04/24/2008 (By Larissa Walkiw)

Save money at the movies

(insert 20th Century Fox theme here)

With a summer of blockbusters right around the corner (hellooooo Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull!), I thought it might be helpful to post some tips for saving money at the movie theatre.

It might be nice to hear that certain new releases rake in millions at the box office – but not when it's on your dime! These suggestions are common sense, but they'll do a lot to weed out all the 'extra' movie expenses.

Pick the right theatre. You can save a lot on your ticket price depending on where you go to see a flick. Although brand new multiplexes with huge screens and awesome sound are great for action films packed with special effects, do consider smaller, older theaters for films that don't depend on fancy audio-visuals. Dollar theaters are an inexpensive option as long as you're not dying to see the film on opening weekend (...or opening month).
Pick the right time. Most theaters still offer matinee prices. If you have the opportunity to take in a matinee, do it! It's cheaper and less crowded than evening screenings.
Eat before the movie! Having a good meal at home before going out to a movie is a preemptive strike against $15 popcorn-and-soda combos. Sad but true: most movie-goers spend more on popcorn and butter flavor than they do on movie tickets. Kick the temptation by eating at home!
Shop around for tickets. Larger movie theaters often offer discount ticket prices through certain businesses. For example, AMA members can purchase Cineplex and Empire Theatre tickets at a discounted price from AMA locations. Find out whether your parents or friends are eligible for these kinds of discounts before your next trip to the theatre.
Read Reviews. Even though everyone has their own opinion when it comes to movies, it IS a good idea to see what others are saying. Ask a friend what they thought of a movie before you go and see it yourself. You can also read the latest reviews online (I personally get all my movie advice from RottenTomatoes.com). The only thing worse than a crappy movie is a crappy movie you've just paid $14 to see, so do some research.
Wait for the DVD. The waiting time between theatre release and DVD release is getting increasingly shorter. If you're not totally psyched about a film, save yourself the time, trouble, and ticket price by waiting for it to hit rental stores.

Do you have any additional tips to share? Post them in a comment below!

See you at the movies!

Larissa

Comments

1) Larissa - 04/24/2008

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Yet another way to save money: Win a free DVD, courtesy of Y&F!

Check out the details here: http://www.youngfreealberta.com/blog/y-and-f-movie-week-contest-win-a-copy-of-juno

2) Steve - 04/24/2008

As far as I'm concerned there are 2 types of movies... Theatre movies and DVD movies. Juno=Theatre movie Superhero Movie=DVD... well maybe not even DVD for that one!

3) Stephania Romaniuk - 04/24/2008

Another option to consider if you're tired of always going to malls and movie theatres for your summer hits, is to check out a local science center or planetarium. Often the ticket price might be slightly higher, but it includes a longer afternoon of discovering cool scientific facts (not to mention fun, hands-on displays) AND a movie (probably an IMAX thriller or at least something where you can recline in your chair for an hour, watching the night sky spin around you!)

4) lindsey - 04/25/2008

another way to get great prices on movies is scotia bank has a program with ciniplex and money that you spend gives you points so you can go watch movies for free