed, not where it has been. The refreshed design introduces a cleaner, more contemporary aesthetic that positions Megaplex as a forward-thinking entertainment destination.
A Streaming-Inspired Layout:
Film titles are now organized into horizontal, playlist-style rows with landscape posters. This layout mirrors browsing patterns audiences already know from streaming platforms, reducing friction and making discovery feel natural and intuitive.
Consistency and Structure:
The previous design lacked visual consistency. Movie posters varied in size, spacing felt uneven, and the page lacked a cohesive rhythm. The redesign introduces a strict grid system and uniform poster sizing across all sections, creating a polished, professional experience that builds trust and clarity.
New Features:
AI Search Feature:
A search bar was added directly to the homepage, giving users a fast path to movies, locations, FAQ pages, and other content that previously required multiple clicks. This significantly reduces friction for users who arrive with clear intent.
Watchlist Feature:
Signed-in users can now favorite a movie and receive notifications when it becomes available. In addition to improving the experience for film enthusiasts, the watchlist supports customer segmentation and enables more targeted, relevant email marketing.
MegaReelDeals Playlist:
Megaplex’s discount program, featuring $5 classic titles and marathon special events, now has dedicated placement on the homepage. Elevating this content increases visibility for a value-driven program that previously went unnoticed by many users.
UX Improvements:
Improved Carousel Controls:
User session data revealed a high volume of rage clicks on the movie carousel. The navigation arrows were small, overly sensitive, and positioned at the bottom center of the module. We increased the click target size and moved the controls to the left and right edges of the carousel, aligning with user expectations and established industry patterns. Rage clicks decreased after launch.
Replacing the Hero Video:
The original homepage opened with a full-screen video that occupied the entire above-the-fold area, limiting users to a single movie title on load. Beyond restricting content visibility, the large file size slowed page performance and required ongoing production support.
We replaced the video with a streamlined rotating banner carousel. This improved load times, reduced internal production demands, and immediately increased content visibility. Users now see the primary banner plus two full playlists on initial load, putting up to nine movie titles in view before scrolling.
Conclusion:
The homepage redesign gave Megaplex a digital presence worthy of the in-theater experience they deliver. The new experience is faster, cleaner, and intentionally built around how modern audiences browse and discover films.
Thank you for reading!
