Watching Movies at the Cinema Can Get Expensive
Jennifer McClelland | RSS | 18 Comments
We all know that watching movies at the movie theater will run you around $8 per ticket plus any drinks and snacks you want. Well, there is another way to get your entertainment and still have a night out. This means you do NOT have to rent a movie and sit at home.
You can still go to the cinema and see a movie and spend half.
All you have to do is look for theaters that are playing movies that are a bit older than what is “brand new” but not old enough to be on DVD yet.
In Oxford, we have a movie theater called the Amp. It’s currently playing movies like District 9 and until recently was playing Star Trek and the newest Terminator movie. These were all box office hits (ok, so the Terminator can be debated). The theater also plays some cult classics and even offers an outdoor screening pavilion.
At this theater not only can you actually have dinner (they offer a full menu) and watch a movie, but you can do it on the cheap.
All the movie tickets are $5 all the time. It’s also not hard to find coupons for buy one get one free. The theater also runs a $2 small popcorn and soda special all the time.
The best part is that this kind of theater isn’t unique to Oxford, they can be found all across the country. Typically when you find a cinema that is offering movies that aren’t the newest, you are going to find the deals on ticket prices.
This is also a great way to watch movies that you didn’t know if you really wanted to spend all the money on at a full price cinema.
I would just suggest this as a way to get out of the house on a Friday or Saturday night instead of another movie night in.
The change in the way we rent movies is amazing
DVDs are the next target of the “price war”
Press Release Example
Tags: saturday night, Money, soda
Damon Day from Debt Settlement | Mon, Sep 14 2009
Ya, we recently had a new theater open in town and the old theater knowing it wouldn’t be able to compete just turned itself into a discount theater and only charges a few bucks per movie.
One thing my wife and I do now that we have two little boys is go to the drive in movies. That way we don’t have to worry about the kids getting restless and disturbing the other movie goers. I know drive in movie theaters are going the way of the dinosaur but if you are lucky enough to have a nice one close to you, it is a great evening out with the family.
Jessica from Savvy Sponds | Mon, Sep 14 2009
As someone who isn’t particular about watching the latest movies as soon as they release, I also take advantage of what I call “Budget Theatres”.
Frank from Frugal Living Ideas | Mon, Sep 14 2009
$8 is not bad. It’s $10-$11 in NYC.
Jennifer McClelland | Mon, Sep 14 2009
Yea, I should have said something about that. I know that it can get ridiculous in big(ger) cities and now the 3D movies are charging even more.
Klarry from Backlinkseller Einnahmen Erfahrungen | Tue, Sep 15 2009
That is a lot of money! Here in Germany, close to Bremen i pay around 7€… and i didn’t even mention the snaks. But for me going to the cinema is something special and more fun than just watching movies at home
Danny from Forex Software | Sun, Oct 04 2009
It’s reading posts like this that makes me glad I moved to Thailand, most of the new movies are released a few days earlier than most countries and tickets are a little over $2!
ANSH from laser pointer | Fri, Oct 09 2009
I really appreciate your thoughts but if you think the DVD can take the place of a Theater then it’s wrong, because you can even though you can produce the picture and sound quality as in the theater, you can’t produce the same environment as in a theater.
Craig from Annuity | Mon, Oct 12 2009
Tell me about it. I took my wife the other week and I manged to spend over $120 somehow. Did buy dinner before, but when we go to the Cinema you need food and snacks and it always builds up, god help us when we have kids ha ha.
Chris McClelland | Mon, Oct 12 2009
At least you went out to dinner first Craig, image if you had bought enough candy at the movie cinema to replace dinner. Jen always like to get the $9 unlimited drink, popcorn special. I always hide a few candies in my pocket, or beef jerky. The prices they charge for things is really outrageous.
scott from display booths | Mon, Oct 12 2009
I agree that $8 isn’t too bad since it’s $9.75 here… But add popcorn, Good & Plenties, and a Coke, and I need to get a home equity loan to go to the movies.
That’s why I’ll stick with Netflix these days, and if I need to go to the bathroom or get a snack, I just hit “pause”! scott, aka “display booths”
jKrisp from Polish guy | Tue, Oct 13 2009
Maybe, I really agree with some of the previous comments, cause anyway it really doesn’t depend on the quality of the DVD, the impression of the film is not even close to the ones that you can get watching films at the cinema. So I will go to the cinema anyway!
Steven | Wed, Oct 28 2009
Tell me about it. Movie prices at the cinema just keep going up. Rather buy the DVD nowadays or even watch the films online.
mark from download theoffice tv show | Sat, Nov 07 2009
Although it’s costlier it’s definitely worth the cost as we get to meet new people, go outside, open our minds up…and for spending quality time with family once in a while.
monika from indian singer | Mon, Nov 09 2009
I hardly get time for watching movies in the cinema, but I agree with your post, rates are becoming too high nowadays. However people just keep going. I do not know why.
Arthur | Mon, Nov 09 2009
I only go to CGI rich movies where the movie theater experience trumps watching it on video. Having a friend with Optimum free movie Tuesday is helpful too
Seth Sym | Sun, Nov 15 2009
It’s crazy expensive to go to the theatres nowadays; the concessions can run a family of 4 about $50. I find it’s no longer worth it; I just wait for the dvd and watch it at the comfort of my home for popcorn that cost me $0.50 instead of $8.
Mehra from Michigan Movie Tickets | Thu, Nov 26 2009
Well it’s not like every theater charges you 8$ or 9$, but you can also get tickets at half price if you are watching a matinee movie and also nowadays movie theaters provide reward program that can also save you a lot. Most theaters also give special discount to students.
Jason from Towel Warmers | Tue, Dec 01 2009
Cinema ticket prices do seem to be going up and up. It’s probably due to the cost of making big budget movies.