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Now that America’s largest movie theater chain is going to start charging ticket prices based on where your seat is located, it’s time to think about ways you can save money at the movies. AMC Theatres’ new pricing policy has a lot of people riled up. Still, by the end of the year at every AMC theater, seats in the front will be cheaper while the best seats in the middle will cost more. If you ask us, it’s just another way for them to gouge you. Fortunately, we’ve got ideas for how you can save a buck or two at the movies. Check out our list of 16 ways to spend less at the theater.
1. Go to Matinees
Going to a matinee can knock up to 30% off the ticket price. But watch out for the theater’s definition of “matinee”. Shows before 4 p.m. used to be called matinees at most theaters, but some now charge the evening price for anything that starts after 3 p.m.
2. Go to Pre-Matinees
Some theaters offer an even better deal for really early movies — “pre-matinees”. These typically apply to movies starting before noon.
3. Go on Tuesday!
America’s three largest movie theater chains all have the same discount day — Tuesday. You also have to join their customer loyalty club to get the Tuesday discount, but that’s usually free.
4. Buy at Your Warehouse Club — In Person or Online
Seriously, you should make full use of those warehouse club memberships! If you shop at Sam’s Club or Costco, ask about theater tickets at the customer service desk. They often have them at a discount. Costco also sells theater tickets online at a discount, and so does Sam’s Club.
5. Try Groupon
But you can always hop on Groupon to see what kind of movie ticket deals are going on there. The website LivingSocial is another option to check here.
6. Eat Before You Go
These days, lots of movie theaters go well beyond popcorn, Sno-Caps and Raisinets. And they’re all way overpriced, of course. You’d be better off eating in a restaurant beforehand. Save even more money by eating at home before you go.
7. Share the Snacks
Theaters don’t want you to bring your own food. But we haven’t seen them stop parents who bring their own paper bags to divvy up a large bucket of popcorn between the kids. It’s much cheaper than buying a small bag of popcorn for each person. Share other snacks to save money.
8. Get Special Discounts
You might qualify for special discounts — and you could save up to 35%. AMC Theatres, Regal Cinemas, and Cinemark all offer military, senior, and student discounts at the box office.
9. Buy Discount Movie Gift Cards
There are a number of places where you can buy discounted theater gift cards online. For example, you can buy AMC gift cards on online marketplaces like Raise for discounts of up to 25%. Use them for matinees, and your total cost might be less than half of what an evening ticket costs.
10. Go to Discount Theaters
These are also called late-run movie theaters. You’ll see the same movie, so why not wait a couple of months and catch it for less? Just search “discount theater” plus the name of your city to locate cheap movies.
11. Join the Club
Most theaters have a club or loyalty program you can join to save money. AMC’s loyalty club, AMC Stubs, has three tiers. Regal Cinemas has the Regal Crown Club, and Cinemark has Movie Fan and Movie Club.
12. Go to a Drive-In Theater
Check DriveInMovie.com or DriveInTheater.com to see if one of the few remaining drive-in theaters is near you. Call or check online to see if they have discount days or a price-per-car night when you can bring the whole family or split the cost with friends.
13. Go to Advance Screenings for Free
Movie companies sometimes offer free tickets to the public for advance screenings. If you get one, go early — movie screenings often get overbooked. Check Gofobo, SeeitFirst, and AdvanceScreenings for available screenings near you.
14. Buy in Bulk for a Discount
At BulkTix.com, save up to $5 per ticket for some theaters if you buy more than four at a time. At Costco, you get a discount when buying 10-packs of tickets at the store.
15. Go to Late Shows
Some theaters offer cheap tickets for late-night shows — sometimes at matinee prices. Showings typically start around midnight. If you’re a night owl, this can be a great way to avoid the crowds and save a few bucks.
16. Sit in the Front Row at AMC Theatres
If you’re OK with sitting in the front row, you’re in luck! It’s not really most moviegoers’ favorite spot, though. By the end of the year at all of AMC’s movie theaters, here’s how the tickets will be priced: The most desirable seats in the middle of the theater will be priced at a “slight premium” compared with the regular theater seats, which will remain the most common choice, AMC says. Those regular seats will continue to cost the current price. Seats in the front row are “value seating” and will cost less than the typical seat.
