Samir Hussain suffered severe burns and was scarred for life in the unprovoked attack in the Cineworld car park in Crawley, West Sussex, in August 2015.
Michael McPherson, 28, from south-west London, threw the acid after leaving a screening of Straight Outta Compton.
At an earlier hearing at Hove Crown Court, he admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Lee Bates, also from south-west London, was with McPherson at the time of the attack.
He admitted common assault in February, and was given a two-year conditional discharge for his role in the attack.
Mr Hussain, 29, from Redhill in Surrey, still has to wear a mask to protect his face, and has had several skin grafts.
He suffered severe burns to his face, neck and right arm.
A man who threw sulphuric acid into the face of a shop worker outside a cinema has been jailed for eight years.