Saving Money At the Movies
Save on Snachs, Go Early, Join a Movie Discount Club
There are a number of holidays that fall on a Monday, and more and more films seem to be opening on Wednesday now. That makes Tuesday the slowest night of the week for theaters, and they’re going to be looking for ways to entice you. Check your local theater for specials on ticket pricing, concession deals, special showings, and so on, and try to take advantage.
Save on Snacks at the Movie Theatre
Sure, you could always just skip getting that popcorn and soda, but many viewers think half the fun of going to the movies is getting snacks. You might be able to use one of your theater’s special value deals, but there are other ways to save as well. If you’re attending with your significant other, buy a large soda and split it, instead of each getting your own medium. Many theaters offer free refills on larges, so if you’re going with a group, buy one large popcorn and arrange ahead of time whose turn it will be to run out for more. And if you always eat a meal before you head out to the theater, you’ll be less hungry for excessive snacks.
Also remember to pay attention to what you’re eating. The average price of a small popcorn is $4.75, which is more than half the cost of your ticket at most theaters. If you’re going to be spending that much money on what’s essentially a snack, try to get the highest quality you can. When possible, give your business to theaters that use real butter or organic corn – rewarding those locations helps encourage them to keep doing things well. Plus, it just tastes better.
Go Early and Take in a Matinee
The “dinner and a movie” plan has been a great date idea since the first films were shown at the first theaters, but with the huge increase in ticket prices, it makes much more financial sense to hit up a Saturday or Sunday matinee instead of an evening showing. Restaurants often charge less for lunch entrees than dinner entrees, so make “lunch and a matinee” the new “dinner and a movie.” You also get the added bonus of less crowded theaters and more time afterwards for discussing the film.
Join a Discount Club
Theaters are being hit hard by the struggling economy just like everyone else, and like many nonessential businesses; they’re looking for ways to woo you. Check to see if your theater offers a discount for movies that have been out more than a week. If not, ask if they might consider starting such a program. You can still see whatever you want in the theater, you’ll just have to be a little more patient. Which leads to -
Prioritize
As much as you may enjoy going to the movie theater, try to pay attention to just how badly you want to see a particular film. There are certain huge releases, like Transformers or the latest Iron Man, that you just have to see opening weekend. But there will also be some flicks that you don’t quite care as much about. Most larger towns offer a second-run theaters, where you can check out movies that have been out for some time for as little as a dollar or two. When you hear about a big new movie, ask yourself: “do I want to see it ‘opening weekend’ badly, or do I want to see it ‘discount theater’ badly?” The answer could save you a lot of money.
It's expensive, but so hard to resist ...
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