Now that America’s largest movie show chain goes to start out charging ticket costs based mostly on the place your seat is positioned, it’s time to consider methods it can save you cash on the films.
Severely, of us, AMC Theatres’ new pricing coverage has lots of people riled up. Only for instance, actor Elijah Wooden says it’ll penalize moviegoers who’ve decrease incomes. “The movie show is and at all times has been a sacred democratic house for all,” Frodo tweeted.
Nonetheless, by the tip of the 12 months at each AMC theater, seats within the entrance can be cheaper whereas the very best seats within the center will price extra.
If you happen to ask us, it’s simply one other means for them to gouge you.
16 Methods to Save Cash on the Film Theater
Happily, we’ve obtained concepts for how one can save a buck or two on the films. Try our checklist of 16 methods to spend much less on the theater.
1. Go to Matinees
Going to a matinee can knock as much as 30% off the ticket worth, however be careful for the theater’s definition of “matinee.”
Reveals earlier than 4 p.m. was referred to as matinees at most theaters, however some now cost the night worth for something that begins after 3 p.m.
2. Go to Pre-Matinees
Some theaters supply a fair higher deal for actually early films — “pre-matinees.”
These sometimes apply to films beginning earlier than midday.
3. Go on Tuesday!
America’s three largest movie show chains all have the identical low cost day — Tuesday. You even have to hitch their buyer loyalty membership to get the Tuesday low cost, however that’s often free.
AMC: The largest chain within the U.S. has Low cost Tuesdays in case you’re a member of its loyalty membership, which known as AMC Stubs. You may be part of free of charge, though there’s additionally a premium choice you possibly can pay for in order for you. As for Low cost Tuesdays, the ticket worth varies by location.
Regal Cinemas: These theaters have Regal Worth Days on Tuesdays, when Regal Crown Membership members get discounted film ticket costs and 50% off popcorn. The membership is free to hitch. A take a look at this theater-by-theater checklist exhibits that the majority Regal theaters cost both $5 or $5.95 for film tickets on Tuesdays.
Cinemark: This theater chain has Low cost Tuesdays in case you’re a Cinemark Film Rewards member. There’s a free choice or a $10-per-month choice that will get you extra perks. Once more, the ticket worth on Tuesdays varies by location.
4. Purchase at Your Warehouse Membership — In Particular person or On-line
Severely, you need to make full use of these warehouse membership memberships! If you happen to store at Sam’s Membership or Costco, ask about theater tickets on the customer support desk. They typically have them at a reduction.
Costco additionally sells theater tickets on-line at a reduction, and so does Sam’s Membership.
5. Strive Groupon
It’s sort of a crapshoot, clearly. However you possibly can at all times hop on Groupon to see what sort of film ticket offers are happening there. We see offers for AMC, Regal and Cinemark theaters there, on and off.
The web site LivingSocial is one other choice to verify right here.
6. Eat Earlier than You Go
As of late, a number of film theaters go effectively past popcorn, Sno-Caps and Raisinets. If you happen to’re hungry, you’ll be tremendous tempted by the new canine, nachos, cheese fries, hen tenders, pizza…
They usually’re all means overpriced, after all.
You’d be higher off consuming in a restaurant beforehand.
Save much more cash by consuming at residence earlier than you go.
7. Share the Snacks
Theaters don’t need you to convey your personal meals.
However we haven’t seen them cease mother and father who convey their very own paper baggage to divvy up a big bucket of popcorn between the children.
It’s less expensive than shopping for a small bag of popcorn for every particular person. Share different snacks to economize.
8. Get Particular Reductions
You may qualify for particular reductions — and you could possibly save as much as 35%. Listed below are some examples:
9. Purchase Low cost Film Present Playing cards
There are a variety of locations the place you should purchase discounted theater reward playing cards on-line. For instance, you should purchase AMC reward playing cards on on-line marketplaces like Increase for reductions of as much as 25%.
Use them for matinees, and your whole price is likely to be lower than half of what a night ticket prices.
10. Go to Low cost Theaters
These are additionally referred to as late-run film theaters. You’ll see the identical film, so why not wait a few months and catch it for much less?
Simply search “low cost theater” plus the title of your metropolis to find low cost films.
11. Be a part of the Membership
Most theaters have a membership or loyalty program you possibly can be part of to economize. Listed below are some examples:
AMC
The most important theater chain’s loyalty membership, AMC Stubs, has three tiers.
- Insider is free and will get you perks like Low cost Tuesdays, which might be the principle attraction right here. You additionally earn $5 again for each $50 you spend.
- Premiere appears pricy to us. It prices $15 monthly and allows you to reserve theater tickets on-line free of charge. You may as well upsize your popcorn and fountain drinks. Doesn’t sound like a fantastic deal.
- A-Checklist helps you to see three films per week for $20 a month. That’s a whole lot of films.
Regal Cinemas
The Regal Crown Membership is free to hitch and will get you entry to Regal Worth Days on Tuesdays, the place you get discounted ticket costs and 50% off popcorn.
Cinemark
Cinemark has Film Fan, which is free, and Film Membership, which prices $10 a month and will get you one film a month and 20% off concessions.
12. Go to a Drive-In Theater
Verify DriveInMovie.com or DriveInTheater.com to see if one of many few remaining drive-in theaters is close to you.
Name or verify on-line to see if they’ve low cost days or a price-per-car night time when you possibly can convey the entire household or cut up the fee with associates. And take a look at our suggestions for maximizing the enjoyable.
13. Go to Advance Screenings for Free
Film firms generally supply free tickets to the general public for advance screenings. If you happen to get one, go early — film screenings typically get overbooked.
Listed below are a couple of locations you possibly can verify to see if something is out there close to you:
See The Penny Hoarder’s put up on methods to get free tickets to advance film screenings for extra recommendations on the way to snag these freebies.
14. Purchase in Bulk for a Low cost
At BulkTix.com, save as much as $5 per ticket for some theaters in case you purchase greater than 4 at a time. At Costco, you get a reduction when shopping for 10-packs of tickets on the retailer.
15. Go to Late Reveals
Some theaters supply low cost tickets for late-night exhibits — generally at matinee costs.
Showings sometimes begin round midnight. If you happen to’re an evening owl, this may be a good way to keep away from the crowds and save a couple of bucks.
16. Sit within the Entrance Row at AMC Theatres
If you happen to’re OK with sitting within the entrance row, you’re in luck! It’s probably not most moviegoers’ favourite spot, although.
By the tip of the 12 months in any respect of AMC’s film theaters, right here’s how the tickets can be priced:
Probably the most fascinating seats in the midst of the theater can be priced at a “slight premium” in contrast with the common theater seats, which can stay the commonest selection, AMC says. These common seats will proceed to price the present worth. Seats within the entrance row are “worth seating” and can price lower than the everyday seat.
It’s as much as you, however you may wish to keep away from neck pressure and follow the common seating. You may at all times save a couple of bucks by not shopping for these Raisinets.
Mike Brassfield ([email protected]) is a senior author at The Penny Hoarder. Steve Gillman is a former contributor to The Penny Hoarder.
