10 Ways to Save Money on Movies

While TV/movie-watching isn’t something we do every day here at Chez FG, we do enjoy watching movies sometimes, especially when it’s a family affair.

And as you might have guessed, we’re not huge fans of paying full price for movie-watching.   So, I thought I’d make a list of the ways we keep our movie-watching costs to a minimum.

First up, I’ve got a few ways to save money on movies at the theater, followed by ways we save on home movies.

5 ways to save money on movies at the theater

1. Find a cheap theater in your area.

I think cheap theaters used to be slightly more common than they are now, but they do still exist.   Try googling your city name along with “cheap theater”, “second run theater”, or “dollar theater”.

These theaters typically show movies that have finished their run at other theaters, so you have to be patient in order to take advantage of their low prices.

This can pay off big time, though, especially if you have a large family.   Taking the six of us to a $12 theater runs us $72, but at the $3.50 theater, we all can see a movie for only $24.

So much more do-able!

2. Get yourself to a matinee.

Captain Obvious here, I know, but if you haven’t got a cheap theater, or you just can’t wait to see something, matinees are worth considering.

3. Don’t take the whole family.

Since it costs a lot for the six of us to go, sometimes Mr. FG will do movie dates with just one of the kids.

Regular-priced movie tickets are less overwhelming with just two people.

4. Take advantage of free summer movie showings.

I’m writing this in the winter, but summer IS going to come around again, and when it does, Regal Movie Express offers $1 family-friendly movies.

They’re not ever brand-new releases, but they’re a fun way to give kids a movie theater experience.

5. Sign up for theater email lists.

Mr. FG is on the email list for local theaters, so when he takes a kid on a movie trip, he’s usually got a coupon to take along.   He just uses the search feature in gmail to locate the latest promotional email.

4 ways to save money on movies at home

6. Use Redbox, and google for discount codes

Redbox is a pretty cheap movie rental option to begin with, but there are often discount codes floating around the internet, so do a quick search before you rent.

7. Use No-Rush Shipping on Amazon Prime

If you’re a Prime member and aren’t in a big hurry to get your order, you can select no-rush shipping and get $1 in Amazon credit toward MP3s, movies, and other streaming content.

The credits are stackable, so you can get free streaming movies this way.

8. Use your library’s movie collection.

The selection varies by library system, of course, but this is a great way to get movies for free.   Most libraries will allow you to place a hold on a movie, which makes the picking-up process as simple as stopping at Redbox.

9. Check alternative sites for DVD purchases.

I much prefer to stream/borrow/rent movies when possible, because that way they can’t turn into clutter.   But if there’s something you really want to own, check on half.com orEbay to see if you can get a deal.

Amazon also offers a half.com-like experience if you browse the used section.

10. You fill it in!

Do you have a good idea for reducing movie-watching costs, either at home or in the theater?   Add the last item to my list by sharing your idea in the comments.