Love to see movies? Love to not pay a whole lot of money to see movies? Here are 14+ tips for scoring cheap movies …
I enjoy my fair share of movies. (I admit that lately I've been sucked into the Marvel universe quite a bit! SOOOooo many good movies …)
I'll also rewatch some favorites.
Over the next few years, taking in cheap movies with friends and family will be an affordable substitute for a vacation. All around it's cheaper. The good news for people who really love movies is that it's possible to get by pretty cheaply, and if you downsize other areas appropriately it won't strain the budget that much at all.
Tips for snagging cheap movies
So, here are some tips for casual watchers and movie buffs alike on scoring cheap movies, however you like to consume them:
1. Be choosy in the theater
Really pick and choose which movies you see in the theater. One group of movies that might make the cut are ones that absolutely depend on special effects and the latest, greatest sound equipment. Another group would be movies that might take a really long time to get onto video. The main point is that going to the theater is the most expensive option for watching a movie, so choose wisely. You're spending time and gas to get out there. That, and you only get to see the movie once for your money.
2. Go earlier in the day
Take in a matinee if you can. Some theaters offer off-peak showings at a discount to the price of nighttime showings. The movie is the same, and it's likely that you'll have a lot more room in the theater. It's a great way for families with little children to watch cheap movies.
3. Watch the concessions
Stay away from the concessions if you can. The movie theater makes its money on the concessions. (For some movies, that's the only money the theater makes around the opening because they are contractually bound to hand over X number of days' worth of ticket sales to the studio.) Fountain drinks have a markup of a few thousand percent. Popcorn has a high markup as well. A movie theater that lets you bring in your own concessions is a hidden gem; take advantage of that if you can.
4. Donate, or not?
Consider whether you give to causes before the movie. I'm not anti-giving, of course, but if a cause is worth giving to before a movie, it's worth giving to after the movie, in the comfort of your own home. Consider whether you want the tax deduction to go to some corporation, or on your 1040. If you itemize and donate to the charity directly, it goes on your 1040 and saves you some taxes. (Though I do see the argument for donating anonymously. You don't get calls afterward during dinnertime!)
5. Buy tickets in bulk to save
Look into packs of tickets to see if there's a price differential. Costco.com offers movie ticket packs for four different movie theater networks. Check to see what network your favorite movie theater is in, and check the price of the tickets in the pack compared with your movie theater's prices.
6. Check out discounted gift cards
Look for discounted gift cards to movie theaters. Movie theaters sell gift cards like lots of other merchants. As I write this, Cardpool.com has Regal gift cards at a 21% discount to face value. Buying a discounted $50 gift card is like getting a free movie ticket out of the deal. Just be sure to buy the cards safely!
7. Go as a group to get discounts
See if you can get a group together. If you bring enough people to a theater, they may give you a discount. Our youth pastor always tries to get a discount anywhere the youth group goes. Get a big enough group (15-20?) and you can probably ask for something.
8. Check out Sinemia, and friends
Look into Sinemia or other up-and-coming theater movie clubs. (MoviePass was great while it lasted, but it's looking a bit bleak for them.) These services seek to monetize your movie-watching habits (whatever those are) by offering nearly “all-you-can-watch” deals for less than the cost of a single ticket, per month. If you love the theater and live close to one, then something like this will let you take control of your entertainment budget again.
9. Watch rom-coms at home
For those movies that really don't need to be seen immediately or ones where the big screen doesn't matter, watch them at home! It's way cheaper. Whereas you might want to see the latest Marvel movie in the theater, you can probably get by with a romantic comedy on the little screen. You can buy your soda and candy at the grocery store, and eat it during the movie without feeling like you have contraband. Popcorn is way cheaper and healthier. (We use a Nordic Ware microwave popcorn popping bowl and it does a good job without needing any oil.) A bag of kernels costs a couple of bucks and could provide popcorn for a couple dozen people.
10. Netflix
Like to watch a lot of movies and want a lot to choose from? Netflix rental is probably your best choice. They have over 100,000 titles to choose from. They pay for shipping both ways, and you can cancel at any time. There are instant downloads available each month as well. My parents-in-law have a Netflix subscription and they absolutely love it; lots of obscure titles.
11. Buy used DVDs on eBay
Are you looking to start or expand a collection? Well, good news! Lots of people are looking to get rid of their collection or decrease the size of it. There's nothing wrong with pre-viewed DVDs (unless they're absolutely trashed). People routinely sell their personal DVD collections on eBay, and bidding on these is brisk. More often than not they will list every single movie right in the auction, so you'll know exactly what you're going to get. A fair price point for collections is less than half of what you can get them for in Walmart's dig-through-the-box specials.
12. Check out pawn shops, garage sales, Facebook Marketplace, etc.
Pawn shops, thrift stores, and garage sales are good places to pick up one or two cheap movies. Three bucks is a good price point; less is obviously better, of course! If you run across something that looks interesting, pick it up. Recently at a yard sale, I picked up north of 70 DVDs for $5. Not $5 each, $5 for all of them. About a quarter of them were still wrapped!
13. Redbox
Redbox works well for occasional rentals. These DVD vending machines are all over the place now (our nearest one is 0.3 miles away!) Getting and returning DVDs is easy. Even at $1.75 a day (as of 2018), it's still a great rental price for a new movie. There are ways to get free rentals as well, like signing up for text alerts.
14. Prime Video by Amazon
Amazon Prime member? Then you have Prime Video at no additional charge. Prime Video is one of the perks of being an Amazon Prime member. Stream thousands of movies and TV shows along with your free 2-day shipping.
15. Walmart treasure hunt
The Walmart bins sometimes have decent deals in them. If you like treasure hunts, then sometimes you can score a decent movie for $5 in the Walmart bins. It does have the feel of finding a needle in a haystack though haha.
16. Other free options
Don't forget free! There are options for free movies, of course. Your local library might have a collection. Your church might. Hulu.com has a fairly decent free movie selection. You could borrow one from a friend, or wait until it comes out on network television.
Great list. If I may add a few more:
* look out for regular specials at the cinema such as 'Cheap Day Tuesday', about the same as the matinée but in the evenings too
* heading around to a friends' house and sharing the DVD rental cost also helps
* you can usually rent 5 old movies for a week for a special price
* clipping coupons for rental shops occasionally gives you a new release and another movie free
* of course, watching on plain old TV is free – so long as you can bear the adverts
Great article. I love movies and I'm always looking for ways to save money. So I loved your tips.
Also consider twilight movies (4-6pm) in addition to matinee movies. Here in Chicago we have a new very modern theater that offers $5 movies Monday-Thursday for 4-6pm showings. This is cheaper even than their matinee show prices.
Eat before you go. I love movie theater popcorn but hate the price. A box of popcorn and soda can cost more than the movie itself!
If you go to watch a movie while hungry you're much more likely to give into temptation. I try to eat dinner right before I go to watch a movie. I've also eaten cheap bags of microwave popcorn right before going to the movies to help resist temptation
Check out the Entertainment Book. This coupon book also has great deals for buying groups of cheap movie tickets.
Consider getting a loyalty card. If you're going to pay for a movie might as well get something out of it. I love the AMC movie card.
It gives me points for every movie I go to. After you obtain a certain amount of points you get free popcorn, drinks, and even free movies. It costs nothing to sign up for the card.
I love the suggestion about the library. Several libraries in our area look like Blockbusters. They have the newest releases that you can borrow for FREE.
Check your area for discount theaters. For movies that you just have to see on the large screen consider discount theaters that show movies usually after they have been out for a month or two. I frequented several that offered movie showings for just $2 or $3.
You can almost always get a code for a free Redbox rental by googling "Redbox codes." I've never paid for a Redbox rental – just make sure to have it back by 9 pm the next day!
One such site: http://www.insideredbox.com/redbox-codes/
I've all but cut theaters out of my financial diet. I typically stick to the major action movies (Bond, Batman, Rambo, etc) that rely on the special effects and audio.
Ashley,
Brilliant idea…I hadn't thought of that. I'll give it a spin. 🙂
Great post. My wife and I love watching movies but the cost at the local AMC just rose to a ridiculous $10/movie! So we've resolved to only dollar-theater movies and whatever comes on tv.
I second Charlie's suggestion about loyalty cards. I usually only go to movies when my daughter visits or when I visit my brother. But the points still build up and I earned one free ticket a few months ago, plus have ocasionally gotten DEEP discounts on snacks. Last week I could have bought a Butterfinger for $1. Budget said yes, diet said no, and won :)Also, you can usually request a free cup to get water to drink. Or buy a small bottle, and refill it, rather than a big bottle. There's that diet talking again. 🙂
LOVE this post…I am a huge movie fan! Since having 2 small children at home, we can't run out the theater as often anymore so we have Blockbuster Mail-In Rentals…so glad. Keep up your good work. Love it.
Use Freecycle to ask if folks have entertainment book coupons for movie ticket discounts that they arent going to use.. the coupons let you get into the movie for $6.50 and you get two tickets per coupon
Go to free movie screenings! They're all over the country. Here's one web site that even tells you where and when they are: http://www.txtmovieclub.com.
Your mileage may vary.
I was going to add the one about the loyalty card. I did that even though I'm not a frequent visitor, and get some points that can eventually be cashed in for something or other.
Not real sure because I visit only for blockbuster special effects movies AND I usually buy tickets not at the window, but at the credit union for matinee prices. I figure saving $3 now is worth losing out on some loyalty rewards.
As for Redbox, love it, but switched to Netflix for the selection. I'm aiming for at least 10 Netflix movies in a month to match the value at Redbox, but Netflix is worth a bit more anyway because of the vast selection.
Two words.
LARGE PURSE
haha I used to go to steak escape, get a 6inch cheese steak, fries and a soda for like $6 position it carefully in a large purse, hang a jacket or sweatshirt over the top and go on in the theater.
It was awesome. Cheesesteaks and movies go so well together.
Now I do the same but with food from home, pbjs are good. As far as candy goes, you can buy the same candy at the Dollar Tree store.
I know guys who carry backpacks or have cargo pants for the same reason.
…you rented Expelled?
To reiterate what Robyn said, who would rent "Expelled"? Such a person either had a lousy education or had better have a good reason.
Another way to save on buying movies: by VCDs instead of DVDs. If you're not interested in the "extras" and aren't finicky about sound and video quality, they cost a lot less than DVDs.
Also, buy while on holiday in other countries. I buy dozens of legal movies on VCD from chain stores when I go on annual holiday in the Philippines (I work/live in Taiwan), and they cost me about US$2 for old titles and US$6 for brand new films just out on video.
A movie better be good for me to go and spend that kind of money, and I usually know in advance what I want to see. Like others, I try to go very early on a weekend or Wed, which is usually matinee night. Plus, it's usually less crowded and quieter on a weeknight than on weekends.
I sneak in my own drinks and candy, but am willing to pony up for a small bag of popcorn.
I also get many movies cheap from amazon and watch at home.
I haven't tried Rebox or Netflix yet, but will definitely do that soon.
Libraries are a great place to see movies for free. At my local library we have all the latest movies, we have the classics, anything you'd like and it is free. Definitely go to the library for your movie fix.
Spending $20 for two people to go to the movies is a complete waste (and I'm someone who used to see 4+ movies on a weekend back in college). Theaters are poorly run and the audiences are obnoxious. Plus, my couch is more comfortable. I don't look forward to going to the theater anymore.
My advice: get Netflix. Also, take advantage of their streaming service. They are constantly adding more titles. If you have an XBox Live account, you can also watch the streaming movies on your XBox360 & TV immediately (you don't have to worry about sending a DVD back to get the next one by Saturday). It's a great value.
Libraries are another great source for DVD's and music (depending on where you live).
>>bring in your own concessions
I'm fairly sure that a "concession stand" does not sell "concessions". The (original) actual meaning is that the space for the stand is leased from the owner.
To take the library suggestion one step further: My library system has a website with an extensive online catalog which allows me to search for titles. then reserve or place a hold on DVDs. When the DVD becomes available I get a call (automated) from my branch library. Then I go go by and pick it up. Couldn't be easier or cheaper.