Movie tickets may not cost as much in Indiana as they do on the east and west coasts but that doesn’t mean they’re cheap. If you’re anything like me, your wallet has taken a hit in recent years as movie ticket prices have continued to escalate. Besides the common sense tactic of going to matinees to save a few dollars, there are several other methods I have for saving money at the theater.
First and foremost, I like to purchase discount tickets. My credit union offers discounted tickets for $5.50, which is a nice drop from the $8-9 a ticket most theaters near my house charge. Many banks, credit unions, and places of employment can sell you discounted movie ticket vouchers. It doesn’t hurt to check. Another place for discounted tickets would be Fandango.com. Normally, this site actually charges more than retail for tickets, however, they occasionally offer special deals and coupons that are a much better deal. You can sometimes purchase tickets on Fandango for as cheap as $1. Whenever I purchase anything from an online retailer, I Google for a coupon code, and my visits to Fandango are no different.
If you have a Kerasotes theater near your home (they’re all over Indiana), then you should check out their Five Buck Club. Through the discount club, you can purchase movie tickets for, as you may have guessed, $5. The only catch is that you can only use these tickets at movies that have been out for a couple of weeks, so this isn’t an option for people who need to see new releases on the night they come out.
If you go to a lot of movies or have a large family, you should definitely sign up for the free point program at your local theater. Both Regal Cinemas and AMC have free reward programs for frequent movie goers. These programs give you a card that you swipe every time you purchase tickets, earning you free popcorn, sodas, movie tickets, and other perks. I tend to go to the movies with friends or family that can’t be bothered to join these reward programs (too lazy, I guess), so when I’m out with them, I’ll have them swipe my card so I can get points for their tickets as well. It usually only takes one group outing to the movies for me to earn some free swag. Be sure to ask at your local theater if they have a reward program.
I’m sure there’s other ways to get free or cheap movie tickets as well, so if you have a great method you want to share, leave a comment below.