Getting around the high cost of going to the movies
With summer just around the corner, Hollywood is about to roll out a slew of sequels, blockbusters and indie films sure to satisfy most of our cravings for easy entertainment.
But if you haven’t been to the movies in a while, you might be surprised to learn that prices at the box office are on the rise.
What’s worse, said Andrea Woroch, a nationally-recognized consumer and money-saving expert, is movie-goers aren’t likely to see any relief anytime soon.
The inflated costs, however, don’t have to deflate your desire to catch the season’s best flicks on the big screen.
For instance, Woroch said budget-conscious consumers can choose instead to stay home and order from Netflix and Hulu Plus or just wait until the movie becomes available on cable.
“Instead of paying $8 to $10 per head, plus the outrageous cost of popcorn and soda, you can recreate movie night at home for just $5,” she said.
Don't particularly care for that option? Try these, Woroch said:
- Join AAA. The automobile club offers $8 tickets to Regal, United Artists and Edwards movie theaters. The catch is that you have to go to one of their offices to buy them.
- Buy movie packs. This is the way to go for families. You can buy a four-pack of tickets from Costco, good for a variety of theaters, for just $34.99 and a 10-pack for $82.99. There's no expiration date and you can use the tickets seven days a week. BulkTix.com also saves you an average of $2 to $3 off a ticket's face value for seven different chains.
- Attend second-run theaters. There are several chains that show movies past their prime. If you can wait to see the latest iteration of a Marvel comic, you'll pay anywhere from $3 to $6 for the same movie.
- Ask for senior rates. If you're 60 or over, you can get a discount from select AMC locations. And Cinemark offers Seniors Day every Monday at some locations for those 62 and older. Ask the cashier or the theater manager about available discounts and be prepared to show your ID.
- Skip the concession stand. Eat before going to the movies so you won't be tempted by the smell of popcorn at the concession stand.
- Use discount gift cards. Save 10 to 30 percent by purchasing discount movie theater gift cards from such sites as GiftCardGranny. In addition to saving instantly on ticket prices, you can cut the cost of concessions.
- Swipe your plastic. Credit card companies and banks have increased reward perks over the last few years and some of those include free theater passes. Visa Signature offers credit card holders two-for-one movie tickets via Fandango on Fridays. Deutsche Bank Debit Card users can get one free pass for every one ticket purchased through BookMyShow.com. Ask your credit card or bank about reward perks and take advantage of the discount.
- Be loyal. AMC theaters offers points toward discounts, concession upgrades and more if you join their Stubs Rewards Program. Check with your local theater to see if they provide similar deals.
- Daily deal it. Sites like Groupon and LivingSocial feature movie savings of up to 50 percent, and will likely offer similar promotions this summer. The vouchers typically expire within a couple months so make note of the date and use them up before then.
- Early-bird deals. Matinees can save you anywhere from 30 to 50 percent off prime-time ticket prices, leaving more money in your wallet for warm summer evenings.
- Say something. Don't be afraid to ask for a voucher or your money back if you have a bad experience. You may be surprised how often theaters will accommodate a polite request.
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