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Family Financial Tips

How To Save Money At the Movies

It is crazy expensive to go to the movies. This is nothing new, of course, but with movies coming out onto blue ray and DVD so quick now, it is almost a waste to go see the movie you want in the theatre.  Still, going to the theater is more for the experience than anything and there is nothing like seeing a movie in one.

Here are some tips on how to save money at the movies.

How To Save Money At The Movies

Buy your movie tickets in bulk. You can buy them online at the major theatre brand’s websites. They are usually around $6-$7 each and don’t expire. The only catch is, you have to buy a lot of them. This can mean buying 50 or more. While this is a lot to shell out, you could share them with a few other families and share the costs. If you go to the movies often, this is a great deal.

Join any loyalty clubs the theatre offers. It may take you a while to get enough in points to cash in, but if you are spending money there anyways, you might as well get something for free down the line.

Only go to matinées. Matinées are usually 30% cheaper and it is the same movie with the same offerings for snacks, just early in the day. Matinées usually end before 4 or 5 pm. Some theaters let it go as long as 6 to pay the matinee price.

Join savings websites like Groupon . Sometimes, especially around holidays or slow times of the year, movie theaters will offer great deals on movie tickets. Fandango offers great deals through Groupon and sometimes it is as good at Buy one get one free tickets.

Listen to local radio stations. There are many chances to win free movie tickets to special screenings or even huge premiers of big blockbusters just by listening to your local radio stations. These giveaways happen most often during the early morning, around lunch and late at night.

Check with Costco. If you live in a major metropolitan area, your local Costco may have great prices on movie passes in 4 packs. You can usually get them for around 30% off.

Look at gift card websites for discounted gift cards to theatres. You can often get them for cheaper than the remaining balance on the card, so you save money by getting your tickets and refreshments at a lower price overall, too.

If a movie in a theater is not the same without hot, buttery popcorn, ask the theater if they have a re-useable bucket offer. Many times, usually during the spring and summer, theatres will offer a bucket that is branded that you can purchase that gets you free of very low cost refills. You just bring it with you each time you come to see a movie and they refill it for you. Also look for theaters with large that offer large drinks with free refills.

Every little bit counts and these tips can save you some money and hopefully further your enjoyment. The next time you want to go out to the movies take a little time to plan ahead and you can have fun and save money at the same time.

What about you? How do you like to save money at the movies?

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About Tesa Nicolanti

I’m Tesa, the mom behind 2 Wired 2 Tired, a blog named after our two kids born a year apart, who my husband and I always said were too wired, leaving us too tired. :) Since 2009, I’ve shared tips on family, travel, and tech, with coffee always in hand. Now, as the kids head to college, 2 Wired 2 Tired continues as a place for family travel ideas, helpful gadgets, and insights on keeping family life fun and easy.

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Comments

  1. Laurajj says

    March 14, 2016 at 10:58 pm

    Oh those are all such great ideas! I have to check with our Costco…and start watching Groupon! Thanks for all the great ideas!

  2. Maria Malaveci says

    March 13, 2016 at 10:43 am

    Thank you so much for the tips!

  3. karen d says

    March 11, 2016 at 3:40 pm

    We do not see movies at the theatre on a regular basis but when we do, we try to save where we can. We are big on the first showing, usually the cheapest. We also tell our kids we will pick up McDonalds on the way home, saves a ton of money vs spending on popcorn and soda during the show and gives them something else to look forward to. Good article!

  4. Jessica Cox says

    March 10, 2016 at 5:11 pm

    I hate to say it but i take our own snacks and drinks and if you go during the day its cheaper

  5. Gene says

    March 10, 2016 at 3:25 pm

    I mostly just use the AMC Stubs program. That and usually matinee showings. With IMAX and 3D, movies are so expensive these days!

  6. shelly peterson says

    March 2, 2016 at 5:49 am

    thanks for sharing these great tips. I try and go to the matinee showings since its cheaper.

  7. Susan Smith says

    February 29, 2016 at 9:46 pm

    We see movies at a local theatre that has reduced ticket prices on Tuesdays. I bring in my own can of pop.

  8. Ann B. says

    February 29, 2016 at 4:43 pm

    Great tips…
    I usually go on a Tues. to the Matinee, and that day they give free small popcorn…I bring bottled water in my purse to drink.

  9. Heather Savka says

    February 29, 2016 at 3:32 pm

    Good Tips we also smuggle dollar store candy in our purses LOL

  10. suzanne says

    February 27, 2016 at 12:55 pm

    Those are some good ideas. My husband loves going to movies, but I’m a miser so these may help keep the peace. I always carry my “movie purse” and take dollar store candy and drinks.

  11. Natalie says

    February 25, 2016 at 7:24 pm

    I would have never have though about costco!! I always go to matinées.

  12. Cynthia R says

    February 25, 2016 at 4:58 pm

    Those are great tips, I recently found out Kroger will have sales on their movie gift cards, such as $5 off, every bit helps!

  13. Maria C. says

    February 25, 2016 at 2:19 pm

    Thank you for posting this. Did not know lots of these great tips.

  14. Sharon Rooney says

    February 25, 2016 at 10:34 am

    I never knew until recently that movie theater’s also offer discounts to people 55 and over.

  15. Amy Orvin says

    February 25, 2016 at 9:27 am

    I always try to sneak my own drink in my purse. Going to the movies is outrageous these days. Thanks for the tips.

  16. shelly leatham says

    February 25, 2016 at 9:09 am

    We always go to matinees unless we have free tickets. Our theater has a different special every Mon-Thur and we try to take advantage of those too!

  17. Michelle S says

    February 25, 2016 at 8:50 am

    Great ideas – we use gift cards purchased through our daughter’s private school. We get tuition credit at a set percentage and we are also part of the our theater’s rewards program. We accumulate points that turn into savings – last time we had $20 worth of credit to use.

  18. Jeffrey says

    February 25, 2016 at 8:35 am

    We always hit the Matinee at the theater and usually buy into the popcorn deal, buy a plastic bucket and fill it for a discounted price when you return.

  19. Jackie says

    February 25, 2016 at 8:31 am

    We don’t go to the movies often because it does get expensive. When we do go, we like to go to matinees or “date night”….which offers 2 for 1 tickets. It’s usually on a Tuesday night.

  20. Julie Wood says

    February 25, 2016 at 8:18 am

    I do not think everyone can do this, but I have $100 right now in Fandango money that I won, and we are using this money to go to the movies. Also I get money from relatives for Christmas and birthdays and we use this money to go to the movies. We also get tickets at Costco!

  21. Nancy says

    February 25, 2016 at 8:14 am

    These are great ideas to save money at the movies. Sometimes during the summer movie theaters have special children’s showings of films for about $1 a ticket. Also some theaters show not quite as new movies for about $3 a ticket.

  22. Maralea says

    February 25, 2016 at 5:00 am

    We are members of the loyalty club and also go to the matinees. This saves us quite a bit.

  23. Jennifer Marie says

    February 24, 2016 at 9:47 pm

    We definitely try to go to the matinee showings. This saves us a lot.

  24. Terri Irvin says

    February 24, 2016 at 9:26 pm

    Thanks for the movie tips..I have a large family so I am always looking for ways to tighten my budget.

  25. Brandy (lynn w rafflecopter) says

    February 24, 2016 at 9:24 pm

    Great post. My parents are big movie goers, so it was helpful reading some tips on how to gift them with tickets for a lower price.

  26. Shelly Neuhouser says

    February 24, 2016 at 9:00 pm

    I usually take my Grandkids to matinees when we go, I did not know about Costco. I will have to check that out.

  27. Vikki Billings says

    February 27, 2014 at 5:54 pm

    I save money at the theater by bringing my own candy from the dollar store and sometimes my own popcorn.

  28. Achild Children's Books - Aira Bongco says

    February 27, 2014 at 2:58 am

    Buying movie tickets in bulk here in my country will not really give me some discounts. But I agree with Groupon only that the local deals are quite rare.

  29. Cynthia R says

    February 26, 2014 at 9:40 am

    I had no idea about Costco, thank you for all the tips. We don’t go often because it is so expensive but maybe with these tips we can go a little more.

  30. joe gersch says

    February 26, 2014 at 4:51 am

    i like the idea of Joining any loyalty clubs

  31. Nancy Reid says

    February 25, 2014 at 6:40 pm

    Wow, I’m a long time Costco member and never knew that they sell discounted movie tix!

  32. ellen beck says

    February 25, 2014 at 1:19 am

    The only time we have ever gone is during the discounted tmes. Does sneaking in your own snacks count as saving money? :)

  33. Jasmin Q. says

    February 24, 2014 at 10:57 am

    Buy your movie tickets in bulk. !! let’s give it a try !

  34. Doug W says

    February 24, 2014 at 10:21 am

    Our movies are $6 before noon, so we always do an early show.

  35. Susan Smith says

    February 24, 2014 at 8:10 am

    We always go to the matiness. Not only is it cheaper but it’s usually less crowded. I also save money by not buying treats at the consession stand.

  36. Kathy says

    February 24, 2014 at 6:55 am

    We usually try to go to the matinee

  37. Maralea says

    February 24, 2014 at 3:59 am

    These are some great ideas. I am going to have to check and see if our theater offers the reusable popcorn bucket.

  38. Sarah L says

    February 24, 2014 at 1:55 am

    I enter contests for free movie tickets and have won several that way. I do belong to the theater emails and every week they send a coupon for things like get free drink when you buy small popcorn.

  39. Betty Baez says

    February 23, 2014 at 8:42 pm

    These are great tipst! We just went to a matinee this afternoon to see the lego movie and i signed up for their rewards club.

  40. angie says

    February 23, 2014 at 8:12 pm

    awesome ideas thanks for sharing

  41. Tina says

    February 23, 2014 at 7:27 pm

    I love matinees. We get the kids snack and share it. We get a cup and use the water machine for drinks.

  42. Dee S says

    February 23, 2014 at 6:59 pm

    I didn’t even know about the re-usable popcorn bucket. I have to check that out!

  43. Jennifer S. says

    February 23, 2014 at 2:42 pm

    We go to matinee movies and go to the theatre in town that has all you can eat popcorn and all you can drink drinks!! We took 8 of us to the movies with tickets, snacks and drinks and spent less than $100.

  44. courtney hennagir says

    February 23, 2014 at 2:11 pm

    Great tips! We use our loyalty card and it gets us free popcorn or sodas and sometimes even a free ticket.Plus we always go to the matinees.They cost less and are usually less crowded too.

  45. Heather Hayes Panjon says

    February 23, 2014 at 12:50 pm

    Great Tips, I Like To Save Money At The Movies By Using Coupons Delivered To My Email By Being In A Loyalty Program.

  46. courtney b says

    February 23, 2014 at 10:52 am

    we do the matinee idea… we only go to movies at certain times to save money!

  47. Gloria Massey says

    February 23, 2014 at 10:21 am

    I try to go to as many screenings of movies as I can. These are great when they are kids movies. Saves us a ton of money.

  48. Beth @ TheAngelForever says

    February 23, 2014 at 9:21 am

    Great tips! We have several coupon like books (one is Entertainment) that has discounts for the movies. In addition to this, we can go to AAA and purchase passes that do not expire for a reduced price.

  49. Alana Vester says

    February 23, 2014 at 8:58 am

    These are great ways to save money! We have a theater around here that’s only $3. It’s only a two movie theater but it’s much better than the $10 at the bigger theaters.

  50. shelly sawicki lash neuhouser says

    February 23, 2014 at 8:38 am

    I am fortunate to have a movie theater within 20 miles of where I live that shows first run movies and is very reasonable. I recently took my 2 Granddaughters, and for 3 tickets, 3 popcorns and 3 drinks–totally cost was $16.00.

  51. Janet W. says

    February 23, 2014 at 8:17 am

    Going to the movies can be so expensive! My husband and I can only afford going to the matinées.

Hey there! I’m Tesa, the mom behind 2 Wired 2 Tired. The blog got its name because we have two kids born a year apart and my husband, Dave, and I always joked that "the kids were too wired and we were too tired!" :)

Fast forward a bit—now the kids are off to college (how did that happened so fast!) and since 2009, I’ve been blogging through the chaos, coffee in hand, finding the best in family, travel, and tech—because honestly, who has time for bad gadgets and boring trips?

So, whether you're searching for family travel inspiration, tech gadgets, or tips to enhance family life, you're in the right place because the fun (and the coffee) is always brewing around here!

If you'd like to contact me, please fill out the contact form under the About Me section of the site.

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