5 Super Easy Ways to Save Big on Movie Tickets

As ticket prices climb, it’s harder than ever to find great movie deals. But they do exist! These easy hacks make saving money at the box office a sweet surprise.

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy here.

I thought I knew the best ways to save on movie tickets, but this article had two more ideas I never even thought of! Most people don't think of a night at the theater when you're brainstorming cheap date ideas, but it doesn't have to be that way. If you know where to look there are some great movie deals out there! #movieticketdiscounts #discountmovietickets #cheapmovietickets #moviecoupons

The moment the live-action Beauty and the Beast trailer dropped, I knew.

That’s a movie I HAVE to see in theaters.

No waiting until Redbox or Netflix for me. A movie like that deserves a spot on the big screen.

I mean, have you seen Emma Watson?! Her dreamy performance makes me wish I could twirl and sing like that.

But with Regal Cinemas charging $13.45 for an evening show, the movie-going experience is not cheap. Throw in a box of overly chewy Milk Duds and a bucket of buttery popcorn to share, and you easily spend more than $60+ for a family of four.

What was previously a must see movie in theatres, now becomes slightly questionable. Do we really want to spend a week’s worth of grocery money on one evening out?

There’s good news

Before you give up on going to the movies all-together, allow me to share a few tricks you can use to score movie tickets on the cheap. And no, I don’t just mean attending a matinee or a late-run theater. You’re probably the queen of those money saving tips already.

Instead, try one of these easy hacks for an epic movie night your whole family will love…or should I say, your wallet!

1. Join Movie Reward Programs

Loyalty programs earn you free concessions and tickets every time you make a purchase online or at the box office. While they might not add up fast {it depends on how often you go to the movies!}, the freebies are still a sweet surprise.

Here are the the most common programs to join:

  • Regal Crown Club – Get 25% off candy every Monday, 50% off popcorn every Tuesday, and extra points when you watch select movies. You can also take advantage of Value Days, which rewards you with discounted tickets at select theaters.
  • AMC Stubs – Save up to $2 on tickets every Tuesday, and enjoy a $5 reward every time you reach 5,000 points. {You earn 20 points per every $1 spent}.
  • Cinamark Connections – Download the app and scan your ID at the box office and concession stand. Redeem points for digital downloads, concession savings, contests, and movie premiers.
  • Disney Movie Rewards – Earns points when you buy movies or movie tickets through their site. Points can be redeemed for apparel, concessions, tickets, and more.

If you're looking for great movie deals, the first place to start is to join your local theaters reward program.

2. Buy Theatre Gift Cards Through Raise.com

Gift cards are not just for “gift purchases” anymore. With my favorite discount site, Raise.com, you can buy gift cards for yourself, then use them for purchases you were planning to make anyway! As of the time of this writing, you can get,

  • Up to 16% off Fandango Gift Cards
  • Up to 13% off Regal Gift Cards
  • Up to 5% off AMC Gift Cards

Purchase one or two for your next date night, then spend an evening out guilt-free.

Bonus: Make the movie deals even sweeter when you activate Ebates for an extra 1% cash back, and sign up for Raise.com through Creative Savings for another $5 discount!

Once you build up your stash of discounted gift cards, grab a cute organizer like mine to keep everything together and easily accessible.

This is one of my favorite ways to score movie deals. I look online for gift cards to the theater in my area, and usually can snag them with at least a 10% discount!

3. Purchase Tickets in Bulk

Buying 25-50 tickets at a time sounds daunting, but this practice secures your tickets at a better discount, and having so many is great for schools, churches, and other events. You can even gather a group of friends and go in on the tickets together!

These prices probably won’t save you any money if you already attend matinees, but they certainly save you a few dollars on those evenings out. Since they don’t correlate with a specific movie or movie time, you can use them whenever you please. All you have to do is redeem your tickets at the box office.

Note: Surcharges apply if you’re seeing an IMAX or 3D film.

4. Buy Tickets through DealFlicks.com

Deal Flicks partners with independent theaters to save you up to 50% off the ticket price. These theaters are not everywhere {I have to travel an hour to the one closest to me}, but if you have one nearby, it’s totally worth trying out.

For instance, at a Naples Indie Theater, I would normally pay $10.30 a ticket. However, I can pay $7.00 for a $10 voucher on DealFlicks.com to see Guardians of the Galaxy. My total is now only $7.30 out of pocket. At Regal, it would be $13.45.

Psst… you can also get an extra 20% discount 0ff your tickets through DealFlicks.com with the code RFLVL2DZ7N, and an extra $1 back when you activate Ebates!

One of my favorite movie deals websites is dealflicks.

5. Take Advantage of Special Discounts and Offers

Discounts are everywhere. In fact, I found so many when I went looking, I had to round them up in the list below! Browse this rapid-fire selection of special offers, and choose what works best for you and your family.

  • If you’re a student, in the active military, or a senior citizen, you might get a discount off the price of your tickets. Just make sure to ask if you don’t see the special price listed at the box office.
  • If you use Swagbucks {and you should if you browse the internet!}, you can cash in your “bucks” for FREE Regal Gift Cards.
  • If you purchase tickets through Fandango, don’t forget to activate Ebates for up to 2% cash back.
  • If you check Groupon, you can occasionally find coupon codes and special discounts on movie tickets.
  • If you collect Kellogg’s Family Rewards, you can cash in your points for a FREE AMC Gift Card.

Oh, and don’t forget! Every summer, Regal launches their Summer Movie Express, which features $1 kids movies all Summer long. Or, if you’re looking for more current flicks to watch, turn on The Popcast’s Summer Movie Preview while you’re folding laundry for a list of winners, duds, and total surprises.

So…how much did I actually pay to see Beauty and the Beast?

Using a combination of my Regal Crown Club Card, plus a $15 Regal Gift Card I redeemed through Swagbucks, Joseph and I scored tickets, on a Sundayfor less than $6.00 each. This is for a movie I would have gladly paid full price for, but I’m even more impressed that I didn’t have to!

Bottom Line: You don’t have to wait until the movie you really want to see in theatres comes to Redbox or Netflix. Give it airtime on the big screen without the guilt. One of these easy hacks will make sure you never pay full price!

How often do you go to the movies?

Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Rest assured, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

Just One More Thing:

Whether you need extra room in your budget, or just want to find more money put towards a future goal, 31 Days to Radically Reduce Your Expenses is your must-have resource to tackle both! Get a peek at the Table of Contents and download a sample chapter HERE.

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7 Comments

  1. We rarely go to the cinema, but we did manage to save the last couple times by purchasing on of their cards. Instead of paying full price, you would pay a lump sum and have few tickets included in the price, which in the end are about 30% cheaper!

    Now that we’ve managed to learn how to save on movie tickets, time to learn how to save on movie snacks 😀 haha!

  2. Where I live we have movie card for a certain theatre brand which reduces a ticket about 30% depending on the month saving but the problem is the food which cost 10 times more than the normal price

    1. So true. With theaters you either have to be shady and sneak your food in with an over-sized purse, or go without. $5 soda and $4 popcorn is just crazy.

  3. Wow, you have a lot of great ideas there! I didn’t realize there are so many money saving options. I’m embarrassed to admit that we always pay the regular price when we go to movies. Never again!

    1. Don’t be embarrassed, it’s an easy thing to do! But now you’re prepped to keep it from happening in the future. 🙂

  4. Sometimes there are good store deals at drugstores and grocery stores when you buy certain gift cards. They give points or money off your next purchase of groceries, depending on the store. Next week at Rite Aid, you get the equivalent of $5 in Plenti Points when you buy a $25 Regal gift card. (I use those Plenti points to get free gas at Exxon/Mobil!)

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