A recent release from Evil: For good For many moviegoers, it’s a reminder that a trip to the big screen is anything but cheap.
Subscription service MoviePass estimates that a family of four can pay an average of $108 for a premium-format movie ticket in higher-priced markets like Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco.
Add in the cost of concessions and moviegoers would rather stay home and enjoy their streaming service instead.
With prices leaving families feeling like their finances have been left on the floor, is there a way to make movie night more affordable?
Fortunately, there is. Between special theater pricing, membership programs and subscription services, individuals and families can take the financial strain out of a night out at the movies.
The national average for a standard movie ticket is about $11.50. However, that cost can vary wildly depending on where you live, MoviePass noted:
- Major cities: $15 to $20
- Medium cities: $12 to $15
- Small towns and rural areas: $8 to $11
On average, ticket prices in big cities were almost double those for moviegoers in small towns and rural areas.
Mid-sized cities, which included Atlanta, Dallas and Denver, offered prices that fell between the big city and small city low rates.
MoviePass also noted that premium format movies like IMAX, Dolby Cinema and 3D cost an average of $3 to $7 more per ticket.
Thus, a premium-format movie ticket in a major city can cost $108 for a family of four, or $60 for four standard tickets.
No matter where you live, the cost of seeing a movie can be prohibitive for families looking for a budget-friendly overnight stay. Why the high prices? It all comes down to the cost of producing the film, paying star actors and massive marketing campaigns, said Adam Paul, a professor of film acting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Independent via email
“Stars are expensive because their value in attracting an audience is the main marketing tool of a studio release,” Paul said. “They’re brands as big as — if not stronger than — the studios themselves … All of that comes down to the consumer in the form of ticket prices and points.”
How to find a movie ticket at the right price
Moviegoers looking for a way to reduce the financial burden of a night at the movies can turn to several options for cheaper tickets.
Use discount days and hours
A traditional way to save money is to attend events held in the late morning and early afternoon. For example, AMC Empire 25 New York City 15 to 20 percent discount on ticket prices for shows Evil: For good Before 4 p.m
Another option is to check with your local cinemas about movie discount days. “Many theaters now offer significant discounts on certain days of the week,” Paul said.
Sign up for theater membership
Three of the best-known brands in the U.S.—AMC, Regal, and Cinemark—offer free and/or paid membership plans that waive ticket fees, concessions, and in some cases, online reservation fees. Each theater offers several levels of membership, with higher levels offering better benefits.
For example, a Cinemark Cinema Club membership costs $10.99 to $11.99 per month, depending on the state you live in, and offers:
- Additional discounts at Cinemark’s Tuesday special price
- 20% discount
- Online ticket fees are waived
- One free 2D movie ticket per month
- As long as your membership is active, unused tickets are lost and never expire.
Sign up for a movie subscription service
MoviePass is a subscription service that awards a certain number of credits each month that subscribers can use for movie tickets. The service has three membership levels starting at $13, $23, and $33 per month. The cheapest plan offers credit for up to two movies, the standard plan offers credit for up to three movies, and the premium plan offers credit for up to four movies.
Unlike theater-specific memberships, MoviePass allows you to redeem your credits at multiple theater brands.
Is going to the movies still worth it this holiday season?
For those who want a simple movie theater experience without signing up for a membership or watching movies at specific times or days, there’s probably one big question on their minds (and wallets): is it worth it?
Professor Paul from the University of Nevada said: The answer is clear: yes.
“In an increasingly divisive world, the opportunity to take a small chunk of leisure time to experience something unique with other people is a reminder that we are not alone,” he said.
Everything is changing in this world of how we present stories, but there’s still a hunger for it that shows the value of going out into a centralized space for the shared experience of entertainment that moves us.
